Common Skateboarding Mistakes and How to Fix Them

5 June 2025

Whether you're just starting out or you've been shredding for years, skateboarding isn’t just about standing on a piece of wood with wheels—it’s a lifestyle, a passion, and definitely a challenge. If you’re here, chances are you’ve hit a wall (hopefully not literally), and you’re wondering, “Why can't I land that trick?” or “Why do I keep falling off?” Don't worry, we’ve all been there!

Mistakes are part of the game, but the key is recognizing them and knowing how to turn those wipeouts into wins. So, grab your board, tighten those trucks, and let’s break down the most common skateboarding mistakes—and how to crush them once and for all.

1. Poor Foot Placement

❌ The Mistake:

One of the most common issues beginners face? Messed up foot placement. If your stance is too wide, too narrow, or if your feet are pointing the wrong way, it can throw your entire balance off. Suddenly, even standing on the board feels like rocket science.

✅ How to Fix It:

Get your basics down. Whether you’re riding goofy or regular, your front foot should be just behind the front bolts, and your back foot should rest on the tail with the ball of your foot. Keep your toes forward—not completely, but roughly at a 30-45° angle. Try practicing your stance while stationary before rolling around. Muscle memory is your best friend here.

Pro Tip: Film yourself riding. You’ll spot issues with foot placement that you might not notice in real-time.

2. Not Bending Your Knees (Seriously, Bend 'Em!)

❌ The Mistake:

Stiff legs = zero control. A lot of newbies ride like they’re balancing on stilts. Skateboarding isn't dancing on eggshells; you need to be flexible.

✅ How to Fix It:

Always—always—bend those knees. Not only does this absorb shocks, but it also gives you better control and helps with turning, pushing, and landing tricks. Think of your knees as your skateboard’s suspension system. The lower you are, the more stable you’ll be.

Try This: Practice tic-tacs or simple ollie prep while focusing purely on keeping your knees bent. It's a game-changer.

3. Looking Down While Riding

❌ The Mistake:

We get it—you want to see what your feet are doing. But looking down will mess with your balance and orientation. And let’s face it, staring at your board won’t stop it from flying out from under you.

✅ How to Fix It:

Keep your head up and eyes forward, especially when cruising or approaching obstacles. Trust your feet and train your peripheral vision. It’s like walking—you don’t constantly look at your shoes, right?

Quick Fix: Set up cones or objects and skate a straight line while keeping your eyes on a fixed point ahead. It helps rewire your instincts.

4. Rushing Into Advanced Tricks

❌ The Mistake:

Who doesn’t want to land a kickflip on day one? But jumping into tricks before you're ready usually ends in frustration—or worse, injury.

✅ How to Fix It:

Master the fundamentals first. Start with balance, pushing, carving, and stopping. Gradually move into manuals, ollies, and shuvits. Think of skateboarding like building a house—you don’t hang the curtains before you lay the foundation.

Remember: Progress might feel slow, but every trick builds off the last. The better your foundation, the faster your overall growth.

5. Not Committing to Tricks

❌ The Mistake:

Hesitation is a trick killer. If you've ever bailed mid-air or stepped off the board mid-ollie, you know what I mean. Incomplete commitment typically causes falls—not the trick itself.

✅ How to Fix It:

Confidence is key. Visualize your trick. Run it through in your head like you're watching it on replay. Then, when you go for it—go all in. Don't half-send, full-send!

Confidence Drill: Practice popping ollies while stationary and landing with both feet—even if the board doesn't move. It builds trust and teaches you that the board won’t bite.

6. Incorrect Pushing Technique

❌ The Mistake:

Riding mongo (pushing with your front foot) might feel natural at first, but it messes with your balance and makes it harder to get into tricks smoothly.

✅ How to Fix It:

Always push with your back foot. It might feel awkward at first, but it’s the proper way and sets you up for better control and transition into tricks. The longer you wait to fix this habit, the harder it’ll be to change.

Fun Fix: Ride around a park focusing only on pushing “correctly.” Don’t worry about tricks—just cruise and build that muscle memory.

7. Neglecting to Check Your Equipment

❌ The Mistake:

A lot of skaters blame themselves when things go wrong—when sometimes it’s the board! Loose trucks, uneven wheels, or worn-out grip tape can sabotage your progress.

✅ How to Fix It:

Make checking your setup a routine. Tighten your trucks if you’re struggling with stability, replace bearings if your board's feeling sluggish, and always keep your grip clean and tacky.

Pro Hack: Keep a skate tool in your backpack. Adjust-on-the-go and keep your ride dialed in.

8. Landing with Stiff Legs or Off-Center

❌ The Mistake:

Landing tricks with stiff legs—or only one foot—makes for some gnarly slams. Either your knees take the full brunt, or you twist an ankle. No fun.

✅ How to Fix It:

Always land with bent knees, both feet over the bolts. This distributes impact evenly and gives you the best shot at rolling away clean. Practice jumping and landing on your board while stationary to get the movement down.

Try This Drill: Place your board on grass or carpet and jump onto it repeatedly, focusing on landing balanced and bent.

9. Skipping Warm-Ups and Stretching

❌ The Mistake:

You might think skating is all about adrenaline and hype—but your body needs a wake-up call before the fun starts. Jumping in cold can lead to sprains, strains, or worse.

✅ How to Fix It:

Take 5–10 minutes to warm up. Do some light jogging, ankle rolls, and stretch out your hamstrings, hips, and shoulders. Your body will thank you, and you’ll skate better, too.

Bonus Tip: Foam rolling before and after sessions can work wonders for recovery and mobility.

10. Ignoring Repetition and Patience

❌ The Mistake:

Expecting instant results can kill your motivation. Skateboarding takes time. If you think you’ll nail that tre flip in a day, think again.

✅ How to Fix It:

Break tricks down into smaller parts. For example, learn how to ollie before trying a heelflip. Repetition builds consistency. Think of it like leveling up in a video game—you don’t beat the boss on level one.

Mindset Shift: Celebrate small wins. Even landing a cleaner ollie than yesterday is progress.

Final Thoughts: Skate Smarter, Not Just Harder 🛹

Listen, everyone eats pavement. It’s part of the journey. The key isn’t avoiding mistakes, but learning from them. Skateboarding is as much about mental toughness as it is about physical skill. Be patient with yourself, fix those habits one by one, and enjoy the ride.

Skating isn’t a race—it’s a lifelong passion. And every fall you take is just another step closer to that trick you’ve dreamed about since watching your first skate video.

So, stay stoked, keep pushing, and remember: every pro skater out there was once a total beginner, wiping out in a parking lot. You got this.