Skateboarding is no easy task and its no surprise that skateboarders get injured quite often. It is so common to get hurt skateboarding that after a while you learn to skate through the pain, but the pain can be unbearable younger skateboarders. This week I will be discussing skateboarding injuries and some helpful tips to overcome them.

One of the most important things to remember is to stretch before skating. All the time I see people at the skateboard just jump right in without getting their body warmed up. It is important to stretch your legs, hips, ankles, and even your arms. Getting your body loose will help improve with balance, reducing the risk of injury, and will prevent your muscles from tightening up.

Another overlooked thing in the skateboarding world is giving yourself rest. If you are hurt it is okay to stop skating for a week. Your body needs time to heal, and skating with an injury will only prolong that injury. Giving yourself rest also prevents skaters from becoming burnt out with the hobby. If you find yourself in pain, it might be a good time to put the skateboard down for a few days. No one will think you are a poser if you take some time to heal your body.

I also recommend wearing a helmet at the very least when beginning to skate. Many skaters don’t wear helmets and there is a misconception that helmets aren’t cool, but who cares. Your health is more important than looking cool or trying to fit in. Wearing a helmet is oftentimes a requirement at skateparks around the country. It is a simple thing that people overlook, but wearing a helmet can literally save your life.

My last piece of advice is to ice your body when you get hurt. Icing your bumps and bruises is very important for recovery. If you use ice when you first get a bump or bruise, it helps speed up the healing process, which means you’ll be back on your board faster. This is oftentimes overlooked, and people end up with swollen ankles, elbows, you name it. Icing is your best friend when you hurt your body skateboarding.

I hope you find this information useful. Skateboarding is a fun activity, but it is also equally dangerous. Always remember to be safe, wear safety equipment, and have fun!

Sometimes it is nice to take a break from skateboarding and try longboarding. If you don’t know what a longboard is, its basically a long skateboard with big trucks and wheels. It is primarily used for cruising and is generally regarded as a smoother ride than skateboarding for long distances. I have been longboarding since I was in middle school, and it is still one of my favorite modes of transportation.

1. Efficient mode of transportation

Longboarding is such an efficient mode of transportation. You can ride longboards on most street and road conditions. They are fast, require limited energy to use, and they are easy to carry around.

2. Good exercise

Longboarding is a great way to exercise. It requires you to keep your balance, and you need to push the board to get it to move. You are developing certain leg muscles that wouldn’t be developed with other forms of exercise. I’ve noticed my core becomes stronger if I longboard often.

3. Moderately priced

Longboards are some of the cheapest forms of transportation. On average a complete longboard can cost you around $100. This is a lot cheaper compared to cars, mopeds, or even some bicycles. It is a cheap way to get around and is especially useful for city folks.

4. Environmentally friendly

Longboards are an eco-friendly way to travel long distances. If you live in a small town or even a big city using a longboard helps the environment. If you have to travel short distances to say the market, gym, or even a friend’s house taking a longboard is an eco-friendly way to go. Longboards are fast, safe, and more portable than a car, with the added benefit of being eco-friendly.

5. You can meet new people

One of the most overlooked reasons for buying a longboard is it allows you to meet new people. Often times when I longboard around my town I always see others either longboarding or riding a bike. It is always nice to connect to other skaters, and people around the skate community. Longboarding is a fun hobby and chances are if you run into another longboarder you two will start a conversation.

As you can see longboarding is a great alternative to skateboarding and other forms of transportation. It has its own unique benefits and is definitely a fun way to get around.

One of my favorite skaters of all time is Chris Roberts. Many of you may have never heard of Chris Roberts, but this guy is one hell of a skater. I like Chris Roberts for his unique skating style primarily relying on the manual which is depicted in the gif above. He is well known in the skate community but is not well known outside of the community.

Chris Roberts is a pro skater from Inglewood California. He grew up skating and was involved with the southern California skate scene from an early age. He is a very humble person and really cares about the future of skateboarding.

Chris Roberts turned pro in 2007 for Chocolate Skateboards, the company he rides for to this day. He has been featured in many Chocolate films, and video parts. He is known for doing manuals, grinding, flips into manuals, and all-around street skating.

Beyond just skating, Chris Roberts founded The Nine Club in 2016. It is a podcast for skaters and its tagline is “the show that has skaters talking”. On The Nine Club Chris interviews many skaters old and new, and the show now has over 200 episodes. This show has become very popular and is one of Chris Roberts more well-known projects out there.

Over the years I have watched many skaters, and have seen some really talented people. I know Chris Roberts might not be the most technical skater, but his style is unbeatable. He has a swagger about him that you can’t help but admire. Below will be some links to my favorite Chris Roberts video parts.

Videos:

When it comes to buying skate shoes you can find yourself with many options to choose from. Sometimes this can be overwhelming, but I am here to help. This week is all about skate shoes, which brands to buy from, my favorite shoes, and a pros and cons list to help you choose a skate shoe that’s right for you. When I buy a new pair of shoes I go for two brands DC, éS.

The first skate shoe I ever had was made by DC, and the one thing I remember about it was it was one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. DC’s are reliable, well made, sturdy skate shoes. DC offers a wide variety of skate shoes, some are large a cushiony, while others are light and made out of a canvas-type of material. The photo above closely resembles the first DC shoe that I had, and they are called Court Graffik’s. They are a classic shoe, very comfortable, and it has padding around the ankles which helps protect them while you skate.

Pros: Comfortable, inexpensive, easy to find

Cons: Limited color selection

eS Skate shoes are some of the best you can buy. They have a stellar reputation in the skate community. These shoes above are Accel OG’s and they are my favorite skate shoe of all time. They are very comfortable, have lots of padding, and I love the simple brown colorway. Some people may find this shoe ugly, but I think it looks amazing. eS like DC makes a wide variety of styles, not only fat skate shoes. They now offer a much smaller version of the Accel for those who like smaller profile skate shoes.

Pros: Unique colorways, maximum ankle protection, comfortable

Cons: Constantly sold out, expensive

Since I was a senior in high school I have been trying to create a skate brand with one of my best friends and business partner Nick. We have had so many ideas for brand names, logo designs, clothing designs, and skateboard deck graphics. However, the biggest obstacle in our way is funding and having ample time to develop our products.

As time goes on I see our opportunity increases for making this brand a reality. Now that COVID-19 has put my life on hold, I have found more time to work on my business idea. I have come up with a few names, new fresh logo designs, and a few ideas for branded T-shirts and stickers. My business partner Nick has also contributed to this idea synthesis, and we are close to narrowing down a name.

I never thought that our dream to start a skate brand would come to fruition, but its really starting to look like this can be my new reality. I realized that now I have more free time than ever before, and this is a prime opportunity to have my vision become reality. If there is a silver lining for this pandemic, its the time it’s given me to pursue my dreams and goals. If you have an idea for a product, business, or service then right now is a golden opportunity to bring that idea into the real world.

It is important for us to have dreams and ideas. They propel us forward and drives us to succeed. As the week’s progress, I’ll have more information on this new brand, and Ill formally announce it in a blog post. And if you have a business idea now is the time to pursue it, because we may never get an opportunity like this again.

The show that has skaters talking

Right now most of us find ourselves with a lot of free time while being in quarantine, and you may be looking for something new to pass the time. If you like podcasts then I have one you should try out! It’s The Nine Club with Chris Roberts. This podcast features professional skaters Chris Roberts, Kelly Hart, and skate videographer Roger Bagley. Each week they host a podcast with people from the skateboarding world. However, they cover many topics and give skateboarders a platform to talk about their personal lives and interests outside of the skateboarding world.

Beyond a weekly podcast, they do special episodes of The Nine Club where they watch and review skate films and video parts from various skaters from around the world. Occosainlly they will also review skateboard decks, parts, and accessories. I think these videos are great because they showcase lesser-known skaters and brands.

Some of the guests that have come on the show are Tony Hawk, Bam Margera, Andrew Reynolds, Chad Muska, and even Lil Wayne! Each bringing unique and interesting stories to share with listeners. So if you are bored at home right now, and you want to listen to the show that has skaters talking then look no further, The Nine Club is the podcast for you.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw7EwvJ6–_ML2ilnopcG8A

Website: https://thenineclub.com/

Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, people are staying inside, isolating themselves from the rest of the world. This creates a unique situation for skateboarders everywhere. As the city streets across the world become barren, skateboarders are taking advantage of these empty streets.

Recently I had the opportunity to skateboard in Boston. The streets are always busy, and cops are on the lookout for skateboarders constantly. It was surreal to skate the streets of Boston, it felt like a ghost town. Skateboarders everywhere are experiencing this same feeling right now. The streets are like a blank canvas and the skateboard is a paintbrush, and no longer do skaters have to fear people or the police stopping them from enjoying their hobby.

However, it is important to keep in mind that we are in the middle of a Public health crisis, and going outside contributes to the spread of the disease. I will no longer be going out in public to skateboard, but I know many skateboarders will continue to skate the empty city streets for as long as they can. This is a unique opportunity for many skateboarders out there to skate spots that could previously never be used. It will be interesting to see videos in the coming weeks of people skating in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and all the cool new spots people have discovered during this pandemic.

This whole pandemic is a difficult situation for everyone, and many people will be affected. However, I think it is important to find the silver linings during times like these. If you have a hobby or a craft that you enjoy now is the time to practice because we may never have a situation like this again in our lifetimes.

There are many pro skaters in the world, each with their own unique style. However, no one can compare to the intense style of Chad Muska. If you like intense skateboarding then I highly recommend watching some of Chad Muska’s videos. He is known for grinding long railings, gapping staircases, and all-around intense skateboarding tricks.

Chad Muska wasn’t always a skateboarder, during his younger years he was heavily involved with BMX, and it was a passion of his. Chad moved around a lot as a child, and when he moved to a new town he saw kids skateboarding and instantly wanted to try it out for himself. As he got older he became more involved with skateboarding and ditched his BMX bike. Around this time Chad also became heavily involved in the graffiti scene. This mix of skateboarding and graffiti shaped Chad into the person he is today. He is well known in the skateboarding community not only as a great skateboarder but as a brilliant artist.

Chad Muska has been sponsored by numerous skate brands but most notably for Shortys and Element. His unique riding style and personality helped grow his brand, and his notoriety helped these companies sell thousands of skateboards. Chad has also been sponsored by éS a skate shoe company and is currently sponsored by Supra another big name skate shoe company. Through skateboarding, Chad Muksa became a wealthy man.

As years went on Chad Muska began to get hurt a lot more frequently. He suffered broken ankles, and on one occasion hurt his back while attempting a trick. Eventually, Chad had to take a break from skateboarding due to his health. This gave him more time to focus on the business end of skateboarding and his artwork.

Chad Muska is an amazing skateboarder, he is one of my favorites and for good reason. He has a unique style and a great personality. However, his achievements arent limited to skateboarding. He is a wonderful artist and businessman. Chad Muska’s story shows us that skateboarders shouldn’t be put in boxes, because every skateboarder has passions and skills outside of the skateboarding world.

Recently I watched a movie called Mid 90s by Jonah Hill. This is a coming of age story about a 14-year-old boy nicknamed Sunburn. Sunburn had a rough family life, and in turn, hangs out with the local skate crowd to escape his home life and make friends. After Sunburn gets involved with this skate crew he learns how to skateboard, he experiences many life-changing events and faces the real world as a young teen.

I want to discuss the film, the skateboarding aspect, and my personal thoughts on the film. This movie focuses heavily on skateboarding and skate culture in the mid to late 1990s. The movie was shot on film, it has a 4:3 aspect ratio, and features real products from the 1990s. The movie does a great job world-building, it really feels like it takes place in the 1990s. The language, set pieces, and music are all from the 1990s and it really helps with the immersion. The skateboarding in the film was really cool and I liked the way Jonah Hill incorporated it into the film. Real skateboarders were performing tricks on camera, and its amazing to watch in the movie. There are many skateboard brands featured throughout the film and even some references to famous skateboarders. Also throughout the film, the skate crew visits some pretty famous skate spots in Southern California like the Los Angeles courthouse. This movie is touching, emotional, and artistic in nature. I think it is an interesting piece about entering into adulthood, growing up without a father figure, and skateboarding in the 1990s.

If you are a skateboarder or grew up in the 1990s then this movie will make you nostalgic for your childhood. Even if you don’t skate or you weren’t even around for the 1990s this movie is a great watch. It is available on Amazon Prime Video. I give this movie 4.5/5 because of its artistic vision, storytelling, and its attention to detail. As someone who skates you can tell Jonah Hill did his research before directing this film.

You may have seen this logo before on someone’s T-shirt or Hoodie walking by on the street, at school, in the mall, you name it. Trasher has become a popular brand in the past couple of years, seemingly coming out of nowhere wearing a Thrasher t-shirt or sweatshirt was considered to cool. It wasn’t always this way though, and it brings up a big issue in the skateboarding world. Why does fashion take so much from skate culture?

Trasher is a monthly issue skateboarding magazine. They also host skate competitions, events, and sell merch. Up until a few years ago Thrasher was only really talked about in the skating community. No one seemed to care about Trasher other than skateboarders or people in the industry. Then after a few celebrities were spotted wearing Thrasher hoodies the brand exploded. I remember people in high school wearing Thrasher and when I talked to them about it they had no idea what Thrasher even was. I’ve heard many stories like my own where people would strike up a conversation with someone wearing a Thrasher hoodie, and the person would know nothing about skateboarding or what Thrasher even was.

Now I’m not one to say that if you don’t skate then you shouldn’t wear skateboarding branded clothing, but there are definitely skaters out there who are upset by this sort of thing. Thrasher was such a niche skateboarder thing, then all of a sudden everyone is wearing Thrasher branded merch. There is definitely something to be said about situations like this. On one hand, skateboarders should be happy that their hobby is making its way to new people, however, some of these people don’t even care about skateboarding they just want to wear skateboarding clothes to put off some kind of image.

I for one don’t care what people wear. If you like skate branded clothing but you don’t skate then that is fine by me. I think its awesome when skateboarding makes it back to the mainstream, and I hope that skateboarding fashion can inspire some people to pick up a skateboard and try something new.