The DO's And Don'ts Of Skateboarding :SKatepark Etiquette

So boom, you arrive at your first skatepark. Maybe you’ve just decided you’d give this weird thing a try, or that one friend you always smoke with invited you to take the blunts outside today. One way or another you’re here, and it is fucking chaos. Ramps, rails, and stairs in places they’ve never belonged in a normal functioning society. Skaters cruising at seemingly impossible speeds, flying up, down, and over obstacles. Somehow they’re  magically staying on their boards, without running into each other? You’re first thought: “Well shit, I don’t belong here in the slightest.” Throw on the fact that you might’ve just started skating and this feeling is increased tenfold. You’re aura of “noob” is literally oozing out of your pores and you’re praying that nobody notices. I promise you, it’s noticed. And that’s an intimidating, BUT no worries. Almost every skateboarder has found themselves face to face with this nasty little demon. So nobody is judging you, and if they are, they’re usually dicks, emanating and basking in their own negative energy. It’s your first time, so of course there’s some learning you need to do. But it’d be pretty awkward, and slightly tedious, walking up to someone asking “hey, how do you skatepark”. Especially if they’re in the air. But what if someone wrote out some tips for situations like this that way you don’t have to ask-

Here are some tips on how to get through your first few skatepark visits. Like any other new place you’re visiting, you must get acclimated to your environment. But once the adjustment is made I promise you’ll be laughing at yourself for even being remotely nervous.

1) Kindly get the fuck out the way, thanks.

Upon entering any skatepark of any kind, you’re bound to see someone skating, having a grand ole time . And while it looks so cool, or so dangerous, it is imperative that you watch where you’re going at all times, at least until you sit down and get settled. Whether it’s one person, or an an entire skate event, it is important you’re vigilant when entering a skatepark. Don’t take a stroll down the middle of the park, or climb the highest ramp because you think it’d be fun or cute. It’s just annoying, and somebody’s probably waiting for you to cut the shit and move. Someone might actually politely ask if you can move, or calmly tell you that you’re annoying. Some might not even say anything and still go for their trick and gamble on if you hear them coming, running the risk of both of you (mostly you) getting hurt. But don’t be that guy (or girl) in the first place. Find perimeter of the park, and walk alongside. There’s usually less going on over there and the safest route inside. Watch those ankles though, boards wander. Treat a skatepark like one wide street. Look both ways before you cross it, IF you must cross the whole thing.

2) Stay the fuck out of the way. Appreciate it.

So you’ve finally made it in and you’re settled and you may be ready to go try something. You’ve kept everything in the first tip in consideration and minded everyone’s way but alas, you’re still finding people still frustrated with your noobish presence and it’s really messing with you. You ponder these thoughts while you practice your ollies at the bottom of a stare set. You decide to go and try the halfpipe (the big swooshing U thing) and fulfill your Tony Hawk Proskater fantasies. You get on it just fine, some might say you’re getting the hang of it, but you can still feel the tension of intense glares, almost like laser vision, and it’s still messing with you. So you move again, only to be followed by a guy dropping in from the top of the halfpipe, relieved by your absence. Why you ask? B e c a u s e  y o u ‘r e s t i l l  i n  t h e  d a m n  w a y. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with starting with the basics at a skatepark. In fact I encourage it. It allows you to get visual representations of proper form and technique. Not only that but we skaters are very open to teaching tricks, some even get joy out of it.  So never feel self conscious about that. BUT, you still have to watch where you’re going to work on things, even if you’re not doing a gnarly ass kickflip up a huge ramp. Mind where you are when you skate. If you see a few skaters trying something, unless you’re trying it too, try to stay out of their path and landing zone. It avoids both pain and embarrassment. Once again, more for you than for them.

3) For the love of God, NO SNAKING!

This is probably top three most annoying things anyone anywhere can do ever. Most of us were taught the basic rule no cutting as children, so that makes it even more frustrating when you encounter it. Snaking is essentially, cutting off someone going for a trick so you can go for your own. You see it all the time, though not every time intentional. Someone who’s been trying a trick on a ledge for a minute, backside nosegrind, tailslide, whatever, goes to try the trick again with full confidence, only to be cut off by some kid trying to ollie (jump) on the ledge.

Deadass, bro? You mean to tell me you went your entire life shitting in peoples lives with your existance? Did you skip the lesson in elementary school that said “Hey. don’t pollute the world with your presence by skipping in line”? Skaters can be free, wild beings, but we’re not animals. Have some manners, wait your turn. Often, when it is your turn, people will wait on you to go, or even give a gesture signifying that you’re free to go. But never just assume that it’s all yours, because it’s not. If you find yourself snaking, a quick “my bad” will suffice. Even experienced skateboarders snake by accident on occasion. But if you do this on purpose, you’re a special kind of shitty.

4) Where is the best place to sit?

If you answered A, congrats! You know how to sit in places that make sense. Your sense of proximal danger are elite, and we, as a community, love you dearly. If you answered anything other than A, then you’re a special kind of risk taker. Or you just don’t care about life at all.

My personal, worst pet peeve in the entire existence of skateboarding are inattentive squatters. Ain’t nothing wrong with squatters. Skateparks tend to have those occasionally. They bring extra personality, and fun to the skatepark. Many times they might not even skate, they’re just there to chill, smoke weed, watch, or link up with friends. But if you’re gonna be that person, be aware of where you sit. Of all the ways to be in the way, this, to me is the worst, most annoying, and unsafe. Skateparks can be a safe haven for skaters to be themselves in the one way the know how, away from the general public. Don’t pull up to be an annoying pedestrian. You have literally the rest of the planet earth to do that.

5) Would be a dick move to litter right now…

Really, don’t do it. Besides being a hazard to the earth, you’re being a hazard to skaters around you, for obvious reasons. Things snag in wheels all the time, bringing boards to a screeching halt, and skaters flying off their boards, potentially hurting themselves more than necessary. The smallest of things can do this to skateboards already, no need to add to the list. This tip is short because that’s as simple as it gets. Throw out ya trash.

6) Keep that ALL negative energy outside.

Skateparks are a happy place. Above all things, skateboarding is purely about having as much fun as you possibly can. Life is full of ups and downs, so for a lot of skaters this is only place we can be at a constant up. So bringing drama and negativity are a big no-no in skateparks. Starting unnecessary beef, stealing, snaking, being obnoxious about how much “better” you are than others, comparing skaters skill, and overall just being an asshole is liable to get you deemed as an undesirable at a skatepark. And since most skateparks have frequent locals, who tend to know most visitors from regulars, chances are word will spread that you’re an asshole. So leave the ego at home, you won’t need it. Congratulate that dude who finally landed that kickflip on the ramp with a high five, or banging you board on the ground, even if you don’t know him. Give back that girl’s wandering board, even if her board shooting out had nothing to do with you. Make conversation if you want, we don’t bite. Whatever you do, just keep that negative mess at the gate. Nobody wants to deal with that. 

Now that you’re equip with this knowledge, go and be free young one. There are so many skateparks on this earth, you’re bound to come across at least one in your life. So have a blast, make a friend or two, or six because if you make a friend with one of us you’ll make friends with more. Learn all the tricks in the world. Make a new trick. And if you’re ever intimidated, remember, we all started out like you once. You’ll be fiiiiineeee.