How to Hold a Skateboard for Every Situation

This is the place to be if you want to learn how to hold a skateboard. Carrying around a complete skateboard can be a hassle, especially if you're unsure how to hold it right, but after reading this post, you will be holding your board like a real skater.

There is no correct way to hold your board, but many good ways exist. In this list, I will talk about the good ways and expose a method that is only made to waste your money.

This isn't only for a regular skateboard; these techniques work for cruiser boards and some skateboards. Since there are many ways to properly hold your skateboard, you must test them all and find out what works best for you.

Holding a Skateboard With the Grip Tape Facing Outwards

This is probably the second most common way to hold your skateboard, but it is easily my favorite way. You place your forearm over the grip tape and curl your fingers over the coping of your board.

This is my favorite way because the grip tape is facing away from your body, so you won't end up damaging your clothes. Of course, you could argue that you will damage the fabric on your arm, but there is much less movement, so it will at least take much longer before you notice any damage.

An important thing you need to remember is that a lot of dirt ends up on the bottom of your board: if you carry it this way, you will end up getting your clothes dirty. A way to prevent this is to hold the board away from your body; unfortunately, holding the board this way is a little bit uncomfortable because the trucks are facing inwards and naturally lean away from your body.

After weeks of carrying your board this way, you will eventually get used to the unusual weight. After this, you will have no problem carrying it around, but slipping up and getting your clothes dirty will happen sooner or later.

Holding a Skateboard With the Grip Tape Facing Inwards

Holding your grip tape this way is the most common way to hold a skateboard. Make sure you're holding it at the center of your board; learning to find the right balance won't take much time. Your forearm should be over the graphic on the board, and your fingers curled over the coping of the side of the skateboard.

The biggest downside of using this technique is that your clothes get damaged. The grip tape is a sandpaper-like material that will wear down your clothes over time if you carry your board this way.

Even doe carrying your skateboard this way eventually ruins your clothes, it is the most natural way to hold a skateboard. Since the skate trucks are facing outwards, the board naturally leans towards you; this makes it much easier and lighter to carry. It is also the way most actual skaters choose to hold their boards.

I have plenty of clothes I only use when I skate, simply because I can't afford to ruin my clothes all the time. The first time I noticed it, I was wearing a brand new jacket, and the material apparently didn't like sandpaper. If you think about not touching yourself with the board, you can avoid it, but you will eventually slip up.

The damage you see on this jacket is from one day of carrying my skateboard this way without being careful. It isn't much, but imagine if I did it ten times instead.

Get a Skateboard Backpack

Getting yourself a skating backpack is simply genius. This way, you free both hands and avoid ruining your clothes by rubbing the grip tape on them.

Skateboard backpacks don't cost any more than a regular backpack, and if you don't need your skateboard, it functions exactly like a regular backpack. So there is no reason to avoid getting a skateboard backpack; if you don't need a new one, I understand it might be inconvenient, but the second you need a new one, go for a skateboard backpack.

The only downside with a skateboard backpack is when your shirt goes up, and you might scrape your back against the grip tape or if you bang your elbows on the skateboard wheels.

If you want to check out a skateboard backpack, click here.

Get a skateboard Bag

Skateboard bags are an alternative to having a skateboard backpack. They are not as practical as a skateboard backpack since you can't store many other things in them, but if you only wish not to carry the board, then a skateboard bag is the perfect option.

Good skateboard bags are also waterproof; this is handy when it's raining, and you need to transport your skateboard. Water is your skateboard's worst enemy, and you must avoid getting it wet. When it gets wet, your skateboard can get waterlogged, and the metal parts on your board will rust if you can't dry them properly.

The bearings will take the most damage, and if you don't tend to them after they get wet, they can become slow and useless.

Pinching Your Board

I usually only pinch my board when I need to avoid ruining my clothes either by the grip tape or dirt. You can pinch your board in different ways, but the two techniques I use are pinching the nose of the board or the side.

When I hold a skateboard by the nose, you pinch it between your thumb and fingers; at the start, this will be tiring, but it won't be that demanding after you get used to it.

When I pinch it from the side, I usually have my thumb on the grip tape for extra grip. this will also be tiering at the start, but keep at it, and you will do it effortlessly in no time.

How to Hold a Skateboard While Walking

The best way to hold a skateboard while walking would be the second option on this list: holding the board with the grip tape facing inwards. It is the best option since it feels the most natural.

This will, unfortunately, leave marks on your clothes if you're not careful, but if you practice enough, you will be able to avoid taking damage most of the time.

Mall Grab

Mall grabbing is frowned upon by many skaters, most of the people hating don't have a reason, but there is a legitimate reason as well. When you skate, you tend to grind on metal that has wax on it; if you grab the trucks, your hand can get wax on them, but if this doesn't bother you, you shouldn't care about what others think. Click here if you want to learn more about wax and how to use it.

You mall grab by holding the skateboard by the upper trucks, you will probably get some hate, but it's more a fun way of hating than actual hate.

Carry Your Skateboard with Two Arms

People carrying their board with one arm is the norm, but it's not the only way to do it. Carrying your skateboard with two arms doesn't work well if you want to walk around, but it is perfect when standing still.

You could always place your skateboard on the ground, but sometimes you just want to have the skateboard in your arms. If you want to use this technique, you need to hold the board with two hands in front of you; it is easier if the trucks face outwards.

Carrying the board on your shoulder

Carrying the board on your shoulder is unconventional if you want to walk around, but it's a fun way to hold your board while standing still. You can carry the board on one shoulder, or you could rest the back side of the board on both.

Is a skateboard case worth it?

Many blogs have written about how you need a skateboard case for public transportation to avoid damaging your board, but this is nonsense. When you skate in a skatepark or street, you will send your board flying into walls and other stuff.

If you get a case, get it because you think it's cool, not to protect your board. All skateboards are going to break eventually if you continue to ride them.

How to Hold a Penny Board

Penny boards are light and easy to carry, making them perfect for transportation. Penny boards don't have grip tape either, so you won't wear down your clothes no matter how you carry them.

Since they don't damage your clothes, the best way to carry them would be to hold them with one hand and the trucks facing outwards. Penny boards have two thick lines under their boards; they're not only aesthetic, but they also serve a purpose. With the lines, you can easily grab and hold onto the board.

Conclusion

Now you should know how to properly hold a skateboard; you should try everything on the list to find out what suits you best. Then, if you can afford it, try investing in a skateboard backpack or skateboard bag.

If you're not careful, you could get your clothes dirty or even damage them while holding your board. You need to carry the board a way that feels natural, and that doesn't ruin your clothes.

Some of the techniques can be tiering to do, but it will become a lot easier if you keep at it. There are muscles that you don't normally use that get tired fast, but they will also gain strength quickly.

I hope you have learned how to hold a skateboard by now, and that you will try some of these techniques to make holding a skateboard easier.