Skate session training

You probably landed here after reading the article: “before the skate session“. So you’ve figured it out, now it’s time to get on your board, and talk about skate session training.

Arrival on the spot or skatepark

As soon as you get to the spot, remember to say hello to everyone. For the shyest a little smile or nod to show that you have just arrived.

If you are a beginner, don’t be intimidated. Easy to say… to comfort you, tell yourself that we all started one day and that there is no shame to have. No one in the skateboarding world is going to criticize you.

You will certainly fall, and that’s perfectly normal, it’s a compulsory part of the progression. Know that nobody will judge you for that. Another important thing when you fall, get up quickly and if possible, repeat the trick. Why should I do this? By doing so you will overcome your fear, and you will avoid having what is called a psychological block.

Come on, put down your bag, get comfortable and start the session!

(If it’s your first time, I recommend that you learn the main rules of skatepark life. They are rules that allow a better cohabitation of all the practitioners).

Warm up

First and foremost to start the skate session training, it is important to warm up.  It would be a shame to injure you at the very beginning of the session.

Generally, stretching is recommended after the session, if you do some, but don’t pull too hard. The muscle is cold and you could hurt yourself.

I leave you below a video of a warm-up that details quite well the different movements related to the practice of skateboarding.

Many people like to start the session with a little Game of skate. A game where you have to repeat the figure imposed by your opponent, usually in one try. For those who don’t know, I leave you a link to the Battle at the Berrics, the biggest game of skate launched by DVS in 2008.

Then start with the tricks you master the most, and especially without forcing too much. Indeed, when cold your muscles are still numb and your reflexes will be less good, so take your time.

For more information on warm up, you will find more details in the article “Before the skate session“.

With a good warm up, you will also get a little less tired, and as a result, you will be less likely to get injured!

The skate session

That’s it, you’re all warmed up, we can move on to more committed tricks.  Go gradually, take the opportunity to redo your tricks in the order of commitment. We start with the basic tricks and step by step the more complex ones.

You’ve been thinking about a trick for several days and you want to try it? So you have the whole afternoon to get it in. Take your time, and don’t skip the steps. Firstly, test if the trick is possible according to your abilities. Step by step, bring more commitment in the landing, and as soon as you feel ready, then land me this trick! Probably easier said than done… A little trick that can help you too, is to think of a skater who masters this trick perfectly, and imagine yourself. Thus you will be able to visualize at best the movement to reproduce.

You can’t get your trick? Nothing abnormal, skateboarding requires a lot of perseverance and practice. You’ll soon understand that there are days when everything goes like clockwork, and others a little less. It won’t do you any good to get angry, and on top of that you could get hurt.  You can also ask other skaters for advice, they can give you some trick tips to help you work on your tricks.

Oh yes, very important, stay well hydrated throughout the session! Drinking water often is essential for the proper functioning of your muscles, and will help you maintain an ideal body temperature.

Then take another break to regain some energy, for example by having your little snack that will give you a boost.

Each time you come back on your skateboard after a break, warm up again. We’ll start again with 2/3 basic tricks before going back to the more complicated trick.

As mentioned before, it’s interesting to practice a little bit of everything. By that I mean don’t always do the same tricks, and be on the same modules. Try the ramp, the curb, the rail, and learn many flat tricks. It will be important to master these before reproducing them on modules with more commitment. It’s not because we just learned kick flip that we will be able to do it on 3 stairs.

You will learn very quickly how is life in a skatepark, and you will see that when you respect the space of each one, then it is very easy to coexist.

End of the skate session

That’s it, you’ve had fun, it’s time to end the session. I hope that you will have achieved your goals if you had any, and above all that you had a lot of fun.

Very often you’ll end up with your friends, on a module that you really enjoy. The body is starting to get a little tired so it’s time to do some more relaxed tricks.

For example if you have a mini-ramp in your skatepark, this could be the spot where you will end the session. Very quiet, without too many shocks, and you take turns to make your line.  If you still have some strength in your legs you can do some curb, and for those who like the Game of skate, then you can finish on a last one.

If you feel at any point that you are too tired to continue, then stop right away. Injuries happen all the time when you’re not at your best… so it’s better to stop right away, rather than getting hurt fighting on a trick.

You’re finally finished, it’s time to get back to your stuff, last talk with the friends for a few more minutes before heading home.

That’s it, a few tips to use during your skate session training!

Don’t forget to stretch, especially if you plan to skate again the next day and don’t get stiff! More details about the end of the skate session will be given in the next article 😉.