Skateboarders often focus much of their time on learning and developing tricks, such as flips and ramp riding. However, skateboards can also be used to play a variety of games, testing skills of riders, and making a degree of collective competition possible, relative to the individual development riders gain practicing tricks.
Skateboard Slalom
Slalom racing involves a race between obstacles for two or more skaters. First, lay out a course. This is best done on a gradual downhill slope, but will work on any flat area with plenty of space. Markers can consist of any object you can find, although cones work best. Lay out the course with plenty of space between cones at first, and reduce the gap as riders get more competent. Set up a start line, and have racers begin behind this. On a starter's signal, racers should set off and try to navigate the course faster than the opponent. Set up heats for larger groups, with the fastest racers progressing through to a final race.
Distance Manuals
Manuals involve skating over distance solely on the back wheels of your board, and require a rider to carefully balance forward and backward forces. Such a competition can be a great way to challenge others to improve their manual skills in an enjoyable setting. First, find a large flat area on which to carry out the competition. Create a run-in area, so riders can generate some speed before they begin to manual, and place a marker as a start line. Each rider takes turns trying to exceed the current longest manual, and as the distance is beaten, a second marker should be moved to correspond with this.
S-K-A-T-E
S-K-A-T-E is similar in principle to games like H-O-R-S-E in basketball, and is a good game to play to develop tricks in a group. S-K-A-T-E involves a group of skaters taking turns selecting a trick and successfully completing it. The first skater chooses a trick, and tries to execute it. If he does on the first attempt, each other skater must try to execute the trick. Each failure results in a letter of S-K-A-T-E being awarded. Each skater picks a trick in turn until only one is left with any outstanding letters; this skater is the winner.
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