Your Problem Could Be Mental
The Practice Session
Y ou think obsessiveness is the same as disciplineStructure your practice session
Skate
Mental
Cross Academy
Cruise Power
Waves
Drop Knee
Gear
Surf
History
Non Google Sponsors
Skateboarders tend to practice in a very obsessive way. They come out, skate ten yards over to their favorite spot, usually right in front of everyone, and then proceed to do the same trick over and over. There may be a short warmup where they make some tricks, some basic ollies or a kick flip or something, but then they quickly progress to their hardest trick and try it over and over again, missing it time and again. The board flies all over and often the skater acts frustrated.
Sound familiar? Sound like your practice session?
This problem is common to skateboarders, snowboarders, bikers, and bladers, and has been since the early 90s. Now with the trick style becoming dominant in surfing, surfing is starting to look real busy and obsessive, and it's getting boring as well. Longboarders practice basics like turning, carving, sliding and going fast, and are less prone to this disease of being overly technical and trick centric. Still, it can be a problem, as in the overly busy, cramped, and repetitive footwork used in the current Southern California longboard surfing style.
Part of the problem is that so many athletes in these sports have no training and are self taught. They may in fact have a total aversion to being taught, trained or told anything. And yet, they can be very skilled, having a great deal of talent and determination.
But talent and determination can be oh so painful to watch. You need someone to tell you, or you need to realize it and tell yourself, to stop being so determined and back off on testing the limit of your talent. I would feel like I'd contributed to the world of skateboarding if I just convince a few of you to simplify your skating so it's more exciting to watch. There's no reason you can't incorporate a little discipline in your alternative sport.
My idea for your practice session can incorporate your hardest tricks, only you will put them in the middle of a practice session where the majority of time is spent perfecting what you already do well.
My structure for a practice session is more work, I admit. But there's room for fun, and even screwing around. See, there's a right time for everything.
