How to Be a Skater Girl

Co-authored by Jon Depoian

Last Updated: May 13, 2021 References

Want to embrace the skater girl life? We can help! Dressing like a skater girl is more about comfort and style than about following strict rules. And having skater girl attitude is all about making new friends and doing what you love. What's not to like?

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dressing Like a Skater Girl

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Wear cool, comfortable clothing. Skateboarding is exercise, so chances are you’ll get hot. Clothing that keeps you cool will help you feel comfortable while you skate. Most skaters wear jeans and cotton t-shirts. You could also layer a long sleeve t-shirt under a short sleeve t-shirt if the weather gets cool.^{[1]
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- Cotton is a good, lightweight, breathable material to wear when skating. Wear a heavier cotton on your bottom half in case you fall – like jeans.
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Avoid tight clothing that restricts your range of motion. You want your clothes to be a little form-fitting, mostly so they don’t get in the way of your skating. But if you wear anything too tight, you won’t be able to bend and move the way you need to.^{[2]
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- The jeans that were made popular by skaters in the 90s were usually wide leg. Now, straight jeans that aren't too tight are the style. Either one is fine as long as you can move in them.
- You should also avoid pants that are too long – they might get stuck in your wheels!
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A lot of skaters wear graphic t-shirts. They help show who you are in a big, bright, hard-to-ignore way. You don't have to pick a particular image on your t-shirt, just something that feels right to you.
Part of the skater girl look is wearing a hoodie sweatshirt. You can choose any kind you want, but sticking to hoodies with skater clothing brand logos on them will make you seem more legit.
Skateboarding shoes are flat-soled shoes give your feet the most contact with your board and therefore give you more control. When you’re skating, wear skating shoes when you can, and at the very least, flat shoes with comfortable soles. Look for shoes that are flat and smooth on the bottom, like Converse or Vans.^{[3]
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When you’re skating, you need to be able to see where you’re going. You can wear your hair in a ponytail, pin it back, or wear a hat.^{[4]
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Buy shoes and clothes from iconic skate brands. A big part of being a skater girl is looking like one. That means wearing shoes and clothes from skater brands. Other skaters tend to wear these clothes and they're also tailored to allow for skaters' movement.
- Some great skater brands are Vans, DC, Nike (especially their basketball line), and Etnies.

Method 2

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Acting Like a Skater Girl

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Visit skate parks. There are a lot of skate parks out there, with different types of obstacles and ramps. To act like a skater girl, hang out there! You can practice your own skating and watch people with more experience skate. It’s a good way to learn.^{[5]
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- A lot of cities have skate parks in them, so check your city's website for a list of skate parks. You can also ask your friends who already skate which parks they hang out in.
While you’re at the skate park, start a conversation with other skaters. Tell them you’re just starting out and you’re hoping to get any pointers. It’s a good way to get better at skating and make friends.^{[6]
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When you're at the skate park or hanging out with your skater friends, chances are the topic of pro skaters will come up. Follow pro skaters so you can contribute to the conversation, but also so you can learn new tricks. Watching the X-Games is a great way to get started on following pro skateboarders.
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Defend yourself from critics. Some skaters might feel a little threatened by new skaters, and criticize you for not being able to skate. In that situation, it's best to remember that every skater had a point when they couldn't skate, and directly confront them about what they said.^{[7]
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- For example, you might hear someone say "Look at this poser! She can't even skate!" at the skate park. Turn around and say to the person, "Oh, I didn't realize you were a perfect skater the first time you ever tried!" Just getting a response is usually enough to shut the critics up.
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Take a friend with you to the skate park. If you're really nervous about going to a skate park alone, ask a friend to go with you. It should be someone who is also interested in learning to skate, or who already knows how. It can make you feel more comfortable as you learn.
- When you ask a friend to go with you, tell them why. You can say something like "I really want to start skating, but I'm a little nervous about going alone. Would you go with me?"

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Learning How to Skateboard

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You need to use pretty much your whole body to control your skateboard. If you’re too tense, you won’t have as much control, and you might injure yourself. Keep your arms loose at your sides and your knees slightly bent.^{[8]
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Place your left foot at the front of the board. Your foot should be on the front axle of your board – this is usually called the “sweet spot” on a skateboard. It should also line up with the board so that your foot is facing the end of the board, not the edge.^{[9]
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- If you’re left-handed, reverse these instructions so that your right foot is at the front of the board.
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Push off gently with your back foot (everyone has a different foot that goes at the front of the board pick the one that feels comfortable for you this may take a while.) . Using your back foot, push against the ground so that you move your board forward slightly. Once you get some speed built up, twist your front foot so it’s sideways on your board in riding mode, and then pick your back foot up and place it on the board side ways at the back of the board while you ride.^{[10]
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- Learning how to do this can take a long time because it requires a lot of balance. Practice it over and over until you feel comfortable with the move. Then you can add more speed.
- If you can't get your foot totally perpendicular on the board, that's okay! Even if you can get your foot slightly turned, that's a step in the right direction.
Once both of your feet are on your board, you can use them to control the direction of the board. Lean forward slightly and press your toes down to move the board to the right. Lean back slightly and press your heels down to move the board to the left.
You can drag your right foot on the ground if you want to slow down or stop your board. As you get more experience, you can also press down on the back of your board with your right foot to flip the board up and stop your forward motion.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Jon Depoian
Skateboarding Instructor

Expert Interview. 5 June 2020.}
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Land some basic tricks. If you want to be taken seriously as a skater, being able to land a few basic tricks will give you some serious cred.
- Kickturning is a good way to turn your board if you don't have the space or time to turn by changing your weight distribution. Press down slightly on your back wheels so you're balancing there, and use you front foot to push the front of the board to the left or right. This will change your direction pretty quickly.^{[12]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I do a good Ollie?

Jon Depoian
Skateboarding Instructor
Jon Depoian is a Skateboarding Instructor and the Owner of Intro2Skateboarding, an organization based in Orange County, California that provides professional private, home-school, after-school, birthday party, and summer camp skateboard lessons for beginners and experienced skateboarders alike. Jon has over 21 years of skateboarding experience and over 10 years of skateboard instruction experience. He also has extensive experience producing street skateboarding videos and skating competitions.

Jon Depoian

Skateboarding Instructor

Expert Answer

To do an Ollie, press down on the back of your skateboard with your back foot so the wheels come off the ground. As you step down on the board, slide your front foot to the front of the board, which will level out the board and bring it totally off the ground.

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Question

How do you become a skater?

Jon Depoian
Skateboarding Instructor
Jon Depoian is a Skateboarding Instructor and the Owner of Intro2Skateboarding, an organization based in Orange County, California that provides professional private, home-school, after-school, birthday party, and summer camp skateboard lessons for beginners and experienced skateboarders alike. Jon has over 21 years of skateboarding experience and over 10 years of skateboard instruction experience. He also has extensive experience producing street skateboarding videos and skating competitions.

Jon Depoian

Skateboarding Instructor

Expert Answer

Start by practicing your balance so that you feel comfortable on the board. The easiest way to do this is to put your skateboard in the grass somewhere and practice getting on and off of the board. Once you're comfortable on the grass, move to the carpet. This will give you a sense for how it feels to be on the board. Then, practice kicking off on a flat, smooth surface, like a tennis court. It's key that you get used to be balancing on the board before you try to do any tricks or head out to the skate park.

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Question

I was wondering what I should do if everyone is making fun of me and says I'm the worst skater ever?

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Treat this as an invitation to improve. So, they hate your skating? Show them you have what it takes by practicing often, being determined and making it clear that you won't let their taunts stunt your style. Ignore them, you're quite capable of improving through constant practice. Be bold enough to ask them for advice too, as it'll show them how willing you are to get better.

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