Skateboard Beginner Skills Practice

A skateboard (a complete board from a skate shop is better than a toy store board)

Helmet (skateboard-certified, not a bike helmet)

Knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards

A flat, smooth paved area with no traffic

Safety gear on. All of it. Helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards. No exceptions for beginners. Falls are guaranteed.

Find your stance. Stand beside the board. If you lead with your left foot, you're "regular." Right foot forward is "goofy." Try both and see which feels natural.

Place the board on flat ground and step on. Front foot near the front trucks (the metal axles), angled slightly toward the nose. Back foot on the tail (the curved-up end). Just stand and balance. Rock side to side gently.

Push off. Keep your front foot on the board pointing forward. Step your back foot on the ground beside the board and push backward, like a scooter. One push, then place your back foot back on the board and glide.

Glide in a straight line. Arms out for balance. Knees slightly bent. Eyes forward, not down. Let the board carry you.

Turn by leaning. Lean toward your toes and the board turns one way. Lean toward your heels and it turns the other. Start with wide, gentle turns.

Stop by dragging your back foot flat on the ground beside the board. This is the foot brake. It's not elegant, but it works reliably.

Once you can push, glide, turn, and stop, you can navigate any flat area. The skate park can wait until these fundamentals are solid.

A quality complete board from a skate shop ($60-80) rolls straighter, turns better, and lasts longer than a $20 toy store board. It makes learning significantly easier.

Wrist guards are the most important pad. Beginners instinctively catch themselves with their hands when they fall. Wrist guards prevent the most common skateboard injury.

Practice on the smoothest surface available. Rough pavement, cracks, and pebbles are the enemy of beginner skaters.

Falling is part of skateboarding. Teach your child to fall forward onto knee pads and wrist guards, or to roll when falling backward. Controlled falling is a skill.

Skateboarding builds balance, proprioception, and resilience like almost no other activity. The persistence required to land new skills teaches grit.