How to get involved in a new hobby?

"Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S." (calebms)
03/08/2016 at 00:49 • Filed to: None

I want to pick up a new hobby, specifically a form of skateboarding. I’ll probably buy a cheaper board in the next two months, and go from there. So how did you get started with new hobbies?

DISCUSSION (27)

CounterTorqueSteer > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 00:56

For me, it starts with a LOT of research. YouTube videos, articles, expert tutorials, ect. The more you learn about the hobby, the more passion that will build up in yourself for it. If the research doesn't start a fire in you, move on to another hobby.

RyanFrew > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 00:57

Just do it! Immerse yourself. Research a good starter board. Engage with people locally and online. Watch YouTube videos. Think about what you do with cars....now do that with skateboarding.

Tapas > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 01:07

I have close to no idea about skateboarding, but I know this - don’t buy cheap/shitty skateboards.

Especially don’t buy the ones from Walmart.

https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comme…

Carlos wishes he has a manual > Tapas
03/08/2016 at 01:12

I used to skateboard, and I agree completely with Tapas^^^ the best deals I got were completes, as is a board that comes with everything trucks bearings and wheels , that were on sale

And I bought from skatewarehouse.com and was very happy, but this was 8 years ago so take that website with a grain of salt

Edit: I just checked the on sale section from skatewarehouse and I still recommend it. They have good prices for good boards

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 01:33

Research by actually feeling the boards and by watching some videos. May I suggest longboarding? Where I am at, I thankfully get the choice to either downhill or freeride thanks to the hills, yet there are enough flater areas where I am learning how to dance. What kind of area are you in?

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
03/08/2016 at 01:39

Fairly flat, but there are a few longer sloping hills in town here. There are quite a few longboarders in the area, but I would be interested in something a bit more speed/agility focused like the adrenaline junkie I am :p

VIK.T > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 01:43

I used to skate a lot, and occasionally still do. What kind of skateboarding do you want to get into? There is street, vert, longboarding, and cruisers (as you pictured). Figure out what you want to get into or try them all. Listen to Tapas though, do not pick up your boards at your local grocer. If you are on a budget just get a blank deck from a local skate shop and ask for help, they’ll gladly set you up within your budget. Just know that $80-$100 is cheap, and a bad board is going to turn you away from the sport easily. As far as getting started, watch some crazy skate videos on YouTube, and then some not so crazy ones, some beginner ones. Inspiration is everywhere.

Something I can reassure you is that skaters are extremely welcoming, we all started somewhere and love to see more people skating. However if you’re going to be an asshole, it’ll come right back around and immediately.

Regardless, I have never regretted skateboarding. I could only wish everyone skated. It’ll teach you some of life’s most valuable lessons. You are going to suck, you are going to bust your ass; but if you don’t get up and go again nothing will change. That is why you see so much variance in culture and people in skating, anyone can do it, but it always comes down to dedication. I spent hours in my driveway, and nothing was more rewarding than landing a new trick.

Let me know if you need any help or have any other questions and
GO SKATE!

Flavien Vidal > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 01:46

I’ve done over 13 years of downhill, skating around the world, so if you need to know something specifically, just let me know ;)

Also if you want to get a first board, I can definitely hook you up with something good for a good price if you want...

Maybe check if you want something from here: http://www.restlessboards.com/

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > VIK.T
03/08/2016 at 01:56

Wow thanks for your advice and encouraging words!

Could you go through the types of skateboarding you listed so I can better categorize what I want to get into? I would like a board that is light, agile, and something fairly quick as well. The boards that have caught my eye most are cruisers, like the Osprey single kick I posted above. Would a cruiser meet my parameters for light, agile, and quick? They certainly are the most visually pleasing to me thus far.

Most of the riding (is there specific term for going around on your board?) I would do would be in town on fairly level roads, with the occasional long, sloping hill. I don’t think I would be into any crazy stunts, but even as I type this I am of course thinking of what I would like to be able to do.

I will be making attempts to screw around on various boards before making a purchase, and I am assuming that I should buy a pre-build for my first board? The whole aspect of being able to build, maintain, and customize is also a huge part of the alure!

Final question, safety gear? I will likely pick up a BMX style helmet, as I have no desire to obtain a 3rd concussion. Beyond headwear, is there anything else you would recommend?

Thanks again for your willingness to answer my amatur questions!

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 01:58

Unfortunately, that requires some steeper hills to achieve that. Dancing is actually pretty difficult to do, so if that interests you, I think you could give it a shot. Free ride mostly requires balance in sliding at speed, so you might be able to use those hills. Although, if they are not that steep, free riding might be a challenge.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
03/08/2016 at 02:01

Could you define the different types of riding? I’m sure I’d be easier to explain pros and cons to if I knew what the differences were between free riding and dancing.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Flavien Vidal
03/08/2016 at 02:12

What kind of board/riding would you recommend for a beginner? I’m just hoping to get a board, not break any major bones, and immerse myself! I’m hoping it will match my passion for cars, because it seems like a fun, inexpensive hobby that checks all of my boxes: active, hands on, mobile!

Flavien Vidal > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 02:19

It starts as inexpensive, but if you have no mountains around you, trips can quickly get expensive haha

As for a first board, it really depends on what your objectives are. If you want to cruise around and do a bit of downhill at time, and maybe be more serious about DH in the future, something dropped like the Mantis would be nice:

http://www.restlessboards.com/en/mantis-2015…

Dropped boards are practical to push around as it’s lower to the ground, it’s also a bit easier to start DH with, as the lower center of gravity helps stability a bit. Lower center of gravity also mean a bit less grip when compared to a topmount, which is not a bad thing considering you would have to learn how to slide... It’s a also a fairly stiff board, perfect for DH.

If you’re looking more into cruising and carving around, a splinter 38 is a great board too. Much flexier than the Mantis, it’s confortable to ride with and still dropped to ease pushing around.

http://www.restlessboards.com/en/splinter38-…

In term of other brands (I used to skate and work for Restless), you can check Kebbek, Rayne or Landyachtz that produce great boards too...

As far as safety gear goes, helmet and slide gloves are a must...

VIK.T > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 02:28

Sure no problem. To start

Vert: Think Tony Hawk. Half-pipes and other ramps. A little harder to get into unless you have a skate park near you that offers decent ramps. There are more in air-board grabs, and using the coping to grind. (skip to the 1:30ish mark).

Street: Flip-tricks (flipping boards not yourself), grinding skating around town and hopping curbs throughout. You can skate street boards and vert boards in unison. These are the boards you are used to seeing.

Longboards: Long-skateboards, haha, but these are usually the smoothest. A little harder to carry around everywhere but are pretty fun. Better longboards can start getting you into downhill skateboarding territory, which is a blast. (This video is extreme, you can longboard around town, but just a great video)

Cruisers: Smaller, sometimes fatter skateboards with fat wheels. A really smooth ride, and can be a compact way to get around. You’re not going to be able to do many tricks though.

I started strictly street to get my basics down, and eventually been in all these territories, but a lot of people have recently have been buying longboards and cruisers just because it is fun.

The thing is, you can buy a street skateboard, and dabble in all these areas. You just have to buy other parts such as extra fatter wheels and risers for cruising, or larger trucks. You’re right though, there is a lot of customization. But first it isn’t really about the board (that is step 2), it’s about what style you gravitate to the most. I’ve never heard of Osprey and so I can’t attest for their boards, but they look cheap and I am going to say skip ‘em. I’d recommend you check out the skate section at ccs.com or zumiez.com for an idea of respectable brands. Don’t let the price dissuade you, just look around for a good deal. You also don’t necessarily need to purchase it as a complete but it can make it easy. If you go to a shop or order off certain websites they will actually build the board for you if you order all the parts (it isn’t hard). But bang for buck, takes a little work and you have to pick out the best parts in your budget (if you decide to build it yourself, let me know).

A BMX helmet will do fine as you start. You probably are not going to be moving much in your first few weeks, building balance and footing is essential. Later, if you are planning on going over 10mph on a longboard/cruiser or skating vert you’re going to want knee pads and gloves. If you are street skating, it is up to you. Pads can get in the way, and I probably should have been wearing them a few times but know your limits.

GUYMANDUDE > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 02:33

How I get into hobbies... Make a bunch of bad choices and learn from them. Also known as life.

About skateboarding though. Get Swiss bearings and not the cheap China crap ( unless you really like to push allot and go really slow) I’m talking about bones bearings. Next is wheels. Derometer is important.(hardness) depending on the ground, you will probably want to start on something harder, to help initiate a slide( for slowing down). The rogher the ground the softer you should start on. Bushing Derometer should be set based on your weight, you can only tighten them or loosen them so much, get the range correct based on your weight. Each truck is different, as far as pivot angle, track width and height( so there is no set bushing for a weight class for all trucks) full grown man, get medium+ to hard.

Lastly have fun, do your own thing and enjoy yourself. Success only happens when you are having fun. Get rad and flow with it. Don’t try to control it. Just roll with it.

JDMatt > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 02:56

I keep a 27" cruiser in my car for when the weather is nice and I have nothing better to do. (Today was one of those days, I went skating at the beach like I was in a tourism ad for California.) The reason I ride a cruiser is because I know the fundamentals of skating, but I can’t do tricks at all. If you know how to balance, stop, and make turns, buy a cruiser or a longboard.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 04:28

I got fed up with my old ones. Racing road bikes replaced competitive swimming. Weights, mountain biking, and driving replaced racing road bikes. Meanwhile, I’ll probably be the only person on the trail with a helmet that has carbon fiber within..

TheJWT > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 08:10

Don’t start out with the cheapest or most expensive board.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 08:27

This is an excellent hobby. I say go for it and don’t give up! Once you get the hang of the board you will love it.

As spoken by someone that loves longboarding on summer nights.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 09:09

I’ve done a bit of longboarding, I got into it one night when I was having beers with some buddies and they pushed me off a hill on an Arbor Hybrid and told me there was 20 bucks at the bottom if I didn’t spill my beer.

iSureWilll > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 09:18

I don’t skate so I can’t help you there. I recently got interested in photography though. I’ve been taking pictures with my phone and editing them. Sometime soon I’ll pick up an inexpensive dslr and go from there.

I think when you start out you should get something cheap or use what you already own to make sure it's something you will like. Then you don't spend $1,000 on something just to find out you don't enjoy it and you wasted a bunch of coin. Good luck to you!

cazzyodo > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 09:24

I picked up a longboard in middle school, used it in high school, brought it to college and use it now in the city. I’m not exactly good cuz I spend years in between using it but it’s a chill way to cruise around.

For hobbies specifically, I need to dive right in or else I kinda just phase in and out of them. My primary hobby is rock climbing and getting gear helped cement it as such. There are some good resources already posted here so whatever you end up doing will be well informed.

cazzyodo > cazzyodo
03/08/2016 at 09:28

Also, I bought my brother one before he left for college and his area is really hilly. He bought a second one halfway through the year so he could practice slides and was looking at gloves, too. So it’s a blast if you’re on level surface (smooth ride) or downhill (extreme).

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 10:33

I get into new hobbies by spending a bunch of money on it and then finding out I don’t like it and selling it all on Kijiji.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/08/2016 at 14:09

My latest hobby kind of just got handed to me. Literally. I was given left-over snowboard gear to use or get rid of. I happened to find boots in my size for the step-in bindings on the board at a second hand store for $3, so I got them. At that point I had all the gear so I figured I’d use it... so now I snowboard.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/09/2016 at 00:05

Sorry to reply super late!

Freeriding is sliding downhill with style added to it. Here is one example:

Dancing is about trick riding and style on flat surfaces.

Freeride pros:

- teaches balance and how to slow down at speed

- freeriding can be done on many different decks

- each person rides differently and trucks can easily be adjusted to your comfort zone.

Freeride cons:

- destroys wheels

- speed is required

- sometimes, either heelside or toeside is the most difficult part of the learning process.

Dancing pros:

- wowing people is easy to do and respect is earned quickly.

- making up routines or combos is easy

- once you get the hang of it, every other trick seems to come easily.

Dancing cons:

- getting the hang of it is super hard at first.

- only specific boards and wheel types can be used.

- balance becomes one of the hardest things to get used to.

Xazzaphonic (previously known as Vicarious-Chair) > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
03/11/2016 at 19:37

This is nearly identical to the Madrid setup I have.

Kinja'd!!!

Very comfortable board, comes with good hardware, and it has a kicktail if you’re used to that sort of thing. If you’re just getting started, I’d probably recommend taking it easy with something like that.