What the expert says

Ben Powell is the editor of Sidewalk, the UK's oldest skateboard magazine. He has been skateboarding since 1986 and still is, despite being the wrong side of 30.

Take a stance Everyone will have a 'natural' stance, in the same way that people are left- or right-handed. You will know whether you are 'regular' (left foot forward) or 'goofy' (right foot forward) because one will feel more comfortable than the other. Stand on the board with your back foot on the kicktail and your front foot over the front truck bolts (where the wheels join the board). This will give you maximum stability.

Learn to turn Turning without lifting your wheels is known as carving. Shift your weight in the direction you want to turn (leaning) and this will make your trucks turn in the same direction.

Pull out the stops Once you've got the hang of rolling, you need to learn how to stop. For beginners, the easiest and safest way is to use your back foot - while rolling, remove it from the board and drag it along the floor to slow to a stop.

Don't get fancy Before you begin to think about learning specific tricks, you should be confident that you can push along, carve and stop with your back foot. Learn this first, as board control is the basic building block of every other trick.

Minimise the damage The best way to minimise injury is to roll out of the fall and thus spread the impact. Try not to stop yourself by holding out your arms - wrist injuries are among the most common skateboard injuries. Protective gear is a good idea for beginners - a wise choice would be a helmet and wrist guards. Consult your local skate shop for advice.

Learn your first trick The ollie (as invented by the Floridian Alan 'Ollie' Gelfand in the early 80s) is the starting point for all other tricks. First, place your back foot on the edge of the tail, with your front foot just behind the front truck bolts. Pop the tail against the floor with your back foot and the instant it hits the ground, use your front foot to drag yourself upwards. As you begin to take off, lift up your back foot to level yourself out in the air. Try to land on all four wheels at once and crouch to absorb the impact. Keep practising and you'll be leaping over Coke cans, traffic cones and small dogs in no time.

Getting started

Don't worry if you're over 30. The skateboard scene is not entirely youth-based. There are even websites devoted to the older skater - see middle-age-shred.co.uk.

The UK Skateboarding Association has information on skateparks and events (ukskate.org.uk), and it's worth checking out Sidewalk, in newsagents' and at sidewalkmag.com. Another great resource is Skateboard UK (sk8uk.co.uk) for news and events as well as advice on buying and maintaining a skateboard, and improving your ability. It also has a forum to talk to other skaters.

Several large skateparks offer tuition. If you can't find one nearby, post a request for coaching on a website to get tips and advice on the nearest venue that provides this service. But bear in mind that you may be grasping the basics with a bunch of nine-year-olds.

June 21 is 'Go Skateboarding Day', an event founded by the International Association of Skateboard Companies in 32 countries. Nike and Blueprint Skateboards will send a skateboarding squad out and about in London. See goskateboardingday.org.

The gear

The best way to get kitted out is to ask for advice on board size and wheel/trucks types at your local skater-owned shop. Boards come in different widths, and the right one will depend on your shoe size as well as personal preference and comfort. Go to ukskate.org.uk for a list of skater-owned shops.

A full set-up (the deck plus all the components and wheels) is likely to cost around pounds 100 to pounds 130 and you can choose your components. You could get a complete off-the-shelf skateboard for a lot less - as little as pounds 20 - but it won't give you a good ride, or last long.

Shoes should be nonslip and wide-based, with reinforced fabric in areas most prone to wear. Etnies, Vans and Duff are worth checking out. As for clothes, go for something loose and comfortable. Adio, Element, Etnies and Emily Strange are good brands to try.

Protective gear is a requirement in some skate parks and is a good idea if you're a novice, or if you're trying anything fancy. As mentioned already, helmet and wrist guards are the basics, and you will only really need elbow and knee pads if you're planning on doing jumps.

Stores worth checking out for all your skating needs (hardware, clothing, accessories, information) include Big Woody's Skateboarding Shop in Blackpool (01253 896030, bigwoodys.co.uk); Focus (focuspocus.co.uk) in Edinburgh (0131-229 9009) and Glasgow (0141-548 8777); Skate of Mind in Covent Garden (020-7836 9060); Popcorn in Northallerton (0870 366 9131, popcornskate.co.uk); and Motel6 in Harlow, Essex (01279 444493).

The downside

You can get hurt The US Consumer Product Safety Commission found that more than 15,000 people are treated for skateboarding-related injuries every year - the most common being wrist fractures and sprains. And a third of those injured have been skating less than a week.

Over-30s may feel out of place in the skatepark According to the Tony Hawk Foundation - a charitable body set up by a former world champion - 75% of skaters are under 18, so if you're a bit older and trying it out second time around, you will probably be in the minority.

You won't be popular Sadly, skateboarding is still seen as an antisocial activity by many people, particularly if you are 'cruising' (skating in the street or in other public areas, as opposed to a designated skatepark).

Builds confidence Skateboarding builds confidence and is beneficial for people not drawn to team sports

Helps balance

Balance is one of the key skills. Staying upright on a small moving platform will develop agility

Aids stamina

Skateboarding boosts stamina and aerobic fitness. You can burn 350 calories in an hour

Strengthens legs Pushing the skateboard works the muscles on the back of the thighs. The front thigh works isometrically (statically) to hold the leg in a bent position

Develops ankles The force of ground impact strengthens connective tissue around the ankles and knees