How to Attract a Skater

2. 1
   If you're a huge skater, you got this one down perfectly. If not, see below:
3. 2
   Try and seem interested in what he loves. Smile and say 'awesome' or 'cool' when he does something really impressive. He is not doing these to impress you though, so don't overdo it. Try it casual--Be friendly and flirty. But not too flirty...most skaters don't like clingy and super flirty girls.
4. 3
   Ask questions, it will show him that you're interested and really care about his passions. He should always feel like you support what he does. Maybe he will learn to do the same for you.
5. 4
   Be brave, guys like confidence! Ask him to show you how to stand on a skate board or how to go. Remind him you're a beginner and don't want to do any advanced things. Skateboarding is a really creative hobby, and he will be proud when you get good! (Make him hold you while you're trying to stand, guys like that.)
6. 5
   Make sure the guy you like is really worth it. You should like him for his personality, not just the way he skates. Get to know the guy behind the board, outside of the skate park. Ask him about himself, and not just his skating. Otherwise he may think you're not as interested.
7. 6
   If he hasn't seemed to notice you, you should maybe try complimenting him on the way he skateboards or watching him quite often and smiling whenever he does a cool trick. Laugh and be approachable, he'll come to you.
8. 7
   If you know how to skateboard, do some tricks in front of him. This might get him interested in you. If you're really good, impress him, but be modest about it.
9. 8
   Try getting to know some of his friends, that way they can introduce you to him. Show your interest in skateboarding, and one of his friends is bound to notice.
10. 9
    Don't lie about your skater skills, EVER. If you say you can, and you really can't, he'll think you're a poser. Be yourself, and not a sk8r wannabe.
11. 10
    If he still hasn't noticed you, he probably just isn't interested. You can't catch the attention of every guy.
12. 
    
13. source : http://www.wikihow.com
    

The Beginner's Guide to Skateboarding

By Steve Cave, About.com Guide

Step 1 - Beginner Skateboard Gear

So you've bought or borrowed your first skateboard, and you are wondering what to do with it. You've seen skaters at the park or on TV, and you know what skating's supposed to look like, but how do you get started? What sort of beginner skateboard gear do you need?
Well, the first thing you should do is get a pair of skate shoes (check out the Best Skateboard Shoes List). You can skate in regular shoes, but it will be a lot harder and even sometimes dangerous. Skate shoes are built with a large flat bottom, to better grip the board, and often with other features like reinforcement in areas where you'll likely wear the shoe down.
You should also get a helmet (check out the Best Skateboard Helmets list). You might see skaters not wearing helmets, and worry that wearing one will make you look weak or stupid, but don't worry about it. It's common now for skateparks to require helmets, and it's just plain smart, especially when you first start out.
Wearing other protective pads can be good too, but what you need totally depends on what you are doing (see the Best Skateboard Pads list). If you are trying to do tricks in your driveway, elbow pads might be a good idea, but you really only need knee pads if you are skating on a ramp, or trying some pretty crazy tricks. Wrist braces can be nice, but be careful not to get too used to using your hands to catch yourself when you fall.

Step 2 - Standing on a Skateboard

Now you should be ready to start learning to skate. First, before you try anything crazy, you need to get comfortable standing on your skateboard. If you borrowed it, or if you went to a shop and bought a complete skateboard already built, there's a chance that there may be some things about it that you might find uncomfortable. Set the board either in some grass, or on the carpet in your living room, and try standing on it, jumping on it, whatever you want. Try balancing only on the front or back wheels. Standing on the board, move your feet into different positions. Get used to the feel and size of your board, and get used to standing on it.

 Step 3 - Skateboard Stance: Goofy vs. Regular


Next you need to figure out your skateboard stance, whether you are goofy or regular footed. This means whether you should skate with your right foot forward, or your left. If one feels more comfortable than the other, then simply go with that!
The two different ways to stand are called stances - Goofy (skating with your right foot forward) and Regular (skating with your left foot forward).
Here are three tricky ways to figure out how you will most likely feel most comfortable standing on your board:

ONE

- go get a ball or something like that, and sit it on the ground in front of you. Now kick it. Whichever foot you kicked it with will likely be your back foot. You want the balancing foot in the front, and the kicking foot in the back.

TWO

- go to a staircase, and walk up it. What foot did you use to step up the FIRST step? That's likely your back foot.

THREE

- this one's hard, because once you read it you'll know the trick. So just read this first spot and then stop when I tell you to stop. Go find someone, stand with both your feet close together, and ask them to shove you from behind. Go do this now -- STOP READING! Ok, so hopefully you didn't just fall over. You should have caught yourself with one foot. The foot you used to catch yourself is likely the foot you'd put in back. Just like most people are right handed, most people are regular footed. That's why it's called regular. Just remember that there's no RIGHT way to do it. If all of these tricks tell you that you are regular, but you just like riding goofy, then ride goofy!

Step 4 - Skateboard Pushing

 
ext, we'll learn to push your skateboard. Take the skateboard out to some pavement or concrete somewhere. I recommend a parking lot, after the business that uses the lot is closed. That way there are no cars around, or people.
Get comfortable just like above, but this time on a surface where your board can roll.
Now try cruising around the parking lot. Take your front foot, and put it so your toes are right over the front truck, or a little behind it, on top of the board. Use your back foot to push off with so that the skateboard starts rolling, and put your back foot back on the skateboard once you are rolling the speed you want to (read is it ok to push with my front foot? if you are more comfortable that way). When you slow down, push off some more with your back foot. To turn, if you are going downhill, you can lean in the direction you want to turn, but this will turn you slowly. A better way to turn is to balance for a split moment on your back wheels, and swing your front wheels the direction you want to go. This might take some practice.
Get comfortable with riding around like this. You should spend some time practicing -- don't get too anxious to do tricks. After you feel pretty good with riding like this, try going down an easy hill, so long as you're careful that there won't be traffic. Spend some time learning to skate. You can try skating at your local skate park, if you have one. At first you might try to go at a time when there won't be very many people around.

Step 5 - How to Stop on a Skateboard

 

Now that you know how to get going, you may want to know a little more about how to stop on a skateboard! There are several ways to stop your skateboard. Footbreaking - The easiest way is to take off your back foot and drag it on the ground. It takes some practice, and you should really spend some time focusing on it now, before you need it, so that you can stop when you need to! Read How to Footbreak for instructions and help.
Heel Drag - This takes some practice, but it's a common way to stop with people who have been skating a while. Basically, you put the heel of your back foot so that it is sticking off of the back of your skateboard, and lean back so that the front of your board comes up into the air. Step down on your heel, but make sure that the front half of your foot is still on the board. Your heel should drag a short ways, and you should stop. This will take practice - you may fall on your back a few times, and launch the board out in front of you a few times while you learn.
Power Slide - Powerslides are popular in the Tony Hawk video games, but they are actually fairly advanced. I mention them because I'm guessing you've played the game and want to do it - it does look pretty cool! Well, hold off on that for a while - you haven't even gotten to kickturns yet!
Bail! - When all else fails, just jump off of your board! If your knees are bent while you ride, this shouldn't be to hard. And if you jump forward, your skateboard will usually stop. Just remember - buying a new skateboard is much cheaper and easier than getting a broken arm, or a new face!

When Reading About Conquering Skateboarding Fear Does Nothing For You...

By Steve Cave,

I just got an email from a reader who is having a hard time with chickenfoot. He said that he read Chickenfoot Help, and How to Conquer Fear in Skateboarding, and is still having problems. Nothing helps.

This can be a BIG problem!! My advice is to do something else for a bit. Don't stop skating, but do other stuff. Cruise around. Practice kickturns. Get good at stopping, and going fast. Get more comfortable on that board. Try manuals. Maybe skate some flow at a skatepark. Get more comfortable skating. Spend a LOT of time on that board...

Do that for a while, like days. Maybe longer. And your fear should slowly melt away. Once you feel truly confident on your board, you should be ok with ollying, or whatever else is giving you trouble.

And another thing - don't feel bad for being scared. You should be!!! Getting hurt sucks! But if you're wearing a helmet, you WILL heal! If you want to read more, check out What to do if I'm still afraid, and it might help. I tell a fun story about getting hurt! If you've dealt with this yourself, leave a comment below and give Tom and other skaters some advice - how did YOU deal with this?!

Skateboarding: A Sport? A Lifestyle? Or the Birth of a Trend?

We all have seen crazy teens gliding on the streets, in front of marble paved Banks. They skate "in packs".

It's interesting how the number of skateboarders nowadays has tremendously increased. And this is not necessary a bad thing. In just 50 years skateboarding has become a worldwide known and practiced sport, and I dare to add a trend, and a lifestyle.

Although no one knows who invented skateboarding, it developed rapidly. At first, who wanted to skate had to make his own skateboard.

A very rudimentary form (planks with wheels under them), and skateboarding did not represent anything else than just gliding down the road. However, after only 13 years after skateboarding was invented, in 1963 this sport began to gain popularity, even though it was in a primitive state.

To shorten the story, skateboarding had its ups and downs. In the '70s skateboarding popularity decreased, then went back up in the 80' with the invention of new tricks. Allan "Ollie" Gelfand invented the 'ollie'.

However, skateboarding was disregarded again in the late '80s and the starting of the '90s. These last years were troublesome for pro-skaters like: Steve Caballero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill.

It is interesting that skateboarding did not die, but in exchange it covered more ground. Skateboarding developed in the streets. Passionate skateboarders decided to create their own skateboard production system. New and improved skateboards appeared. This helped skateboarders do more daring and new stunts, which attracted the youth.

In the late '90 and starting with the year 2000, a new kind of musing appeared, and a new generation of skateboarders: "the punkers". While skating is about being free, just you and the board, having the possibility of doing endless tricks, and riding in any way you want, punk music expressed this desire of being free and independent and it shouted out loud the needs of a generation. Therefore, the loud rock music merged almost perfectly with this sport.

An interesting thing is that anyone can try to skateboard and skateboarding is for everyone. In a skate park you can find "punkers", nerds, normal teens, Goths, and what is more interestingly is that they get along. They socialize, and they express themselves freely. You find there pro-skaters that give tips to guys that just bought their first skateboard. And this is one thing skateboard is about.

Teens and not only teens start to love this sport. Things like, skate shoes, special decks and boards, performance wheels, video stunts, contests, video games, bring skateboarding in the mainstream.

Nevertheless, skateboarding is not about, looking cool, or doing tricks on a board, but more often hanging with your friends, having a good time while ridding the skateboard, and evolving at your own pace. Moreover, progressing in skateboarding can hurt, and it usually does. Skateboarding implies with no doubt a great dose of adrenaline!

The feeling you get when you jump 10 feet in the air is incredible, although you don't land on your feet every time! Skateboarding is about danger and facing it, fulfilling your pride, going beyond your own limits.

The development of skateboarding included the development of a few other things: boards, decks producers, shoe ware, clothing, etc. All these brought together different types of people, of characters under a single name: Skater.

For all those who want to be skateboarders, it's easy because you can find anything you want at an acceptable price. Specialized shops sprang out of nowhere, shops in which you can find everything a skateboarder needs-from decks to wheels and shoes, and all kinds of accessories.

Here are just a few world known brands: Alien Workshop, Blind, Cape Fear, Aesthetics, Origin, Outlook, Firm, DNA, Zero, and the list could go on. Shoe brands: Ethnics, DC, Osiris, etc. Wheels: Bones, Powell, Spitfire. And all kinds of accessories, from stickers and colored boards to t-shirts markings, and backpacks with a special place for the skateboard.

It is no wonder that skateboarding is more and more popular, and more accessible to everyone.

Trend is defined as a popular tendency at a given time. In its short and adventures history, skateboarding has become more than a trend. It has become a lifestyle.

By Claudia Miclaus
Last Updated: 10/13/2011

Skate Punk

1. Style your hair. It is popular to have your hair black if you want to be punk. You can spruce it up by adding a few streaks of color or wearing your hair in an extreme fashion. You could try a mohawk or liberty spikes, but a buzz cut or really short hair works, too.
2. Learn how to skate, if you don't already know. This is a very important step in being a skate punk. If you don't know how to skate, you may end up looking like a poser. Make sure you suck up to the local skaters who think they are better than you so they don't hassle you when you screw up on a trick.
3. Wear skate clothes. Wear skate shirts, studded belts, and the like. Of course, to avoid being like everyone else, you could make your own clothing, or just stick to band shirts.Wear cool pants grey,dark grey,black,dark blue just makes sure you dont look to punk or to skater
4. Get skateboarding shoes. Shoes are very important, as they can make or break your image. Some examples are:
5. Talk about your favorite bands. Listen to what the others are listening to, and never keep up with MTV's standard artists.Also dont listen to everything other people listen to beacuse then it will seem you cant pick out your own bands.

TIPS

• Studded belts are not mandatory but believe it they look cool.
• Hats are cool, so next time you're out, find a nice one to wear.
• Ripped clothing is certainly acceptable from time to time, but don't rip your jeans on purpose, at least with people watching. you will be called a poser.
• Wear wristbands. These are so you don't get sweat on your wrists, and everyone knows how hard it is to skate with sweat on your wrists.
• Messenger bags are great things to carry around when you're not carrying your skateboard.
• Element makes decent boards, so load up on them. Beware though, some people hate them on the half pipe.
• Make sure you know how to skate, or there is just no point to this.
• Listen to a lot of underground punk bands, since that's where the action is. Along with them, listen dead kennedys,faction,black flag,gorilla biscuits,anti-flag this are some good bands but remember you dont have to listen to these bands listen to what yout think is good
• In reference to "punk bands", one should always remember that the 'Sex pistols' and "the ramones" were the first, and are a 'have to have' if your even going to try and listen to anything punk.
• You can watch MTV sometimes, to check out videos, but don't listen to them when they tell you about how "punk" somebody is.

WARNING

• Stay away from pop music.Dont try to sastify other people by listening to what they listen. Listen to skate punk bands. Some good examples are JFA, NOFX, and The Faction. Black Flag could work too.
• Your new hair might be labeled as 'emo' if you're not careful, so make sure you style it correctly.Emo hair is basiclly a big bang over your eye
• Wear a helmet when boarding; you might be made fun of, but they won't be laughing when you crack your skull open.
• Punk is also about attitude, think what you want to think(dont be cocky though) and dont let any one tell you otherwise.
• Also, don't be too soft, be aggressive.

How to Dress Like a Skater

Learning to skate on a skateboard can be fun. It can also be a challenge, a painful one at that. Watching someone skateboarding makes it look easy. It is not, and takes a great deal of hard work, time, and most likely pain.. After you learn, the next step is dressing to look like a skater.

Steps

1. 1
   Research skateboarding brands on the internet and of some skaters, as it can lead you to discovering companies whom you've never heard of, but have some sick products.Skateboarding is about being yourself, and doing what you love, not a stereotype.

   Ads by Google

   Grindhouse Skateshop

   Aggressive Inline Skates, apparel & accessories from all known brands!
   www.grindhouse.eu
2. 2
   Buy yourself some skate shoes. Most skaters wear them, as they are specifically manufactured for skateboarding (Some have extra stitching.), and do not go for whichever looks the coolest; if you're a true skater, they'll be ripped in no time. Some good brands are ES', DVS, Supra,Vans, Circa , DC, Globe, and Adio. It is up to you.
3. 3
   Keep your hair long or short. Whatever is comfortable for you works. Long shaggy hair isn't a sign for a skater, what some people think. Andrew Reynolds is a real skater and he doesn't have long hair and not all skaters do. You can make your hair spiky, messy, or versatile -- whatever you want.
4. 4
   Choose comfortable clothing. Wear any type of shirt, depending on your comfort level and your taste. Select either short sleeved or long sleeved, and buy pants that enable you flexibility while skateboarding. Look for comfort first, and style next. Once you've found a style look at your local skate-shop for brand tees. You can also wear New Era caps for a skater style. DC, Etnies, and Vans. skater hats are recommended. If you want you can also wear baseball team caps. Flat brim 59Fifty hats are recommended.
5. 5
   Don't wear skating brand shirts all the time. Wear casual clothing as well. Striped shirts, plain t shirts , hoodies, brands shirts all that is skateboarder clothes. Sweet band shirts are good for skater style.
6. 6
   Don't wear "Phat Farm," or "Southpole" at all unless you want the gangster look, which is not skater.
7. 7
   Try to take some examples from video games like "Tony Hawk" but DON'T COPY just take examples only to any one who says that skateboarders should wear skulls shirts or leather jackets that's totally not a skater.
8. 8
   Don't let anyone tell you what you NEED to have for skater style. It is YOUR style, you make it you,r choice. You're hopefully reading this just for ideas

Buying Inline Skate Wheels

By Jim Safianuk, Publisher
April 12th, 2005
Copyright 2005, by JKS Publishing
All Rights Reserved

Inline skate wheels have the greatest impact on your skating performance. They come in different sizes, shapes, and composition, and are made to suit different styles of skating. Therefore, selecting the right wheel for the way you skate is of prime importance.

You should buy wheels based on your:

• Body weight
• Skating ability
• Skating style
• Speed comfort zone

Before you head to your local sporting goods store for replacement wheels, it’s best to learn something about the physical properties of a typical, inline skate wheel.

Learning about the properties

The four properties are hardness, size, core, and profile. You need to understand these properties so you’re in the know when it comes time to purchase a new set of wheels.

Hardness

The durometer reading is a measure of the hardness of the material that makes up the wheel’s tire. The higher the hardness, the harder the wheel. In addition, the harder the wheel, the longer it lasts, but the less it absorbs shock and vibration when skating.

Most wheels on the market range from 74A (softest) to 88A (hardest), where the letter A denotes the durometer scale. However, recreational skaters are normally interested in a narrower range from 78A to 82A. This hardness range provides good control and a smooth roll for trail skating.

A harder wheel with a durometer reading, such as 82A, exhibits the following characteristics:

• Good for skating fast on smoother surface
• Lasts longer and is more durable
• Generally used by heavier people
• Better wear properties
• More vibration on rougher surfaces

On the other hand, a softer wheel with a lower durometer reading, such as 78A, provides the following benefits:

• Better traction
• Greater shock absorption
• More cornering grip
• Enhanced rebound
• Less vibration on rougher surfaces
• Good for rougher surfaces

Size

The size of the wheel is the outside diameter measured in millimeters (mm). The larger the wheel, the faster the skate due to reduced rolling resistance.

Wheels in the 72-mm to 78-mm range are just right for recreational and fitness skating. They provide good maneuverability and speed for skating longer distances.

On the other hand, wheels in the 80-mm to 84-mm range are faster wheels, and provide the best performance at higher speeds. However, larger wheels are less stable and consequently require more skating ability. Speed skaters and racers typically wheels in this size range.

Check your owner’s manual or with the manufacturer to find out what size range your skates can accommodate. For example, the frames of K2 Exotech skates can hold up to an 82-mm wheel in the larger sizes and down to a 76-mm wheel in the smaller sizes. It’s important that you find out the size range supported by your skates, especially if you are planning to move up or down in size versus the original wheels that came with your skates.

Core

The core consists of the hub and spokes. The inner hub houses the bearings and spacer, which is where the axle resides. The outer hub and spokes bond to the tire material itself, which is the polyurethane.

The core design and material of construction gives a wheel its stability. A wheel undergoes stress from many different directions. The design and material determine the strength of the wheel. Cores range from solid in aggressive wheels to lightly-spoked in racing wheels. The standard hub is called a 608 hub, which means it holds a 608-type bearing.

Profile

The profile is the cross-section of the wheel where it meets the ground, when viewed head on. The profile or curve determines how much of the wheel is in contact with the surface at any given time.

As an industry standard, all wheels are 24-mm thick, but it’s the variation in a wheel’s footprint that provides different functionality. The larger the footprint, the better the traction and stability.

Selecting new wheels

The hardness and size have the biggest impact on your skating, so base your choice on these properties. Cores and profiles have significant, but less subtle consequences. Compare cores and profiles after you’ve decided on the correct hardness and diameter for your weight, ability, style, and speed.

Choosing a hardness

As mentioned previously, the harder the wheel, the longer it lasts, but the lower the grip, and the less it absorbs shock and vibration on the trail. Recreational skaters normally look for wheels in the range of 78A to 82A. This hardness range affords good control and a smooth roll on most trails.

However, you’re not required to use the same hardness on all your wheels. Some skaters use mixed durometers to achieve a better balance of grip, shock absorption, and durability than is possible with a single hardness.

Wear Patterns: Before you rotate your wheels during your monthly maintenance check, note the wear pattern on your wheels from the front to the back. Do any of your wheels tend to wear a lot more than the others? If so, you might want to put harder wheels in those positions.

Some skaters tend to wear the inside edges of their two front wheels much quicker due to the aggressive way they push off when striding, as well as from the number of rolls they skate during the summer months. If you're in this category, you may want to experiment and try an 84A in both of the #1 positions, and a 78A in the #2, #3, and #4 positions on each skate.

Durability and Shock Absorption: You may find your wheels wear down faster then you’d like when you skate on rough surfaces, which can happen on some stretches on certain trails. You could opt to buy all harder wheels, such as an 82A across the board, but you might experience a rougher ride. One alternative is to replace only half of your wheels with a harder durometer. Half of your wheels could be 78As and the other half 82As.

Bending your knees on skates

Part 2 - Why

In the previous article I explored good posture, how to bend your knees, and how to work on increasing that kneebend during normal skating. This article explores why you should bend your knees in more detail, with focus on speed.

Want to go fast?

One of the biggest reasons for major knee bend is that it increases the size of your push. A bigger push means that you will be able to skate faster, all else being the same.

I got my son to take a series of photographs, in three different positions, and from the front and side. The two sets with recreational kneebend resulted in a roughly 50cm baseline push size, whilst the speedskating posture was over 80cm.

All stances were balanced with the pushing leg completely straight, and very little weight on the pushing skate. Although posed, this would be the moment after weight transfer and setdown. Push size was measured from the toe wheel of the balancing skate straight across to the toe wheel of the pushing skate. Kneebend angle was measured from the side-on photographs using a goniometer.

As you can see the legs form a rough right angled triangle in this position, and with body geometry for any particular person fixed, the only way to get a longer push is to get lower at the hips.

Recreational kneebend, recreational stance:

Push size: ~50cm

Kneebend angle - 132 degrees

Recreational kneebend, overbend at the hips.

(aka cheating - getting your head low might be good aerodynamically, but it does nothing for kneebend and push size). I've seen quite a few speedskaters who are guilty of this one.

Push size: ~50cm

Kneebend angle - 134 degrees

Speedskating kneebend, normal speed posture.

Push size: ~80 cm

Kneebend angle - 99 degrees

Not only is the push 1.6 times larger than the two other postures above, but the angle of the pushing skate and leg is much more laid over. This means the amount of lateral force will be considerably higher, assuming perfect weight transfer during the stride. More lateral force is how you generate more speed.

Conclusion

If you want to go fast, you've got to get your butt down low to the ground, where your thighs and glutes burn and shake, and then learn to acclimatize your body to that posture. Getting your butt down low involves both ankle bend and knee bend, but the critical one is kneebend. If the goniometer shows little kneebend, then that's a key sign of your posture being wrong.

Some people cheat, and skate with their rears high up in the air, but it's a weakness, and never looks as good or performs as well. This often feels like major kneebend because your head is low to the ground, but it doesn't count. Others cheat their kneebend by taking lots of little strides very often, but again, there's no substitute for kneebend angle. Taking lots of strides very often when they are rather bigger strides will soon show how good posture defeats this. Little kneebend equals a small stride size. Anyone who says kneebend angle isn't that important is talking out of their hat.

Bill Begg puts it as "to imagine you're lowering yourself on the throne".

Careful

Be careful when skating with increased kneebend. Like any exercise, you must listen to your body, and don't overload it before it's ready to handle the extra workout you're giving it. Going straight low down to the speedskating kneebend shown above when you're not used to regular training at high kneebend angles will almost certainly be a recipe for injury. Little and often, increasing kneebend by a few degrees every couple of weeks is the safer way to go about this.

Kwan says Korean skater Kim is good role model

Jan 5, 4:50 am EST

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)—Five-time world champion figure skater Michelle Kwan says South Korea’s Kim Yu-na is an influential role model for future champions from the Asian nation.

Kwan, visiting South Korea this week as a goodwill ambassador for the U.S. State Department, led a training

session in downtown Seoul for young skaters preparing for the Special Olympics.

“I know they all look up to Yu-na Kim. It’s a very big compliment when (Kim) said ‘I looked up to you Michelle when I was very young,”’ Kwan said.

Kim, the reigning world champion, is South Korea’s first hope for an Olympic medal in figure skating. The 19-year-old is currently training in Canada in preparation for the Vancouver Winter Games.

She said in August that she grew up idolizing Kwan, who also won a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and a bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Kim invited Kwan to perform with her at an exhibition last year, the American skater’s first trip to South Korea.

Kwan, now 29, told reporters that the Kim will be grappling with the pressure of competing at her first Olympics. Her advice: Enjoy the games.

Dressed in a blue Team USA sweat shirt, Kwan spent an hour Tuesday guiding 11 young skaters in spins, jumps and crossovers.

She had arrived in South Korea on Sunday, but was forced to cancel master classes Monday because of a snowstorm that was the heaviest on record. Kwan also is slated to visit with U.S. troops while in Korea.

“I know that these kids have a good role model, and that’s Yu-na Kim,” she said. “Hopefully in the future, they will be future world champions.”

Skaters frozen out of city

Posted By DEANNA CLARK , STAFF WRITER

Posted 5 hours ago

For those who want to go skating outdoors over the holidays you may have to head north.

The Mac Johnson Wildlife Area's rink was attracting lots of skaters and outdoor enthusiasts yesterday and, so far, it is the only operating outdoor rink in town - well, north of town.

Brockville's rinks, including the popular one on Laurier Boulevard beside the toboggan hill, the Rotary pad, and the River Rink at Hardy Park aren't suitable for blades yet -and may not be ready over the holidays, according to Valerie Harvey, acting director of parks and recreation.

"It's all weather-dependent for us," said Harvey.

"There's no guarantee we'll have anything up and running for the holidays," she said Monday afternoon.

But efforts are being made, Harvey said, to have them opened as soon as possible.

At the Laurier Boulevard site, the city hired a contractor, D&D Tree Service, to clear away a covering of snow. Harvey explained the city's equipment is too heavy for the condition of the underlying ice right now.

The contractor was able to use a smaller Bobcat to remove the snow without causing any damage.

With that insulating layer of snow removed by D&D on Monday, Harvey said the ice will have a better chance of thickening in a uniform fashion.

"It's to get the cooler temperatures to it," said Harvey.

Water which collects in the area also varies in depth from about one inch to a few feet, which also can cause problems, she said.

"Its intended opening date at this point is unknown," Harvey said of the Laurier rink.

Meanwhile, city staff and volunteers were set to start work on the River Rink, according to Harvey.

"We're just starting to do the base," she said.

Harvey stressed, however, this rink is also vulnerable.

The weather forecast is predicting warmer temperatures later this week, which could throw a wrench into getting the rinks up and running while school children are still out for the holidays.

So, while the rinks in the city begin to take shape, people have the option of heading out to what the Back Pond for their desired amount of outdoor skating.

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, which operates the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, has information on its website about rink conditions and a number to call for updates.

The site states both the Little Creek Conservation Area in Kingston and Mac Johnson Wildlife Area near Tincap are open during the holidays.

For up-to-date information on ski trail and rink conditions, call the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area at 345-1990.

Skating event to raise money for local skaters

By AUTUMN GROOMS |Lee Newspapers

A figure skating show Saturday at the Onalaska OmniCenter will feature the talents of three Minnesota state figure skating champions as well as many area skaters.

Holiday on Ice is a first-time event for the Tri-State Toe Picks Figure Skating Club and offers the organization a way to recruit new members and generate some funds, treasurer Colleen Flatten said.
“We start with those who can’t skate and go all the way up,” Flatten said. “We have fun and learn a lot.”

The 14-member Toe Pick show class will open and close the event with a routine they have spent months rehearsing.

They will be followed by the Minnesota state figure skating champions novice ladies champion Shannon Brakke and fifth-place finisher Stevie Schuessler, as well as the intermediate men’s champion Ryan Santee.

Local performers will include Christina Blomquist, Jessica Horner, Katie Mormann and Jessica Verbist.

The Toe Picks conduct instructional programs at the OmniCenter and are accepting new skaters of all abilities. Additional information can be found at www.toepicks.org.

Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle Ships Tuesday

Topic: Holiday Gift Guide
Posted on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

The new Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle needs no wrapping, the box containing the skateboard controller already looks pretty hot. Announced in May the new skateboard simulation game ships Tuesday, November 17th.

The Tony Hawk: Ride is a motion-sensitive board controller translating your body motions into the game. No buttons, no thumbs, no analog sticks are necessary enabling a real skateboard simulation.

The Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle is availalble for Wii, Xbox 360 and Sony PS3 and sells for $119.99 on Amazon.com.

Skaters make good roll models

By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - Roy Paz employs many skills as a veteran Tampa police officer, but the training that gives him the most joy and keeps him in tip-top condition happens on a skating rink.

For more than 30 years, Paz has honed his skills on indoor and outdoor speed skating tracks. Although he never pursued the sport as a career, speed skating has remained his favorite pastime.

"It teaches good values, hard work and dedication," said Paz, 42. "It carries over to my professional life and helps me stay in shape."

Paz, a husband and father of three, said the time he spends on wheels now is more enjoyable because his family shares his passion.

Paz was thrilled to be able to expose his wife, Vivian, and the couple's three children, Anna, 13, Samantha, 12, and R.J., 4, to the sport that helped him earn the title as the Tampa police officer with the fastest time - 2 minutes, 42 seconds - to complete the department's obstacle course.

"The SWAT team guys, I got them by one second," Paz said, flashing a sheepish grin.

For Paz, life is all about challenges. His newest one will test his ability to train and develop a new crop of inline speed skating enthusiasts.

He is forming a national-level team under the Florida Associated Speed Team umbrella, which Paz describes as the largest organization of inline speed skating teams in the country.

"We want to grow the sport here in Tampa," Paz said.

The affable law enforcement officer is now known as "coach" by 18 aspiring speed skaters, who range from as young as Paz's 4-year-old, R.J., to middle-aged adults.

They are members of Team FAST, a competitive inline speed skating program based at USA Skateplex, 5313 E. Busch Blvd. The new satellite team joins other Florida- and Georgia-based skaters to train and compete in local, national and international events.

The team normally practices twice a week - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. The coach will occasionally add a third practice session, when the rink is available.

Paz said he is excited about taking on the task of potentially developing the next great Olympian.

Inline speed skating is not an Olympic-sanctioned sport. However, Olympians Apolo Ohno, Derek Parra and Eric Heiden all started their speed skating careers on inline or quad skates before they switched to ice.

Interest in Team FAST has been exciting, attracting a mix of city and suburban dwellers of various ages and from diverse backgrounds, Paz said.

He described it as a grassroots effort, led mostly by tweens and teenagers who showed up for the first time on recreational inline skates or "quads," four-wheel roller skates.

"Everybody is coming in to see if they like it," the new coach said. "Several families say they love it and want to sign up for the team."
Tampa police officer Veronica Hamilton and her two boys, Travis Hills, 12, and Malachiah Hills, 6, were one of those families.

Hamilton, who learned to skate on quads as a child in Tampa, said she promised Paz she and her boys would get involved if he started a team.

Now Hamilton is training to one day compete on inline speed skates. And so is Paz's wife, Vivian.

"I never put on inline skates until recently," Vivian Paz said. "I roller-skated. I love to go fast. I love that freedom."

The art of learning to speed skate is being dedicated and focused and having a lot of fun while doing it, Roy Paz said.

"Inline speed skating is a sport where someone with relatively little or no inline skating experience can learn to skate and compete in a matter of weeks," he said.

Paz expects from 10 percent to 15 percent of his first-year skaters will qualify for the Indoor U.S. National Speed Skating competition this season.

No matches will be held at the Skateplex this season. Team FAST will be a road squad, taking on other Florida teams, including those that train at the United Skates of America Center, 5121 N. Armenia Ave., and Town & Country Skateworld, 7510 Paula Drive, both in Tampa. Invitational meets will include teams from across the country.

"A lot of people involved in speed skating think it's intimidating," Paz said.

He begs to differ. That has not been Paz's experience with the sport. He has seen nothing but positive results. "It helps people come out of their shell," Paz said.

That wasn't necessary for Dyllon Harris. The active 11-year-old, who is in sixth grade at Terrace Community Middle School, is full of energy and always ready to compete.

"I used to do hockey, but I wanted to try speed skating to see if I wanted to stick with it," Dyllon said.

Dyllon's mother, Kim, said she is in awe of her son's speed on the rink.

"He's really fast; this is where he shines," said Kim Harris of Temple Terrace. "He is a soccer player, too. It keeps him busy."

Ryan Brown, 13, of Riverview, who attends Young Middle School, said speed skating practice is how he relaxes after finishing his homework.

Robbie Burt of Temple Terrace said his daughter, Haley Newman, 8, who attends Mango Elementary, hasn't missed a practice session since the team formed.

Catherine Thrift said her daughter, April, a first-grader at Pizzo Elementary, has been skating almost nonstop since she turned 6 in March.

Although skater Brooke Hunter, 13, is slightly older than Paz's daughters, Anna and Samantha, she looks to the Adams Middle School students as role models.

"It's the best sport ever," said Anna, who dreams of becoming a competitive speed skater. "Since I could walk, I was on skates."

Her sister, Samantha, enjoys the time the family spends together.

"I think it's really fun and to have your dad as your coach is special," she said.

Paz said he hopes to instill in his children the good, solid values he picked up through his involvement with speed skating.

"The sport has helped me in so many ways," Paz said. "It gives you confidence and a feeling that there is nothing you can't do."

ON A ROLL

WHAT: Team FAST. Training under way for Tampa's newest inline speed skating team. Registration is available for new skaters.

Skate Shoes

There are a number of different styles of Ipath skate shoes. They are said to be the most comfortable shoes on the market. Don’t believe me? Try them yourself. And that’s not all, they have a great look to them too.

Some of the different types Ipath skate shoes are the Shearling shoes. They are warm for those cold days and will reassure you that you will not freeze. They have awesome leather with a cushioned insole and reinforced heel and logos in all the best places.

Another shoe is called the Ipath cat. It has a lightly padded inside for a good fit and balance and support. This is the shoe for you especially runners. It would be good for you because they are light and are not heavily padded leaving you room for air.

Next is the Ipath ras. It is a very clean grip skate to make sure you don’t fall and the top has a leather/suede combination. It is triple stitched for strength. It also includes durable rubber outsoles. So if you like what you here this may be the shoe for you.

Another incredible shoe is called the Ipath grasshopper. The colors come in black/Rasta hemp, Mocha/brown leather, and brown hemp. This colorful shoe is made with Velcro so it is easy to get on and off. It is also padded on the inside for comfort and is breathable. This skate shoe is made with rubber soles for flexibility and is triple stitched leaving you a pleasant feeling of security.

Made with suede and leather is the Centennial. Along with its great looks this shoe is a triple stitched comfort with awesome color combinations. How do they do this? It has breathable material on the toes to make sure the smell can get out and to keep you nice and cool when you work or play hard inside or out. Also made of this soft fabric for a long lasting time is the tongue of this amazing shoe that will leave you speechless from the texture and you would be happy about you’re decision of this wonderful shoe.

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Buying the right skateboard for you can be a tough choice. While it's not the hardest decision you'll ever have to make, it can sure feel like it to a new skateboarder! With how much skateboards can cost, plus with the huge amount of selection, finding the right skateboard for you is tough.

This can be extra tough since skateboards can be bought whole, and entirely assembled (this is called a "complete" skateboard), or you can buy all the parts you need and assemble your own skateboard exactly as you want it.

There are pros and cons for both buying a complete, and assembling your own skateboard:

Buying a complete skateboard

is usually the cheaper way to go. In buying all the parts together, you get a good deal. There's also the obvious advantage to new skaters, who don't know yet how to put a skateboard together, or who are nervous about it.
The drawbacks to buying a complete, however, is that you usually don't get all of the best parts. Even if you buy a complete from a good brand, most companies are only good at making a few skateboard parts. So, you might get a good deck, and maybe some good wheels, but the trucks and bearings are just so-so. For most new skaters, this isn't really that bad of a problem, as long as your complete skateboard is of a reputable brand. Read the Top 10 Skateboard Decks list for some ideas, and if the brand you are interested in isn't there, or you want to be more unique, you can read Which Brand of Skateboard Deck should I Buy? for some more advice.
The real danger is when you get a complete skateboard that's mostly poor quality junk. There are plenty of these out there, like land mines set for unsuspecting parents and kids. Only, instead of hurting you now, they end up hurting you or your kids later. They are often sold in superstores like Walmart or some large sporting goods store. Now, not all cheaper complete skateboards are junk ... but it can be tough to tell. Read this FAQ on buying cheap skateboards for more help in deciding if a cheaper board you see in the store is OK to buy.
For some suggestions on brands of complete skateboards to buy, you can check out these two articles: Buying Complete Skateboards and Buying Beginner Skateboards for Kids. Both articles will yell at you about not buying cheap complete boards, which by now I hope I've expressed my opinion of that option clearly enough! Otherwise, they'll give you some ideas for buying complete skateboards