Skateboarding newbie help needed

[jenn-]

I have a 9 yo that has expressed interest in riding a skateboard. I know we need elbow, knee, wrist guards, and a helmet. Will a regular bike helmet work for just getting started on the street? He has one that he wears with his bike. I need to know what to look for in a skateboard that will primarily be used on a rough concrete driveway and street and is good for a beginner. Can anyone recommend a good getting started website?

[Guest]

I would see if there is a local skate shop near you. There is a big difference in the quality of a Walmart board versus one from a skate shop. We found out good info at the Play It Again Sports near us, and we were able to get some gently used equipment there until my ds decided that he really wanted to skate.

[Guest]

Duplicate post

[jenn-]

I would see if there is a local skate shop near you. There is a big difference in the quality of a Walmart board versus one from a skate shop. We found out good info at the Play It Again Sports near us, and we were able to get some gently used equipment there until my ds decided that he really wanted to skate.

 

I will have to look around. I don't know that we have a large skateboarding community here. I know of a Play It Again Sports place in the city we take DD for her orthodontist treatments and she goes in a couple of weeks so maybe we will swing by there. I picked up some great roller blades for DD there.

 

do not use a bike helmet use a full coverage skate style helmet, honestly my kids use full coverage helmets for everything even their bike, but we have a bad family bike experiences so are extra cautious

 

if a bike helmet is all you have fine but if there is going to be a lot of "impact" with his learning curve the full ones are better.

 

And for crying out loud don't pay 45 bucks for the helmet! save the money for a good board that wont crack the first time they hit a curb. We found the same brand helmet for 15 at a local shop so call around.

 

also you did not mention shoes ...make sure his shoes are closed toed - trust me

 

 

 

ds begged for a board - scabbed himself up and quit the first day, dd borrowed it and now rides it every day - she out skates all the boys in the neighborhood :)

 

What helmet brand do you suggest? I really fear he is going to scab up and quit. I am weighing investing the money and risking it (correction he is investing his money) vs starting cheap and waiting for the show stopping injury. Unfortunately he is not my most athletically inclined child. He would most definitely be wearing closed toed sneakers. I require them for bike riding as well.

[Word Nerd]

DD has a Tony Hawk skateboard helmet and likes it. She's been skating for a few years and we get her decks and other skate parts mainly from online shops like CCS and Skate Warehouse now because we don't have any skate shops around here. (She doesn't get pre-assembled ones anymore.) She recommends Kryptonics or Tony Hawk HuckJam for a beginner, and they're available at Walmart. She says to avoid the really cheap ones from Walmart, though, because the wheels and trucks are plastic and the deck breaks easily.

[Spy Car]

For a helmet I would recommend the Protec "Classic Skate" helmet that comes with 2-stage soft foam (not the hard styrofoam-like EPS that comes in bike helmets). These are so much more comfortable.

 

For a pad sets either "187 Killer Pads" or "Triple 8" makes Junior sets. The 187 pads are better made and have better knee pads, but the Triple 8 kneepads are easier to take on and off, as they strap on with velcro rather than being "pull ons" like the Killer Pads.

 

If he is going to be mostly on rough streets and mostly want to cruise old-school style, you might want to look at the very cool Australian plastic "Penny" skateboards. They have big soft wheels and great for rough streets. Being plastic they won't be destroyed the first time they are kicked into the curb. Penny boards are not so great for skateparks or for doing tricks (here the standard "Popsicle stick" style boards (the ones most kids ride) are better, but for rough concrete the little Penny boards are sweet.

 

Bill

 

 

[jenn-]

Thank you everyone for the recommendations so far.

 

For a helmet I would recommend the Protec "Classic Skate" helmet that comes with 2-stage soft foam (not the hard styrofoam-like EPS that comes in bike helmets). These are so much more comfortable.

 

For a pad sets either "187 Killer Pads" or "Triple 8" makes Junior sets. The 187 pads are better made and have better knee pads, but the Triple 8 kneepads are easier to take on and off, as they strap on with velcro rather than being "pull ons" like the Killer Pads.

 

If he is going to be mostly on rough streets and mostly want to cruise old-school style, you might want to look at the very cool Australian plastic "Penny" skateboards. They have big soft wheels and great for rough streets. Being plastic they won't be destroyed the first time they are kicked into the curb. Penny boards are not so great for skateparks or for doing tricks (here the standard "Popsicle stick" style boards (the ones most kids ride) are better, but for rough concrete the little Penny boards are sweet.

 

Bill

 

Would a penny board do okay for a basic trick like an ollie? I don't think I would encourage my uncoordinated child to attempt much more than that until he shows a lot of control.