Picking up a new sport—any new sport, really—means that you are going to have to do a little thinking. You have to make sure that the sport you pick is going to line up with the amount of time that you have to dedicate to it, your overall physique, plus your budget.
In the world of skating, there’s often a point of contention between roller skating and skateboarding. Which one’s easier? Which one is more worth it? Here’s what you need to know about each sport so you can figure out which is the best one for you:
The Pros And Cons Of Roller Skating
To start off, let’s talk about how roller skating can impact your life for the better or worse. Here’s what we came up with for pros and cons.
Pros
- Roller skating is safer than skateboarding. If you take a look at the statistics, roller skating is far safer than skateboarding.
- It’s also easier on the joints. Unlike skateboarding, there’s really no maximum age where you can start skating. It’s easy enough on the joints to be doable at advanced ages. Even 70 or 80-year-old people can do it.
- It’s cheaper. A quick look online will reveal cheap roller skate prices. Going to a rink and renting skates means that you can save a ton of money.
- Most agree that it’s easier to learn to roller skate than it is to skateboard. The faster learning curve means that you are less likely to get frustrated and walk away.
- Roller skating is a great way to stay in shape. Roller skating will help you work out your heart, your thighs, and your legs.
- There’s no stigma attached to roller skating. It’s considered to be a very family-friendly sport.
Cons
- You may need to go to a roller rink to get your skate on. While you can skate outdoors, most people tend to feel safer in a rink and the terrain is less likely to harm your skates inside.
- The roller skating community isn’t as big as the skateboarding one. This means you might not have as many skate buddies as you’d hoped.
- There isn’t much of an audience or a “return” on competitive skating. While there are roller derbies and art skating competitions, the truth is that these are hobby sports. No one gets rich off them.
- Weather doesn’t always play a factor. Since the best place to go roller skating is in a roller rink, you can enjoy your sport year-round, indoors.
The Pros And Cons Of Skateboarding
Now that we’ve looked at roller skating, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of skateboarding.
Pros
- Skateboarding has a lot of “cool factor.” Bart Simpson made skateboarding look cool, and let’s face it, there’s a lot of pull to this simply because skateboarding makes you look effortlessly fun.
- The skateboarding community is far larger than the roller skating community. You’re going to struggle finding roller skaters in small town America, but the same cannot be said about skateboarding. Skateboarders are everywhere!
- Most people agree it’s more of a thrill. If you’ve ever skated down a ramp, you’ll understand why people say it’s more of a rush. The only thing that comes close is vert roller skating, which is done inside skate parks rather than skate rinks.
- Skateboarding is an extreme workout. You’ll burn a lot more calories doing skateboarding than you would roller skating, especially if you do tricks. Skateboarding is also far better for enhancing your balance.
- You can skateboard on streets. Anyone who’s ever been to New York City will tell you that it’s a “street sport” for a reason.
- Professional skateboarders make a ton of money. Tony Hawk? Nyjah Huston? They make serious money, and it’s because they skateboard. A typical professional skateboarder will make between $1,000 and $10,000 a month. So, this is a hobby that could pay off.
Cons
- The injury rate on skateboarding is sky high. There’s a reason why most professional skateboarders walk like elderly men by the time that they’re 35. Injuries are exceptionally common in this sport—even if you are not doing too many tricks.
- It has a frustrating learning curve. Many people struggle pretty hard when they first are in the learning portion of skating. This can lead to people giving up quick. Additionally, finding skating instructors isn’t exactly easy.
- Most people can’t do it after 35. The older you get, the more likely it is that you will end up harming yourself trying to learn how to skateboard. If you were hoping to become the next Rob Dyrdek at 32, you’re out of luck.
- Skateboarding is stigmatized. Though this is generally not fair, many people associate skateboarding with drug use or with not being employed.
- Many townships banned skateboarding in public. It’s possible to get arrested or ticketed as a result of your skateboarding habit. Learn local laws!
- It can get very expensive, very quick. Skate shoes are pricey and tear fast. Skateboards are even more expensive and occasionally break on impact after particularly rough tricks. And the medical bills? Well, it’s going to get ugly if you need to fix a broken bone.
Roller Skates Vs. Skateboards: Which One Is Right For You?
As you can tell from the pros and cons, each sport has a demographic that jives better with it. It’s pretty clear which people tend to enjoy it more.
Skateboarding is often the best choice for younger people who want to hang out with friends, want to have a quick way to get around town, and who need a way to exercise. It has a “cool” factor that makes it popular with kids, but the risk of injury makes it pointedly unpopular with adults.
Roller skating, on the other hand, tends to be one of the more gentle, family-friendly sports that you can do with everyone from junior to grandpa. The trade-off, of course, is that you’re not going to make any money on this sport.
Why Not Try Both?
There’s no rule saying that you need to stick to one or another. In fact, there are plenty of great skaters who can handle both a board and a pair of skates. At the end of the day, both sports are enjoyable in their own right and deserve to be appreciated for the unique fun they offer
So, you don’t have to choose. You can give both a try. Just ask to borrow a friend’s skateboard and rent a pair of skates for a day. Have someone teach you how to stand in both, see how you feel, and see which one feels right for you. In time, you’ll be able to figure out which sport you prefer.
