Skateboarding for conditioning?

Any skateboarders out there who believe their skating conditions them for mountaineering? I used to skate years ago and skated today for a bit and im toast. I feel like I hiked 3000 feet. Just curious if anyone else who skates barely trains for mountaineering and does great.

climbing friend,

no.

I would say yes. Depends on what you skate though. Skating bowls, halfpipes or tranny is very cardio intensive and has a lot of body weight squatting involved (although not full squats). Jumping down stairs or any kind of drop over and over is is also similar to squatting but catching a heavy weight at the bottom of the squat. I would use it more as a cross training on my off days though and use a gym for the real training. I used to skate 5+ days a week before i moved to a place that had mountains and I definitely noticed being more physically fit for hikes and approaches compared to my girlfriend who just ran. What really got us though was moving from a place of 3 feet elevation to 4000 something in SLC. 

That just depends on how many months you want to be out of commission and wishing you could climb but can't because you ate it on a skateboard.

First time I hopped back on a skateboard after not skating for 7-8yrs, I broke my leg in two places on a 9ft. bowl. It's not back in the day anymore. F- Skateboarding.

There's a lot better and more efficient ways to train that doesn't involve throwing yourself down a flight of stairs.

Jordan W wrote:

That just depends on how many months you want to be out of commission and wishing you could climb but can't because you ate it on a skateboard.

First time I hopped back on a skateboard after not skating for 7-8yrs, I broke my leg in two places on a 9ft. bowl. It's not back in the day anymore. F- Skateboarding.

There's a lot better and more efficient ways to train that doesn't involve throwing yourself down a flight of stairs.

This.  I skated super hard when I first moved out to Washington... Then I fucked up both of my ankles mid-season last summer.  Now, I'll roll around on a bowl or miniramp, but I'm not trying anything that might knock me out of climbing again. 

I skated a lot for a few years, but I only do it rarely now--I was just getting injured too often. Skating a lot of transition and just pushing around for a few miles is definitely good exercise, but it is by no means a smart or reasonable way to train. It is also asymmetrical (unless you spend half of your time skating switch, which would be rad, but is hard to do) and that definitely creates muscle imbalance. I did parkour as well and parkour is much much more effective for cross-training!

is this a joke

John Martin2 wrote:

I would say yes. Depends on what you skate though. Skating bowls, halfpipes or tranny is very cardio intensive and has a lot of body weight squatting involved (although not full squats). Jumping down stairs or any kind of drop over and over is is also similar to squatting but catching a heavy weight at the bottom of the squat. I would use it more as a cross training on my off days though and use a gym for the real training. I used to skate 5+ days a week before i moved to a place that had mountains and I definitely noticed being more physically fit for hikes and approaches compared to my girlfriend who just ran. What really got us though was moving from a place of 3 feet elevation to 4000 something in SLC. 

I would second this. Good for the core, legs, and cardiovascular system. Can be dynamic and isostatic. Improves balance. Not so good for the joints though. 

Experience - I've been skating for over 15 years and climbing for 5.

Skating is awesome. Do it because it’s awesome. +1 for a mini ramp and no drops/rails/stairs. Maybe not even flip tricks in case of primo if you don’t want to get hurt. I skated as a kid (15 years ago) and still love to cruise around and do some easy tricks, but the falls HURT!

I don’t think people outside skaters get how demanding it is mentally and physically. The skate pros nowadays are pure ninjas. I will watch and rewatch new vidoes from Jamie Foy or Grant Taylor before any new climbing videos, plus the music is usually better. The feeling of committing to a set of stairs or rail is the same as committing to a crux for me. 

skateboarding is good mental training, I thoroughly agree. Remaining loose, calm, and commited in the presence of severe consequences and probable injury definitely transfers over well. I don't really have mental challenges climbing (highball boulder, sport, trad, run out trad, free solo, etc) because the mental skills i've learned from skateboarding and parkour.

2/10 ...I'm likin the angle on this one

JSchloem wrote:

I would second this. Good for the core, legs, and cardiovascular system. Can be dynamic and isostatic. Improves balance. Not so good for the joints though. 

Experience - I've been skating for over 15 years and climbing for 5.

perhaps you should try a form of skating that is zero impact and very joint friendly. (and far more of a core / complete body workout than normal skating ever could be)  your legs will become superhuman.

FREELINE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3dYsiYGFQ0 

not to mention the crazy footwork you can do... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWe65od-CG4  mute for sanity

Been skateboarding for years and even have a bowl in my backyard. I skate regularly and fully believe that it helps with legs and cardio. I've been able to keep up or out pace friends on climbs in the Sawtooths who bike and run religiously just through the base fitness I built through skating. However for my upcoming objectives I have been training more outside of skating but in a heated session its pretty easy to keep your heart rate up for a long time.  People who don't skate have no idea the amount of strength both mentally and physically it takes to skate. As previously stated committing to a trick can be the same mentally as climbing through a crux but in skating you don't have pro in for back up. If you're ever in Boise and want to skate or climb get a hold of me.

climbing friend,

all your nasty skateboarding it will break your bones if you are falling and you would no longer climb! it is not worth it! plus as skater you are immediately disliked by the law enforcement officers and elderly citizens, and possibly asked to stop hanging around the mall!

you are getting off on my lawn!

Fist off - sick bowl

Second I still skate (even at 45!) but I stick to the ground or small ramps. Too dangerous and you could be out of climbing for months with one wrong move. I broke wrists in pools, tore knees, etc, but now I skate just cus it’s awesome and keeps me really in shape - and young at heart!

Blake Bolton wrote:

Been skateboarding for years and even have a bowl in my backyard. I skate regularly and fully believe that it helps with legs and cardio. I've been able to keep up or out pace friends on climbs in the Sawtooths who bike and run religiously just through the base fitness I built through skating. However for my upcoming objectives I have been training more outside of skating but in a heated session its pretty easy to keep your heart rate up for a long time.  People who don't skate have no idea the amount of strength both mentally and physically it takes to skate. As previously stated committing to a trick can be the same mentally as climbing through a crux but in skating you don't have pro in for back up. If you're ever in Boise and want to skate or climb get a hold of me.

Awesome bowl!!! That’s what a back yard should look like! What do the neighbors think?

Blake Bolton wrote:

Been skateboarding for years and even have a bowl in my backyard. I skate regularly and fully believe that it helps with legs and cardio. I've been able to keep up or out pace friends on climbs in the Sawtooths who bike and run religiously just through the base fitness I built through skating. However for my upcoming objectives I have been training more outside of skating but in a heated session its pretty easy to keep your heart rate up for a long time.  People who don't skate have no idea the amount of strength both mentally and physically it takes to skate. As previously stated committing to a trick can be the same mentally as climbing through a crux but in skating you don't have pro in for back up. If you're ever in Boise and want to skate or climb get a hold of me.

edited bc I read your location. looks like a summer roadtrip to Boise is in order. I'll bring the beer and a rack...

J Squared wrote:

perhaps you should try a form of skating that is zero impact and very joint friendly. (and far more of a core / complete body workout than normal skating ever could be)  your legs will become superhuman.

FREELINE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3dYsiYGFQ0 

not to mention the crazy footwork you can do... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWe65od-CG4  mute for sanity

This sickens me haha

Chet Butterworth wrote:

edited bc I read your location. looks like a summer roadtrip to Boise is in order. I'll bring the beer and a rack...

i'll double the rack and drive! Boise just got a new park right? Both look sick!

Tomily ma wrote:

Awesome bowl!!! That’s what a back yard should look like! What do the neighbors think?

They've mostly been ok with it with the exception of one neighbor who hated it at first. They're in their 80s and pretty much thought I was the devil because I skate. That one section of fence is higher now haha. 

That pool is gorgeous! I’m headed up to McCall this summer ...I might have to stop by and see it in person if your offering