Functional Fitness Benefits for Skateboarding 

Even though it was in the last Olympic Games, skateboarding is not typically a sport that many take seriously. More often than not, it’s seen as a hobby teenagers take up in their free time and not as a serious athletic endeavor that one has to train for and prepare for. However, the reality is completely different. 

In recent years, skateboarding has become more and more popular, with many people competing professionally and earning money from the sport. With that, the level that you need to achieve to place among the world’s best has become higher, and so it requires more work, both on the skateboard and in the gym. 

In this short article, we’re going to talk about specific strength training routines for skateboards that can help them become stronger and advance their skills.

So, if that sounds like something you’d be interested in, let’s get started. 

Why Should Skateboards Do Strength Training? 

When you watch skateboarding, you see people jumping and doing cool tricks - all of these are things you learn while riding the board and experimenting in training. And so, you might be wondering how and why strength training would fit in this sport and what are the benefits from it that will make the athletes better.

If you ask any skateboarder, they will tell you that it takes a significant amount of strength and energy to get the board off of the ground. So naturally, the stronger you are, the higher you will be able to jump. In addition to that, weightlifting combined with cardio can lead to increased endurance, which allows the athlete to skate for longer intervals and minimize potential injuries due to muscle fatigue. 

With that said, not every exercise that’s typically popular among gym bros is suitable for skateboarders. After all, you want to work on developing functional fitness and muscles in both the upper and lower body without getting too bulky. 

To give you a bit more clarity on what movements to incorporate in your gym program as a skateboard, let’s expand on the topic in the next paragraph. 

What are The Best Exercises for Skateboarders? 

We all know that not all exercises are equally effective for every sport out there. Unfortunately, most of the more common gym movements aren’t suitable for skateboarders. However, the following strength training exercises are perfectly suitable for those of you who want to take your skateboarding to the next level, as they will help you build muscle mass while also improving your endurance.

Box Jumps

To perform this exercise, you will need a sturdy box and some space to jump onto. If you don’t have proper equipment for it, even a simple park bench will work. Make sure to do this exercise as safely as you can. To start, first, get into a proper squat and then explode from the ground by jumping onto the box (or whatever piece of equipment you’re using). 

Land safely on both feet and then return to the starting position. Keep in mind that you have to land safely but not lose a lot of time getting up and down from the box - try to be light on your feet and explosive. 

Side Plank 

The core is one of the primary muscle groups used in skateboarding, so it’s vital that you train it on a daily basis. The side plank is a fantastic way to target the sides of your abdominal muscles. To do the variation, we recommend first beginning by lying down on your side with your feet stacked up on top of each other. 

Alternatively, you can place both feet on the floor if that’s easier - from there, contract the core and raise your hips from the ground until you’re forming a straight line from head to toe. You can raise up, balancing on your elbow or your hand, depending on which one feels more comfortable to you. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat with the other side.

Single Leg Squats 

This exercise is for the more advanced athletes, and even if you’re already pretty confident with your lower body strength, you might still want to get a chair or couch when first attempting this movement. Once you have a seat positioned behind you, stand a few inches in front of it with your feet hip distance apart. Move your weight to one leg and then slowly squat down as low as you can, ideally letting your butt touch the seat behind you. Once done, move back to a standing position, all while maintaining the left leg raised throughout the entire movement. 

V-Ups

Another great way to target the core muscles is through doing V-Ups. There are several variations of this exercise, depending on the equipment you have access to and the level of difficulty your body can handle. 

The easiest way to perform it is with a mat on the floor - lie down on the ground and raise your arms above your head. From there, lift the arms and your feet in the arm and fold until your knees touch your chest. Return to laying down and repeat for 10-15 reps.

Lateral Leg Raises

To do this exercise, stand with your toes facing forward and your knees slightly bent. When you start, shift your weight to one leg and raise the other one to the side as far as you can while ensuring you remain stable, then lower the leg back down and repeat. Do 20 repetitions per side, switching as you go. If you struggle with maintaining your balance, try holding onto a chair or a pole - as time goes by, your muscles will get stronger and your balance will improve. 

In Conclusion

Hopefully, this article will convince you that strength training is a good addition to any skateboarder's training program. Along with that, we hope that we’ve given you a good idea as to which exercises to incorporate into your gym schedule. With that said, be sure to remember that real progress takes time and that you should combine your lifting with hard work on the board.