Believe it or not, there’s an etiquette to skateparks. If you’ve never been to one because you’ve recently decided to start skateboarding, BMXing, scootering or roller skating – you may not be aware of the unwritten rules.
You don’t want to put yourself or your child in danger or in an embarrassing situation because you don’t know what is expected of you. As a result, we’ve written this handy guide to help you before you hit your first skate park.
Read on to find out all the dos and don’ts of skatepark etiquette, along with general tips for guidance.
The Basics
The guidance we’ll give you can be useful for anybody that has never been to a skatepark before. We’d also like to add some advice to parents before we begin.
If your kid is quite young, it’s a good idea to go with them to the skatepark and stay in the vicinity until they’re finished. Remember to take the below points into consideration, though!
And as always – regardless of your age, it’s critical that you wear safety gear!
Not Skating? Stay Out!
The first piece of advice to give is that it is so easy for people to get in the way without realizing it.
This can be very frustrating for other skaters when there are others in the way – so if you’re not doing anything, take a seat out of the way!
This is not just for etiquette reasons but for safety reasons too. You could get seriously hurt if you’re in the way, and so could the other skaters.
So, it’s best just to move away if you’re not gonna skate right away.
Have A Plan
You’ll probably be aware of your skills and how good you are right now at skating. If, however, you’re thinking of learning the basics at a skatepark – you might need to come up with a plan.
Skate parks are usually busy places, so you don’t want to be in the way of learning the very basics when there are others ready to do the more advanced stuff.
Now, don’t be disheartened by this. There’s nothing wrong with learning, and you’re totally fine to learn the basics at a skatepark, but if you’re gonna do that – think of these things:
- The least busy times
- Who might be there
- What can I do?
Simply put, if you want to use a skatepark to learn the basics, don’t go when it’s busy!
Pay Attention
There will likely be quite a few skaters in the skatepark, so you’ll need to be alert when you’re performing your tricks.
Others may crash into you, and you could crash into them, and nobody wants to get hurt, do they? So, just be aware of your surroundings when you’re in the area.
Don’t Snake
Snaking refers to dropping into another skater when they are right in the middle of a run. This is one of the biggest and most frequent reasons why crashes occur.
To avoid this, take a look at what the other skaters are doing and do not get in their way. This will keep you and them safe – and also avoid confrontation!
Don’t Be Scared Of Others
It can be quite daunting to turn up at a skatepark with experienced skaters, especially when they all seem older than you.
But don’t worry about them. Of course, you’ll want to be aware of them so you don’t get in their way but focus on your own game.
Remember, they’re at the skatepark so that they can skate. The majority of users simply want to enjoy their time.
Don’t Be Arrogant
Arrogance can cause conflict. Don’t laugh at other beginners if they get things wrong – or experienced skaters, for that matter.
Also, don’t try to do something crazy when you’ve got no experience; this could end up with you being seriously hurt.
Fallen? Get Up Quick!
You’re going to fall off from time to time, especially as a beginner. But don’t worry about it! You only need to remember that you have to get up immediately.
This will keep you safe from other skaters, and you’re not going to be in danger of anyone making fun of you either!
We’d also suggest, if you do fall, clench your hands into fists to help yourself back up. Fingers left splayed out are just asking to be run over.
Don’t Use The Flat Bowl
The flat bowl of the pool is out of bounds for skating – it’s simply a part of the drop. Make sure you stay well away from skating in the flat bowl.
On this point, too, it doesn’t matter if you’re skating, using your scooter, or roller skating – this area is a no-no.
Not only could you get hurt, but you’ll likely annoy some experienced skaters!
Warn Others
If your scooter or skateboard has gotten away from you – yell out “board!” to let other users know that there’s an object in the way which could potentially hurt someone.
This happens from time to time, so don’t think you’ve done anything wrong; it’s all good as long as you warn others.
Avoid Wax
Many beginners want to use the more advanced areas and wax up ramps and rails. We advise against that.
If you have to, though, always ask for permission from others.
Wax can be dangerous, and we advise roller skaters against using waxed areas, which could seriously cause your movement and injury.
Avoid Staying On The Coping
Coping areas need to be cleared as soon as you’ve finished because you’ll get in the way of other skaters – and could get hurt!
General Safety Advice
It doesn’t matter if you’re heading to the skatepark with a scooter, bike, skateboard, or roller skates – the above rules are important to think about as a beginner.
However, here’s some extra advice:
- Always know where your board, bike, or scooter is
- Always wear protective clothing, even if people try to talk you out of it
The Bottom Line
Heading to the skatepark for the first time can be scary, but the more you go – the more you will know. Go with some good friends and follow our advice and you’ll be fine!
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