The 9 Health Benefits of Skateboarding

The current Coronavirus pandemic has forced a lot of people to assess their daily exercise routines and even encouraged those who don’t usually exercise to get involved.

Skateboarding cannot be overlooked in terms of a great way to exercise and help us stay healthy and increase fitness. Skateboarding provides a chance to get outside and keeps the mind and body active. So is skateboarding good for you? We have taken a look at some of the health benefits of skateboarding below.

1. Improves Flexibility

Stretching before any physical activity is important and it is no different with skateboarding. Many skateboarders will often stretch before heading out on the board and the various movements of the legs and footing positions helps loosen and relax the muscles which sometimes can be quite tense. Tight muscles can contribute to poor posture and with the regular various ranges of motions used in skateboarding this can also help prevent injury further down the line. Whether it is a Heelflip, a Kickflip or a Three-sixty flip, each trick and its different motions can help bring blood flow to the muscles, warming them up and helping certain joints be more flexible which otherwise can be quite restricted.

2. Teaches Patience

The power of patience is a necessary life skill to have in today’s world and patience plays a massive part in your skateboarding progression. Whether it be from your first time standing on a board and learning to ollie or if you are a professional skateboarder wanting to land a certain trick for an upcoming video part, it is essential to be patient. Many skateboarders have talked how they have had to return to a skate spot on multiple occasions and have many attempts at a trick before finally landing it. Thrasher’s ‘My War’ segment which documents the many attempts professional skateboarders make at certain tricks highlights the benefit of patience and persistence. No matter how long it takes, it is important to train the mind and realise it takes time to get to the level you want to be at or to land a trick you really want to learn. This process and practice of patience can help you focus on goals and succeed in all aspects of life. If you can help get your thoughts and feelings under control, your mind and mood will be in a much better place and appreciate the need to be patient.

3. Burns Calories

A good skate session can work up a sweat and act as high intensity work out. Depending on the length of the session and physical difficulty of the tricks you are trying, skating can result in the burning of up to 500+ calories per hour. Since all parts of the body are moving this is a good way to help burn off excess calories.

4. Helps overcome fear

Skateboarding can help take you out of your comfort zone. We learn from our mistakes through trial and error and this also applies to Skateboarding. Whether it is jumping down stairs, trying your first rail or dropping into a quarter pipe or mini ramp, skateboarding challenges you to overcome fears and help you progress and improve as an individual.

5. Helps social skills

Skateboarding is a great way to socialise and interact with people. Many people have made friends for life, all through skateboarding. It is generally a culture which all comes together and unites for the love of the art.

6. Improves Cardio and enhances endurance

Regular skateboarding can help act as a good cardiovascular exercise. Long sessions including regular pushing and constantly moving about can help increase lung capacity and heart health. An intense skateboarding session working your cardio can also help boost your metabolism and an increased metabolism can help you maintain your weight or lose weight easier if need be. Exercising regularly helps you have better control of your blood sugars and can help with diabetes since those who are diabetic are very sensitive to changes in blood sugar levels.

7. Improves balance and coordination

Coordination is the act of using two or more body parts at the same time to complete a task. Skateboarding usually involves using all of your limbs as well as your eyes. This usually involves the coordination of small and large muscles and improves the ability of the eyes to coordinate visual information in order to land a trick or steer and manoeuvre yourself on a skateboard.

8. Full workout for the body 

Many people attend the gym multiple times a week and may work out for a set period of time depending on the intensity or how hard they push themselves. When people go skateboarding, sessions can last hours, travelling from spot to spot throughout your town or city. Skateboarding involves moving your legs, feet and torso regularly in the wide variety of tricks possible. This can act as full body workout and get the muscles working three times more often than if you just did individual muscle groups at the gym once a week. Working your full body can also help with burning fat however it must be said you can also burn muscle, which is why it is important to incorporate protein into your diet as well. As we get older, unfortunately our testosterone levels decrease too and by exercising through regular skateboarding, it can help increase your testosterone.

9. Relieves Stress and helps Mental Health

It is recommended that every adult performs 30 minutes of exercise each day, no matter what it may be. Skateboarding as a form of exercise can be massively beneficial and can help get you away from the little things that may frustrate you daily such as a stressful work life. When you are skateboarding and moving your way through the streets or performing a trick you are not thinking about anything else. It is almost a type of moving meditation where skateboarding is the sole thing you are focused on at that time. It is very important to have an activity like skateboarding which can help improve that work-life balance. Incorporating a hobby you enjoy into your routine and escaping life’s chores and stresses is vital in today’s society. So next time you pick up the board, remember the benefits and how it is helping your mind and body doing something you love.