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?

#21

Post by hammyhavoc » Sat, May 06, 2023, 5:17 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?

Unless you've got insurance that'll cover it, and/or cash money for fairly serious injuries, you probably shouldn't. You won't bounce back like most of us did in our childhood and teens, and you stand a chance of seriously fucking yourself up.

Depending on where you live, sidewalk construction may be an issue. E.g., paved areas in the UK can be shitty due to inconsistent height between paving stones. The slightest thing and the newb is gonna go flying.

The thing to remember with skateboarding is that for every several minute video showing cool tricks, you aren't seeing the hours of bails. The Tony Hawk games always included bails videos to show that there's a lot of perseverance and pain that goes into making it look effortless.

I did myself some horrible injuries over the years, including slashing the palm of my hand wide open on a pebble-dashed wall whilst learning just to coast. Also gave myself a horrendous groin injury at one point whilst casually riding around.

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

#22

Post by pengaru » Sat, May 06, 2023, 5:32 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?

Consider rollerblades, way easier.

If you insist on skateboarding, larger diameter wheels go a long way to not crashing on every crack/pebble/uneven surface. A long-board is easier than a street/short-board, and will usually have larger wheels by default.

Beyond that I have no advice for learning in your 40s. I learned to skate street in my childhood and can still effectively get around on one in my 40s. But it's no joke to crash on pavement at our age. Be prepared for some slow-healing fractures and irreparably damaged laptop/phone if you're commuting with a tech job.

Having said all that though, skateboarding is awesome and should get way more respect than it tends to. Super challenging and rewarding, more kids should learn it, character building.

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

#23

Post by rahimnathwani » Sat, May 06, 2023, 6:41 AM UTC

hammyhavoc wrote: post #21

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?

Unless you've got insurance that'll cover it, and/or cash money for fairly serious injuries, you probably shouldn't. You won't bounce back like most of us did in our childhood and teens, and you stand a chance of seriously fucking yourself up. Depending on where you live, sidewalk construction may be an issue. E.g., paved areas in the UK can be shitty due to inconsistent height between paving stones. The slightest th…

Thanks. It seems like an easy choice. I don't have time for injuries!

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

#24

Post by carlmr » Sat, May 06, 2023, 7:42 AM UTC

rahimnathwani wrote: post #23

hammyhavoc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you've got insurance that'll cover it, and/or cash money for fairly serious injuries, you probably shouldn't. You won't bounce back like most of us did in our childhood and teens, and you stand a chance of seriously fucking yourself up. Depending on where you live, sidewalk construction may be an issue. E.g., paved areas in the UK can be shitty due to inconsistent height between paving stones. The slightest th…

Thanks. It seems like an easy choice. I don't have time for injuries!

I wholeheartedly agree with the previous poster. I'd add for your purpose a kick scooter might be the better choice.

It's still good to cover short distances, and you can learn it in an hour and not fly off on every little pebble.

Ideally get one with bigger wheels.

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

#25

Post by [deleted] » Sat, May 06, 2023, 8:06 AM UTC

TN1ck wrote: post #9

It definitely helps, a simple position change of the foot can make a total difference. But this is only one part, skateboarding is so much muscle memory, even if you know how to do it, you need to try it hundred of times to get your body to actually do it.

[deleted]

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

#26

Post by Huggernaut » Sat, May 06, 2023, 8:40 AM UTC

hammyhavoc wrote: post #21

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?

Unless you've got insurance that'll cover it, and/or cash money for fairly serious injuries, you probably shouldn't. You won't bounce back like most of us did in our childhood and teens, and you stand a chance of seriously fucking yourself up. Depending on where you live, sidewalk construction may be an issue. E.g., paved areas in the UK can be shitty due to inconsistent height between paving stones. The slightest th…

A few years ago I realised I left my laptop in the car some distance away in London. I hadn't skated for maybe a decade but my roommate had a skateboard. I texted him telling him I was taking it and was going to do "so many kickflips". Next text was from the hospital with bruised / cracked after I caught a lip and supermanned the pavement.

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

#27

Post by bravetraveler » Sat, May 06, 2023, 12:44 PM UTC

rahimnathwani wrote: post #15

bravetraveler wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Now that you mention it... there's probably something to that.

The 'kicking off' motion is pretty tricky, compared to say - standing normally, rolling down a driveway.

Instead of just managing balance side/side, front/back gets really important with only one foot on the board -- it wants nothing more than to shoot forwards/backwards, depending on where you're leaning.

Some familiarity with standing on it is key, mainly because kicking requires a lot of balance/control -- one leg/knee is doing a lot of work. It's holding you above the board, but it's also holding the board under you

Standing with one foot on it and rolling back/forth and getting a feel for it can help too. Finding how sensitive the shifts can be and how much 'locking' is necessary to make the transition from kicking to standing

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

#28

Post by benoit_cotte » Sat, May 06, 2023, 1:21 PM UTC

gtani wrote: post #19

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/…

100. Also, I am still quiet surprised that for this example on the hardflip, you place your back foot near the opposite side. It was pretty counter-intuitive for me. Practice for sure is the most important part.

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

#29

Post by benoit_cotte » Sat, May 06, 2023, 1:23 PM UTC

bravetraveler wrote: post #12

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 sh…

Totally. I see that it can get a long way for the aspect of "cherish" this tricks it took so long for you to master. For example, I lost my kickflips after a 10 year hiatus. I am still trying to recover from it. Once, I ll be there, I want to never forget them again, or at least having a solid proof I perfected it once in my life.

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

#30

Post by benoit_cotte » Sat, May 06, 2023, 1:24 PM UTC

pengaru wrote: post #22

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?

Consider rollerblades, way easier. If you insist on skateboarding, larger diameter wheels go a long way to not crashing on every crack/pebble/uneven surface. A long-board is easier than a street/short-board, and will usually have larger wheels by default. Beyond that I have no advice for learning in your 40s. I learned to skate street in my childhood and can still effectively get around on one in my 40s. But it's no…

I love that answer. Thanks for sharing this.