You may think that wearing a helmet will make you look like a classy person, but skateboarding don’t really care if you have one on. Honestly, there’s no reason to be self-conscious about this. Get a skating helmet from Three eightmost suitable for oval head ($60 on Amazon, $70 from Triple Eight). For rounder heads like mine, try wearing ‘s helmet Pro-Tec or S1. Remember to wear it any time you go out, have fun, and keep yourself free of possible traumatic brain injury. Pay a small extra fee to receive a model certified to ASTM 1492, which ANSI specifies specifically for skateboarding safety.
Cushion up
If you are a new skater, you will fall… and if you are an experienced skater, you will fall. Like a helmet, a set of pads can keep you from needing urgent care. If you have a daily job that involves your hands (even typing), you should wear elbow pads and maybe even more importantly, wrist guards. Knee pads are also key. It feels great to pull yourself off the ground after one failed trick attempt (or five) and walk away without a sharp pain in your hand or joint. 187 Killer Pads make for a great set of pads. Get it for $59 from 187 Killer Padsor $73 from Amazon. Pro-Tec’s $43 Option also good and a bit cheaper for kids.
Beginners may also want to play a set padded shorts ($50 and up) under their pants; they will literally save your ass.
1/4 . hose set
A quarter tube (even a small quarter tube is not a full quarter) is a delight for all figure skaters. My advice is to dig up some plans, ask for wood chips at a construction site and build a structure. But if you want to make sure you’ve got a quality setup, you can opt for a ramp toolkit that offers CNC-cut plywood and lumber, pre-cut, metal cladding, a steel plate for the threshold and all necessary latch — you only need one driver to put it all together.
OC ramp offers a wide variety of kit options; I have their 3 foot long pipe ramp ($389) and my own do-it-yourself micro-quadrant ramp connected together with some masonite in my garage to form a fun, mismatched little ramp that’s fun to skate into rainy days. Keen Ramps is another quality ramp manufacturer to consider.
Park Spotting
Skatepark project Tony Hawk Foundation’s app (iPhone only, Android users can use Smap app) provides a nearly complete list of parks with user photos, 3D aerial maps, and visualizations for park features. Don’t see a favorite location on the app? The database is user generated, so you can add it yourself. I just did exactly that with a park near my house, in fact.
If you prefer to travel to street spots, then ShredSpots Applications include stairs, curbs, tracks, and ledges that many skaters consider the natural terrain of skateboarding.
Total Magotes
When you go skating in different places, you will probably just throw your board and helmet in the trunk of your car. Add your pads and belongings and it’s great to have a bag to carry everything. I use one of those big blue Ikea bags for my gear — it’s huge, has hand and shoulder straps, and price only 99 cents. No thinking, just throw everything in and go.
When I do something a little weirder, I use OID’s $60 Skateboard Bag. I can wear it as a backpack, as a sling, or carry it as a duffle bag. There are a few cheaper versions on Amazon, but the ones I’ve tried are usually smaller in size and break easily. In practice, however, you don’t see many skaters using them.
Vacation/Business Tip: Most airlines will actually allow you to bring it on board and store it in the overhead compartment. I find it more convenient to store my belongings in an oversized suitcase as checked baggage. The board fits diagonally (I wrap it in an old towel or use that OID bag to keep the duct tape from tearing my pants); My helmet and skates go next to that, and there’s still plenty of room for my everyday clothes. Use your skate park app to find some spots near your destination and plan for an early morning or later evening. Much neater than carrying a golf club with you — and a lot cooler, too.
