Propelling yourself down a ramp while balancing on a slice of wood with wheels can be more than a little frightening. There's asphalt all around, for starters. Worse, there's that gaggle of 14-year-olds just waiting for you to take a tumble. Yet zipping around on a board can be exciting and get your adrenaline flowing. With a good teacher, plenty of practice and lots of padding, you can get in touch with your inner teenager and tackle turf you never thought possible.
What to Expect: You'll be a little unstable at first. "It's a very, very hard sport," says Matt Duncan, an instructor at Wakefield Skate Park. You can learn the essentials in group skating lessons, which typically involve up to 10 people of similar skill level. Adults get a little leeway to go at their own pace -- a skater might break off from the group to practice a tricky skill while everyone else moves along, for example. (Kids, on the other hand, are usually more closely supervised.) Novice classes focus on safety and the basics; more advanced instruction teaches moves like the ollie, shove-it, kick-flip and grind. Along the way you'll get schooled in the lingo: If someone says you're riding goofy, that means you've got your right foot forward; if you're called a ripper, smile -- it's a compliment.
Matt Duncan catches some air at a recent class at Wakefield Skate Park.
(Nate Lankford For The Washington Post)
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What to Bring: Most skate parks don't rent skateboards, so bring your own. You usually can rent pads and helmets, but if you're into skateboarding for the long haul, buying your own makes sense.
Cost: Entry to most parks is $3 to $7. Hours vary seasonally, and many close for the winter or bad weather, so call before you set out. Group lessons cost about $70 for five; private instruction is about $30 an hour. For beginners, Duncan recommends an affordable "toy store" skateboard ($25 to $50) and suggests upgrading it with new wheels and trucks (axles) once you get better.
Christina Breda Antoniades
WHERE TO GRIND
Gaithersburg Skate Park. 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. 301-258-6350. This five-year-old, 12,300-square-foot park has lots of ramps, several quarter-pipes, an outdoor stereo system and a misting system to keep skaters cool in hot weather. Open March 28-Jan. 1. $4 for city residents, $6 for non-residents. One private lesson or three hour-long group classes cost $30 for residents, $35 for non-residents. The next session starts April 18.
Powhatan Springs Park. 6020 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-533-2362. This upscale 15,000-square-foot space, open year-round on a seasonal schedule, was designed with the help of pro skater Frank Hirata. There's the usual array of street elements and half-pipes, plus two serious bowls. $4 for residents, $6 for non-residents. No private lessons, but group classes ($70 for five hour-long sessions) start April 18th.
Rockville Skate Park. Welsh Park, 355 Martins Lane, Rockville. 240-314-8765. You'll find rails, ledges, quarter and half-pipes at this 10,300-square-foot park. Open weekends through June 12, then daily June 16 until October. $4 for residents, $6 for non-residents. No adult lessons, but a four-day summer skate camp is available for kids 14 and younger ($135 for residents; $155 for non-residents).
Shaw Skate Park. 11th Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW. The District's public skate park features ramps, jumps and grind boxes on an asphalt surface. There's no supervision (or lessons), but it's got enough to draw the city's skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMXers. Open dawn to dusk, year round. Free.
Wakefield Skate Park. Audrey Moore Recenter, 8100 Braddock Rd., Annandale. 703- 321-7081. This one-year-old, 21,000-square-foot space features a freestyle course for beginners and a competition course for experienced skaters. In good weather, expect the crowd to swell to 60 or more. Open year-round, hours vary by season. $5.50 for resident adults, $4.50 for resident kids, and $7.50 for non-residents. The next session of five 1 1/4-hour classes starts May 14 ($78 for residents; $88 for non-residents). Private lessons cost $35 an hour.
