How to carry your skateboard.

Sometimes, getting from A to B with your skateboard when you can't be on your skateboard feels tricky. There are so many ways to carry a plank, but not all of these sit well within the unwritten (but very much existing) framework of what is and isn't deemed acceptable skateboard etiquette. So, SBW corp decided it might be useful to document and describe some of the key ways you can carry your skateboard (and what they might signify to other skateboarders). This way you might just be able to separate yourself from the groms.

The following blog is brought to you in collaboration with Lost Art: www.lostartshop.co.uk

Let's start with the basics:

Fig 1: The Classic. This technique is probably as old as skateboarding itself. Carry your board by holding it in the middle (grip tape outwards). You can't really go wrong with this one, it screams legitimacy and you can easily pretend your skateboard's a bazooka of sorts.

Fig 2: The Classic Fail. Occasionally you'll see people carrying their skateboards as described above but with grip tape facing in. This fucks up your coat/hoody/jacket and makes you look like you don't know what your doing. If you see somebody carrying their board like this, the appropriate response would be to take it off them and remove the grip tape.

Fig 3: The Cycling Shoelace. If your one of those trendy types who likes to ride around on your bike in between spots, you might like to try the following: Attach a shoelace to your skateboard's upper and lower truck, carry this over one shoulder and ponce around on your bike like a wet flannel.

Fig 4: Intermission. If you happen to get tired traipsing about, or you have to wait on a friend who's gone to Tesco (other supermarkets are available), you can use your board as a temporary seat.

Fig 5: The Stocks. Carrying your skateboard can wind up tiring out one of your arms. Unfortunately, a by product of this is more muscle development in the arm with which your favor carrying your skateboard, leading to an aesthetically unfortunate lack of symmetry (see below):

One way to avoid this is by carrying your skateboard on the back of your shoulders with both arms.

Fig 6: The Walking Stick. Carrying your skateboard by the nose allows you to double it up as a walking stick. Easiest to do with the grip tape facing in (won't damage your slacks because it's too far out to rub). Avoid extra muscle development by periodically switching sides.

Fig 7: The Mall Grab. All too often we see skateboarders carrying their planks by the truck. This is a completely unacceptable technique. Appropriate responses to such sightings include: Grabbing the offenders skateboard and scraping a belled onto the nose or tail, screaming 'Mall Grab', 'truck holder' or 'Gromit'. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind!

Fig 8: The Indian Water Vessel technique. Occasionally during your travel from spot to spot, situations may occur which warrant the full use of both your hands. In such eventualities you could consider adopting this technique. Simply balance your skateboard on the top of your head and do whatever it is you have to do.

Fig 9: The Backpack Strap. If your trendy enough to have a backpack right now, you can hang your board off one of the straps (again freeing up both of your hands). Pretty good technique although this does leave your skateboard the capacity to swing back and forth and hit you in the knee.

Final note: Thanks to Ash and Muff at Lost Art for providing some inspiring techniques. See the video below for a good example of how to impress other skateboarders whist stationary. If I knew how to work my camera (or computer) the video would be the right way up. Apologies for that.