Exercises with a Skateboard to Pump up your Training
Skating is a great alternative for those athletes who want to optimize their routines and complement their training. In fact, you can use your skateboard to add a challenge to your usual exercising routines. In this article, we’ll explain how you can use the skateboard to heighten your progress.
Undoubtedly, skateboarding increases athletes’ strength and endurance in a surprisingly short amount of time. But what’s most impressive about this is that you don’t have to move around or risk injuries. A skateboard can be used in static training perfectly well.
Most of the exercises we’ll explain in this article can be practiced on almost any surface. However, you must always keep in mind that the board will roll more easily on hard surfaces such as concrete and wood.
Just because you see people skateboarding easily down the street doesn’t mean you should underestimate this type of training. Remember, it’s always very important that you prepare your body before this activity. This means that you shouldn’t overlook stretching, before and after training, as well as a good warm-up.
Often, athletes who complement their training routines using the skateboard claim it’s a great way to track your routine. As the skateboard adds a challenge, the total number of repetitions you can do will clearly show your resistance level. Consequently, it’ll be very easy to track your progress and use short-term goals to keep up your motivation.
The best skateboard exercises to get fit
1. Push-ups
The first exercise we’ll present and that you can easily complement the skateboard with are push-ups. Place your hands over the board, slightly wider than the width of the shoulders. Place your feet behind you so that your body keeps a straight line from your heels to your head. This is the basic plank position, and you shouldn’t feel any major strain while doing it.
The key to performing this kind of push-up is trying to keep the board as stable as possible as you lower your body. Bend your elbows and keep your fingers spread to improve your stability. We recommend you do 12 repetitions. If you think this exercise is too difficult, lower your body and rest on your knees instead of your feet.
2. Abs
Working out your abs using the skateboard is very easy and extremely fun. To start exercising, get on the floor on your hands and knees, grasping the edges of the skateboard with your hands. In order to keep a proper position, place the skateboard perpendicular to your body.
Release your knees from the floor, making sure your press your belly button in to engage the abs. Carefully controlling the movement, roll the board forward until your body is completely straight. Basically, you should roll forward until you’re in a plank position.
Then, squeezing the abdomen, roll the board back slowly and return to the starting position. With this exercise, you should do as many repetitions as you can handle. Remember, keep a good technique: this means not allowing the lower back to bend and always maintaining control of the movement back and forth.
3. Skateboard fitness: side lunges
Side lunges can also be carried out using a skate. Stand straight up, place the skateboard perpendicular and just outside one of the feet.
Next, place the foot closest to your skateboard right above it. Always with control, tilt your hips back slightly and start rolling the skate to one side. Move the skateboard away from your body, bending the knee as you go. The leg that remains on the floor should always be kept straight.
Once you cannot go any further, go back to your initial position, straightening your leg. Keep your abs tight and use your adductors to help bring the board back towards you. We recommend you do 6 to 12 repetitions per side; remember you have to do the same number of repetitions on each side. You may need to perform this exercise on a carpet to reduce the speed of the skateboard.
4. Squats, a classic exercise you can complement with a skateboard
The last exercise that we’ll explain here is the squat. As you know, there are many types of squats, as this exercise is incredibly versatile.
In this variation, you should place the skateboard behind your back, resting against the wall. Place your feet about a meter away from the wall and start with your knees straight.
Then, flex your knees and roll down the wall until your legs form a 90-degree angle. Make sure you’re engaging your core, abs, quads, and hamstrings.
Now, straighten your legs, keeping your back flat against the board. If it makes it easier for you, you can straighten your arms in front of you to help you maintain balance.
Keep in mind that with enough time, motivation and nothing more than a skateboard you can carry out spectacular training routines. You just need to follow the exercises we explained. As your body gets stronger, you can increase the number of repetitions you do of each exercise. What are you waiting for to start?
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Chang, R., Turcotte, R., & Pearsall, D. (2009). Hip adductor muscle function in forward skating. Sports Biomechanics, 8(3), 212–222. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763140903229534
- Porter, E. B., Young, C. C., Niedfeldt, M. W., & Gottschlich, L. M. (2007). Sport-Specific Injuries and Medical Problems of Figure Skaters. WMJ : Official Publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, 106(6), 330–334. Retrieved from papers://6c494451-ee6e-4dd0-9f2c-10e1a6a49c65/Paper/p50
- Skateboarding. Escuela de Cultura Física. http://files.educacionucuenca.webnode.es/200000029-d6ebed7e4d/SKATE.pdf
