Getting into Fingerboarding
Recent life events have all led up to me buying custom grip tape and bearing wheels for my lovely 34 mm fingerboard. Yes, you can laugh — but don’t knock it till’ you try it.
Back when I was young, my culture was the internet. For my siblings before, their culture what was on TV. My parents? They rubbed elbows with their peers and read magazines to catch the latest trend. However in any of these timelines, fads will surely pass you by.
I am kicking myself that playing with Gameboys, Pokemon cards, POG’s, Kendamas and Tech Decks were just not my location or generation, however that is what adulthood is for — ooooh yeah!
With now my limited but fruitful adult money, join in on finally getting to live out a multitude of different lives.
My childhood was filled with bikes, scooters, and all types of skates AND boards. With that, I’ve seen a few skaters get injured in my lifetime, and that is what ultimately never let me mentally upgrade from my Ripstick G to grinding on a proper board (shoutout blind for my board though miss y’all).
To save everyone from my mongo kicking so early in all of this — I thankfully accidentally stumbled upon the world of fingerboarding while perusing the web. Shredding desktop ollies and shuv-its complete with a 34 mm board and mini obstacles; you are tiny hawk or mini Nyjah. Personally, I have been enjoying my time (I know how to do a heelflip, and it’s hot) so I’m looking to convert some fellow other 20 somethings into fingerboarding. Not yet convinced?
Here’s KC’s reasons to start fingerboarding (other than to finally kickflip):
Reliving childhood/nostalgia culture for Tech Decks
Nostalgia and designer toy culture has evolved in the past decade, from adult legos to the explosion of indie board games. Many fingerboarders will fondly retell their first sessions on their tech decks out on the driveway or bedroom as a precursor or even a complement to their skating when they were younger.
While some street skateboarders see fingerboarding as a joke (like they see Penny Boards, scooters, bikes, roller skates, freestyle skating and longboards), some (like myself) will also argue that skating and its different scenes are subcultures within a major culture. Back in 1999 when Tech Decks alone sold over $100 million in products, the kids whose parents wouldn’t let them get actual decks because of price, safety, or otherwise would buy these instead for one reason or another.
They’re fun, they’re classic, and they bring back a nostalgic spirit (despite multiple redesigns).
Low price point of entry and DIY
Fingerboards are arguably one of the easiest things to start finding, collecting, and upgrading pretty quickly. Most Tech Decks currently MSRP for $2.89 in the U.S., and if you want to get something a little nicer then there are some solid options for under $20 online. You can expect to spend around $30 for a solid beginner complete, making this hobby quite cost effective (until you start hoarding boards).
If you are looking to learn more DIY projects as well, fingerboarding is an awesome hobby to be in. From creating custom wheels and decks to building complete skateparks from paper or even pouring your own concrete bowls — the fingerboarding world has an incredible eye for creativity, check out KC from Katterhaus building the Sapphic Skatepark from scratch!
Everyone starts somewhere, and fingerskaters are ones to celebrate ingenuity. Get inspired and get creative.
Easy Way to Identify Other Skaters
You cannot carry your skateboard with you at all times; a fingerboard in your pocket is so much more manageable. Some companies are even going as far as to creating little clips and bags for your boards so you can show them off while you’re not absolutely shredding. Some skaters just opt to throw the board in their pocket too.
A handmade fingerboard holder by CamCrochetsThings
Obviously I would have not been able to identify any other fingerboarders if I didn’t see them have a tiny board! Normalize having fun things on your keychain and show off your board or keep it in your backpack for when you’re bored and looking to do something at say an airport or a bus stop.
If you’re looking for a neat keychain for your board, one of our hausmates Cameron, owner of CamCrochetsThings makes these night crocheted clips for your boards (shown above). Check her out here!
Who knows, someone might see you and spectate, or even join in! There are even local scenes across the world with fingerboarding, from Oregon, New York, to India.
Low risk way to get into skating
Like I said at the top of the article — I’ve seen plenty of people get hurt while skating or biking. I was never really that hardcore with it (like I’m not riding vert, but I’m carving down a slight hill) and the fear of not knowing how to fall right is still stuck with me to this day.
For everyone who does the ramps, the rails, the stairs, the cool stuff? I applaud you, that stuff is absolutely killer, and let’s film some clips. For everyone else, I have the next best thing for us who are too p*ssy to skate down the Encinitas slope.
Let’s be honest, fingerboarding looks so much sillier but it is so much lower risk. For those who are older, may not have the balance like they used to, or want to protect their body for other physical hobbies — fingerboarding is an awesome way to still shred some crazy tricks while staying safe!
Something cool about fingerboarding is that you are literally mimicking the motions of your feet and legs on the board with your fingers, in a way learning on a fingerboard helps you learn how a larger board works as well.
My smooth return to skating is thanks in part to fingerboarding as well as it has really helped me understand the physics of it all.
Accessible Skating
Fingerboard culture is much more accessible for those who are wheelchair users or may not have great function in their lower body. As skating gets more accessible for all (such as the skatepark for the blind or WCMX), fingerboarding can also provide a great common ground that most can share no matter their mode of accessibility.
Anyone can ride through a park once they get their fingers on the board!
Picture a children’s hospital where they have a table where they can all fingerboard together, despite not being able to go outside due to treatments; or, perhaps a group where former skaters who no longer can skateboard meet weekly to fingerboard and watch skating clips together.
Accessibility is personally one of the reasons I absolutely love fingerboarding. Even if you can’t do any cool tricks off the bat, you’re still able to cruise around and pop some caspers within minutes of riding your first fingerboard.
Does not require as much space
A fingerboard is about 1:12 scale to a regular skateboard. With obstacles fitting in the palm of your hand and required storage being no larger than a jewelry box for most collections, really anyone can begin fingerboarding with the space they already have. No need to go to the park early in the morning to escape scrutiny or ollie-ing in your parent’s garage.
Setups can be stored away in your backpack, so you can bring a loaf or a rail with you anywhere. I have a great rail from Teak Tuning that I keep in my backpack for when i’m exploring.
Also let’s be honest — we all want ways to skateboard in the house and this is the perfect excuse.
Let’s Face It… It’s Easier to Learn!
With everything aforementioned, fingerboarding has much quicker skill progression than skateboarding. Especially if you are well versed in skateboarding tricks, the fingerboard is really just the fun sized version of your skating repertoire.
With less risk, time required, or finances needed, and tutorials abound online for the fundamentals, fingerboarding is an awesome hobby to get into whether you were shredding back in the day or you’re looking to learn something unique and new.
So go on out there and take a look at the world of Fingerboarding, and if you’re curious — pick up a board and try it out!
I have also been reviewing fingerboards and teaching tips and tricks to help others get started, check out some of the other Katterhaus fingerboarding content here.
