Is Skateboarding a Suitable New Year's Resolution?

As the new year approaches, many of us are considering resolutions. If you're in search of something new and exhilarating to start the year, why not try skateboarding? I know, when it comes to New Year's resolutions it might not be the first thought, but skateboarding offers enjoyment, fitness, and personal development suitable for any age! Here are a few reasons why it's the ideal resolution for 2025!

What makes skateboarding such a fantastic sport?

Social

To begin with, one of the fundamental elements of skateboarding as a lifestyle is the sense of community it nurtures. It thrives on individuality, creativity, and self-expression. Since this exciting sport often takes place in skateparks or other public areas, it connects you with other like-minded individuals, making it easy to meet new friends!

Outdoor activity

It's no surprise that skateboarding gets people outside, as it is primarily an outdoor activity. This encourages physical activity in the fresh air. For children, it helps them break away from screen time and promotes physical interaction with the world. For adults, it provides an opportunity to explore the outdoors, experience nature, engage with their surroundings, and have fun in an active way.

Mental health

One significant benefit of skateboarding is its positive impact on mental health. It helps reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve mood. The concentration required for skateboarding serves as a form of mindfulness, making it an excellent way to escape the daily routine and clear your mind.

Skateboarding builds confidence in one's abilities. As you master new skills, you experience a sense of accomplishment, whether it's simply learning to ride or executing a challenging trick. It encourages independence and self-reliance, which can be empowering for people of all ages.

Physical health

Skateboarding is an excellent way to enhance physical health as it engages the legs, core, and upper body. It's a highly adaptable sport, making it suitable for all fitness levels. So whether you're just starting to roll or have been skateboarding for years, it will challenge your muscles, boost cardiovascular health, and increase endurance. It's a fun and dynamic way to stay fit! For the younger crowd, skateboarding is great for developing motor skills and body awareness. It also enhances balance and coordination. For adults and older individuals, it helps maintain and improve these abilities, which are crucial for overall physical health.

Is it too late to start?

Skateboarding has no age restrictions. Whether you're 5 or 50, people of all ages can enjoy and improve at it with practice. Starting later may even have advantages, such as better focus, discipline, and awareness compared to younger beginners. Whether you join a local skateboarding community or simply spend time at the park, you might find that other older beginners are also taking up the sport, so it's never too late to make new friends! Fortunately, it's a sport where you can set your own pace and continuously challenge yourself as you progress.

Tips for Learning:

Choose your dominant foot:This is the foot used to push the board. For most individuals, this is their right foot.

Start Slowly:Begin with the basics, such as how to stand on the board, balance, and push around. Take your time.

Practice regularly:Consistency is essential. Dedicate some time each day, or as often as you can, to skateboarding to build your confidence.

Focus on your flexibility and strength:Core strength and flexibility are crucial for skateboarding. Enhancing these will, in turn, improve your skateboarding.

Best boards for beginners

Enuff Completes

Enuff skateboards are well-shaped with a medium concave and a pronounced nose and tail, making them ideal for learning tricks and eventually transitioning to larger skateboards. They are designed to be versatile, easy to use, and suitable for both street and ramp skating.

Renner Completes

Renner skateboards are considered suitable for beginners because they provide excellent quality at an affordable price. Many models are specifically designed for beginner to intermediate skill levels. With a 31" long by 7.75" wide concave deck featuring nose and tail kicks, they allow beginner skaters to learn new tricks while keeping their feet secure with the full 80S Grip Tape.

image

Rampage Completes

Rampage boards are generally more affordable than many other brands, making them a budget-friendly option for new skaters. Despite the lower price, Rampage boards are constructed with quality materials like 7-ply maple decks, which are designed to withstand beginner falls and the learning process. Similar to the Enuff, this board features a double kicktail deck, which allows for easy popping tricks from either end of the board, which is beneficial for beginners learning basic maneuvers.

Additional considerations:

As a beginner, wearing safety gear is particularly important. Helmets, gloves, knee pads and elbow pads are all essential to protect yourself from falls. Skateboarding can be challenging initially, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Skateboarding is physically demanding, so it's important to take this into account before starting the sport. If you already lead an active lifestyle or enjoy sports, skateboarding could fit naturally. That being said, listen to your body, start slowly, and don't push too hard too soon. Warm up before skating and stretch afterward to minimize the risk of injury.