There have been a few stories where an adult pushing 40 skateboards with his kids, thus promoting a sense of parental bonding between parent and child, and probably perform a few tricks of his own. Of course it doesn’t mean he’d go professional, otherwise Tony Hawk would still be competing.

There are a lot of things to know about when anyone wants to skateboard for fun or health reasons. Considering the fun factor involved, it takes a great deal of determination and a few scratches and bumps along the way.

The basic gear needed when it comes to skateboarding are a few things, mainly the skateboard itself, whether bought or borrowed, and some protective gear such as helmets and pads. It wouldn’t help a person’s self-esteem to see a couple of teenagers without such protection, but nowadays, skateboard parks require that every skater must have a helmet and protection. A good pair of shoes would be good, but better if skate shoes are purchased since it offers more grip on the skateboard.

The basics when using a skateboard for the first time is getting to know the skateboard. The best place to practice is where there’s minimal risk to injury, such as on a carpet or lawn. Standing on the skateboard and getting the feel of it, and try a few maneuvers like jumping on it. This sort of preparation is vital to know about the skateboard being used.

There are only a few people that can be ambidextrous, but knowing which foot goes on the board and the other for kicking would be vital. One way of knowing is to imagine kicking a ball and see which foot goes. It’s like finding the dominant foot to begin with. There are two types of stances when it comes to skateboarding, which are regular, where the left foot is used, and goofy, which is the right foot. Knowing where the dominant foot is would help with some of the skateboarding basics.

Once the basics have been mastered, it wouldn’t be embarrassing to fall off the skateboard a few times, so much like falling off a bike or getting a fresh scratch from a car. When it comes to that and want to stop, there are a few ways to do it, and the usual ones for beginners is to jump off while in motion if a collision is imminent. Turning requires the use of toeside or heelside, to move the weight of the body as they want to turn to a different direction.

Practice makes perfect.

The Patriot-News

PALMYRA — A 15-year-old borough boy has been cited for riding his skateboard in the street.

The boy had been riding in the 1st block of South College Street around 9 p.m. Thursday when police decided to file a non-traffic citation against him, police said.

The boy had violated a borough ordinance, which prohibits riding a skateboard on any borough roadway and on sidewalks in the business district, police said.

The same boy has been cited for riding his skateboard in the street three times before, police said.

Article source: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/palmyra_teen_cited_for_riding.html

LONDON – Rupert Murdoch’s News International has succeeded in settling nearly all the cases in the first wave of …

Article source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/skateboard-park-grinds-way-forward-ubc-023200109.html

It probably took the rest of the world some 20 or so years to embrace the concept of skateboarding. Of course, there might be a few here and there, and mainly as an after-school activity. But there has been a lot of excitement, especially during big competitions in Asia alone and have been producing some of the best talents when it comes to vert and street skateboarding categories.

Thailand has been a home for the Asian X-Games, where a gathering of some of the best action players in different categories that also include vert and street skateboarding. Looking into the trend, some of the top contenders are mainly China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia.

China, especially in major cities like in Shanghai, are no strangers when it comes to skateboarding. Some of the best Asian skateboarders have been competing in the Asian X-Games as well as the World Skateboard Cup usually held in Europe. Annual events have been set up on Shanghai, inviting both local and foreign skateboarders to compete for the cash prize that may reach up to $5,000.

In Japan, there are a few skateboarders, yet sometimes it tends to be outlawed, especially in crowded cities such as Tokyo. Although there is no such ban for skateboarding, there have been a few designated skateparks within and at the outskirts of the city itself. These skateparks were once used mostly by in-line skaters, once a rage in the country and would often compete in the X-Games in the US.

Although the fad has yet to die down, a good number of skateboarders can be found almost all over the place, as long as no local authorities are around to stop them.

Skateboarders in the Philippines are usually in small numbers, yet small competitions, usually held within communities, have encouraged a lot of these skateboarders to win the crowd with their tricks and street performances. Often as a past time, they never seem to take it too seriously and often popular with family members as well for those who want to spend a bit of quality time with their children.

Australia happens to be a big fan of skateboarding, followed by other action sports that they often hold skateboarding tournaments no more than ten times in a year. Usually held in major cities, and with the follow-up to qualify for the Asian X-Games in Thailand, it’s often a very competitive sport for the Land Down Under.

1. Calf Pasture Skatepark

The Calf Pasture Skatepark is located on Calf Pasture Beach Road in Norwalk. It is an outdoor skatepark that features a manual pad, pyramid, ledges, quarter-pipe, bank, stair set and rails. Remember to put your helmet and pads on before you go as the use of proper safety equipment is required. It is open daily, weather permitting.

2. Groton Skate Park

The Groton Skate Park is located within the confines of Sutton Park off Poquonnock Road in Groton. It is an outdoor skatepark that features various transitions, a grinding rail and ledges. The use of proper safety equipment is required and the park is open daily from dawn until dusk.

3. Graham Dickinson Spirit Skate Park

The Graham Dickinson Spirit Skate Park is located in Ridgefield. The outdoor park is seasonal and is open from the spring through the end of fall. A signed waiver of liability is required as is the wearing of safety gear. An admission fee is charged. Prices vary based on when you visit. You may expect to pay $5 or more to access the skatepark. The park features concrete ledges, rails and transitions.

4. Comp Beach Skateboard Park

The Compo Beach Skateboard Park is located in Westport and consists of an asphalt surface with dual half-pipes and a series of ramps and rails. There is an $8 to $10 per person admission fee and hours of operation vary. The park is seasonal and maintains hours of operation from April through October. The use of full safety gear is mandatory.

5. City of Milford Skate Park

The City of Milford maintains a small concrete and asphalt skatepark on Washington Street as part of the E.T. Austin Sports Complex. It is open at various times each day, year round. Helmets are required and access to the park is gratis.

6. Short Beach Skate Park

There is a free outdoor skatepark located within Short Beach Park in Stratford. The use of full safety gear is required and the park is open daily spring through fall. Admission is free. It is an asphalt based park with pyramids, rails and ledges.

My children are skaters and I have a history of following the sport.

More from this contributor:

5 Connecticut Skate Shops You Should Check Out Before Spring

Food and Beverage Sponsorships for Skateboarding Events

University of British Columbia Poised to Set Trend in Skate

Changes at Emerica Leaves Szafranski a Free Agent: A Sign of the Times

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Article source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss//SIG=11m38punr/*http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10932329

1. Calf Pasture Skatepark

The Calf Pasture Skatepark is located on Calf Pasture Beach Road in Norwalk. It is an outdoor skatepark that features a manual pad, pyramid, ledges, quarter-pipe, bank, stair set and rails. Remember to put your helmet and pads on before you go as the use of proper safety equipment is required. It is open daily, weather permitting.

2. Groton Skate Park

The Groton Skate Park is located within the confines of Sutton Park off Poquonnock Road in Groton. It is an outdoor skatepark that features various transitions, a grinding rail and ledges. The use of proper safety equipment is required and the park is open daily from dawn until dusk.

3. Graham Dickinson Spirit Skate Park

The Graham Dickinson Spirit Skate Park is located in Ridgefield. The outdoor park is seasonal and is open from the spring through the end of fall. A signed waiver of liability is required as is the wearing of safety gear. An admission fee is charged. Prices vary based on when you visit. You may expect to pay $5 or more to access the skatepark. The park features concrete ledges, rails and transitions.

4. Comp Beach Skateboard Park

The Compo Beach Skateboard Park is located in Westport and consists of an asphalt surface with dual half-pipes and a series of ramps and rails. There is an $8 to $10 per person admission fee and hours of operation vary. The park is seasonal and maintains hours of operation from April through October. The use of full safety gear is mandatory.

5. City of Milford Skate Park

The City of Milford maintains a small concrete and asphalt skatepark on Washington Street as part of the E.T. Austin Sports Complex. It is open at various times each day, year round. Helmets are required and access to the park is gratis.

6. Short Beach Skate Park

There is a free outdoor skatepark located within Short Beach Park in Stratford. The use of full safety gear is required and the park is open daily spring through fall. Admission is free. It is an asphalt based park with pyramids, rails and ledges.

My children are skaters and I have a history of following the sport.

More from this contributor:

5 Connecticut Skate Shops You Should Check Out Before Spring

Food and Beverage Sponsorships for Skateboarding Events

University of British Columbia Poised to Set Trend in Skate

Changes at Emerica Leaves Szafranski a Free Agent: A Sign of the Times

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Article source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss//SIG=11m38punr/*http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10932329

Whether you’re passionate about skateboarding, or your friend is interested in learning
skateboarding, you can be assured of one thing, it’s definitely worth every minute and pain to pick up this cool sport. Or if you’re a parent who is looking for a hobby for your child to pass time, you may
want to consider skateboarding before others. Although being new to
skateboarding can be tough, it can also be very rewarding and enjoyable. If
that is not enough, here is a list of why you should learn skateboarding
today:

1. It’s new and challenging!
If you the sort of person always constantly looking for something new and
interesting to try out, then skateboarding is just what you have been looking
for. Over the recent years, this unique sport has gained mass popularity with
many sponsored competition, street courses, and kick-butt indoor skate parks
for you to display your skill. Not only does it offer a new experience every
time you try a different ramp, trick, or skill, you can also ensure your brain
will stays active and mentally challenged to your limits. (unlike surfing,
which you can only surf on ocean waves).

2. It helps you in staying fit!
Yes, believe it. Skateboarding is a form of exercise! It is not hard to break a
sweat during skateboarding as it is a very aerobic‘exercise’. The most important thing about skateboarding is maintaining that perfect
balance at all times and by doing so, your core will gain strength and an
excellent workout for your legs. Hence, that is why most hardcore skateboarders
are lean and tough.

3. It can build your character!
Trying to learn a new skill or trick is no easy feat, let alone creating a
totally new move, but for skateboarders who are passionate about it, every
scrap from the falls and tumbles will be worth it once they have mastered it.
Not only does it give you the bragging rights to at your friends (although it
is a big plus in itself!), it also instils confidence and strength in yourself
and proud of your unique ability that not every other person can simply
achieved. Through continuous hard work, time and patience, it sends out a
powerful message to all skateboarders that‘Nothing is impossible when you set your heart to do it!’

4. It’s a great way to make new buddies!
There is definitely no denying that skateboarding open up the door to a whole
new circle of friends. Whenever you pick up a hobby such as skateboarding, you
will very likely meet other interesting people who share similar interest with
you regardless of age. Opportunities will be abundant for you to talk to these
new people whether you are looking for skateboarding gear in a store, joining a
local competition or just skateboarding in your skating park. After all, who
wouldn’t be impressed by a few cool skateboarding tricks?

5. It is just simply fun!
After listing down all the above advantages of skateboarding, it still boils
down to the fun factor in the end. And honestly, skateboarding is a whole new
level of fun to have, which unlike the fun of reading a book or watching a new
TV series, skateboarding is an adrenaline pumping activity straight down to
your toes sort of fun. Every time you learn a new trick, or nail that ramp the
way you imagined it, every corner and every leap will absolutely make your
heart pounding with excitement! To simply put it– Skateboarding rocks!

Ok, so with 36 wheels in total (3 per set, 9 per tread) you’re probably not going to be pulling off any tricks with this thing, but that’s not why it was created. The large free-wheeling treads make the Descender usable on almost any surface, whether it’s grass, snow, or even rocky terrain. So you’re able to use it all-year-round wherever you want to.

Ironically it’s probably not actually going to be useful for impressing your friends at your local skatepark, but recklessly careening down a mountainside provides more of a thrill anyways. Available sometime this spring, for kids, teens, and adults, as long as they’re under 200 pounds. [Rockboard via Coolest Gadgets]

Article source: http://gizmodo.com/5882247/treaded-skateboard-turns-any-mountain-into-your-halfpipe

About the Skateboard

RB Rockboard has created a bright little number called the Radiate Skateboard. It’s part skateboard and part, well, night light. The skateboard comes clad with a rechargeable LED light system that rims the bottom edges of the skate deck. There are over 40 lights in all and when fully charged they’ll undoubtedly get the homies talking about your sparkling skatepark entrance. So be prepared. With such a high profile glow about your feet, you’d better have the skating skills necessary to annihilate the asphalt or the forethought to map out the nearest and quickest skatepark exit before you go. One other caveat I should mention. The skateboard is said to accommodate riders up to 90 pounds, so you’ll need to be light on your feet in order to take a ride. The skateboard comes in a variety of colors and graphics like Rasta, Burst and orange. It comes with 95A wheels, ABEC 5 bearings, 90A bushings and aluminum cast trucks.

Where You Can See It

The skateboard is expected to retail for $99 and be available online as well as through select retail locations. If you want to see this skateboard up close and don’t live near any of the designated retail locations, you have one other option providing that you’re also a member of the toy industry. You may opt to head to the American International Toy Fair this month where the skateboard will be on display. The fair is set to take place in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and showroom locations from February 12 through the 15, 2012.

Similar Skateboards

The Radiate Skateboard may be the latest one to sport an LED system but it’s not the first. There are several others including a more expensive longboard made by Flexdex. It is called the Clear29 LT and comes with GullWing Trucks, ABEC 5 bearings and see-through wheels. The Clear29 LT tends to retail for $170.

My children are skaters and I have a history of following the sport.

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About the Company

Arniko Skateboards is based in Nepal and uses a blend of Swiss design and Himalayan tradition to create its skateboards. The decks are constructed from various types of wood veneer like most skate decks, but that is where the similarity ends. The blank decks are then turned over to local craftsmen who are based in the Kathmandu District of Patan. The district is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which only makes these skateboards even more exceptional. The craftsmen work their magic, giving each skateboard a unique look. The decks are then sent back to Arter for the addition of trucks and wheels. In my opinion, these skateboards are a thing of beauty and adding traditional grip tape to them would be downright criminal. Check them out online and make that decision for yourselves.

About the Skateboards

Purchasing an Arniko Skateboard may not bring you inner peace or good karma but it will definitely give you a skateboard worth cherishing. The skateboards come in three styles (classic, Makalu and eighties). Classic decks are 67 cm x 17 cm. Makalu decks are 63.5 cm x 19.5 cm and eighties decks are 67 cm x 23 cm. You may expect to pay $217 or more per skateboard. You may purchase the skateboards online or through select dealers noted on the company’s website.

Other Artists

Arter is just one of many who have used skateboards as a canvas. To my knowledge, however, his are the first ones to be hand carved in Nepal and completely functional. In the spring of 2011, German museum curator Tobias Megerle had a dozen Mahim woodcarvers in Mumbai create stunning skateboards for an exhibit entitled Final Cut. The skateboards, despite being aesthetically pleasing, were not practical. They were skate art pieces for art’s sake and not art for skate’s sake. Other skate artists known to use wood carving or wood burning techniques include Piotr Woronkowicz and George Peterson. Unlike those three, Arter’s skateboards are pieces of art meant to be ridden.

My children are skateboards and I have a history of following the sport.

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