Skateboarding and aggressive skating are extremely similar sports. Many of the tricks are similar in nature and the culture and clothing worn by the skaters in both sports are closely related. Many skateboarders and rollerbladers usually skate in the same parks and share the same ramps, rails and half pipes.
Many of these athletes are proud of their respective sports and the culture associated with it. Some skateboarders look down on rollerblading and vice versa. However, a majority of skaters in both sports are mostly down to earth free spirits who will accept anyone, regardless of whether they are a skateboarder or aggressive skater.
Both of these sports are performed at many similar competitions and events, and have their share of celebrity and pro skaters that each culture looks up to. The various forms of skating shared by both sports include vert skating and street and park skating. Aggressive skating and skateboarding share many similar tricks such as aerials and grinding, which require a great deal of athletic ability, balance and courage.
Street skating requires the skaters to perform freestyle tricks and allows the athletes to really express themselves. The skaters will use just about anything to perform tricks, such as grinding. These props can include handrails, park benches, steps, and even ledges.
Vertical skating is possibly the form of skating that takes the most courage. Done on a half-pipe, it involves doing aerial manuevers such as nollies, 360 spins and other forms of spins and flips. Many of these tricks can be used in combination to gain technical points during competition and event skating.
In many communities, skate parks are springing up everywhere. At last count there were over 300 cities in the US alone with at least one skate park. Here the skaters will find skating specific ramps, quarter pipes and half-pipes to perform their tricks on. Here you will find the skaters doing more sport technical tricks and combination tricks than they can’t do when free styling.
While skateboarding and aggressive skating are technically different, the skaters in both sports share the same passion, courage and creativity. With the popularity on the rise for both, it looks like they will be enjoyed by many future generations to come!