Get in shape by skateboarding

Posted by bodybuilder

Posted: June 1, 2008 - 12:30 pm

I took up skateboarding with my best friend when I was in 6th grade. At that point all we had to practice on was one of those huge, heavy old boards with big wheels. It must have been hilarious for the neighbors to watch us learn tricks on that thing- it weighed like 15lbs.

What attracted me was the counterculture of skateboarding, what kept me was the fact that my skateboard became my new mode of transportation and took me all over the city for free. Yes, it took hours to get to the mall when riding the bus would have only taken 15 minutes, but our young adventurous spirits craved adventure and.... exercise?

Skatin'

Little did I know that all that skateboarding was teaching me spatial awareness: The ablity to be aware of oneself in space, balance, coordination and agility. It also helped keep me fit during a time when Taco Bell and Burger King were the only available places to eat on my Jr. High budget. My leg strength and stamina improved as did my confidence- something you need while bombing down a neighborhood hill at 25mph. (Kids don't try this at home).

I still have a skateboard that I get on once in awhile just to prove that I've still "got it." I can manage most of the same tricks I used to do as a kid, my balance is still there but the agility is a bit rusty. Because skateboarding is not really recognized as a mainstream sport and kids in Anchorage don't have a lot of places to skate, the driveway is the place to learn for most.

My parents didn't know what to think when I took up skateboarding, so I didn't have a whole lot of encouragement to take my skateboarding abilities further in life. There aren't many pro female skaters, so it would have been exciting to see where I may have ended up with it all. No worries though, at 26 I can still hold my own with the Jr. High kids and all that balancing on a board with wheels has contributed greatly to my lower body strength and muscularity which has carried over into bodybuilding.

Skateboarding- or any activity done on wheels is often overlooked for it's fitness benefits. Next time you want to yell at your son or daughter about playing a "real" sport, take a minute and watch them on their board, it takes a lot of skill and confidence to do what they do. If you don't believe me, hop on the board yourself and take it for a spin!

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