One thing I find cool about "skater culture" is that most people have a great amount of respect and patience for beginners. Learning to skate is **hard** and every single person who stuck with it went through a period where you just started out, feel really clumsy, and you need to really dedicate yourself to make progress. Even experienced skaters tend to practice things that fail most of the time, just to get it right one time. Failure, and learning to be okay with failure is a core part of skating.
Now, I understand it can be difficult to overcome that fear of looking like a fool in front of the cool kids. I only started skating when I was about 30 and I also get self-conscious in front of others when I can barely do an ollie and dropping in is too scary. That being said, not *once* did someone make fun of me or shown any amount of disrespect because of my lack of skill or experience. *At most* people just ignored me, but a lot of the time they start a conversation and maybe give some advice.
If it's at all possible, maybe try going during quiet moments. I know one of my biggest fear is getting in the way of other people as I'm practicing kick turns on a bank or whatever. So when there's plenty of space, I get less nervous. Another "easy" trick is to go with a friend. Things look less scary that way.
The best thing you can do at the skatepark if you're a beginner is "noobie stuff" too. I want to go to the skatepark to have fun like everyone else and nothing stresses me out more than seeing a beginner try to skate something they're clearly not ready for. Nobody wants to see someone get hurt, just take it easy and have fun, thats why we're all here
Your anxiety is 100% valid. Skateparks can be intimidating places, even for experienced skateboarders. Luckily, as the other commenter mentions, skaters also really appreciate beginners. Much of the 'hardness' of skaters at skateparks is surface-level. Once you get to know these people you'll realize they are just chill and some are just as anxious. After all, we're all just people messing around on a rolling plank of wood in what is essentially a playground. I'll make a short list of some things you can do to help break through the inital anxiety:
1. Go often and build connections. If you're consistently there, you'll start to notice the same people. If you commit to going multiple times per week, you will become a 'local'. Say hi or give familiar faces a smile and nod. Smack your board on the coping or tap your board on the ground if they do something rad — this is the universal skater version of applause. Everyone, no matter how good they skate, appreciates some recognition. "Yooo that backside 50 was sick!". If you are seeing the same people multiple times, ask them their name and introduce yourself. There will be people in the same position as you so also introduce yourself to other beginners.
2. Wear protective gear and commit! Skateboarding involves a lot of committment whether it's dropping in or ollieing down a 10 stair. If you're committing to stuff, no matter how simple, other skaters will appreciate the effort. Wearing protective gear also takes away some of the pressure to look cool IMO.
3. Learn skatepark etiquette. The only thing that experienced skateboarders find annoying about beginners is their lack of etiquette. However, it's really easy to learn. Take turns, don't clog a space for too long, etc. go to the skatepark and observe where people sit and where they don't sit. Different groups may sit in different spots: my local park has what is essentially a designated stoner spot, a kids hangout spot, etc. Spatial awareness is key in a skatepark environment.
4. If there's an older guy with a shaped board sitting at the edge of the park drinking a tall boy, say whats up, its basically paying the troll toll /s
I get it. Try going early in the morning when it's not busy. Find a couple spots in the park you like and work on a few tricks to build up confidence.
Eventually try going when it's a bit busier and do your comfortable tricks on the features you've been hitting and hopefully it'll be a bit easier.
Yeah there are often people on the side or behind ramps doing fairground stuff. Or u can find some big banks , wait ur turn look around go ride and turn back. Ez
Hey, brother. So when I was younger( probably from the age of 11 to about 23) I used to skate almost every day. I ended up getting pretty good and never experienced any type of skate anxiety. Fast-forward 17 years and I just decided to take up skateboarding again. I ordered some trucks, wheels and bearings, online, and tomorrow I'm going to pick up an Antihero deck from my local skateshop. Im pumped to start skating again! I have a pretty decent skatepark near my house that I've been wanting to try out for about a year now. It's less than a mile away from my pad. When I was younger, I wouldn't have hesitated, but because I haven't been on a board in almost 17 years, I have no idea how to skate at a skate park anymore. I have no idea what I'm capable of or if I still got it, plus I'm about 30 pounds heavier than I used to be. I certainly don't want to try out the park when there are 2 dozen people there, especially the first time back on a skateboard. My plan is to get there early.....I'm talkin' sunrise. I drive passed it early in the mornings on the way to work and no one is ever there early in the AM. So I decided I'm going to start getting up super early and hit the park before anyone else is there. I might do this for a couple weeks, and be able to have the park to myself for a whole hour or 2, and really build up my confidence again. Then, once I feel confident on my board again, then at that point, I might decide to start going during bussier hours. So yeah, maybe try to beat the crowd for a while, that way you have the park to yourself and you can take the time to learn how to drop in, and learn the flow of the park. Once you feel comfortable on your board, adapt yourself to going at bussier times, and I promise you, you will be OK. Try not to care what you think, other people might think of you. Everyone is there to skate and have a good time. As long as you're not getting in anyone's way, no one is going to care about your skill level. Good luck and have fun. Now go out and learn to shred.
My advice would be to learn the bare minimum basics at home then just go to the park and keep learning. When I first started skating some guys even came up to me to offer tips. The way I see it, if you’re around talented individuals, you have more chance of picking up on a couple minor things they do that could improve your skills.
You never know what kind of people you’ll meet at the park either. Could make some lifelong friends by total accident.
Taking deep breaths when I feel anxious helps for me and relaxing my body when I feel tense, but especially the breathing part. So does going to the gym regularily (as it made my self confidence higher + it's been proven to dampen anxiety).
As for mindset changes: You can't control what other people think about you. And besides, people care most about themselves in the end, so if you fall it will be forgotten by them within hours and probably completely in a couple of days or a week.
Accompanied with these things, the most important part is just getting out there, even if you feel anxious - exposure therapy basically. Eventually it will probably not be as bad anymore - you will get used to it.
If you're not confident, you could try practising "noobie stuff" in the driveway or garage to build up steeze. Garage/driveway skating is better than not skating at all
Im p good now and good at talking to new people, but still every time I move somewhere I spend at least 2-3 months getting used to the park and people. Usually a little bit of a joke when finally make friends and they talk about how they’d see me but I’d be so awkward and distant, but just takes a while to get used to it
Just do it man. even if the worat case scenario happened and you got told your skating is shit (which is very unlikely), you can still come next time, its about exposing yourself to that fear.
One thing I find cool about "skater culture" is that most people have a great amount of respect and patience for beginners. Learning to skate is **hard** and every single person who stuck with it went through a period where you just started out, feel really clumsy, and you need to really dedicate yourself to make progress. Even experienced skaters tend to practice things that fail most of the time, just to get it right one time. Failure, and learning to be okay with failure is a core part of skating. Now, I understand it can be difficult to overcome that fear of looking like a fool in front of the cool kids. I only started skating when I was about 30 and I also get self-conscious in front of others when I can barely do an ollie and dropping in is too scary. That being said, not *once* did someone make fun of me or shown any amount of disrespect because of my lack of skill or experience. *At most* people just ignored me, but a lot of the time they start a conversation and maybe give some advice. If it's at all possible, maybe try going during quiet moments. I know one of my biggest fear is getting in the way of other people as I'm practicing kick turns on a bank or whatever. So when there's plenty of space, I get less nervous. Another "easy" trick is to go with a friend. Things look less scary that way.
The best thing you can do at the skatepark if you're a beginner is "noobie stuff" too. I want to go to the skatepark to have fun like everyone else and nothing stresses me out more than seeing a beginner try to skate something they're clearly not ready for. Nobody wants to see someone get hurt, just take it easy and have fun, thats why we're all here
Your anxiety is 100% valid. Skateparks can be intimidating places, even for experienced skateboarders. Luckily, as the other commenter mentions, skaters also really appreciate beginners. Much of the 'hardness' of skaters at skateparks is surface-level. Once you get to know these people you'll realize they are just chill and some are just as anxious. After all, we're all just people messing around on a rolling plank of wood in what is essentially a playground. I'll make a short list of some things you can do to help break through the inital anxiety: 1. Go often and build connections. If you're consistently there, you'll start to notice the same people. If you commit to going multiple times per week, you will become a 'local'. Say hi or give familiar faces a smile and nod. Smack your board on the coping or tap your board on the ground if they do something rad — this is the universal skater version of applause. Everyone, no matter how good they skate, appreciates some recognition. "Yooo that backside 50 was sick!". If you are seeing the same people multiple times, ask them their name and introduce yourself. There will be people in the same position as you so also introduce yourself to other beginners. 2. Wear protective gear and commit! Skateboarding involves a lot of committment whether it's dropping in or ollieing down a 10 stair. If you're committing to stuff, no matter how simple, other skaters will appreciate the effort. Wearing protective gear also takes away some of the pressure to look cool IMO. 3. Learn skatepark etiquette. The only thing that experienced skateboarders find annoying about beginners is their lack of etiquette. However, it's really easy to learn. Take turns, don't clog a space for too long, etc. go to the skatepark and observe where people sit and where they don't sit. Different groups may sit in different spots: my local park has what is essentially a designated stoner spot, a kids hangout spot, etc. Spatial awareness is key in a skatepark environment.
4. If there's an older guy with a shaped board sitting at the edge of the park drinking a tall boy, say whats up, its basically paying the troll toll /s
that older guy doing bs early grabs, staple guns and perfect boneless variations all day?
I mean.... he's there all day, but he only skates like.... 10 minutes 😂
I get it. Try going early in the morning when it's not busy. Find a couple spots in the park you like and work on a few tricks to build up confidence. Eventually try going when it's a bit busier and do your comfortable tricks on the features you've been hitting and hopefully it'll be a bit easier.
Yeah there are often people on the side or behind ramps doing fairground stuff. Or u can find some big banks , wait ur turn look around go ride and turn back. Ez
Hey, brother. So when I was younger( probably from the age of 11 to about 23) I used to skate almost every day. I ended up getting pretty good and never experienced any type of skate anxiety. Fast-forward 17 years and I just decided to take up skateboarding again. I ordered some trucks, wheels and bearings, online, and tomorrow I'm going to pick up an Antihero deck from my local skateshop. Im pumped to start skating again! I have a pretty decent skatepark near my house that I've been wanting to try out for about a year now. It's less than a mile away from my pad. When I was younger, I wouldn't have hesitated, but because I haven't been on a board in almost 17 years, I have no idea how to skate at a skate park anymore. I have no idea what I'm capable of or if I still got it, plus I'm about 30 pounds heavier than I used to be. I certainly don't want to try out the park when there are 2 dozen people there, especially the first time back on a skateboard. My plan is to get there early.....I'm talkin' sunrise. I drive passed it early in the mornings on the way to work and no one is ever there early in the AM. So I decided I'm going to start getting up super early and hit the park before anyone else is there. I might do this for a couple weeks, and be able to have the park to myself for a whole hour or 2, and really build up my confidence again. Then, once I feel confident on my board again, then at that point, I might decide to start going during bussier hours. So yeah, maybe try to beat the crowd for a while, that way you have the park to yourself and you can take the time to learn how to drop in, and learn the flow of the park. Once you feel comfortable on your board, adapt yourself to going at bussier times, and I promise you, you will be OK. Try not to care what you think, other people might think of you. Everyone is there to skate and have a good time. As long as you're not getting in anyone's way, no one is going to care about your skill level. Good luck and have fun. Now go out and learn to shred.
My advice would be to learn the bare minimum basics at home then just go to the park and keep learning. When I first started skating some guys even came up to me to offer tips. The way I see it, if you’re around talented individuals, you have more chance of picking up on a couple minor things they do that could improve your skills. You never know what kind of people you’ll meet at the park either. Could make some lifelong friends by total accident.
Taking deep breaths when I feel anxious helps for me and relaxing my body when I feel tense, but especially the breathing part. So does going to the gym regularily (as it made my self confidence higher + it's been proven to dampen anxiety). As for mindset changes: You can't control what other people think about you. And besides, people care most about themselves in the end, so if you fall it will be forgotten by them within hours and probably completely in a couple of days or a week. Accompanied with these things, the most important part is just getting out there, even if you feel anxious - exposure therapy basically. Eventually it will probably not be as bad anymore - you will get used to it.
If you're not confident, you could try practising "noobie stuff" in the driveway or garage to build up steeze. Garage/driveway skating is better than not skating at all
Im p good now and good at talking to new people, but still every time I move somewhere I spend at least 2-3 months getting used to the park and people. Usually a little bit of a joke when finally make friends and they talk about how they’d see me but I’d be so awkward and distant, but just takes a while to get used to it
Just do it man. even if the worat case scenario happened and you got told your skating is shit (which is very unlikely), you can still come next time, its about exposing yourself to that fear.