Skateboarding is more than just foolishly riding a piece of wood with wheels, it’s a full body workout that includes core strengthening, balance training and endurance all-in-one.
Plus it’s a great way to exercise while getting
around campus.
Skating for about an hour actually meets the American College of Sports Medicine recommended 60 minutes per day of aerobic activity for youth, according to a study by California State University San Marcos.
Who doesn’t want to burn hundreds of calories as you weave in-and-out of traffic and students around campus?
Plus, with the cool wind blasting in your face, you don’t have to worry about sweat as you walk into class.
At San Jose State, the amount of people using skating as transportation has notably increased over time, from 0.04% in 2005 to 1.4% in 2014, an increase of 3500%, according to a 2019 Transportation journal.
The journal also emphasized how skaters are fueled by the notion that skating is both fun
and convenient.
The time it takes to get from one class gets cut in half, you help the environment by not using your car and avoid traffic all while getting some cardio.
But cardio isn’t the only physical benefit from skating. Flexibility is one, too.
As a skater being flexible is necessary because the second you stiffen up on one of those sharp turns you’ll be sent flying into the air at
full speed.
Believe me when I say you don’t want to be stiff while falling because that can lead to some serious
broken bones.
Yes, the whole point of skating is to avoid falling, but there will always be freak accidents. Learning how to quickly react in such situations is a great tool that you will quickly master as
a skater.
“Skateboarders naturally get better at knowing where to place their feet and their hands as they progress with their skating,” according to Health Fitness
Revolution Magazine.
It’s that continuous falling that builds physical endurance, while improving coordination with your arms and legs so that you don’t fall time and time again.
The sense of never giving up is relatable to all sports and can translate to other athletes.
John Kelly, running back for the Los Angeles Rams, is a great example of skateboarding transferring athletic skills to other sports.
In a recent interview with The Berrics, a YouTube channel dedicated to skateboarding, Kelly described growing up having to juggle playing football and skating.
“Football was like natural, skating was more like it was a skill I had to learn,” Kelly said. “It was a lot of time and dedication.”
He even went on to say that skating is harder than playing football.
At the end of the day, skating is more than just a physical sport. It’s a great stress reliever and confidence booster which improves overall mental and physical health.
The internal struggle one faces when challenging themselves with learning something new is key in mental growth.
Whether that’s barely learning how to step on a board, or jumping down a 20-foot-high set of stairs, getting yourself out of your comfort zone is healthy for the mind and body.
If you’re an SJSU student looking for cheap transportation or you just want a fun way to exercise, grab that skateboard, put on some baggy clothes and don’t get run over by a car.