When it comes to skateboarding, it can get expensive and, for good reason, people will try to do various things to save money. This is how it is possible to come across people who obviously need a new deck but they insist on using it even more to get their money’s worth. Now, here are a few pointers for ways to save some skate dollars.
Minimising driving and the use of public transport is one way to spend less. If you can skate to and from local skate spots, this will help minimise the reliance on public transport and driving. Carpooling with the crew is also another way to save money.
Freestyle skateboarding makes it easier to reduce your ‘skate miles’ as all you need is flatground but it does require local-area knowledge. Car parks, basketball courts, and seemingly random locations (see some examples in one of my other posts) typically have some flatground perfect for freestyle and are often numerous within populated areas. Skateparks are also worth looking into as they frequently have some flatground often unused by other skaters. It all boils down to learning where skate spots are and Google Maps is often best for discovering these.
Another thing that helps is taking advantage of skate-shop sales. The most commonly (and heavily) discounted item would be the popsicle deck but, if that’s what you’re after, that’s great. Knowing where to look can be a pain; it’s worthwhile scanning somewhere such as Postal Skateboards to see if you can get a deck or two for half price.
Bundling online purchases to get free postage is another option as well. If buying overseas from suppliers such as Waltz Skateboarding, bundling purchases with a mate or two to split the postage bill is another dollar-saving method.
Buying parts secondhand can also help. As most skateboarders are more inclined towards street or park, getting specific freestyle parts will be harder but not impossible. It can just be a factor of frequently checking in where people sell online and searching for specific items. And don’t forget to go to online freestyle spaces to ask if anyone has any old parts they’re able to sell or donate.
Relatedly, thrifting can help when it comes to clothes. You may be able to even score some lightly worn skate shoes.
Alike to buying skate parts secondhand, regular browsing is key. The one downside to thrift-store shopping? I have noticed the quality, variety, and or pricing can be better or worse depending on the area you’re in.
Retired decks can also be repurposed into skid plates and, if you’re particularly creative, you can make other things out of them which can then be sold for some extra cash. Keep an eye out for discarded decks left behind at skateparks for free material.
If you lack retired decks, chopping boards are an alternative resource for making your own skid plates. If you’re unable to make your own skid plates, buying skid plates is still a good idea as they slow down the damage freestyle skateboarding can do to your decks.
As a freestyler, an issue that arises is how casper tricks are fantastic at destroying shoelaces and the canvas of shoes. One workaround is to put duct tape onto the top of your shoes. Another is to wear leather or suede shoes, as leather and suede are tougher materials, and to move your shoelaces further up your shoes so that the shoelaces stay safe. Kevlar shoelaces also exist and resist damage, plus Shoe Goo allows for doing shoe repairs.
The internet is also a great resource for learning about freestyle tricks. Two places of interest are Freestyle Tricktips and Waltz Skateboarding as both sites have dedicated how-to pages on freestyle tricks. This alone is incredibly useful for any freestyler and even more so for those just getting into freestyle. On top of this, both sites have YouTube channels to look into with their handles on there being @FreestyleTricktips and @waltz_skateboarding respectively.
Keeping an eye on domestic freestyle sites will be of interest as well, not just to watch for sales, but also to save on postage. The more local the online supplier, the cheaper the postage will be. Aikenheads is an example, as it is Perth-based, Australian skateboarders who buy from the site won’t be paying as much on postage compared to if they’re buying directly from Waltz Skateboarding who are based in the USA.
For Melbournians, the Melbourne Freestyle Skaters’ meet-ups are another way to learn about freestyle without paying a cent; they’re held just outside Marvel Stadium, at Gate 8 (sometimes Gate 3), on Monday evenings. If you’re looking for a way to learn about freestyle in person, this will be the best way about it without relying on a paid skateboard instructor. If there isn’t an existing freestyle meet-up in your city or area, coordinating your own may be needed.
As with doing everything to spend as little as possible, cheapskate skating does take time and consistent effort. It can be tiresome to keep up with now and then as it can involve planning and doing what you can to think ahead but it does pay off over time. Thankfully with skateboarding, it is possible.