A pair of our previous posts have taken readers through the ins and outs of utilizing a skateboard as a weapon of self defense, and more recently, carrying one. However there is a key area within both of these guides which has been neglected (to our folly). That's how to get the skateboard into your hands before you carry it off, or use it to decapacitate your enemies. In an attempt to fill this gap, the following post will provide the most comprehensive guide, in the history of Sheffield based, wallet themed blogs, to picking up a skateboard. This will take you through the most basic, to the most advanced techniques, providing you with the necessary tools to A: Pick up your skateboard. B: Impress your peers with unconventional methods. C: Impress girls (or boys if thats your thing, or your a female skateboarder) - either way perfecting a range of these methods will get you laid.
1: The Basic
Above Jerome demonstrates what's probably the most straight forward way to pick up your skateboard on the move. Simply bend down, grab the nose, step off and away you go.
2: Classic Snap
This is a slightly elaborated version of the basic, much more likely to turn heads if executed properly. Slip your leading foot onto the tail, pop it and catch the board by the nose.
3: Advanced Snap
To the lay observer, there is very little difference between this acquisition and the 'Classic Snap'. However, any seasoned skateboarder will tell you that popping off the nose requires more skill and looks a whole lot better. Takes a bit of practice this one.
4: Scouse
Perhaps the father of the 'Scouse kick' (see skateboard self defense) this techniques requires the user to pop the tail, hook his/her foot underneath and kick the board up into his/her hand. Nb: Walking away from this one casually adds a whole lot (see Henry's example above).
5: Scouse Twist
An elaborate version of the 'Scouse'. Requires a whole lot more practice but is far more likely to impress.
6: Direct Mall
An excellent technique. Simply wait until you've slowed to a halt, bend down and grab the truck with your leading hand. Pick up the skateboard and Mall grab your way to the next spot.
7: Advanced Mall
This one's bound to impress. Pop the tail, wrap the board around your foot like a vertical impossible and grab the truck. There is no better way to achieve a Mall grab.
8: Pocket Stall
Ok, not technically a way to pick up your board but I had to include this one. Imagine your lurking at your local spot with a group of bros, hoods up, hands in pockets, DC plugs, frayed jeans, the works - your already pretty likely to be able to cop off with one of those flesh tunnel, slipknot type girls/boys (your probably already going out with one). However, if you can demonstrate that you can obtain hand to board contact with your hands in your pockets it's a done deal! Locate your partner, connect chain wallets and hug it out, in public.
9: Vertical Boost
One for the lads. Simply kick you skateboard as high as you can and grab it. Nb: This could also be used as a surprise self defense technique.
10: Barrier Bash
A personal favorite. Skateboarders have always been good at utilizing their surroundings. The next time your sessioning a jersey barrier and your over it, boot your skateboard into the spot, grab the fucker on it's way up and chip.
11: Rocket Man
Approach the pick up like a boneless, boost yourself as high as possible and walk away stoked with your skateboard under your arm. If you get particularly good at this one you could try taking up and down curbs.
12: Frontside Pirouette
Clearly an advanced technique. Push down on your tail and grab the nose (no need to pop), spin 360 frontside and walk away holding the nose. If your not great at spinning it's also cool to spin around half way and walk off backwards (preferably maintaining eye contact with the girls/boys your trying to impress).
13: Hard Flip Grab and Chip
Muska inspired. Pop an illusion style harz, as high as possible, grab the nose and make like a tree...
14: Tre Flip Grab and Chip
Clearly this is based on the same principles as the 'Hard Flip Grab and Chip'. Just replace the harz with a 360 flip. If your lucky enough to be able do the splits whilst your tre bombing at 0.5 mph you could add to this one with some contrived leg movements. Either way, it's a great technique for the more advanced skateboard picker upper.
Final Note:
Thanks to everyone involved for providing some inspiring techniques.
Wayhay, It's our first birthday. Can you believe it made it this far? We're all still very much alive and Skating hard and, most importantly, holding our boards correctly.
Here's the first batch of photo's from last night. Heavy crew in attendance.
Nathan got hyped on his tricks first
A quick iron and we're out
OG, POH and Gav were there, funny smell round this area
The lesser spotted Rob, he was referred to as the ghost, from that point on I made sure I captured the ghost at every available opportunity.
Some Livepool heads were over, heres Muff, ex-sheffielder
Woody was out
Sam North was over, this guy rules.
Justin came out.
I tee-shirt all good ladies should wear.
Slim another scouser was causing trouble
Red Wardle - will drink quicker than you.
The ghost
Mackies going to kill you
Justin's face kind of says it all.
Johna was out. He misses no party
Dogs welcome
Henry Stables
I got a fucking photo of Adrian, he's German and kills it on a Skateboard
We set off early and grabbed an 'unreserved' table seat. This turned out to have been reserved by some numbskulls so we moved.
Demoted to a two seater, we thought we'd been pre disasterd. Spoke too soon. Signal failures meant that all the trains traveling south of Bedford to London had been cancelled. We were chucked out at Bedford, caught a connection to Luton, piled out of the station there (in the pissing rain) to get a coach. No coaches. Our contingency arrangement ended up being paying for a cab ourselves, with 3 strangers from Luton to London.
3 and a half hours worth of delays sparked some creative energies,
so we did each others portraits.
Remarkably spirits remained relatively high.
Eventually we arrived, linked up with Sam and bumped into Chez.
Skateboarding was off the cards by this point so we grabbed some burgers.
Scholes and Jerome joined,
alongside Sam, Will Harmon, Gareth and Piers.
Then it was off to the Royal Oak for Pints.
Scholes and Piers.
A heavy
bro down
ensued.
Until things took a left turn and Sam punched Branka in the jaw.
We left the pub at this point and roamed the streets for a bit.
Watch out.
Lurking in Dalston.
Marc Height showed up,
and so did Ben!
The next day Tubb went off to Bowlhead's wedding (congrats Mr & Mrs Bowlhead) and I went skateboarding. Get ready for this:
Crew shot
Pool it is
Pints please
Cheers
A schooling occured
Let's remind ourselves of this little master piece
Nathan got hyped on his tricks first
A quick iron and we're out
OG, POH and Gav were there, funny smell round this area
The lesser spotted Rob, he was referred to as the ghost, from that point on I made sure I captured the ghost at every available opportunity.
Some Livepool heads were over, heres Muff, ex-sheffielder
Woody was out
Sam North was over, this guy rules.
Justin came out.
I tee-shirt all good ladies should wear.
Slim another scouser was causing trouble
Red Wardle - will drink quicker than you.
The ghost
Mackies going to kill you
Justin's face kind of says it all.
Johna was out. He misses no party
Dogs welcome
Henry Stables
I got a fucking photo of Adrian, he's German and kills it on a Skateboard
Crew photo, notice the ghost?
so we did each others portraits.
