YouTube suggested I watch old X Games skateboard crash videos, and it reminded me that when I was a teen, I really loved the idea of skateboarding. I just didn't have anybody to show me how, nor did I have a good place to skate (growing up in a rural area problems). I know through the occasional remarks on posts that some folks here skateboard. Is 41 too old to start? How do you recommend somebody with no experience start?

It's very easy and like riding a bicycle once you get the hang of it. It's best to start by just stepping on the board on a flat surface not moving at all. Just stay there and let your sense of balance keep you there. Then shift your weight to the left and right. As you do this, you'll see the board tilt diagonally to the left and right and you can make adjustments with your feet to keep you on the board.

After you feel comfortable, keep one foot on the board and push forward with the other foot on the ground to get moving and then put that foot back on the board as you move forward while continue balancing yourself.

Once you get the hang of this, try a small incline or hill. I use to do this on the sidewalk when I was learning as a teen.

Don't try to do any tricks like kicking the board and flipping it, no jumps either. This is something you can do after mastering balance and moving without stepping off or falling.

Oh yeah, definitely get a helmet. It's very easy for the board to take off from under your feet as you fall and land on your back. A smack on the back of the noggin' can lead to a head injury/concussion.

I also recommend the use of gloves, elbow protectors as well.

Have fun!🛹

Thanks for the advice. Especially the helmet. I probably would crack my skull open on the pavement on the first try.

Is this a good starter set? https://www.brailleskateboarding.com...42419724091554 There's a YouTube how to skate video that I really liked (it aligns very closely with your suggestions) and they offer this on their website as a recommended beginner deck.

Yeah, that should work. If you end up enjoying your experience, you can always upgrade to a higher end board at some point. It seems like the wheels have changed over time. During the late 70's - early 80's. The wheels were wider and clear in color. Perhaps narrow wheels offer better maneuverability.

Yeah....Old skool skateboard wheels were softer and often bigger diameter as well as wider they can deal with little bits of grit and twigs and they can roll and roll with less pushing required. Great street cruisers.

Modern wheels are generally smaller and harder, they take more pushing to get anywhere and can stop suddenly if they hit crap on the path....but they work better for tricks and in the parks I guess.

So if you picture yourself swooshing around like a surfer of the pavement something like a mini cruiser with an old skool style wheel is what you would want, if you want to be eventually throwing ollies and flips and all that I guess you start on the modern setup like the one you linked.

Back in the 90s you had various types of wheels .
Things like T bones vs g bones

I was quite into skateboarding, in the 90s , had a few cool Powell Peralta decks , Tony hawk big time , and a nicky guerrero , and a peralta ripper one , T bone wheels, independent trucks , fly paper grip tape , load of clothes , airwalk boots , Had a few cool videos, like h street
Used to go to Romford skate park in the uk and at my school we had a half pipe that was donated to the school by the council, as it had become a magnet for anti social behaviour in the town

I don’t know what the deal is where you live but I had a look on eBay uk , and straight off I found a deck , that in the 90s would of been 2x maybe 3 x price
At £25

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155239837...mis&media=COPY

And I found 4 bones wheels for about £25 , which again is much cheaper than in the 90s

Independent or gullwing trucks are still on the pricy side at about £50 a pair , but I see some good used ones with wheels and bearings for £40


That’s a solid board from a good company, worse case scenario you can hang it on the wall

Kinda wish I’d never stopped , but I don’t think Id want to start at 48 , that’s asking for trouble