The best thing about skateboarding? You can do it anywhere – even if the nearest skatepark is an hour away. To get started, all you need is a smooth surface and a solid complete. Don’t go for the cheapest option you can find: a proper setup makes a difference from day one and lasts much longer. First, get used to the feeling of the board under your feet before jumping into tricks – it will speed up your progress a lot.
- Stance
- Turning and stopping
- Where to skate
- Falling
- What gear do I need?
- Ollie
- Pop Shove-It
- Fakie Ollie
- BS 180
- Kickflip
- Heelflip
- Nollie
- 360 Pop Shove-It
- 360 Flip
How do I start skateboarding?
With this beginner’s skateboard guide, we’ll walk you through step by step how to get started and which tricks to learn first.
Are you regular or goofy?
Regular or Goofy? Before you start, you need to know how you stand on the board. Regular means your left foot is in front, Goofy means your right foot is in front. The easiest way to find out: have someone gently push you from behind – which foot do you put forward to catch yourself? That’s your front foot. Alternatively, close your eyes, lean forward and see which foot steps out first. You can also try both stances on the board – you’ll feel right away what feels natural.
Place your front foot over the front bolts, toes pointing towards the nose. Push off with your back foot next to the board. Once you get rolling, place your back foot over the rear bolts. For tricks, both feet are positioned parallel on the board.
Turning and stopping
Turning and stopping You turn by shifting your weight onto your toes or heels – depending on how loose or tight your trucks are, you’ll need more or less pressure. Softer trucks respond more easily, tighter trucks offer more stability but require more input. Regular riders: toe pressure = turn right, heel pressure = turn left. The opposite applies for Goofy riders. Be careful: too much pressure can make the wheels rub against the deck – that’s called wheel bite.
To slow down, take your back foot off the board and drag it along the ground. The more pressure you apply, the faster you stop. Advanced riders use powerslides – turning the board sideways to brake through friction. That will come with time.
Where is the best place to skate?
Skateparks are ideal: smooth ground, no traffic, and usually experienced skaters who are happy to give tips. At the beginning, don’t stand right where the more advanced skaters are riding their lines – find a free corner away from the obstacles.
As for surfaces: smooth concrete is the dream – no resistance, perfect pop. No wonder it’s also the favourite surface of Blue Tomato team rider Marco Kada. Asphalt usually works well, but can feel rougher or softer depending on the temperature. Wood is fine too, as long as it’s dry and free of cracks. Wet surfaces – no matter what type – should be avoided. The ultimate dream surface? Marble. Hard to find, and property owners aren’t usually stoked about it.
How should I deal with falling?
Don’t be afraid – it happens, especially at the beginning. What matters: keep your body tense to reduce the risk of ligament injuries, and if possible, try to roll to spread the impact. Wear a helmet – even Tony Hawk does, and for good reason. Knee, elbow and wrist guards are also recommended, as wrists are the most commonly injured area. Don’t let anyone tell you protective gear isn’t cool.
What gear do I need?
Now that you’re probably motivated to get into skateboarding, it’s time to think about the gear you need. Alongside skate shoes and protective gear, you’ll obviously need a skateboard. Our skateboard buyer’s guide can help you find the right setup for you!
Your first skateboard trick: the Ollie
Once you’ve developed a feel for your skateboard, you can start working on tricks.
The foundation of everything in skateboarding. Back foot centred on the tail, front foot just behind the front bolts. The movement has two phases: press the tail down hard while sliding your front foot up and forward towards the nose with the outer sole – this brings the board into a horizontal position in the air. Skate shoes aren’t a luxury here – they’re essential, as the reinforced areas handle contact with the grip tape.
Once you’ve managed to get your deck into the air, make sure you’re in a stable position to land safely. Your ollies won’t be very high at first, but that’s just practice and time.
Expand your trick list: the Pop Shove-It
The Pop Shove-It combines an ollie with a 180-degree rotation of the board – you stay facing forward while the deck spins beneath you. Place your back foot deeper in the pocket of the tail, with more foot on the board. Pop the tail and scoop the board around with your back foot. Once it completes the 180, land back on it and roll away.
The base of all fakie tricks: the Fakie Ollie
Same motion as an ollie, just rolling in the “wrong” direction – which makes it much trickier. Foot placement stays the same: your now back foot (which is technically your front foot in the new direction) sits centred on the tail. Keep your shoulders parallel to the board to avoid unwanted rotation. Don’t underestimate it – the fakie ollie is the base for a whole family of tricks and looks seriously stylish on its own.
Your first spins: BS 180
A classic, stylish basic trick. Your body rotates 180 degrees in backside direction – meaning your back turns towards the direction of travel. Regular riders rotate clockwise, Goofy riders the opposite. The board follows your body. The key is in your shoulders: commit fully to the backside rotation when you pop – don’t hesitate. The higher the pop, the cleaner the rotation. Timing is everything.
Next level: the Kickflip
One of the most iconic tricks ever – shaped by Rodney Mullen in the 1970s and now a must-have. The board flips along its longitudinal axis towards the rider. Place your front foot slightly towards the heel edge (not as centred as for an ollie), pop the tail and slide your front foot forward and slightly out towards the heel. The flick needs enough pressure to fully rotate the deck. Once the grip tape faces up again: catch the board and land solid. The kickflip is addictive – stick with it.
A must: the Heelflip
The stylish counterpart to the kickflip. The board also rotates along its longitudinal axis, but in the opposite direction – flipped with the heel of your front foot. Place your front foot just before the bolts, with your toes slightly hanging off the deck. Slide your front foot along the outer edge of the board away from your body to create a clean rotation. A strong pop from your back foot provides the height. For some skaters it feels trickier than the kickflip at first – with practice, both will become second nature.
The base of nollie tricks: the Nollie
Once ollies, fakie ollies and pop shove-its become consistent, it’s time for nollie tricks. For a nollie, your front foot is centred on the nose, your back foot just in front of the rear bolts – basically the mirror image of an ollie. Press down on the nose with power while dragging your back foot towards the tail. It sounds simple, but feels like starting from scratch – totally normal, even for experienced skaters.
A trick for advanced riders: the 360 Shove-It
The board doesn’t rotate 180, but a full 360 degrees horizontally underneath you – clockwise for Regular, counter for Goofy. Place your back foot deep in the pocket of the tail, toes slightly over the edge. Maximum pressure and a strong scooping motion give the deck the rotation it needs. Your front foot stays calm, guides the board, catches it after the full spin and lands stable. A true banger with loads of style – and it takes patience.
The ultimate challenge: the Treflip or 360 Flip
The boss level of basic tricks. The 360 Flip combines the 360 Shove-It with a kickflip: the board rotates around both axes at the same time. Prerequisite: you’ve got both tricks locked in. Back foot deep in the pocket, toes over the edge – it controls both spin and flip. Front foot similar to a kickflip, but less active. Catch the board after the full rotation, land clean and roll away. Even pros like Marco Kada have put in a lot of work for this one. Don’t give up.
If you want to learn more tricks, check out our advanced trick tips or the full skate guides for beginners and pros!