Aggressive Skate Blog

Beginner’s Guide to Skate Park Etiquette

So you just received your new aggressive skates from R-dub and the local skate park is calling you. You’re new to the rolling scene and don’t want to look like a complete noob at the skate park and get yelled at by all the regulars, I mean who wants that? The following is a beginner’s guide to skate park etiquette.

First, there are a few things about skate parks that you should really know. Most of them are NOT supervised or monitored. This means if you leave your things unattended on a picnic table or something like that they’re pretty much fair game for the local clepto. Yes, I know, this sounds horrible and it is sad but it’s very true. Whenever I go to a skate park like this I drive myself and I lock my things in my trunk and take nothing into the skate park with me. I realize however that many of you that are reading this cannot drive as of yet, so here’s what I recommend that you do. If you are there with several friends designate a spot in the park not being used or a guard rail or even a fence post that you can see at all times and hang all your things or set them together so they aren’t “unattended”. If you are by yourself at the park really try to only take the things you absolutely have to have with you, ie: cell phone, shoes, etc… What I really recommend to do with these things is to set them in a spot out of the way but visible to you at all times, don’t try to hide them somewhere because if someone is trying to steal things they probably know the hiding spots around the park. Lastly on this subject, please just use common sense and don’t ignore your things unless you don’t want them, and please don’t set them directly in the way because people will break or move/throw them out of their way.

Ok so i’m at the park and my gear is chillin where it won’t get ganked, now what? Now what your gonna do is skate! Don’t sit around like a wanker because you will be made fun of and not only that, why go if your not gonna skate? So your probably asking me now “what am I supposed to do if I can’t stand around? I can’t skate well yet!” Well here’s what you do. When you enter the park take a minute and look around the park and find a ramp or set of ramps that look like something you can learn on and isn’t being sessioned by anyone or atleast not many people if the place is totally packed. Don’t be afraid to just roll up to the ramp and roll back down backwards (dropping in and beginner ramps tutorial coming soon). Once your comfortable with that skate all the way up the ramp put your h-block on the coping and step up onto the ramp. When you feel comfortable with it go ahead and try to drop in. What’s that noob? you can’t drop in yet? You know what I do when I want to learn something? I find someone that can and I ask them to teach me! Yes! that’s right, I ask someone for help! Do not be shy and not ask just because someone’s good. I would say 80% of people, especially rollers are really willing to help new skaters, even if they’re from a different sport!

Just ask someone their name, tell them that your new and would like to learn to drop in and i’m sure they will be willing to help you out! And on the off chance that they are not willing to help you, just ask someone else, do not be shy about it, be confident! Being confident will get you so far in this sport it would blow your mind!

Well you know how to roll the ramps and your new homie at the park is pretty cool so your just chillin and you move on to one of the ramps that you wanna session. But it seems everyone is just going and I can’t get a turn! Well like I said before be confident, just roll up the ramp and chill on the coping till whoever is on the ramp is done then go, don’t wait like a old woman at a stop sign staring at the other guy, just go! “OK, so I went and I was in such a hurry I fell and it really hurt!” For the love of all that is holy! Do not, I repeat, Do not just lay there! That will make people more angry that you can even imagine! If you can still move then get off the ramp as fast as you can. And if you can just get right back up and run up the ramp and try again as soon as you can. That gets you recognized, if you fall and just get up and keep rolling people are gonna say “that dude is crazy!” and not “wow, that was lame”. Well you know the basics of skating the ramps and the same rules apply to a rail or anything else. Basically be firm and confident but be polite and respectful as well, make sure to give respect to those that deserve it and you’ll get the same from them. Don’t be afraid to try new tricks, people won’t laugh at you for falling at a skate park, its what your supposed to be doing, if your not falling, then you’re not learning. Don’t be afraid to wear pads! You don’t want to fall on your first trick and bust your knee and be outta commission all day from a stupid knee slam. Besides, if you got pads on and I really recommend knee pads and butt pads for park skating, as well as helmets if your trying bigger stuff, then you won’t be afraid to fall.

Finally, i’ll summarize everything for you. First remember to keep your gear safe, don’t try to stash it somewhere out of site. Second, don’t just sit around and be afraid to use the ramps or learn to use them. Your at a skate park its made for using the ramps, if you don’t want ramps don’t go to a skate park. Third, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a fellow roller or even a boarder. Next, be confident, not aggressive, but confident and polite. Take turns and don’t let yourself be cheated out of your own turn. If you fall don’t lay there, get up and keep skating unless your really hurt and aren’t capable, in that case people will rush to help you and an eerie silence will take over the park. Pads, pads, pads. Don’t be a tough guy and not wear them, they can keep you skating and take away that ever troublesome fear. Lastly, just have fun and pay attention to your surroundings, don’t act like the park is all yours and give respect when respect is due and have fun no matter what!

By: Danny Barnes - Thrills N’ Spills skatepark employee.

About the author:

I’ve been working at the local skatepark for a year and I’ve tried to tell you all a little bit about the things I learned through my time working there as well as from my 5 years of skating experience. Please feel free to contact me on the RW forums, my username is “Sheds”, if you have any further questions or need help with something.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 24th, 2006 at 11:23 am and is filed under skating, Events, aggressive, rollerblade. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site. Your comments will appear immediately, but I reserve the right to delete innapropriate comments.