3 main questions.Need help!Thanks in advance!

[Learner]

Hi there.I'm a new member in this forum.I just started my interests in skateboarding recently,although i had a couple of falls,i think skateboarding is really fun!
Anyway,i have 3 main questions to ask skateboarders in this forum,hopefully i will get answers.Thanks in advance!
Questions
1.When i push my skateboard using my pushing foot,why can't i go straight and balance ? How can i improve on those ?
2.Why can't i go fast on the skateboard and coast for a longer period of time instead of just 2-3 seconds ? How can i improve on those ?
3.I understand the leading foot and pushing foot should be facing the front when pushing,and to the side when on the board,how do u switch the sides from front to the side ?

Thanks!!!

[Sidewalksurfer]

hey.
yeah they are pretty easy problems to overcome really..

1.are you skating in mongo? like when you push is it your front foot that pushes or your back foot? pushing with the front foot and leaving the back foot on the board is pushing mongo, and if youre doing this, stop now, it looks kinda ugly and can be offputting, and make you lose balance sometimes. another reason may be your trucks arent tight enough, some people like them tight, some people loose, try tightening them a bit (tighten the big bolt on the bottom of the truck) and see how that goes. another may be when you push, the foot you leave on the board may be slightly to the side, so is making the board turn a little, try moving it around a bit and see how it goes. oh and also try and keep all your weight and your centre of gravity over the board when you push, this will make it a lot smoother and easier to push.

2.this will be either your bearings or your wheels, the bearings may either be dirty and seized up, or may just be slow bearings in general, try cleaning them- http://www.ramprage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12425 . the wheels you have, especially if youve got a cheaper board, will maybe be more rubbery and soft, if this is the case this may be slowing you down a little, if the bearings dont get any better with cleaning them, i would suggest buying a new set of bearings and wheels, blank wheels and cheap bearings shouldnt set you back that much tbh, but go to a skateshop to buy them, that way you'l get decent stuff.

3. this baffelled me when i started skating, but its easy to overcome, just push with your feet straight with the board, then when you put your pushing foot back on the board, rotate your foot thats on the board, to about 45 degrees with the board, this way if you push again you wont need to rotate it much, or if you go to do a trick o something you wont need to rotate it much the other way (sideways).
hope this all helped, and hope you enjoy skating like.

[Learner]

Thanks alot!I really appreciate your help here!I guess i'll try getting a new board etc. to skateboard and practise!Thanks!

[Learner]

btw,i need to ask.What are bearings?i know my question sounds stupid,haha,but im not too sure what is it.Also,where should i position my leading and pushing foot at?Sorry if im too naggy =) haha ! Thanks !!

[evilcheese00]

Bearings are well, bearings. They're what makes your wheels spin. There's two in each wheel. They're the little metal things that fit inside.

Your leading foot should be just behind the front bolts. There's not set rule, wherever it's comfortable. Just around that area. Pushing foot will be pushing? But if you mean on your board, then behind your back bolts or on the edge of the tail, depending if you're setting up for a trick or just cruisng.

[nuthead]

What board are you riding currently?And this is a bearing it's in your wheels.Two for each
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f139/hamhamluva/9f_2.jpg
If you are EVER buying any bearing,don't buy is because of the ABEC rating.Its for machines that runs at 100mph and over.and ALWAYS look for bearing with a plastic
retainer/cage.Its always FASTER than a bearing with a metal/steel/brass/bronze retainer/cage
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f139/hamhamluva/bw2_bones_005.jpg
Another thing to look for is a bearing labryinth seal http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f139/hamhamluva/superseal.jpg
NOTE the inner ring has a grove/indent in it
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f139/hamhamluva/bearingclose.jpg
or an inner race step.It looks like an L instead of an U like a labryinth
Mini Logo bearing with a inner ring step
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f139/hamhamluva/29736849.jpg
This litte little things REALLY helps to keep out dirt/dust/grime/sand ect. if you're skating dirty/dusty enviroment.To name a few bearing with a labryinth seal is RockinRon Rockets,Bones Swiss labryinth and Inner race step Mini Logo Bearing,Ousts,Ninja but theres more then what I listed.
A really important part is knowing the name of the parts on the skateboard.Heres a webpage http://www.activemailorder.com/Active/skateboards_101.aspx?j~&

Keep enjoying skating

[Learner]

Thanks a lot,evilcheese00 and nuthead!!Really appreciate the help by skateboarders in this forum!!Btw,how do i know when im ready to use skateboarding as a form of transportation?

[nuthead]

When you own a skateboard of course.Ride it whereever and whenever you like.You'll know when you're ready.You might want to get some bigger softer wheels if you're going to cruise around alot to help going over cracks pebbles stones,twigs and stuff.Also it gives you a smoother more comfortable ride.

[Learner]

Thanks alot for the advice !

[Learner]

Hey skateboarders! I have decided to get a skateboard,but i do not know how to choose 1.
Should i buy the different skateboard parts and make my own skateboard?If so,can someone teach me how to choose and put it in?
Or should i buy one built one,without needing me to make it?If so,how do i choose?

Thanks alot in advance!Please bear with my many questions!haha!

[Sidewalksurfer]

yeah buy a complete for now, its probably the cheaper option and you dont have to worry about getting the best bits.

[China Skate]

1. and 2.) Tighten trucks, and just keep on trying.
3.) Learn manuals and just move your front foot back and forth. Or you can carve.

[Learner]

Thanks for the advice ! But how do i choose the skateboard ??
Thanks !

[China Skate]

Try to find a local skateshop near your area. Maybe in the mall or something. I would go with a cheaper board, with 55-57 wheels, a blank deck, probably 8", and any trucks. Let the people at the skateshop put it together for you, and ask them to put the trucks on tight. This will cost around $60-90. By the way, do you live in united states? It seems like you're foreign to English.

[SmaShitUp9]

I say get one of them cheap 80$ world industries completes for now and once you get good, you can just switch off the parts slowly to something a little better.

Oh and its 80$ here in canada so if your in the U.S then it will be cheaper.

[Learner]

Thanks ! I think i will get a complete skateboard for the time being.
But how do u choose??Lol.Thanks!!

[China Skate]

Just tell the skateshop what your preferences are, and they'll help you find the best board possible that suits you.

[Learner]

I mean,what sort of skateboard would be good?Sorry,i think im really too naggy.

[Misterhamper]

Do you live in the United States? If so, get something from blankdecks.com
I would get a "Blanks That Got Pop"-board (7,75" x 31") with some Jessup Griptape.
I would also get a pair of blank trucks, together with some "Blank Cores (grooves)" wheels. For bearings i would get some Bones Reds. For hardware/nuts/bolts, just the cheapest there is.
It is really easy to screw a board together. Just put the trucks under the board, so they are facing the right direction, and screw them on with the hardware/nuts/bolts. Then you have to put the Bearings inside the wheels. That is easy too do. So easy i'll just give you a link to a guide on the internet
http://skateboard.about.com/od/boardmaintenance/ss/HowToInstalBear_2.htm
Just remember to be careful about them. They aren't unbreakable.
When you have installed the bearings inside the wheels, just put the wheels on the truck (the side facing out don't matter) and use the hardware/nuts to screw the wheels on.
Good luck.

Oh, and you should skate EVERYWHERE. To school, to the mall, to the grandma - everywere. The more you skate, the better you get. The better you get, the funnier skating becomes. By the way, seeing people skate will also help you (by getting you pumped and excited and by showing you how to tricks)
And i would really recommand learning ollies (the trick, where you jump and the board jumps with you - can be used to get over obstacles, down stairs and such). Just remember: never give up!


EDIT: I decided i would try to tell you how to do an ollie. You stand on the baord like this:
<- ===|==|
The | is foots
The = is the board
The <- is the direction you are going.
Well, you slam the tail down the earth as hard as you can, while you front foots side should be dragging the board. It might seem complicated, but then again - it might take a month to learn.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7140144463099960567&q=ollie+trick
You can also ask some local skaters, you might encounter, if they can teach you how to ollie. I think they would gladly help. If not, the worst thing that can happen is that they say "No."

NB: Don't ever stop the board with the tail. If you are going to stop the board, place the backfoot down the ground and stop it that way. Just... don't... stop... it by sliding the tail next to the ground. It's gonna ruin the board as fast as you can say "Bamboocha", and that sux.

[Learner]

Thanks alot ! I guess i'll try it all out=) haha ! Thanks !

[~FIGHT~]

Myself I would go with a FIGHT! deck (Best decks eva) www.fightskateboards.com
then thunder trucks http://shop.ccs.com/item.do?categoryID=49&itemID=3195&sizeFilter=&colorFilter=&brandFilter=0041
Ricta Wheels http://shop.ccs.com/browseBrands.do?categoryID=61&brand=0105
Bones Reds Bearings http://shop.ccs.com/item.do?categoryID=83&itemID=5434&sizeFilter=&colorFilter=&brandFilter=
FIGHT! hardware www.fightskateboards.com
FIGHT GRIP www.fightskateboards.com

OR

Go with the blackdecks website (very cheap)

[Misterhamper]

I would probably get a FIGHT! deck too. Or a Habitat.
I would get Bones STF wheels, or Autobahns DuroGT
I would get some Rocket Ceramic bearings
The griptape should be MOB, and the hardware should be Silverados 1-1/8". The risers should be Dook's Shock Pads (if you want some risers) and the trucks should be Krux III.

[Ramp]