If you haven’t given skateboarding a shot, and you are looking for something to challenge yourself with, then skateboarding is a perfect choice. It’s unique, and while skateboarding has grown a ton in popularity overtime last few years, there are still piles of people out there who haven’t tried it. Skateboarding will challenge you in new ways and teach you a new skill set. Trying new things and gaining new experiences is what keeps your brain alive and active, which in turn gives you new insights into the world and makes you a better, more interesting person!

This might seem weird at first, because of the dangers that go along with skateboarding. It’s true, sometimes you will fall and scrape your knee or elbow. But, skateboarding trains your body in unique ways. A huge part of skateboarding is balance, so your core will gain strength as you skate. Plus, your legs will get a good workout as well. Skateboarding is also very aerobic, and you can easily work up a sweat while skating. It’s pretty easy to lose weight when you are out pumping your board around all afternoon. If you really dig into skateboarding, you’ll end up lean and tough.

This is true no matter your age. If you are a teenager, then there should be groups of skaters at school, and if you choose to skate, you should have several groups of instant friends if you want. Now, teenagers can be weird and mean, so who knows how that will work out, but picking a hobby other than watching TV on your couch will always make it easier to make friends. You’ll be more interesting. This works for adults, too. Plus, it’s easy to run into people at skateparks and make friends, or you can check at your local skate shop for local groups and clubs.

All of these other reasons are good, and if you add them up by themselves you can see that there are plenty of reasons to skateboard. But, the great news is that skateboarding is also fun! And not fun like playing a video game is fun—skateboarding is that deep kind of fun that gets down into your gut. Maybe it’s because of all of these other reasons chipping in, plus learning and landing a new trick, feeling the burn and the wind as you fly down the sidewalk, the click-clack sounds and crack of the tail as you ollie, the pull of gravity and you bend your knees and push up a ramp or around a corner—skating rocks!