Although the disciplines of skateboarding may look similar to the untrained eye, certain riding styles have defining characteristics. Certain skaters prefer to connect aerial tricks on sloping ramps, but others opt for freestyle maneuvers down urban obstacles, including stair sets and grass gaps. Some skateboarders use an elongated board to emulate their favorite surfers.
Street Skaters
Street skating originated on the smoothly paved sidewalks of Venice Beach, California. Early street skaters created innovative tricks that involved spinning the skateboard in the air. As of 2011, street skateboard is one of the most prominent disciplines and can be seen in big name contests including the X Games and the Maloof Money Cup. Modern street skaters use a compact board that has a width of 7.25 to 8.25 inches. According to "Thrasher" skateboard magazine, professional street skateboarders often perform trick variations down handrails.
Tech Skaters
Technical skateboarding is an offshoot of street skateboarding. Street skateboarding consists of high-impact maneuvers, but technical skaters opt to keep their wheels a little closer to the ground. According to Transworld Skateboarding, technical skaters often perform balancing maneuvers on obstacles known as manual pads. The manual involves balancing on the front or back wheels of the skateboard. Technical skateboarding requires increased board control. The skater flips his board as he reaches the end of the manual pad to create more difficult variations.
Ramp Skaters
Ramp skating has been around since the invention of skateboarding. Early ramp skaters would perform freestyle maneuvers across the cement walls of an emptied swimming pool. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, amateur skaters built homemade jump ramps to practice aerial spins. As the sport of skateboarding has continued to evolve, so has the design of skateboarding ramps. According to ESPN, veteran skateboarders ride on a specialized ramp known as the mega. The mega ramp features a 50-foot roll-in ramp that shoots you over a 70-foot gap.
Longboarders
Avid surfers often use the longboard skateboard as a training tool as well as a low-impact form of transportation. The elongated deck of the longboard allows you to reach speeds of over 40 mph while riding down a steep hill. Certain longboarders prefer leisurely cruises on a level riding terrain. The soft urethane wheels of the longboard grip the asphalt while allowing you to emulate the quick turns of the surfboard. Longboarders often slide their hands across the pavement while wearing specialized gloves.
Member Comments