Why You Should Try Skateboarding
Last spring, like many of you, I was spending a lot of time cooped up indoors and after a while it started to feel like most of my free time was spent on my phone or watching Netflix. While watching the entirety of Avatar the Last Airbender was great and all, it did leave me feeling awfully unproductive. This period of time really drove home just how much I needed to cultivate a hobby. A lot of prospective hobbies are done sitting inside – which is something I had already been doing entirely too much of –and I knew I needed it to be something outside and active. I also knew that without a job at the time, I wanted it to be cheap and accessible, which right off the bat eliminated a wide swath of hobbies.
This is when I began to zero in on skating. It would be a way for me to get some sun and the startup cost would be no more than the cost of shoes and a board which can be as little as $200. Another unexpected benefit of the hobby was how much of a workout it can be. Jumping on a skateboard or pushing around for 5 minutes may not seem so bad, but try doing that for an hour or two and you’ll see just how tiring it can be. As someone who despises cardio I found myself enjoying the workout while skateboarding
Beyond cardio, skating is a sport that focuses on balance and with a little practice anyone can improve. If a year ago you had told me it would be possible for me to jump on a board with a backpack on, flying through campus while balancing on one foot, I wouldn’t have believed you, but today it's no problem. Gaining balance is definitely formed through trial and error. You’ll certainly lose your footing a lot at the start but in no time the board will feel incredibly natural under your feet. A great way for beginners to quickly develop this balance is to simply stand on the motionless board in your room on one foot. You can incrementally do this for a longer amount of time, and then progress to standing on one foot while rolling.
As much as I love the physical benefits of skateboarding, the mental benefits are arguably better. In general, having a hobby is a great way to escape from the problems of the day, even if it’s just for a little while. As someone who can get pretty stressed out, I’ve started to use skateboarding and working out as a release from internal and external stressors. It may sound cliche, but when I put my music in, step out into the sun, and cruise around campus or practice whatever trick I’m working on at the moment, my problems just melt away.
Above all else, the most rewarding part of my skateboarding experience has been the trick progression. There is no established order for which tricks to learn first and the progression is totally what you want to make of it. Seeing yourself go from barely being able to ollie to hitting your first kickflip will feel as big of an accomplishment as anything. I find myself constantly watching YouTube videos when I’m not skating to get an edge to land that next trick. Every little bit of progress just keeps you even more invested in the sport.