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11 Magic Skateboarding Tips that Will Quickly Make You Better

There are things we do wrong…And we don’t know that we’re doing things wrong until someone tells us that.

Skateboarding is no exception.

Many skaters are missing crucial advice to help them take their game to the next level.

Today’s article is on 11 skateboard tips that will help improve your skills. After reading it, you’ll know what you need to do, to get better.

1. Tighten your back trucks for a bit more stability

Bombing hills? An easy trick for more stability is to simply tighten up your back truck. Speed wobbles come from the back truck.

It’s key you get it locked down if you want to be stable when going quick. Just be careful you don’t over tighten it so you can still turn.

Alternatively, you can also pick up a set of new trucks if you’re looking for stability. Venture trucks are known for being more stable than other skate trucks.

They sit lower than other trucks and have a wider turning circle. This helps them feel more stable as you pick up speed. Check out these trucks here on Amazon.com.

2. Changing your grip will make everything a lot better!

Do you find yourself slipping off your board often? Is your board not responding to your flicks the way it used to? Is it simply harder to get tricks down? Sounds like you need to replace your grip.

Replacing your grip can be a magic pill to skating well again. Unsurprisingly, a lot of skaters don’t change their grip often enough and skate worn-out grip way past its expiry date. Simply changing the grip on their skateboard deck,  can make it feel new again.

3. A narrow board makes it easier to do some tricks

When you flick your board, it has to spin 360* before you can catch it. Science tells us that a narrower board will flip around quicker. If you’re looking to have snappy tricks and a board that flips easier, you should consider a narrower board.

Some people say narrower decks are a bit hard to skate, but I can’t tell that much of a difference. I also think it’s worth trying ou as it might add a lot to your game.

If you’re looking for a narrower deck, consider this 7.75inch wide deck from Element. Made with USA grown Maple, this deck is simply high-quality. There’s a reason Nyjah rides for them. Find it here on Amazon.com. 

4. Lighter gear make tricks easier

Wondering why you can’t pop an ollie as high as the next guy? Well, a lot of it has to do with technique and strength. But something people overlook, is simply how light your deck is.

Simply put, a lighter board means less weight to pick up off the ground.

To make your setup lighter, you can pick up lighter trucks (like forged Indys) or get a composite deck.

5. Don’t rest your back foot on the kicktail!

This habit is ok when you’re just cruising around and doing tricks. However, it is a really bad habit when bombing hills. It makes you place a lot of weight over your back trucks, and it becomes a lot easier to get speed wobbles.

If you want more stability, simply rest your back foot over the back bolts instead of the kicktail.

The challenging thing is that some people will find this position to be uncomfortable. I suggest they consider picking up a longer board for skating downhill.

6. Buying new bushings will make your trucks like new!

Bushings are essentially the ‘suspension’ of your skateboard. They go in your trucks and control how they lean and turn.

If you’ve been using the same trucks for a while now, chances are the bushings are worn out.

Getting fresh bushings will make your trucks work like new and can feel like a booster shot to your skills and skate experience.

7. Take breaks

Now I’m not saying the ‘skate everyday’ lifestyle is bad, but it isn’t the best if you’re trying to be the best. 

Taking breaks from skating allows your body to recover. It allows your muscles to repair themselves and for your brain to develop neural pathways that help make you a better skater.

It’s crazy, but have you ever struggled with a trick one day, but done it first try after taking a substantial break? 

It sounds like opposite logic, but I would say rest is as important as skating often.

8. Stretch and workout

OK, not as ‘quick’ as the other methods, but stretching and working out will improve your strength, stamina and muscle coordination. In a nutshell, the gains you get from training are transferable and often improve your skating. You’ll be pushing further, ollieing higher, and landing easier from big tricks. Finally, your muscles won’t feel sore or tired out after a heavy skate session, you’ll be able to take and dish out more.

9. Use your skateboard to get around

This skateboarding tip is absolute magic for beginners. Beginners often feel quite awkward and uncomfortable on skateboards. They simply need to get used to being on board as quickly as possible. Skating often forces their body to get used to and to be comfortable on top of a skateboard deck.

Then, the challenge isn’t being awkward onboard anymore. They can then focus on learning beginner skateboard tricks and doing more advanced things.

10. Wearing safety gear will give you a huge confidence boost

It’s crazy, but safety gear will give you the boost you need to tackle bigger and scarier tricks. Scared of going down a set of stairs? A full set of safety pads will give you the guts you need to make the jump.

It’s simple, you stop worrying about safety and instead focus on getting the tricks done. If you’re looking for a decent set of beginner pads, the Triple 8 Saver series pads are a good set to get started with. Find them here on Amazon.com.

11. Learn different tricks

If you’re struggling with landing a trick, try learning a different one.

Usually, skills between tricks are transferable and learning one could improve how you do another.

Simply put, you could struggle with one trick, but something you learn doing another could give you that eureka moment, to get the first trick down.

Which tip was most useful to you?

It is often hard to find a magic pill that will instantly make you a better skater. My skateboarding tips will improve your game, but you should expect that skating will still be challenging in other ways.

That said, I think the maintenance tips are underrated. Changing your bushings and griptape will make your set up ride better and in turn, let you skate better too.