In the world of adventurous and exciting sports, skateboarding wins the race. If you are a fan of riding skateboards, then we bet you are a thrill seeker who loves to push your boundaries. There is no better adrenaline rush than speedboarding down a hill, slicing through the wind when everything else disappears, and it’s just you, with a beating heart going faster than life itself. But skateboarding is no longer just a sport; it’s a lifestyle. It’s the way of living on the edge, experiencing life to its fullest. It’s a way of breaking away from the rules and going rogue.
If you are a skating enthusiast who is just beginning, the skateboarding world may appear daunting to you as much as it is fun! Here, in this article, we will skate through everything you need to know about skateboards!
Skateboarding–its origin and evolution
The history of skateboards is like a mega ramp in a skatepark, full of turns and bumps. Skateboards have been around since the early 1950s and their evolution from being just a wooden slab on wheels to the youth subculture that it is today is as exciting as a madonna (not the singer). Here is a brief history of skateboarding.
Sidewalk surfing
In the 1960s, the surfers wanted something so that they could continue surfing even when the tides were low. To capitalize on this growing demand, the concept of ‘sidewalk surfing‘ was introduced. Instead of riding on waves, why not ride on a sidewalk with a board on wheels? Even though they were just a diversion from surfing, skateboards made fans of their own. Soon, in 1963, Makaha, a skateboard manufacturer, assembled the first professional skateboard team and organized the first-ever skateboarding competition in Hermosa, California, which is the place where skateboarding was born. With downhill slalom and freestyle skateboarding, it captured the world’s eye! By 1976, the first skatepark was built in Florida. Sidewalk surfing was here to stay!
Skateboarding–A youth subculture.
By the 1980s, with the introduction of polyurethane wheels, skateboards evolved to become much more manoeuvrable and stable. By this time, most of its followers were underground, who brought a different style of skateboarding, the street style! This was no longer a sport but a youth subculture. They had a signature dress code – baggy clothes – and a drive to be creative and maintain their individuality. Listening to punk rock music, these thrill-seekers skated wherever they pleased. While skating in the empty pools, they had the idea of performing vertical stunts, which would soon be known as ‘vert skating.’
Modern skating
The popularity of riding skateboards soared with the advent of large competitions like ESPN’s X Games in 1995. These events gave the mainstream exposure to skating, which brought with it many sponsorships. This also made way for the coming of many skateboard celebrities like Tony Hawks, Jason Lee, and others. Soon many video games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater further popularized skating. Skaters were also making videos of their stunts and posting them online. Many youngsters watched these crazy kids online, doing kickturns, ollies, and madonnas. Before long, skating had become a sensation.
How to skateboard?–Guide for beginners
Riding a skateboard takes time, patience, and a lot of practice, just like any other sport. You must remain dedicated throughout the journey because, in the end, it will all be worth it.
If you are a beginner who wants to learn how to ride a skateboard, this guide here will cover all the basics you need to know.
- Skateboard accessories
First, find the skateboarding gear you need to ensure safety and heighten the thrill of skating. Skateboard accessories include skateboard shoes, skateboard apparel, and a helmet.
- Finding your stance
The next step is to find your stance. It’s the riding position of your body that is most suitable and comfortable for you while skating! There are generally two natural kinds of stance, i.e., regular and goofy.
- Regular stance
In this position, your right foot is the lead foot and is on the front of the board, near the nose, while you push with your left foot to propel yourself forward.
- Goofy stance
This is the reverse of the regular stance. In this position, your right foot is the lead foot, i.e., on the board, while you propel yourself forward with your left foot.
- Pushing
Once you have found your stance, now is the time to push.
- Place your lead foot, facing the nose, over the front truck bolts of the skateboard.
- Place your other foot on the ground alongside the skateboard and propel yourself forward.
- Once the desired speed is achieved, put your back foot (the one on the ground) on the skateboard’s tail, so it is perpendicular to the board.
- Once both feet are on the skateboard, pivot your front foot in the same perpendicular position as your back foot.
- Turning and manoeuvring
The next step is to ensure you can manoeuvre the skateboard properly and safely. Once both your feet are on the skateboard, in a perpendicular position, push your heel or toes to turn the skateboard. Make sure to maintain your centre of gravity so that you don’t fall on your face while turning.
- Stopping
The final step is to learn how to stop.
- While in motion, lift your back foot from the tail, and place it on the ground alongside the board.
- Drag your back foot on the ground while you press down on the ground with your foot.
- Make sure to evenly distribute your weight between the two feet, or your foot on the ground will stop, but your skateboard will keep moving forward.
And lastly, don’t forget to have fun and record yourself while struggling on the skateboard, so you can laugh at these memories later when you are a pro skater.
Types of Skateboards
Nowadays, skateboards come in various sizes, shapes, and forms. Even aesthetically, there are several skateboard designs. Here we have listed several types of skateboards you can find in a skateboard shop in Singapore.
- Double Kick (Popsicle) Skateboard
These beginner skateboards are usually 32” long and have a double kicktail best for performing stunts, street style, or freestyle skating. They come in various skateboard designs. If you plan on grinding those curbs, performing tricks, and staying airborne, these are the skateboard you need.
- Cruiser Skateboard
If you want to cruise and commute around the city, these are the best beginner skateboard you can find. They have softer nose wheels to make the ride smooth and gentle. Cruiser skateboard can also perform basic stunts like an ollie.
- Longboard Skateboard
These are the perfect beginner skateboards that are wider and longer than regular skateboards. They are the right choice if you are learning how to skateboard and keep your balance. They are very heavy and large, so they are not best for doing many tricks and stunts.
Meet Skatebruh–The best skateboard shop in Singapore
Skateboarding is not just a sport; it is a culture. Skatebruh understands that. Skateburh strives to fuel your desire for skating and provide you with the best skateboards in Singapore. If you are looking for a skateboard shop in Singapore with all types of skateboards, including beginner skateboards and street-style cool skateboard designs, all at an affordable price, then Skatebruh is where you want to go.
They manufacture their skateboards and cut out the middleman, thus keeping a tight quality check while offering competitive prices. By making skateboards more affordable and fun, they believe they are paying tribute to the very essence of skateboarding. Head to the Skatebruh website or shop to get the best skateboard in Singapore.
Skatebruh x Atome
Skateboarding just became more affordable as Skatebruh is an official merchant partner of Atome.
Atome is one of Asia’s leading Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment providers. Atome is a Singapore-based company with over 15,000+ online and offline merchants as partners. It operates in 8 markets, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Mainland China.
Atome provides shoppers with a seamless experience of purchasing the products they love! It allows its users to split the cost of the products from Atome’s partner merchant’s stores into three easy, interest-free installments. There are no hidden charges or compound interest.
If that attracts you, choose Atome as your payment option while checking out, and Get the Atome app now to get 10$ off your first purchase through Atome.
How to Pay using Atome when buying from Skatebruh
Here’s how you can purchase your favourite skateboard in Singapore from Skatebruh using Atome:
- Download the Atome app on your phone and create a free account.
- While checking out from the Skatebruh website, use Atome as your payment method.
- You’ll be redirected to the app, where you can enter your login details.
- And voila! Pay the 1st instalment at the purchase time and the other two 30 days apart.
Learn more about how Atome works!
Ending Note
Skateboarding is one of the most thrilling and adventurous sports. In this article, we have gone through the history of skateboards, how they evolved to become the youth subculture it is today, the types of skateboards, how to ride one, and finally, about skateboard shops in Singapore, where you can find the coolest skateboard designs.
Skatebruh offers the best skateboards of high quality at an affordable price. Despite the world capitalizing on this culture, Skatebruh remains true to its founding legacy: to make skateboarding affordable and accessible for people to join in on the fun. Skatebruh is the best skateboard shop in Singapore.
