Mothers of skateboarding kids - how old were they when they got their first board?

[wilbur]

Ds1 who will be 8 in January wants a skateboard. I am putting on a brave face about my pfb getting wheels, and trying to research what I should get him. I have seen the teeny skateboards in Argos on another thread, but they looks too small - he has mahoosive feet. Any suggestions about what proper board to get him? And kit - wrist guards, elbow pads, helmet, all-in-one kevlar boilersuit?

Or is he just a bit young?

My 4 yr old has got a full size skateboard and we got him a set of pads wrist , elbow, knee and also he has to wear his bike helmet .

He is a bit young for it but he is a bit of a daredevil and loves it .

He goes to the local park which has a couple of ramps and the older boys are always really sweet with him and try and show him tricks he can do .

So far he can only just about keep upright but thats good enough

My brother who is a really good skateboarder ( he was sponsered etc ) said the most important pads are the wrist ones .

Wilbur- we brought ds1 a Skateboard, knee and wrist pads and a cool carry bag when he was 5 years old.

He went on it about 5x at the most, no co-ordination.

Think 8 would be a perfect age tbh.

(im about to sell the one that we brought, it has been stuck in the shed- let me know if you are interested before I put it on ebay- will take pics if you like)

ds only became interested when we moved darn south, he was about 8. but i know this amazing kid who seems to have been on one since he could walk - he is truly olympic standard

my boys have had the little ones since they were 3, DS1 got a big one at 5yrs, and then they both got decent ones and ramps etc from the grandparents last xmas.....so DS1 was 7, DS2 was 5.

they love them, and so far no major accidents, and the boys in the street love the ramps

[puts head between knees at thought of ramps ]

Also, do you have to have a completely smooth surface to skate on? The places he could skate close to us are an all-weather five a side pitch on the Common which has a slightly stony surface, is that going to be a problem?

Tiredemma - would be interested in seeing a pic of your skateboard, whereabouts are you?

Im in bham- where are you?

Email me at ELW662 @ bham . ac . uk

Ill take pics now and forward them when you email me.

Proper one at about 7.

They have less accidents on the skateboard than they do on skates or bikes, btw.

Make sure they have pads that cover the palms of their hands.

We're in SW London, but may be up near Redditch at the weekend. Will email you.

wilbur- have emaile you some pics but my email has been returned- aparently your inbox is full?

That's weird, inbox def not full! Are the pic files huge?

ah thats probably it let me re-size them

have resent

tiredemma - did you get my email reply? The pics came through and I was wondering about price.

sorry wilbur I went to bed this afternoon as I am on a nightshift tonight. just sent you an email x

DS got one for his 5th birthday. He loves it, and can trundle along on it on flat areas of our local park. He wears lots of pads and his helmet.