Surviving the Half Pipe: Safety Tips for Extreme Skateboarders

There’s nothing like getting good air to perform awesome grabs and flip combos on the half pipe. But before you’re able to do this, you have to know the risks involved. After all, without proper preparation, you could seriously injure yourself.

Here are some things to remember before attempting to pull off some wicked stunts:

Wearing safety gear doesn’t make you a sissy. There’s nothing wrong with worrying about your safety when you’re on your board. Equip yourself with a helmet, wrist guards, as well as elbow and knee pads to buffer your falls and prevent nasty bruises and scratches. It’s a must to do this, especially when you’re out on the field to do tricks. A fall may hurt more than you expect it to.

Practice makes perfect. As cliché as it sounds, this is very true. Before attempting to ride the half pipe, it’s always good to polish your board-riding skills on flat surfaces first. This way, you can work on your skateboarding skills at your own pace without gravity getting the best of you on the half pipe.

Once you get the hang of flat surfaces, you can start riding down slopes and ramps to get used to handling semi-uncontrollable speeds. In time, you can be confident enough to get on a half pipe to show everyone what you’ve got!

Staying on your feet. Of course, the most integral factor in successfully riding through the half pipe is balance. By distributing your weight evenly on your board, you can prevent yourself from making an unplanned nosedive or even landing flat on your back.

Keep in mind that even if you’re used to falling off your board, falling from a half pipe involves height; this means injuries can range from mild bruises to fractures and cuts that could need hospital care.