Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster? • Hacker News Board

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#11

Post by bravetraveler » Sat, May 06, 2023, 1:01 AM UTC

rahimnathwani wrote: post #10

For someone in their 40s, what's the best way to learn to ride a skateboard? I just want to be competent enough to replace a 10 min walk to/from a subway station. I've tried following video instructions. But each time, after 10 mins I felt like I was making zero progress. Perhaps I just need to keep trying and eventually it will click? Or perhaps I should ask one of the neighbourhood kids?

I can only vaguely recall this stage... but I found standing on a board without trucks or wheels fairly helpful!

On a relatively firm surface (ie: carpet) this provides some practice for the balancing act. How foot placement and the contours in the board impact things too

Similarly, on something with a little more flex (grass), it's a decent way to start trying some flip tricks :)

As for rolling around, I think it's mostly finding really smooth/flat surfaces... and just doing it a lot.

Depending on your wheels/weight placement, anything thicker than a quarter can stop you almost immediately.

It takes a little while to get the 'feel' and speed to deal with rougher surfaces particularly well

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#12

Post by bravetraveler » Sat, May 06, 2023, 1:16 AM UTC

eternityforest wrote: post #2

I've always been curious about what it's like for other people to watch something like this. Can you watch a dance or a trick or something and feel what it would be like to do it yourself? Do you see this stuff in your head as a sequence of frames? Or a movie? Or do you somehow have access to the whole thing at once like you're thinking in 4 dimensions? When I watch any kind of instructional video for even something…

The four-dimensional thing is better than any explanation I can offer... as a skater, with skating things at least.

It doesn't translate to other things at all for me, but this was the most active thing I ever did...

I can watch Rodney Mullen do things I could never physically do, but 'feel' things you wouldn't expect. Examples would be where I'd put my weight, where the board would be pushing back, and how much I should lean forward/back to not slip

It's kind of like when zoning out while driving, in some ways. You go through the motions because you've done all the various pieces before. A kickflip is an ollie with a slide to the side, for example

But, because this process is new, it does take a lot of trial/focus. You get a good idea, but... theory/practice

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#13

Post by brian_spiering » Sat, May 06, 2023, 2:02 AM UTC

rahimnathwani wrote: post #10

For someone in their 40s, what's the best way to learn to ride a skateboard? I just want to be competent enough to replace a 10 min walk to/from a subway station. I've tried following video instructions. But each time, after 10 mins I felt like I was making zero progress. Perhaps I just need to keep trying and eventually it will click? Or perhaps I should ask one of the neighbourhood kids?

There are skateboard coaches. I hired one after skating for 10+ years, and it made a qualitative leap in my abilities.

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#14

Post by rahimnathwani » Sat, May 06, 2023, 2:37 AM UTC

brian_spiering wrote: post #13

rahimnathwani wrote: post #10

For someone in their 40s, what's the best way to learn to ride a skateboard? I just want to be competent enough to replace a 10 min walk to/from a subway station. I've tried following video instructions. But each time, after 10 mins I felt like I was making zero progress. Perhaps I just need to keep trying and eventually it will click? Or perhaps I should ask one of the neighbourhood kids?

There are skateboard coaches. I hired one after skating for 10+ years, and it made a qualitative leap in my abilities.

After I find one, is there anything I can ask them to help figure out if they're good, or do I just need to try out a couple of lessons?

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#15

Post by rahimnathwani » Sat, May 06, 2023, 2:43 AM UTC

bravetraveler wrote: post #11

rahimnathwani wrote: post #10

For someone in their 40s, what's the best way to learn to ride a skateboard? I just want to be competent enough to replace a 10 min walk to/from a subway station. I've tried following video instructions. But each time, after 10 mins I felt like I was making zero progress. Perhaps I just need to keep trying and eventually it will click? Or perhaps I should ask one of the neighbourhood kids?

I can only vaguely recall this stage... but I found standing on a board without trucks or wheels fairly helpful! On a relatively firm surface (ie: carpet) this provides some practice for the balancing act. How foot placement and the contours in the board impact things too Similarly, on something with a little more flex (grass), it's a decent way to start trying some flip tricks :) As for rolling around, I think it's…

So perhaps it was a mistake to try to learn to push off without first learning to balance on the board, with both feet, then one foot etc?

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#16

Post by DANmode » Sat, May 06, 2023, 4:03 AM UTC

eternityforest wrote: post #2

I've always been curious about what it's like for other people to watch something like this. Can you watch a dance or a trick or something and feel what it would be like to do it yourself? Do you see this stuff in your head as a sequence of frames? Or a movie? Or do you somehow have access to the whole thing at once like you're thinking in 4 dimensions? When I watch any kind of instructional video for even something…

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3924058/

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826257/

3. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysio...

The last one was cool, and new to me.

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#17

Post by DANmode » Sat, May 06, 2023, 4:04 AM UTC

im3w1l wrote: post #3

I expected an article and was disapponted it was not.

See my other comment, may scratch your itch.

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#18

Post by gtani » Sat, May 06, 2023, 4:16 AM UTC

rahimnathwani wrote: post #10

For someone in their 40s, what's the best way to learn to ride a skateboard? I just want to be competent enough to replace a 10 min walk to/from a subway station. I've tried following video instructions. But each time, after 10 mins I felt like I was making zero progress. Perhaps I just need to keep trying and eventually it will click? Or perhaps I should ask one of the neighbourhood kids?

well, I have to admit seeing decent numbers of fractured collarbones and wrists, and the occasional serious trauma among people learning, so first get best helmet you can find and protective gear.

You could try a hub driven electric board, supposedly they can be freewheeled without the motor like a heavy passive skateboard to increase your practice time, which musicians and gamers call shed time or seat time

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#19

Post by gtani » Sat, May 06, 2023, 4:25 AM UTC

Interesting, my conclusion, it depends. That particular one has back foot just barely in the frame at critical moment.

Watching Troy Grady's closeups of leading guitar players picking hands from a few inches away didn't do much for me, but watching lots of telemark skiers vids helped pinpoint variables like pole length and pole plant reach that I would not have thought of.

So, like learning piano or violin or sports/kinematic skills, read and watch vids a little and practice a lot.

Re: Do watching skateboarding tricks frame by frame make you progress faster?

#20

Post by rahimnathwani » Sat, May 06, 2023, 5:03 AM UTC

gtani wrote: post #18

rahimnathwani wrote: post #10

For someone in their 40s, what's the best way to learn to ride a skateboard? I just want to be competent enough to replace a 10 min walk to/from a subway station. I've tried following video instructions. But each time, after 10 mins I felt like I was making zero progress. Perhaps I just need to keep trying and eventually it will click? Or perhaps I should ask one of the neighbourhood kids?

well, I have to admit seeing decent numbers of fractured collarbones and wrists, and the occasional serious trauma among people learning, so first get best helmet you can find and protective gear. You could try a hub driven electric board, supposedly they can be freewheeled without the motor like a heavy passive skateboard to increase your practice time, which musicians and gamers call shed time or seat time

Hmm maybe I'll just walk...