What Is The Best Age To Start Skateboarding? 3 To 50 Age

The number of skateboarders has gone up and down over the years. Lately, the number is again increasing.

As popularity increases, people of different ages are looking to get into it. And a common concern is if one can start at an older or younger age. Rest assured, there’s no preferred age to start a hobby. However, there are some slight advantages and drawbacks for each age group.

If you are trying to figure out what is the best age to start skateboarding, then you have come to the right place. Here, I will discuss just that, and by the end of this article, you will have the answer to your question.

When You Can Start Skateboarding?

Skateboarding is something that you can pick up anytime you want and feel like it. I don’t think age should be a barrier as long as you are healthy and sound of mind.

So, you can start skateboarding even if you are in your late 40s. You can also start relatively early.

There is no fixed age range. However, there are rules you have to follow when starting. The rules are more complex and necessary if you are starting too early or later in your life. I will discuss them briefly here-

Aged 3

The American Academy of Pediatrics says children under the age of 5 should not ride a skateboard under any circumstances. They are too young, incapable of proper decision-making, prone to injury, etc.

If your child is 3 years old, then I strongly urge you not to let them skateboard this soon. Let them run first, and once they get a little over the age of 5 and get some maturity, then let them skate.

Aged 13 

You can start to skateboard from the age of 13 as well. During this age, your body is still young but tends to be smarter, can recognize dangers, and make good decisions.

If you are from that age, you should still wear a helmet and other safety gear. Train to fall and dismount properly and follow the above safety protocols.

Aged 40 

This is where it gets a little tricky. While you can pick up skateboarding at this age, unfortunately, you will have to keep some things in mind.

Make sure to take it slow and easy. Try to avoid as much risk as possible and follow the safety protocols. Injuries at this age could be more serious to your body.

I don’t think this is the best age to start skateboarding. Nevertheless, if you follow the rules and play it safe, you should be more than fine.

Aged 50 and beyond

If you want to pick up skateboarding and happen to be 50, then you will have to be a bit more careful. No one can and should stop you from having fun by skateboarding if you are in good health.

During this age, your body is again prone to injuries. God forbid, if you get a back injury, then you will have to live with it for a long time. Moreover, if you already have back injuries, arthritis, osteoporosis, or any other physical weaknesses, then try to avoid skateboarding.

Remember to be patient while learning because you won’t become good at it in a short time, respect your body, and learn slowly.

What Is The Best Age To Start Skateboarding?

There is no distinct best age to start skateboarding, in my opinion. However, I recommend starting from the ages of 5-10. This is the best learning period; during this time, children will make mistakes and learn faster.

They will learn and experience the different dangers and will know how to react when the danger might happen again.

Kids of this age range have better control and are smarter. Even so, an adult must be there to guide them and teach them all they need to know.

It’s important to get the right type and right size of skateboard. Oversized or heavy skateboards will be harder to control and will lead to the experience being dull.

What Age Do Most Skaters Turn Pro?

Professional skateboarding is getting more popular by the day. More and more people of all ages are getting into it. During the 2020 Summer Olympics, 80 skateboarders took part in the competition (Wikipedia).

As for the tournaments, most pros on average, are aged anywhere from 18 to 25. This is the time when the human body is usually at its peak, so it’s understandable.

Sadly, due to the strain, it takes on the body, most pros have short careers.

What To Know When Start Skateboarding?

While skateboarding is fun, it can cause injuries. Some could be very grave and could bear serious consequences.

Don’t worry though, as most injuries aren’t that grave. Skateboarding injuries happen to only about 2% of the players (NSGA). Most of the injuries are bruises, sprains, and cuts. However, head traumas are more serious, and they should be avoided.

There are some safety protocols that you can and should follow. They will decrease your chances of facing injuries. I strongly recommend following the safety protocols listed below despite your age and experience.

01. Wear a Helmet & All Protective Gears

So, First Ensure safety, no matter what age you are. Make sure to wear a helmet at all times. It’s very unsafe and doing as little as wearing a helmet will save you from serious injuries. I recommend using pads for the knee, elbow, and other body parts. Try to wear them while skateboarding at all times.

How To Encourage Your Child To Use Protective Equipment?

Safety gears are very important, especially for children. They reduce the number of injuries by a huge margin. So, as a parent, getting your kids to wear them is very important. I recommend being nice to them about it and relaying the information nicely to them.

You mustn’t scare them right away about the consequences of not wearing safety gear. Instead, make them understand it nicely and give them rewards for wearing safety gear. Wear safety gear yourself to lead by example.

02. Learn To Fall, Dismount, And Stop

If you are a new skateboarder, I recommend picking up some skills. Practice dismounting from your skateboard. This will come in handy when you face scenarios where you must dismount to avoid injuries and accidents.

Every skateboarder will have to fall; it’s inevitable. However, there are safer ways to fall to minimize the damage. Try to roll and tumble during falling. 

Our instinct is to let our hands out and fall on our hands. That will work, but you might get bruises and a broken wrist if the fall is high or if your momentum is high. You need to practice your fall beforehand so that you can do your fall when needed.

03. Ask Friend’s Help

The best teacher you can find is a friend who skateboards. If you have one, try to learn from them as much as possible and figure out how they learned and what works for you.

04. Check Ramps & Skateboard 

Check the ramps and roads for potholes or anything that could be an obstacle. You should also check your skateboard’s trucks and wheels and if the nuts are screwed properly.

05. Choose The Right Shoe

It’s also very important to get the right shoe. You don’t want oversized shoes as they render your ability to control your skateboard properly.

If you are a beginner and young, it’s more important that you follow them. Among all the skateboarding injuries, half of them were between 14-24 years.

This is because when you are learning and young, you don’t have as much experience.

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FAQs Regarding Age For Skateboarding

Here, I will try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

Conclusion

I share a big passion for Skateboarding and everything related to the sport. So, when I started this article, I intended to help as many people as I could. For those of you who are looking to start late, don’t let anyone stop you and kick you down. You can enjoy skateboarding if you follow the rules properly and are healthy.

I hope you found out the best age to start skateboarding, and I hope this article was of help to you. Nonetheless, wear your safety gear and be cautious on the road at all times. Happy skating!