Skateboarding Birthdays Rule!

Sophia’s birthday was so much fun. The kids were a blast and they all learned how to ride a board, do a couple tricks and had so much fun.

Need Ideas on How to Throw a Skateboarding Birthday Party?

Safety Gear Makes Learning Fun, not Painful

When everybody’s doing it, nobody feels out of place. Thanks to Pro-Tec, we had more then enough equipment to make sure everybody was safe and injury free. Thanks again Pro-Tec!

Date: October 31st, 2009
Time: 12pm to 4pm
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn @ Washington Park – 5th Ave and 5th St.
Cost: Nada, zero, zilch

After event: The Halloween Parade in the Villiage..

Skate Like A Girl will be holding their very first event in New York
City: Tricks4Treats, a fun day of skateboarding on Halloween and we want you to join us!

The event includes free instructional skateboard clinics taught by
Skate Like A Girl ambassadors Nancy Chang, Susannah Young, and Lanna Apisukh with boards kindly provided by Girls Riders Organization and demos performed by the super talented Skirtboaders.com of Montreal. We’ll also be judging participants for the best costume and skate tricks which will be awarded with “treats” and even a cash prize sponsored by Play.me!

We’re really excited about this event and would like to encourage as many girls of all ages and all abilities to come out and skate with us. So bring your friends, your board (if you have one), and a Halloween costume and be prepared to SK8!!

Dress up and come skate Brooklyn with us and Skirtboarders, GRO, and girls from all over. This event is FREE thanks to cool new music site Play.me! We will have some $50 cash prizes (courtesy of Play.me) to award participants in the game of s.k.a.t.e., and best trick in costume!

We will leave to go to the Village Parade and sk8!

Skate Jams and Skate Camps are a great way for local kids to meet other kids to skate with at some of the city’s coolest skate parks.  This year Uptown will be conducting Skate Camp at Hudson skate park on the water. 

Waivers must be signed in person or notarized in advance!!!  Download Park Waiver Here

Skate Camp is Available for only a few weeks and space is very very limited, first come first serve, so get on it while you have the chance!

Sessions consist of  highly supervised learning and free skating and are small sessions only.

*The third day of Week 1 will be a Thursday due to 4th of July weekend.

How does skate camp work?

Students are dropped off at the park on the first day.  Parents are required to sign a waiver

Location: Hudson Skate Park(34th street/ West Side Highway)

When: Three days a week from 11AM – 3PM.  

Cost: $340 / Student

Alternative rain days are arranged on the Tuesday or Thursday of that week, as needed. 

View Larger Map

Subway
A,C,E at 34th St.
1,2,3 at 34th St.

Bus
M23, M34

Take a skateboard lesson in Central Park

Thank you to Tatsuma Kasama, from NY Japion for coming out with reader Ryo, 27, who says "I was skateboading for a couple of years when I was a little kid, and I started snowboarding about 8 years ago," to a skateboarding lesson.

Here is the Translation:

Let’s take a lesson!

Asked about his stance, Ryo quickly replies "I’m regular." Yes, he enjoys snowboarding, so should know it. Is he going to apply his snowboarding skills to skateboarding?

First, he practiced to get on the board released from his right hand following "one, two, three," like throwing a bowling ball. The movement of the instructor Jennifer looks very smooth, but Ryo seems to be thinking "Should I step right foot first? Or left foot first?" Though his movement still looks a bit awkward, the next lesson "Push" follows. In both "Push" and "Stop", he needs to lower his body as he pushes the ground and brake with his one foot. His body might be a little too high. Then Jennifer advises "Like sit on an invisible chair!" Following her advice and 15-minute practice, Ryo seems to feel more comfortable than earlier.

Then he practices "Kickturn," which the skater floats the nose for a moment to move right and left, and "Tail stop", which the skater brakes by using the rear part of the board. So far, so good. Then other instructor David suggests, "Let’s try ‘Manual!’" "Manual" is like wheelie. "It usually takes years to master this. Don’t worry," says Jennifer to Ryo, who shouts "Balancing on this is so difficult!"

"I wanna learn other flashy trick," Ryo says, and tries "Ollie."
This technique can be applied to so many different tricks. Indeed, it’s no surprise that Ryo can’t make it in one-hour lesson, but he became better as the instructors say, "Almost!," "Yes, like that!"

After the lesson…

"Oh, I fell down couple of times," says Ryo. "Everyone, even pros, falls down when practicing, then they become better skaters," Jennifer says. By the way, did he successfully apply his snowboarding skills to skateboarding? "I was kind of surprised to know they are totally different. I couldn’t apply snowboarding skills, but I got great instructions today. I’m gonna skateboard-debut on streets!" He headed for a skateshop to debut on the street after the lesson.
Uptown Skate School (info)

Four instructors started last year. $65 for one hour private lesson (add $35 for an additional student). $120 for two lessons, $225 for four lessons. Lessons are usually in Central Park, but other places are also OK.
TEL: 646-852-6367
www.uptownskateschool.com