What’s up, my friends? Are you ready to take a ride on the wild side? Today, we’re going to talk about reasons you should start skateboarding! In this post, you’ll discover how skateboarding can benefit your physical and mental health, help you build a community of like-minded individuals, and teach you some seriously impressive skills.
But before we dive into that, let’s start with a little joke to get you amped up for the ride. Why did the skateboarder take his date to the skate park? Because he wanted to show her a little “board romance!” (Okay, I’ll stick to writing instead of comedy.)
So, what’s the deal with skateboarding anyway? Is it just a sport for rebellious teenagers, or is there more to it than meets the eye? Let’s find out!
What is skateboarding, and why is it a great sport to try?
Skateboarding is a popular recreational sport that involves riding on a small board mounted on wheels. It is also a professional sport with various competitions, including vertical and street-style events.
Skateboarding offers numerous health benefits, including core and endurance training, and can burn up to 400 calories per hour. It is a fun and challenging sport that can improve physical fitness and mental health and offer an opportunity to build a community of like-minded individuals.
Enjoi Whitey Panda Complete Skateboard
Enjoi Whitey Panda Complete Skateboard
Top reasons you should start skateboarding
Skateboarding is more than just a sport – it’s a way of life. From the rush of adrenaline to the sense of community, there are countless reasons why people are drawn to skateboarding. Here are some of the top reasons why you should start skateboarding today.
1. Connect to new people
Skateboarding is not just a solo activity. It also has a vibrant and diverse community. By taking up skateboarding, you open yourself to a new world of people and experiences.
If allowed to revisit my younger self, I would express gratitude for my decision to take up skateboarding. The sport introduced me to lifelong friends with whom I shared my innermost thoughts during our daily sessions.
Even after two decades, we still gather annually for a reunion, where we reminisce about our experiences on the board. Skateboard companions often make the best of friends, and despite any distance between us, our bond remains strong.
2. Having a good time with others
While skateboarding is an individual sport, it is far more enjoyable when done with others. They’ll teach you new moves and help you improve as a skater. It’s simply getting out there, stretching some muscles, and having fun with a hobby you and your friends enjoy.
A skate park also encourages healthy competition. You and your pals push each other’s boundaries through competition, which is entertaining and gratifying. If you are a newbie skateboarder, don’t worry. Skateboarding communities are welcoming, encouraging, and pleasant, and you’ll have a great time learning from and connecting with others.
3. Improves your motor skills
Skateboarders use their arms, legs, feet, and eyes to stay upright and learn new tricks. Skateboarding can help you improve your body coordination if you’ve always felt clumsier than the typical person. The learning curve can be high, but better coordination and motor skills will benefit you in the long run with multitasking, driving, and other daily tasks.
4. Teaches you how to fall safely
Many people are concerned about the dangers of skateboarding, but it is safer than you may assume. By being aware of the danger, skateboarders quickly learn to fall properly to avoid injury.
This ability helps riders lower their risk of fall injuries throughout their lives. It is also essential for other physical sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, and rollerblading.
5. Develops patience
Performing gravity-defying tricks doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes perseverance and determination to master the moves you see in top skateboarding competitions like Red Bull Solus. You’ll learn to become more patient as you work toward nailing those moves. The patience you learn in the skate park can be applied elsewhere professionally and personally.
Health benefits of skateboarding
Skateboarding offers a range of health benefits for both the body and mind. From improving cardiovascular fitness to increasing balance and coordination, there are many reasons why skateboarding can be a great addition to your health and wellness routine. Here are the top health benefits of skateboarding and how they can positively impact your overall well-being.
1. Expend some calories
Skateboarding is a high-intensity cardio activity. You must have complete control over how your body moves when skating, not just to avoid falling but also to acquire motion control and learn to regulate the pace.
Steering and moving stimulate the leg muscles while the core and back muscles contract to keep you on the board. As a result, even if you’re not performing difficult stunts, simply pushing down the street can raise your heart rate and burn calories. Skating for an hour can burn between 300 and 400 calories, depending on your metabolism and body weight.
2. Reduce anxiety, depression, and stress
Indulging in extreme physical activity, such as skateboarding, increases the release of endorphins in the brain, which are chemicals that can reduce pain and increase pleasure. Also, while on the board, your mind is focused, and you do not have time to think about anything else. In other words, the sport serves as an escape.
Plus, there is always something entertaining to see and do while pushing the board around town or skating at a skate park. Skating allows you to enjoy the lovely things around you and pleasant people you would never meet and talk to otherwise. Being outside is always beneficial to our mental health.
3. Develop your muscles
Many muscles in your body work hard to keep you safe while skating. The core muscles are important for maintaining balance on the board. The quadriceps muscles straighten the hip joints and extend the knees to accelerate upslope.
In addition, the gluteus maximus is essential for a stable ride. To maintain balance during the transition from hunched to standing upright, the hips must engage this portion. Lower leg muscles are also engaged for directional control, but arm muscles are equally vital since they create movement flows and allow you to be more expressive with the board.
4. Increase your pain tolerance
Those involved in the sport for a long time have a higher pain tolerance level. Skateboarding is a trial-and-error sport where you will fall more than you imagine. It is critical to learn not to fall, but it is much more critical to learn how to fall safely and deal with pain and injuries properly.
When riding their board expertly, an experienced skateboarder may appear fearless. This talent did not develop overnight but rather as a result of getting pounded on the floor countless times until getting it right. Regarding skateboarding, the saying “no pain, no gain” is true.
Can skateboarding improve balance and coordination?
Skateboarding is a sport that requires strength and coordination to succeed, and consistent practice can improve coordination in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. Skateboarding can also help with strength, balance, core stability, and cardiovascular endurance. Certain skateboarders even use balance boards as training aids to maintain and improve their riding skills.
It appears that skateboarding can be an excellent technique to enhance balance, coordination, pain tolerance, stress reduction, precision, reflexes, and patience. However, it is crucial to note that, as with any physical activity, there is a chance of injury with skating. Therefore, necessary safety procedures and protective gear are required.
If you want even more tips and insights, watch this video called “Why You Need To Start Skating” from the Skate Or Die YouTube channel.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it, folks! I hope you’re feeling as stoked as I am about why you should start skateboarding. This sport truly has everything from improving your physical fitness to building a community of like-minded people.
The only question left is: have I covered everything you wanted to know? If not, don’t be shy! Let me know in the comments section below. I read and reply to every comment.
And if you found this article helpful, please share it with a friend looking to try something new. Remember, life’s too short to sit on the sidelines! Get out there and start shredding.
Thanks for reading, and keep on rollin’!
Key takeaways
This article covered reasons you should start skateboarding. Here are some key takeaways:
- Skateboarding offers numerous physical and mental health benefits.
- It can also help you build a community of like-minded individuals.
- Skateboarding is a sport for people of all ages and skill levels.
- Skateboarding is a fun and challenging activity that can improve your quality of life in many ways.
- By taking up skateboarding, you open yourself to a new world of people and experiences.