How I did it: I practiced for 14 hours over the course of several weeks, back and forth in my driveway, to learn to stand up on the RipStik. I still can't claim that I can "ride" it, not in a sense comparable to the kids I see zipping around effortlessly. But I can "stand up on it," and finally managed to "stand up on it" and stay standing for one mile today.

Lessons & tips: I am not a kid, at least not chronologically, and not by a long shot.
So adults, even non-athletic adults like me, CAN get the hang of this
thing!


I had NO previous skateboarding experience. I think I tried
rollerskates once when I was about 9. I've never tried rollerblades, I
don't ski or snowboard, and I can't surf. I decided to get a RipStik to
help me with my balance (I'm a total clod), thinking perhaps it would
help me learn to surf at some point.


I practiced a total of about 14 hours on the board before I could ride
well enough to make the one-mile loop. The first few hours I thought it
was going to be impossible. I had to cling to fences and walls and
basically just practice standing on the board. It was only after four
or five hours of practice that I began working on turns, and six or
seven hours before I was able to start without holding on to something.


It's still not effortless, and requires me to concentrate pretty
rigorously, particularly when turning, starting, and stopping. If I
don't practice every few days, the skills, such as they are, slip away
pretty quickly.


So... get a good board, appropriate for your weight. If you're an
adult, I STRONGLY recommend a RipStik DLX, which has heavy-duty
bearings and slightly larger wheels, and is rated for up to 225 pounds.
I'm 185, and the board is holding up just fine. Then, practice, often.
Take it slow. Don't worry if you have to spend 30 minutes just standing
on the board while clinging like a limpet to a wall or a fence. That's
what I did. Finally, however, I was able to roll, then turn, then
develop a little more confidence, and finally, after 14 hours... I rode
a mile non-stop!

Resources: I recommend the RipStik DLX for adult users, due to heavier duty bearings, larger wheels, and sturdy construction, plus a 225 pound weight capacity.

Jan 11, 2009, 11:22PM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer