Q&A for How to Be a Skater Girl

To do an Ollie, press down on the back of your skateboard with your back foot so the wheels come off the ground. As you step down on the board, slide your front foot to the front of the board, which will level out the board and bring it totally off the ground.

Start by practicing your balance so that you feel comfortable on the board. The easiest way to do this is to put your skateboard in the grass somewhere and practice getting on and off of the board. Once you're comfortable on the grass, move to the carpet. This will give you a sense for how it feels to be on the board. Then, practice kicking off on a flat, smooth surface, like a tennis court. It's key that you get used to be balancing on the board before you try to do any tricks or head out to the skate park.

Treat this as an invitation to improve. So, they hate your skating? Show them you have what it takes by practicing often, being determined and making it clear that you won't let their taunts stunt your style. Ignore them, you're quite capable of improving through constant practice. Be bold enough to ask them for advice too, as it'll show them how willing you are to get better.

Every skater gets a little scraped up sometimes. It's perfectly normal to get a little scratched up while learning or trying a new trick, but it's not good if it's a serious injury. See a doctor if it's serious.

"Everybody" definitely doesn't say that. It sounds like you need to get around more people interested in your hobby, perhaps even see if you can pull together a team of girls and make a skateboarding club. Read website and blogs online about female skateboarders to encourage yourself. There will always be people in life who tell you you shouldn't do this or that, for various reasons. Ignore them -- unless, of course, they're right.

There may be some good ones, but make sure not to get a cheap kids' board. Try buying a board from a local skate shop. If you don't have one nearby, buy it from an online skate shop.

As long as you have some protection and you are not going too fast, you will be fine.

You can stop the skateboard by stepping on the tail or back of the board with your back foot so that it is pushed against the floor, or you can stop it by setting your foot on the floor.

Buy a skateboard tool tool from your local skate shop (or online) and try tightening them yourself, or go to a specialist for help. Be sure not to tighten it too much or you’ll find it harder to turn and do tricks.

No. A scooter is easier to ride because you have the handles for support and balance. A skateboard and scooter have the same techniques for moving (kicking and both feet on board), but they are different.

Nope. Neither gender is more or less likely to be injured while skating.

Get a sturdy but inexpensive board. Then, as you learn more, think about getting a more expensive board.

Yes, you could. You would technically be a skater girl -- just not a skateboarder girl.

Just ignore them. The only time you should change anything about you or your style is if you want to.

Are you riding a skateboard? Then yes! You don't need to do a lot of tricks to be a skater. If you decide to learn some later on, great. If not, that's perfectly fine.

You can, but if you're going to actually be skating, you'll probably fall, and if you fall wearing a skirt or skort, it's going to hurt a lot more than it would if you were wearing pants.

Try to ride around a bit every day. You can also try riding off curbs by simply pressing down on your tail a little bit and just riding off. You may fail the first few times, but you will get it soon. Also, keep practicing your ollies, they will get better soon.

It should be. Go ahead and ride, but if anything seems off, be careful and maybe go to a local skate shop and ask about it.

Maybe you can explain to your parents that this is the type of style that you like to wear. If they say no, then explain to them about how you feel not being able to wear your own outfits. And maybe only wear it after school and on weekends, as a way of finding a compromise.

Go to a skate shop (look for one that has great prices) and just look around at boards and grip tapes to see what you like. You don’t need the "right" board, you just need a board that you like and you feel comfortable on.

Yes it is! There are two different ways, goofy and regular. Goofy is where your left foot is on the front and the left one is at the back. Regular is the other way around. Most skaters ride regular but if you are left handed, you probably ride goofy.