You would possibly suppose carrying a helmet will make you appear to be a poser, however the actuality is skaters do not truly care for those who’ve acquired one on. There’s truthfully no cause to be self-conscious about this. Get a skate helmet from Triple Eight, which inserts oval-shaped heads finest ($60 on Amazon, (*21*)). For rounder heads like mine, strive a helmet from Pro-Tec or S1. Make a degree to place it on anytime you exit for a session, have enjoyable, and preserve your self from a potential traumatic mind harm. Pay the small additional payment to get an ASTM 1492-certified mannequin, which ANSI designates particularly for skateboarding security.
Pad Up
If you are a brand new skater, you are going to fall … and for those who’re an skilled skater, you are going to fall. Like helmets, a set of pads will help preserve you out of pressing care. If you’ve got a day job utilizing your palms (at the same time as a keyboard jockey), it is smart to slide in your elbow pads and, possibly much more importantly, wrist guards. Knee pads are key too. It feels nice to drag myself off the bottom after a failed trick try (or 5) and stroll away with no throbbing in my palms or joints. 187 Killer Pads makes a terrific pad set. Get it for $59 from 187 Killer Pads, or for $73 from Amazon. Pro-Tec’s $43 option is nice too, and a bit cheaper for youths.
Beginners may need to sport a set of padded shorts ($50 and up) beneath their pants; they’re going to actually save your ass.
Quarter-Pipe Kit
1 / 4-pipe (even a small one which’s not fairly a full quarter) is a number of enjoyable for all skaters. My recommendation is to dig up some plans, ask properly for wooden scraps at a development website, and get constructing. But if you wish to make sure you’ve acquired a high quality setup, you would possibly go for a ramp package that provides CNC-cut, predrilled plywood and lumber, steel coping, a metal sheet for the brink, and all the required fasteners—you simply want a driver to pop all of it collectively.
OC Ramps affords a number of package choices; I’ve their 3-foot quarter-pipe ramp ($389) and my very own DIY micro-quarter ramp linked along with some masonite in my storage to make a cool, mismatched mini ramp that is a ton of enjoyable to skate on wet days. Keen Ramps is one other high quality ramp package producer to contemplate.
Park Spotting
The Skatepark Project app by the Tony Hawk Foundation (iPhone solely, Android customers can use the functionally comparable Smap app) affords a virtually full itemizing of parks with person pictures, 3D aerial maps, and iconography for park options. Don’t see a favourite spot on the app? The database is person generated, so you may add it your self. I simply did precisely that with a park close to my of us’ home, the truth is.
If cruising road spots is extra to your liking, the ShredSpots app covers the steps, curbs, ditches, and ledges that many skaters take into account skateboarding’s pure terrain.
Totes Magotes
When you do head out to skate completely different locations, you may in all probability simply toss your board and helmet within the trunk of your automotive. Add your pads and stuff and it is good to have a bag to hold the whole lot. I exploit a kind of huge blue Ikea luggage for my gear—it is big, has hand and shoulder straps, and costs only 99 cents. Requires no pondering, simply toss issues in and go.
When I’m doing one thing a bit fancier, I exploit a $60 skateboard carry bag by OID. I can put on it like a backpack, as a sling, or carry it like a duffel bag. There are some cheaper variations on Amazon, however the ones I’ve tried are typically undersize and susceptible to snagging. In fact, nevertheless, you do not see many skaters utilizing these.
Vacation/enterprise journey tip: Most airways will truly allow you to carry in your board and retailer it within the overhead compartment. I discover it extra handy to stash mine in my oversize suitcase as checked baggage. The board matches diagonally (I wrap it in an previous towel or use that OID bag to maintain the grip tape from scuffing my slacks); my helmet and skate footwear go subsequent to that, and there is nonetheless loads of room for my day-to-day garments. Use your skate park app to scout out some spots close to your vacation spot and plan for an early morning or later-evening session. So a lot tidier than lugging your golf golf equipment with you—and a lot cooler too.
