Skateboard science
2002-10-07 16:37:13+00 by Dan Lyke 3 comments
The Exploratorium has a web exhibit called Skateboard Science which includes an overview of the physics of tricks.
[ related topics: Cool Science Skating ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment made: 2002-10-07 20:00:01+00 by: meuon
Physics.. PHYSICS? We don't need no stinkin physics! (and I have the bad knees and ankles to prove myself wrong).
VERY well done articles and examples. I am impressed! meuon (I'll probably die naked on a skateboard doing 90... at 90)
#Comment made: 2002-10-09 12:11:30+00 by: skrubly
It sounds kind of dorky, but this site actually helped me with some aspects of my skating when I first saw it a year ago.
Things like that can help, but it pretty much comes down to learning fine motor control in the legs/feet and a strong sense of 'muscle memory'. It has taken me forever to learn the motions to do a heelflip or a kickflip, and I'm nowhere close to landing them consistently at all. I think I'll manage to live my life without ever doing a handrail, and I doubt I'll feel bad about that - it's just not worth smashing my nuts for.
#Comment made: 2002-10-09 17:14:35+00 by: Dan Lyke
Since my first 360 jump on inlines came after single-framing one in Airborne![[Wiki]](/adbanners/lookingglass.png){kind=small}
multiple times (and it's funny how, 8 years later, most of the stunts in that movie are so dated), I completely understand how a thorough explanation of the physics of what's supposed to be happening can help.
Rail-wise, I'm old enough to have this think about not scraping paint I don't own, so yeah, I value my nuts, and I'm reluctant to grind on anything I haven't set up for that purpose.