1. Skateboarding Without Wheels
Rope boarding is an extreme sport, a hybrid of skateboarding and waterskiing. It's performed while swinging on a rope hung from a tree. The rope is secured to a board, often a skateboard without the wheels. There is a handle, similar to that found on water ski ropes, for the rope boarder to grip. The performer then executes tricks while swinging in a wide, dangerously high arc in the air, often hanging on by one hand. Because the arc of the swing is similar to the arc of a half-pipe, skateboarders can use this setup to perform many of the same tricks.
2. Raid the Garage
Most rope boarders still put together their own equipment. However, there are rope boarding kits available from the crew that started the sport. The equipment consists of a skateboard deck, rope, wakeboard-style handle and a rope boarding sling to help you perform tricks. The only other thing a rope boarder needs to have is a good pair of non-kid riding shoes and the guts to get on the board and swing through the air. As your skills advance, you'll be ready to work with other equipment; for instance, you might need bars to grind on or a structure to perform a stall on.
3. The Height of Fitness
Rope boarding is one of the most comprehensive body workouts you can put yourself through. On one hand, all the the pumping involved promotes cardiovascular fitness. You'll also work every major muscle group in the body, including your core. All this, while you have the more fun than when you tried to swing all the way around the top bar on your swing set. Assuming, of course, you're not afraid of heights.
4. A Smart Rope Boarder is a Safe Rope Boarder
Stay safe as you learn the art of rope boarding. Wear a helmet and consider knee and elbow pads. Make sure you set up your rope boarding arrangement away from obstacles like fences so you don't crash into them. Choose a tree that's sound and able to support the amount of force you'll apply while you rope board. Be prepared to fall as you learn, and be prepared to jump right back on. Rope boarding is addictive, nearly everyone who tries it is hooked.
5. Hanging by a Rope
As you start rope boarding, focus on skateboard tricks that leave one or both hands free, as you'll need at least one hand to hold the handle of your rope boarding setup. The tricks are done exactly as you would perform them on a traditional skateboard, only you do it as you swing through the air. A successful trick is one that's performed and completed in one arc of the swing. However, when you're first learning, a successful trick is defined by your ability to remain in the air instead of the ground. This is a sport that requires hours of practice. As the sport grows, more elaborate tricks are being created every day.
Member Comments