Samokatlonlearning to ride: scooter, BMX and skateboard, step by step

An independent guide to learning to ride a scooter, BMX and skateboard. Not a shop or a school; we sell nothing and have no connection to the previous website on this domain. Always ride with a helmet and protective gear.

Terms

Terms

Riding has its own language, and at first a beginner at the skatepark won’t understand everything people are talking about. Here are the words you’ll hear from your very first sessions. The definitions are deliberately short and simple: their job is to help you follow a coach’s explanation, a video breakdown or a conversation in line for the ramp.

Knowing what a feature is called is useful; knowing when you’re ready for it is even more useful.

— Key idea

How this glossary works: the terms are split into four groups — scooter, BMX, skateboard and skatepark. Definitions are given in general terms; for harder moves, we only say what they are, without technique.

Scooter

Deck
The platform you stand on. On a stunt scooter, it’s sturdy and built to handle the stress of jumps and landings.
Grips
Soft covers on the bars that you hold on to. They keep your hands from slipping and absorb some of the vibration.
Compression
The system that connects the bars to the fork. How securely it’s set up determines whether the bars stay solid without any play.
Clamp
The collar that squeezes the bars and fork together. Check that it’s tight before riding: if the bars wobble, don’t ride until it’s tightened.
Brake
On a stunt scooter, it’s usually a fender over the rear wheel that you press with your foot. You learn to brake with it before you learn to pick up speed.

BMX

Pegs
Short, sturdy tubes on the wheel axles. Riders stand on them or grind along obstacles; moves like these are learned with a coach and in protective gear.
Frame
The core of the bike that all the other parts attach to. A BMX frame is compact and strong, and a crack in it means no riding until a mechanic has checked it.
Rotor
A mechanism at the head tube that lets the bars spin all the way around without twisting the brake cable. You won’t need one in your first sessions.
Bunny hop
A jump in which the bike leaves the ground with both wheels. One of the basic BMX moves, learned gradually, with a coach and in protective gear.

Skateboard

Deck
The board of a skateboard that you stand on. Its ends are turned up, which helps you control the board.
Trucks
The metal axle assemblies that connect the wheels to the deck. They’re what make the board turn when the rider shifts their weight.
Stance
How you place your feet on the board: which foot goes in front and which one pushes. Everyone finds their own comfortable stance; there’s no single right one.
Ollie
A jump with the board, no hands, and the foundation of many skateboarding tricks. Riders move on to it once they can ride, brake and fall with confidence, ideally with a coach.

Skatepark

Ramp
A structure with curved, sloped walls for riding. Low, gentle ramps suit beginners; tall ones are for experienced riders.
Funbox
A low feature with sloped sides and a flat top. It’s often the first obstacle people try at a skatepark.
Rail
A metal pipe or handrail for sliding and grinding. It’s a feature for experienced riders, who move on to it with a coach and in full protective gear.
Drop
Riding off a ledge, when the wheels briefly lose contact with the ground. Start with the lowest ledges, and only once you’ve got the basics down.
  • Lessons

    Six basic lessons: balance and stance, pushing and braking, turning, falling safely, small obstacles and riding at the skatepark.

  • Methods

    How scooters, BMX bikes and skateboards differ, how to learn in small steps, how to support a child and which myths to ignore.

  • Questions

    Answers about first sessions, safety, skatepark etiquette and equipment care.

Sources

  • “Safety recommendations: helmet and protective gear” (in general terms)

Information about the Olympic program is based on data from the International Olympic Committee; everything else is described in general terms. Each riding spot and skatepark has its own rules, set by the people who run it, so read them on site before you ride. If injured, see a doctor; in an emergency, call 112 in Russia and the EU, or your local emergency number.