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Ok! Uncle Suede - here we go!
First: Try before you buy! Do you know anyone with a board? Just try and have a little go before you go full steam ahead and buy yourself a whole set up. Just make sure you actually wanna spend your time larking about on a board. You don't want to splash out all that cash for something you use once. I'd reccomend not to, anyway!
Anyhow, if you're sure you're sure, go to your local skate emporium. If you have more than one go to a few until you find a friendly nice one. I'm lucky because the skate shop in Leicester is really nice and I know them all (all my skate buddies that still skate a lot work there now). It's a friendly skater-owned shop, and they're all real nice. It'll be better if you can find something like that - they'll ease you in.
As far as a board goes, you could probably get a second hand one pretty cheap - and that would do you for now, I'd expect. Also, blank boards are always cheaper - and the shop itself might have it's own shop boards, which are likely to be cheaper. Pro models and big company are more expensive (I should think, it's been a while... they were about £54 last time I knew.). There's nothing much better about them, and if you're just starting, it shouldn't really matter. But you can get some purdy looking boards! (I'm thinking of Chocolate, here.)
Size-wise, the average - and I guess this is for a guy - is about 7 3/4" wide. So, depending on how big your feet are, get a little dinky board, or a great big gnarler! It goes on preference as well, go with what seems comfortable. They should let you stand on them and see how they feel.
As far as trucks and wheels go, that shouldn't matter for now, they're more fine tuning. A good average wheel size - say a 54 should do it. Bear in mind the kind of surfaces around your area though. If they're mostly rough you should get bigger, softer wheels as they'll absorb the impact of rough ground. But if it's all smooth you can have lovely hard small wheels and speed around forever! Get trucks that fit the board (ie, not wider than the board itself).
The only other thing left is shoes, you might have some already, I dunno. Shoes are important in my mind though. Much as I love skating in Converse All Stars, they can hurt your feet pretty bad (ie, don't land a trick - bruise your feet! Gnarly that, it's for "feeling your board".) Try and get some you like, if you need them. I like skate shoes. I managed to pick up some Savier "Story" for £12, and they had a lovely little story on the sole.
One more thing - having never worn pads in my life, I wouldn't say they're of major importance. What kind of skating are you planning on trying? In parks/ramps or just around the street? I've never done anything in my years of skating that would have been improved by wearing pads, bar a little bump or bruise. I believe wrist guards can make it easier to break your arm rather than wrist. Wear them if they make you feel more comfortable though - though they can stifle your movement a little - maybe not having grazed elbows and knees is worth that!
So you're pretty much set, I'd say!
Don't worry about how you look, or what you can/can't do - just try and have fun. That's what it's for, after all. Skating is all about looking at things differently, scoot about on yr bum! Do goofy things, just have "a larf", simply. You're never too old to have fun. Hurrah!
And if it doesn't seem to be for you, buy a Tony Hawk game! Let us know how you get on! |
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