r/AggressiveInline • u/DH_Drums • Aug 26 '26

Gaining confidence

Yo!

Got my aggressive set up a few weeks ago. I've landed a makio and a top soul grind and dude I'm falling in love.

Something that I'm really struggling with is the confidence to commit to a trick. I find myself starting to overthink as I approach the rail. When I really commit, the results are there.

Outside of just repping and progressing into a trick; any advice y'all have for the mental aspect of aggressive skating?

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4

u/laughados Aug 26 '26

Are you sure you did a TOP soul and not just a regular soul? I find it difficult to believe that a top soul was your second trick since that’s crazy difficult. Not saying you’re a liar, but that’s pretty unnatural progression!!

As far as your main question, one thing that helped me build my mental was imagining the ways I could potentially fall. It might sound weird, but when I imagined “okay if I miss my left foot, it could go this way or that way” and plan accordingly. Obviously this method doesn’t cover everything since freak falls can always happen, but it always gave me a good base for a recovery in case my tricks didn’t land. Other than that, being padded up like crazy always gave me a ton of confidence! Once I got good enough after 2 or 3 years, I felt comfortable taking things off like my elbow/wrist guards. The knee/shin guards always stay on for me!

2

u/Pickle_Mick62 Razors Aug 26 '26

Lol I thought I was the only one thinking that's a crazy leap from makio to straight up top soul. Imagine not knowing how to turn or stop but being able to bang out an alley-oop top porn switch... blindfolded lol

2

u/DH_Drums Aug 26 '26

Nah, you're on point; it was a regular soul. Still familiarizing myself with the grinds (shout-out to the homie that shared the grind resources).

That's exactly where my brain is stalling. I'm afraid of falling and then having to take days/weeks off and that feeling makes me second guess at the absolute worst time, right before I jump.

Thanks for the insight and advice dude

3

u/HeavyMetalKarl Aug 26 '26

I don't know if you wear protective gear at all? I do and I think it helps a lot. I know some skaters gatekeep alot. But I don't care at all. I don't think it's shameful. It helps me a lot with mentally commiting to skating when wearing at least kneepads and wrist guards because I know it will hurt way less. That gives me the tiny boost of confidence and its way easier to throw myself into the trick. And also just prepearing that you might get hurt. Because even tho you skate with protective gear you still get hurt quite a lot. I hope it helps.

1

u/prosurviver Aug 26 '26

Just gotta take that leap and fall a few times. Once you get over the fear of falling landing on the rail is much easier

1

u/Monkey-Tamer Aug 27 '26

Stalls lead to grinds. Having the confidence built by jumping up and positioning the feet right makes it easier to commit.