I'd skate every day. I remember buying my first ever skate VHS - Globe Opinion. Chet Thomas in it mentions: "I'll skate 'till I cant walk". This instantly resonated with me.
I'd skate too and from school, I'd skate after school, on the weekends and any/ all other moments I'd have my board with me.

The meandering life of a grommet is fun, but sometimes it helps to know what the next few steps are when learning a new skill, to see a roadmap for what’s ahead. So to help you all learning to skate, I’ve started creating a skateboarding roadmap. It outlines some of the basic skills and then puts some core tricks to learn as different levels. I’ve also decided to split it up into Street and Transition tricks.

If you’re learning to skate, take a look below and think about where you are on the diagram. What is the next step is for you? If you need a hand, just drop us an email to learn@howtoskate.com.au and we can help.

There’s not many things that feel better than skating down the middle of a street, then casually popping up a curb. It is one of skateboardings great joys and biggest freedoms. So, know you’ve got your basic ollie down, let’s take it to the next step and learn to ollie up a curb or onto a block.

In order to learn how to Ollie (jump) on a skateboard, you want to be comfortable rolling and pushing around on the flat ground.

01. Snap - Crouch down low, then snap the tail by kicking down with your back foot.
02. Pop - As the tail hits the ground, you lift your arms as the board starts to pop and jump up.

Coaching for development is a more holistic approach. It revolves around asking questions and building a set of problem solving skills which will help solve this problem here, but also the next problem and so on into the future. It’s a process of personal development.

The best reason to start something is for the fun of it. Skateboarding is fun, and it’s also pointless. It probably won’t help you get a job, look impressive on your CV, secure you a home loan, or get you a promotion at work, and that’s exactly why it’s so fun. Skate for skateboardings sake. For it’s fun, pointless, joyful sake and feeling of freedom. If you do, you’ll find a heap of hidden benefits amongst it.

Pete started skating when he was 10 years old. He bought his first skateboard against his parents desire when he was 10. He got his first sponsor (Route One) when he was 11, which helped put his career into overdrive. Check out the videos below if you want to see a bit more of Pete’s skateboarding.