Categories / Outdoor & adventure
Skateboarding
Street and ramp skating.
How to start
Practise balancing and pushing on flat ground in a quiet area. Wear a helmet, wrist guards and knee pads.
How to progress
Learn turning and stopping, then try small ramps.
What the evidence says
Evidence: limited
We found no trials of this particular activity. A small 2026 survey of 65 Japanese skateboarders described injury patterns, a reminder that falls and injuries are common.
Take care: Falls cause wrist, ankle and head injuries. Wear a helmet and wrist guards.
Sources
12-week starter plan
Short, frequent sessions.
Tick each week as you finish it; your ticks are saved on this device only. Repeat a week if it felt hard. Weeks 4, 8 and 12 hold steady so you can settle. This is a general plan, not medical advice.
Add reminders to your calendar
Pick your days and time. You will download a calendar file that adds 12 weeks of reminders to Google, Apple or Outlook calendar.
Calories and weekly minutes
Enter your details for a rough estimate. Based on about 5 METs (Typical effort for this activity (estimated)). Real figures vary by 20% or more between people.
Tips and common mistakes
Tips
- Wear protection.
- Learn to fall.
- Start on flat ground.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the helmet.
- Skating tired.
- Trying tricks too soon.
Kit and cost
Low to moderate Approximate UK prices.
- A complete board (about £40 to £100)
- Helmet and pads
- A skate park
Frequently asked questions
Am I too old?
No, but expect to fall.
Is it safe?
Wear protection and learn gradually.
Is it a workout?
It uses legs and balance.
Good for: Skill Balance Fun & social
Compare with similar options
| Skateboarding | Orienteering | Roller Skating and Blading | Via Ferrata and Scrambling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical session | 60 min × 3/wk | 90 min × 1/wk | 45 min × 2/wk | 240 min × 1/wk |
| Effort | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ |
| Cost | Low cost | Low cost | Low cost | Moderate cost |
| Equipment | Some equipment | Basic kit | Some equipment | Specialist kit |
| Impact | Medium impact | Medium impact | Low impact | Low impact |
| Fitness needed | Some fitness | Some fitness | Some fitness | Some fitness |
| Evidence | limited | limited | limited | limited |