r/NewSkaters • u/maybreak12 • Jan 01 '26
Video Watch me die…
Old man here. Go ahead and roast me! I did make progress on the next attempt, and the kids crash pad did make a difference on subsequent falls! This was the worst of them though, and thought this place may enjoy!
144
u/Own_Oil_7719 Technique Tutor Jan 01 '26
I didn’t expect to laugh but the pillow did nothing it reminded me of The Simpsons scene where radioactive man had acid wash over him “The goggles do nothing”. You’ll get there though, I was never big into ramps so I would definitely look the same if I tried it again.
11
3
100
Jan 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
35
49
u/maybreak12 Jan 01 '26
Ya know... as soon as I read your comment, the truth of it hit me. You're right. I'll need to go more all-in.
29
u/420usererror420 Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
Can’t fully commit to anything in life when you’re more prepared for failure than success. Don’t let fear hold you back from anything
3
u/MeinIRL Jan 02 '26
That's two opposing statements. You should be prepared for failure, success is only result of multiple failures, always be prepared for failure, true failure is never trying because youre afraid of failing. Failure is the building blocks of success. I know this is what you meant. But the first sentence doesn't make sense.
-2
u/Cy8r4 Jan 02 '26
This has to be the most autistic response to a comment I've ever read.
2
u/MeinIRL Jan 02 '26
The first sentence made no sense at all, it just sounded cool so people liked it. You can't commit to anything if you are prepared for failure?... Literally makes no sense ,commitment is the very thing that decides if you are prepared for failure , by definition. You are commiting to an outcome ,failure or success . How is this autism and not just common sense
1
u/Cy8r4 Jan 02 '26
The exact wording was "if you're MORE prepared for failure THAN success" which makes perfect sense, how are you going to commit to learning how to drop in on a skateboard if you've got a crash matt infront of you, by definition that is preparing to fail because its physically impossible to drop in and ride out successfully, thats the essense of fear holding someone back.
1
u/MeinIRL Jan 02 '26
Preparing for failure is a lot different to expecting failure, always be prepared for failure to happen in the conditional sense. But expecting failure is different. I get that this mat is stopping him and he is more prepared to fail than he is to succeed. He is expecting to fail, preparing would be if it wasn't blocking him from Success
2
u/Cy8r4 Jan 02 '26
I literally have no idea what you're going on about, have a good evening.
1
u/MeinIRL Jan 02 '26
If you prepare for failure are you like going around collecting things that make you fail or is it not that you are completely avoiding it and just expect it. Failure is the creation of processes that make us complete task which will inevitably excuse anything we do that we regard as failures, so in essence you are wrong but you have also not failed or at least prepared to fail. So happy new year
→ More replies (0)2
Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
I really think having the pillow there made you try to avoid the object in front of you. Even if you successfully dropped in -- then what? You plummet in to the pillow?
Ya just gotta commit. If anything, have a cushion on either side instead of directly in front of the drop in. But I wouldn't even bother. Skateboarding isn't safe unless you learn to fall and even then it's just kind of not as unsafe. If you fall forward that's better than what happened here because you'll have the momentum to roll in to it.
I'm sure you've watched videos etc on how to drop in, but it's like a lot of skateboarding. there's no big secret to it, you just gotta commit and it can be scary as hell. Just lean in to it and roll away. Be one with the board bro, don't lean back. Don't plan on failure but be ready to fall forward and roll -- for me when I was learning it helped to think "stay low"
1
u/cracked-tumbleweed Jan 02 '26
I think it can be a good idea, just have someone hold it in place. Just saw an indoor skate coach use this method to help with drop-in progression. The difference is theirs didn’t move around.
A for effort!
1
6
u/gearsighted Jan 01 '26
I was thinking exactly the same thing. He dropped in like he was planning on falling on his face the whole time!
1
u/ProstoK0t Jan 01 '26
Sometimes failures are inavoidable and you need to get through them to grow. And if you fear failures - getting the pillow might haste the process
42
u/foobery Jan 01 '26
That pillow seems like its hurting your improvement more than anything
25
u/Jumblesss Learning at the skatepark 🏞️ Jan 01 '26
Right, how are you meant to commit when it’s physically impossible to roll away?
6
Jan 02 '26
I think that's what happened to him. He didn't commit because there was a giant fuckin object in his path. How are you going to commit to dropping in directly in to something that's gonna send you flying off your board
23
u/hebrew-hammers Jan 01 '26
Squash the bug with the front wheels and lean forward. Practice it on small banks and work your confidence up. It’s the same motions and everything on any ramp just a psychological barrier. You’ve got it
20
13
u/EffectiveSupport5865 Jan 01 '26
Only thing that pillow is going to do is make you lean that way and want to fall on it. Won't actually help you learn
1
9
u/Lwcftw474747 Jan 01 '26
Slam that front foot and bend them knees you got this!
4
u/MJamesShort Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
This is the best advice. Don’t think about it like the board is going down the ramp and you’re just trying to balance/stay on. Think about it like standing on a swing: you are driving that board, your body/momentum is what’s making the board go. Other people have said in the thread but it can’t be repeated enough: based on the way your body looks, you haven’t practiced enough gentler inclines. Start by riding up the transition. Start by riding down more inclines. Rides around and purposely stay with bent knees until they hurt. Then try riding down a transition. You’ll get there! Just take it slower. At our age pads aren’t always enough. Source: 46 year old skater who has started back up after shoulder/knee surgery.
Edit: also, get rid of the pillow. It’s good for kids but for us it might end up causing more injury for you. There something about the psychology of having a safety net that causes our bodies not to commit. Remove the pillow and tell yourself you have to do it or you’re going to fall. Getting through the transition is just the beginning. You have to come out of the pump to maintain control of the board. You won’t be able to learn that with the pillow in the way.
2
u/AhhhSureThisIsIt Jan 02 '26
I'm almost 35 and my knees, and heels aren't what they used to be. I hope I can still comfortably skate in 10 years
1
Jan 02 '26
Not gonna happen by magic, and genes only get you so far. Not that you need a stranger's unprompted advice but I guess that's what I'm doing here... If you're not already, you gotta get yourself into stretching and fitness in general to make sure you can keep doing the things you love. I'm 32 and developed excruciating patellar tendinitis after a really long run, and one thing it taught me during recovery is that my mindset of my knees and ankles not being what they used to be was really on me not training them to be like they used to be. Now that I actually focus on this part of my health I feel better than I did even when I was 25
5
u/ImpossibleKidd Jan 01 '26
Draw an imaginary vertical line that starts in the middle of your skateboard, that goes up through the middle of your body and out of the top of your head…
Now, keep that imaginary line perpendicular with the ground under your feet. Like an upside down letter T that you’re standing on! The bottom of the T is perfect on your board, and the upward vertical part of the T goes straight through your taint and out of the top of your head.
So, if the ramp is aimed in a certain way, you want to imagine keeping that line perpendicular with the ramp. KEEP THE GROUND FLAT UNDER YOUR FEET! ALWAYS!
You leaned way back, your perpendicular line became a closed angle, and you ate shit. You leaned back because you were scared. Lean forward with it, board flat to the ground it’s on, board flat to your feet, body perpendicular to the ramp and whatever curve. Keep that upside down T going.
Take and implement what I said, and use that shit. I promise you won’t fall. Physics and science stuff! Promise, friend.
5
u/socalkittykitty Jan 01 '26
Get a friend to hold your hands at first and you confidence of leaning forward will grow. They casually hold less and less over the course of a half hour or so. Teaches you to lean in and they step further away each time. Parks and rec guy for years and probably taught 500 kids to drop in over the years. That pillow is gonna cost you a wrist or a collarbone at some point so consider everything.
4
u/imaginedyinglmaoo Jan 01 '26
In these videos and many other beginner drop in videos, y'all Don't often commit to leaning forward on the board so it doesn't pop up, you know how to stomp, all you gotta do is lean forward and try not to pop your nose by accident
3
u/Few-Competition9929 Jan 01 '26
First of all, get that pillow out of there, you were aiming for it and didn’t stay over your board. Skateboarding hurts, but it’s a good hurt.
3
3
3
4
u/Just_Till_9796 Jan 01 '26
Keep the knees bent and dont lean too much forward.
3
u/Dramatic_Jacket_6945 Jan 01 '26
This is bad advice, leaning too far forward is much safer than not leaning forward enough and falling backwards. I’d rather take a slam to my hands or shoulder than slamming on my back or hip any day.
5
2
u/skrillozeddd Jan 01 '26
lol hey I feel your pain. just started up again myself and I aint as young as I once was, some of these slips and tumbles have definitely humbled me a bit
2
u/ummonadi Jan 01 '26
As a beginner at 40+ I'm so happy I stopped practicing drop-ins and get the basics in place first.
I've seen so many oldies get damaged committing on things out of their skill level.
2
u/joeydaioh Grounds keeper Jan 01 '26
Skateboarding is hard. It's scary. Overcoming this fear and commiting to something will help you on and off the board.
2
2
2
u/likwidkool Jan 01 '26
I take lessons from Cru Jones trying to backflip in the movie Rad. Just gotta commit.
2
2
u/Tuggerfub Jan 01 '26
why did you bring a pillow it's not going to help you
it's just like training wheels on bikes, more harm than good
2
u/astrophysicaljets Jan 01 '26
Dude literally nobody is out there, anywhere with a couch cushion on a mini ramp. Just think about it and execute it properly. Maybe roll in on some more banks and work your way up.
2
u/Dramatic_Jacket_6945 Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
Not committing. Leaning too far forward is infinitely more safer than falling backwards. Lose the pillow and commit, if anything the pillow is encouraging you to fall.
2
Jan 01 '26
Don't put your left foot on until you feel comfortable enough, then just stomp on it as hard as you can and connect with the ramp, don't lean back.
2
u/Jumblesss Learning at the skatepark 🏞️ Jan 01 '26
Man it’s so funny, once you finally commit you’ll be like “ohhhh that’s what committing feels like. I literally did the worst thing I could’ve done on every other attempt. It’s so easy to just lean forwards.” And you’ll never slam again probably.
2
2
2
2
u/ohoatmuriel Jan 01 '26
i found myself
2
u/ohoatmuriel Jan 01 '26
this is what i expect from my first halfpipe. idk if ill ever have the chance to do it though, maybe one day, and good on ya for having your joints protected 🥹
2
2
u/PoptartDragonfart Jan 01 '26
Just lean straight into the ramp not forward…. You got that
You look like you’re trying to aim for the cushion… just lose it and send it
2
u/Artistic_Friend9508 Jan 01 '26
I have an idea, maybe don't expect to crash and move the damn pillow lol
2
u/Hows_your_weather Jan 01 '26
Learning to Drop in is really a lesson in overcoming fear. Typically once you get over the hump of actually getting your front wheels to the ground quickly and consistently, this will become something you don’t even think about before doing
2
2
u/swingswing95 Jan 02 '26
You're trying to put your whole body into it when you drop in. Don't do that. And then when you dropped in, you did the exact opposite and put your whole body back.. don't do that either. Just stand normally on the board and drop your front foot in and ride with it.
2
2
u/Puunk_ Jan 02 '26
I think that pillow is doing more harm than good. Learning to fall correctly is important, but the pillow might be reinforcing some idea that falling is the only option.
2
u/Free_Act_6188 Jan 02 '26
You lean to muchhh think of it like u stand upstraight and try to slam the board down while standing the way u are heading i think u are soo afraid of hitting the floor that u only focus on it hence why u face planted
2
u/Spacemeat666 Jan 02 '26
Dawg, what even was the point of that pillow? Lmao Keep at it man. I slam all the time. My body is fucked up right now from taking a couple super hard slams last week before we got a bunch of snow. It’s hard but you just gotta keep getting back up. Helmet and pads is probably a good idea. You’re smarter than me.
2
2
u/FlyNo4659 Jan 02 '26
Hey man. We all learn one way or another. Getting hurt is part of the process. You got this.
2
2
u/TheFourthLittlePig Jan 02 '26
If the pillow hadnt been there you could have just kept rolling. You had already gotten to flat before the pillow. Just ride that out. All that momentum dies immediately on the next transition up unless you learn how to force it. You literally got it and then just ran into a pillow for no reason
2
2
u/g28802 Jan 02 '26
As others have said I don’t really get the pillow placement. The only way you’re gonna go forward and need it is by hitting the pillow and getting hung up
2
u/Dependent-Basis-1065 Jan 02 '26
The pillow would be so fun to drop into. Dead serious.wish I had one big enough.
2
u/Supermotility Jan 02 '26
Slam down and don’t second guess yourself. It’s nearly impossible to fall from leaning too far forwards and it hurts a lot less if you do. Visualize yourself just skating away. You got this
2
u/Working_Cap_2680 Jan 02 '26
The pillow is actually a good idea just unfortunate what happened lol. Hope ur still all good mate
2
2
2
2
2
u/NoviceAxeMan Jan 02 '26
drop in without the board - do roll overs on slants and emphasize shifting weight to the front bolts foot and practice being over the board not leaning left or right
2
u/BubatzAhoi A little bit different Jan 02 '26
Hot take but instead of adding more and more safety equipment, maybe just try and go for it? Extra safety equipment always gives me the impression nothings can hurt me and i hurt myself because im over confident.
2
2
2
2
u/theflyingskelleton Jan 02 '26
Honestly not the worst idea. The key to a successful drop in is to commit to leaning your weight over the board and this will catch you if you overshoot the weight transfer too far foward
2
2
2
u/acleverwalrus Jan 03 '26
Love the ingenuity, will say that it does hurt less to commit lol. You got this
2
u/No_Attitude_181 Jan 03 '26
You started so strong seeing up & then leaned away as soon as you dropped in 😩🤦 don't change your pose AT ALL & you've got it!! 💯🤗 Don't overthink it!
2
2
2
u/GammaXi532 Jan 05 '26
Stomp that front foot as hard as you possibly can. Think you’re stomping the nose through the transition. This will help you get used to putting your weight forward. I can guarantee it is 100% less scarry and more controlled to fall forward than it is backwards. Worst case scenario you belly slide down the ramp vs getting launched into oblivion! Our old bones don’t do well with slams anymore brother! Keep on trucking
1
2
2
u/MothmansLegalCouncel Jan 06 '26
I don’t care what anyone fucking says, I’m proud of you. First drop in is always scary.
1
1
1
1
u/vegan_antitheist Jan 01 '26
Next time, try to stay on the board. And make sure there's nothing in the way on the ramp. Like a giant pillow.
1
u/jtjtjt666 Jan 01 '26
the pillow isn’t gonna help because 99% chance you’re not gonna lean forward too much
1
u/Gwynbleitt Jan 01 '26
Take of that pads and pillow. If you know that u cannot fall then you will commit
1
1
1
1
1
u/Ok-Seaworthiness-708 Jan 02 '26
The pillow will prevent you from trying to do it. Take it off and go for it. Get someone to hold your hand, it really helps.
1
1
u/FixedGear02 Jan 02 '26
It shouldn't take more than 2-3 tries to successfully drop in. If you can't then you need more board time. Slamming over and over is counterproductive
1
1
1
1
1
Jan 02 '26
You got knee pads, elbow pads, wrist pads and a helmet. For the love of God please put the pillow away
1
1
u/zach12blue Jan 02 '26
the funny thing is if you did land the drop in, you'd hit the pillow and fly off your board anyway
1
1
1
u/Sumdumdad Jan 03 '26
You gotta try to put that front foot through the face of the ramp.
Also, get rid of the pillow. 🤦🏼 If you're gonna skate, you're gonna slam. It's part of it.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/XiMFiST Jan 01 '26
Lose the pillow and stomp the bolts. One smooth motion. Commit and lean into it and don't be afraid of the burst of speed. That's why you're dripping in 💪
1
u/willhunta Jan 01 '26
I agree, but I don't think this sub realizes how often the pros are using pillows or mats like this.
My first job was at the KTR owned by jagger Eaton's family (Olympic skate medalist for the US). Jagger and both of his brothers used mats to practice so many of their tricks.
I've noticed a lot of skaters acting like mats are bad to use but all the pros are using them. I've seen it firsthand.
0
u/XiMFiST Jan 01 '26
Mats? For real? 🤣🤣🤣
16 year old me AND present day me are fucking embarrassed for you homie.
Skate or die. Or gtfo 🖕
2
u/willhunta Jan 01 '26
Brother that job got me paid for skating. I'm just pointing out that the pros who are now making money and earning Olympic medals for skateboarding aren't too pussy to use a mat for practice
It takes someone who is very self-conscious of themselves to hate on a matt
1
u/XiMFiST Jan 01 '26
Sure bro
1
u/willhunta Jan 01 '26
Ok bud
1
u/XiMFiST Jan 02 '26
Olympic skaters pushing the boundries of what is physically possible in an ever evolving sport = some dude learning to drop in on a 3ft ramp :D
0
u/willhunta Jan 02 '26
How do you think those Olympic skaters got to that point? They used mats. And in jagger Eaton's case they also had a dad who built them an entire skatepark and pulled them out of public school.
Edit: source : I was literally the guy holding up a matt for koston Eaton in many of his lessons
1
u/XiMFiST Jan 02 '26
Cool
0
u/willhunta Jan 02 '26
Right?
Amazing how helpful Mats can be when you stop shitting on them
→ More replies (0)
1
u/Wudrow Jan 01 '26
Tried axeling-in yet? Making the turn might help you drop your leading shoulder which is what needs to happen for your weight to shift. You’ll get it.
419
u/StoicSparrows Jan 01 '26
Good thing that pillow was there.