The Benefits of Skateboarding

When we talk about health, it’s too often boiled down to the physical aspects: does it strengthen your muscles? Does it help you lose weight? Is it good cardio? And of course, those are all important factors when considering how “healthy” skateboarding is. But health is also many other things: mental, emotional, spiritual, even relational. Skateboarding has a host of benefits that expand far beyond the basic physical advantages of squeezing in a session at the skatepark.

Boosts Heart Health

If your main point of interest is the physical aspect of skateboarding, the short answer is yes: skateboarding is an incredible workout. Just pushing on your board helps to increase your heart rate and improve endurance. But if you’re willing to put the time into learning how to do tricks or skate bowls and ramps, you can maximize the effects and give your heart a real workout.

Burns Calories

If skateboarding is a good physical workout, then naturally, it’s also a great option for losing weight. Some research suggests that you can burn 300 to 500 calories in just an hour, but it’s difficult to calculate exactly how many calories you can burn because it really depends on the intensity of your session. Just like any other high-intensity workout, the more you do it, the faster you’ll see the weight loss happen.

Teaches Work Ethic

This one tends to get overlooked, but skateboarding takes serious commitment. It’s not your typical afterschool sport, and because it’s a solo activity, it’s a great option for teaching kids the power of sticking to something and reaping its rewards. While team sports rely heavily on group effort, skateboarding requires regular practice and the willingness to try over and over again, even after failing.

Relieves Stress

The physical intensity of skateboarding allows a great outlet for stress and anxiety. It also encourages your body to release endorphins, or “happy hormones” which creates that feeling of satisfaction and relief. If you or your child is someone who suffers from anxiety or situational stress, skateboarding can be the perfect channel for that emotional turmoil. It can also be a good option for releasing anger or aggression in kids with pent-up energy.

Builds Community

Despite it being a solo sport, skateboarding can help foster community and friendship with like-minded skaters. While the activity itself is independent, the learning process relies largely on learning from other, more experienced skaters. From asking their buddies questions to watching videos of the pros online, skateboarding creates a tightly knit community that’s unlike any other.