It’s active, builds core muscles, improves balance, and gets kids excited to head outdoors. That’s right: It’s time to hit the decks! Whether your kid has been skateboarding since they were in diapers, or they’re a total newb, we found an NYC skater spot for them. Read on for NYC’s best skateboarding lessons and classes for kids, skate shops in the city and NYC’s best skate parks where kids can test their skills.
Where to Deck Out: Uncle Funky Boards (and others!)
While there are lots of totally rad places to shop for that perfect board, there's one place that really caters to the groms, or young skaters, especially those that are just starting out. That place is Uncle Funky Boards in Manhattan.
The shop prides itself on helping not just the pros, but also those who are new to the sport. For basic “suiting up,” suggestions from the staff include helmets, knee, elbow and wrist guards to protect from any spill. You’ll also need a complete skateboard, which consists of a deck, two trucks, four wheels and eight bearings.
Besides Uncle Funky Boards, other NYC shops with devoted clientele include Skate Brooklyn at 78 St. Marks Pl, Labor in Chinatown and Sideshow in Middle Village.
Uncle Funky Boards
128 Charles St.
West Village
646-895-9943
Online: unclefunkysboards.com
For a Full Season of Learning: Skate Yogi
Skate Yogi is both a shop where you can buy everything you need for your skateboarding adventures, and a space for learning and practicing your skills. You can register your kids for a series of weekly lessons.
Students are taught in groups of about 8-10 kids with two instructors per group, and same ages are generally grouped together (within the age groups of 5-7, 7-13 and 12-17). You can sign up for 60-minute, 90-minute, or three-hour lessons. Want an even longer session? Skate Yogi suggests that students simply sign up for consecutive time slots. While a majority of every lesson takes place outside, Skate Yogi also has a well-ventilated indoor space.
Kids are required to bring pads and helmets (though you can also purchase them directly at Skate Yogi) but you don't need a skateboard — boards will be provided to students who don't have their own skateboard.
If you enjoy learning with Skate Yogi, they also offer summer camps and private one-on-one and group lessons.
$49 and up per session
Skate Yogi
140 Empire Blvd
Franklin and Bedford Aves
Prospect Lefferts Gardens
718-484-9777
Online: skateyogi.com
For Drop-in Shredding: Substance Skatepark
Substance Skatepark is an indoor skating facility built by people passionate about the sport. The vast 15,000 square feet of the park span across two indoor spaces and feature a ramp, halfpipe, indoor street course, and other courses that are regularly updated. Substance is someplace you can go if you just want to skate.
A $20 day pass allows you to come and go as you please in its two spaces. But if you want something more regular for your kids, Substance also has camp and afterschool options. Camp is held every year and spans from 8 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, while afterschool is available 2-6:30 p.m. either on a pay as you go basis, or in batches of 12 weekly sessions.
Depending on the group size, both camp and afterschool are taught by 2-6 instructors, to ensure that every child gets individual attention throughout the session. One-on-one and group classes are also available (though group classes must be booked via email).
And best of all, you can give a bit back to the environment as your kid learns to skate — Substance Skatepark donates 1% of their sales to plant trees.
$80 for a private lesson, $65 for a group lesson (purchase via email); $20 for a day pass; prices vary for afterschool and camp
Substance Skatepark
314 Scholes Street
Williamsburg
917-721-5707
Online: substanceskatepark.com
For an Empowering Experience: Skate Everything School
Can't find a skating option near you? No problem! Although Skate Everything is based in Harlem, their lessons take place across the entire city, from Central Park to Domino Park in Brooklyn, Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, and many more locations.
The school places an emphasis not just on teaching kids to skateboard, but also on empowering them to stay fit, both physically and mentally. The school teaches different types of skating, and customizes lessons for each child's individual needs, ensuring that every child gets the most out of every lesson. Students are also taught about the different parts of a board, safety procedures, and generally everything they'll need to know if they want to continue skating on their own.
One-on-one lessons are available to purchase in packs for kids ages 4-17, and you don't even have to own a board—just let Skate Everything know prior to your lesson. But all students must bring their own knee and elbow pads, wrist guards and helmet. It's also possible to set up group lessons if your kids want to learn to skate with their siblings or friends.
$50 per hour for a 1-on-1 lesson
No centralized location: Skate Everything meets at multiple locations throughout the city
Online: skateeverythingschool.com
”For Intermediate Skaters: Homage Skateboard Academy”
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When your kids have mastered the rookie stage but aren’t quite yet vets, Homage Skateboard Academy is a great place to continue working on honing those board skills. Homage runs a skateboard academy that offers programs for kids in an indoor training facility that’s challenging, but not too intimidating. The space has stationary and movable ramps that can be adjusted for different levels of learners.
Recent safety precautions require everyone to bring their own equipment, including the skateboard. This means that, although Homage offers lessons for all levels, it’s a good option for kids who already have their own boards. In addition to skateboards, helmets are mandatory for all students, while pads are required for kids 6 and under.
During lessons, teachers show kids how to control the boards and introduce special methods to help kids gain confidence on the board quickly. Private, group, weekend and after-school lessons are available, as is a summer camp and the option to create private pods.
Homage also has an online shop, so if you don’t have a skateboard yet, you can get one now. (In fact, at the time of this writing, Homage is celebrating its 15th year with a special collaboration with USA Olympic Pro Skateboarder Alexis Sablone!)
$95 and up per session, plus $50 for each student (up to 3 people can sign up together for a private lesson)
Homage Skateboard Academy
615 Degraw St.
Gowanus
718-596-8151
Online: homageskateboardacademy.com
For a Test Ride: SURE Skateboard
SURE stands for “Skateboarder’s Urban Riding Environment,” and promotes skateboarding as a way to get around the city. SURE offers open group skateboard lessons in various locations in Manhattan.
If you have a little one who just wants to give skateboarding a try, they also have drop-in Sunday classes — just bring a helmet and skateboard. These open group lessons consist of no more than 12 students, and are for all levels, from the newbie who is getting on a board for the first time to the skater that wants to brush up on some skills.
Private lessons are also available by request via email.
$20 for group Sunday lessons, $30 for all others; private lessons can be scheduled via email
Various locations in the West Village, TriBeCa Skatepark, and Seward Park
SURE Skateboards
917-538-4084
Online: sureskateboards.com
For Riding the Streets and the Waves: Locals Surf School
Did you know that skateboarding has its origin in surfing? Well, Locals Surf School is keeping the link alive by offering surfing and skateboarding lessons! The school's youth skate camp provides a three-day instructional experience for kids ages 7-14 at the beginner to intermediate level. Every day of the program from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., kids will be introduced to the fundamentals of cruiser or trick skateboards. Groups are no larger than nine students each, with one instructor for every three kids.
The camp makes it easy to join and partake — all equipment, including skateboards pads and even sunscreen — are provided. The school also ensures that kids aren't baking in the sun all day, by setting up umbrellas and other cover for shade. Skateboarding lessons will be broken up by fun games and activities, to keep things fresh and interesting.
Locals Surf School
Beach 69th St.
Rockaway
Online: localssurfschool.com
For Vibin Indoors: 5050 Skatepark
5050 Skatepark is a custom-built 8,000 square foot facility for skaters to expand their skills in a creative and safe environment. The owners ask for kids' input on designing the ever-changing landscape of ramps and courses. It's also a haven for hard-core celeb skaters; you can often find Little Wayne flipping and popping during one of the park’s regular sessions.
All visitors must sign a waiver and have a helmet, and kids under 11 must have a parent accompany them.
The park is currently closed to the public due to covid. We've reached out to the park for a projected reopening date and will update this post once we have more information.
Daily sessions starting at $14, $20 for an all-day pass; lessons, camps, private parties, and more available at various prices
Currently closed due to covid
5050 Skatepark
354 Front St.
Stapleton
347-857-6007
Online: 5050skatepark.com
Best Skateparks for a First Official Run: Astoria Skate Plaza (and more!)
When your skater is ready to hit a skate park, the Astoria Skate Plaza is a great place to give it a shot. Located right under the RFK Bridge, this 21,500-square-foot concrete park features enough open space for skaters of all skills to stay out of each other’s way. However, skaters say the best time for kids to get in some practice without crowds is a weekday morning.
Other beginner-friendly skateparks are the Pier 62 Skatepark in Chelsea, Owl’s Head Millennium Skatepark in Bay Ridge, LES Skate Park in the Lower East Side (Two Bridges area), Golcanda Park in Downtown Brooklyn and Cooper Park in East Williamsburg.
The largest skatepark in the city is in Highbridge Park at the northern tip of Manhattan. Built in 2014, it is located under the Hamilton Bridge and constructed on a hill to provide extra momentum to skaters.
Find a full list of public NYC skate parks here. To use the skate park, visitors are required to bring a signed liability waiver available at the NYC Parks website, a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wristguards for anyone under 18 years of age.
Astoria Skate Plaza
Astoria Park South
21st St., Hoyt Ave., Ditmas Blvd., East River
Astoria
Online: nycgovparks.org
Bonus: Tony Hawk's MasterClass lessons
Ok, this isn't a local option. But beginner-friendly video lessons from the name synonymous with skateboarding in the mainstream? It was too good not to mention. This course has 16 (short) lessons on everything from the basics, to nailing an ollie, to a glimpse at the future of skateboarding.
Starting a $15 a month (for all lessons on the site)
Online: masterclass.com
—Yuliya Geikhman
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