The store smelled like fresh carpet, fabric glue, and a woodshop. I surveyed the wall of boards, eyes widening to weigh the possibilities hanging all the way to the store’s rafters. I was twelve, and I had finally convinced my mom to drive me to Redwood City to buy my first skateboard. Standing alone at...

Cracks, cars, and cops: the unholy trinity of skateboarding since people first rolled down the street on four wheels. While all skaters deal with these elements on an occasional basis, the odds are stacked against new skaters. Thankfully, there are plenty of places to practice skating aside from busy streets — try these locations out...