Ideas & Advice
When it comes to organizing your garage, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you’re storing bulky gear like kayaks, bikes, and seasonal equipment. Whether you’re short on space or just need to create a more efficient system, having the right setup can make a big difference. In this blog, we’ll share creative ideas and expert advice on how to maximize your garage space, from wall-mounted storage solutions to ceiling racks and freestanding units. Plus, we’ll provide guides for safely storing larger gear like kayaks and bikes. Let’s get your garage in top shape!
Wilder Family: Garage Makeover
The Wilder family, with their busy schedules and a house full of kids, needed a solution to keep their garage under control. Their space was packed with everything from sports equipment to seasonal items, making it difficult to stay organized.
Snow Family: Before & After
We helped the Snow family transform their cluttered garage into a functional space that supports their busy lifestyle. With a few smart upgrades, their garage became a game-changer for their daily routines.
Legacy Articles
Skateboarding Video Games | StoreYourBoard.com
If you are a skateboarder, then you may be interested in playing skateboarding video games when the weather is too bad for you to skateboard outside, or it’s already dark out. These video games allow you to simulate your favorite skateboarding moves. Many of these popular titles include the likeness of famous pro skateboarders. In the game, you can perform the various moves and tricks made famous by your favorite skateboarders. One of the earliest skateboarding video games was a 1987 title called “Skate or Die,” for early Atari and Nintendo systems. It allowed up to eight people to play at once, which is several more than even most modern skateboarding games. However, it was a short game, featuring only five events, and the downside was that most skateboarders could master it very easily. Modern skateboarding games have rectified this by included many more levels for players to master, including some that are ‘unlocked’ by special moves. One of the most well-known of all pro skateboarders, Tony Hawk, has lent his image to many different skateboarding video games, fifteen different titles in all produced since the late 1990s. They are produced for nearly every popular gaming console or system, including GameCube, GameBoy, Playstation, and Xbox. Popular titles include Pro Skater and Underground. Some of these are story-based, while others are based solely on the tricks you learn to perform. Most feature other popular skateboarders besides Tony Hawk, while some of the players whose personas you can take on as a player in the game are fictional. Introduced in 2002 for the GameCube and Playstation 2, Evolution Skateboarding is one of the top selling skateboard video games yet. Including lots of professional skateboarders, such as Danny Way and Rick McCrank, this game is known for offering plenty of tricks to master. You must master certain ones before the game will allow you to move on and explore other moves. Disney has also entered the popular world of skateboarding video games with their game called Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure. Designed for younger players, and even those who may be too young to actually skateboard, it features favorite Disney characters from Toy Story, Tarzan, or Lion King. Their second title, 2003’s Disney Sports Skateboarding, included classic characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. Targeted towards a younger audience, it is geared towards those who may have never been on a real skateboard before, unlike most other skateboarding video game titles. The best skateboarding games historically have been those with a soundtrack that resonates with skateboarding enthusiasts, as well as well-done graphics that can bring the skateboarding tricks to life. Like skateboarding itself, skateboarding games offer many different levels, from beginner to advanced, making it easy for anyone to enter this world. Some manufacturers are currently working on new technology that will allow players to stand on a skateboard-like board in their living room to control the player’s movements in the game. Movements will be captured by the foot motion and leaning.
Learn moreKids and Skateboarding | StoreYourBoard.com
Skateboarding is a popular sport, particularly with the younger crowd. Many of today’s most famous professional skateboarders turned pro when they were just teens, and some started skateboarding when they were only in preschool. Children of all ages can get involved in skateboarders, and today more and more young children are showing interest in the sport. If your children want to skateboard, you may be trying to weigh their desires, as well as benefits like increased balance and exercise, against safety issues or feelings of skateboarding as a “counterculture” sport. Be aware that minor bumps and bruises are to be expected with this sport, as with nearly every other sport out there, but skateboarding is still a fun and exciting way to exercise. If you’re not quite ready to let your kids skateboard, consider fingerboards or handboards, miniature versions of skateboards. Other ways to expose your kids to the world of skateboards without worrying about safety issues include skateboarding video games, of which several popular titles exist, as well as watching skateboarding performances or competitions. Your kids may also want to wear skate shoes or other apparel from skateboarding brands. These activities can help them get involved with the skateboarding community without worrying about their safety. If you decide that your kids are ready for skateboarding, you should take them to purchase a skateboarding as well as all of the necessary padded gear, including a helmet. When first allowing your children to skateboard, be sure to instruct them on how the skateboard should be used. Make them aware of the potential dangers. The truth is, it is very possible to fall when skateboarding, especially when trying to perform tricks. It is very important to make sure your children are always wearing protective gear when skateboarding. Your children will probably not want to wear their pads, especially if their friends are not wearing them. Elbow and knee pads can prevent scrapes and broken bones, and of course, a helmet is a necessity. Make sure that they know wearing this padding is necessary if they want to be able to skateboard. Although children should be given a choice in many matters concerning them, protective gear is not an area where you should compromise. You should supervise your children after they get their skateboard to make sure that they are using it safely and aren’t attempting tricks for which they don’t yet have the skills. It also makes sense to help your children understand their skill level; young children may become frustrated when they can’t perform the same tricks, or may hurt themselves trying. Help them achieve a balance between safety and confidence that allows them to try the tricks they feel able to complete. Skateboarding DVDs can also help them learn new tricks, but be sure to get one with tricks that are matched to their skill level. Skateboarding is a fun activity enjoyed by children and adults worldwide. It is a great physical activity and a way to get some exercise outdoors. You can let your children skateboard in your yard or take them to skate parks where they can practice their skills with friends. There are also skateboarding competitions for skateboarders of all ages. Get involved in your kids’ activities; take an interest in their new hobby and watch them perform the tricks they learn.
Learn moreHow Far will Skateboards go to get a World Record
Because skateboarding is a relatively new sport, the range of possible tricks is still expanding each and every year. With large competitions like the X Games, there’s a good chance that at least one record will be broken during the event. Many of these world records can be seen in videos online and elsewhere thanks to the public nature of these events. The world of skateboarding is full of pro skateboarders who are driven to push the bar with their tricks. Pro skateboarders are constantly working to improve their performance, shooting for more complicated tricks, bigger air, and more flips. Here are a few of the most well-known skateboarding records to date: Longest skateboard. Although the lengths of the standard skateboard and the longboard are fairly standardized by now, there are some variations. For example, in 2005 three boys created and rode the world’s longest skateboard. Over 30 feet in length, it required all three riders at once to control the full length. Distance. Many people use skateboards as their primary mode of transportation, riding several miles every week, although there are others who have made a name for themselves based on how far they have ridden. In 2008, Ted McDonald rode barefoot for 242 miles in 24 hours. Rob Thomson is another skateboarder known for distance. He skateboarded approximately 7,500 miles over two and a half years. Speed. The fastest speed that can be attained on a skateboard has been measured at 63 miles per hour, set by Gary Hardwick back in 1998. However, there are multiple reports of faster, unmeasured speeds, of up to 80 miles per hour. Spins. Spins are incorporated into many skateboarding tricks. In 2000 Richie Carasco broke the record for consecutive 360 degree spins, with 142. Tony Hawk is known for many records, including the first 900 degree spin, or two and a half complete rotations without landing, a feat that was first seen at the 1999 X Games. The elusive 900 degree spin is the goal of many pro skateboarders, as is the 1080 spin, which has not yet been attained. Jumps. High jumps and jumps over long distances are something practiced by most professional skateboarders. In 2005, Danny Way became the first person to jump over the Great Wall of China on a skateboard. He is also know for many other skateboarding world records, such as the greatest distance jump (79 feet). Danny Way also invented the Mega Ramp used to set both of these records; this structure is likely the largest skate ramp every built. Danny Way’s other records include height out of a skateboard ramp (23.5 feet). Ollies. The Ollie, in which the skateboarder flips the skateboard under them while in the middle of a jump, is arguably the most popular skateboarding trick. Although the record for the highest Ollie is officially 44.5 inches, set by Danny Wainwright, there are many claims of higher Ollies, up to 50 inches. In 2007, Rob Dyrdek completed the most Ollies in a row, with 215. In fact, Rob Dyrdek holds over 20 world skateboarding records, such as the longest rail grind (100 feet), and the highest jump into water with a ramp, at 10 feet and 8 inches.
Learn moreAn Introduction to the Sport of Street Luging
Street luging is a sport related to skateboarding which requires a streetluge board, also known as a sled. This wheeled sled is ridden down a set course or paved road. Although the board itself looks quite like a long skateboard (longboard), it is actually ridden with the rider lying on his back on the board, not standing up. In this manner of riding, it is more closely related to the winter sport of luging than to skateboarding. Although this sport form is related to luging, it is actually one of many sports to grow out of skateboarding culture. Luging originates in Southern California, where it was first conceptualized by downhill skateboarders wanting to go faster on their boards. They found that they could reach higher speeds by lying on the skateboard rather than standing. This early form of street luging is called “classic style” today, and the term “street luge” was actually not used for this style of riding until much later. The first professionally organized street luging event took place in California in 1975, and was hosted by the U.S. Skateboard Association. This race was based purely on the top speed attained. Because street luging was still in its infancy, board designs varied greatly, from those that looked like regular skateboards to those designed more like skate cars, completely enclosing the rider in a plastic or fiberglass shell set on wheels. Early street luge races, including the race in 1975, allowed contestants to ride in whichever position they preferred, either standing or lying on the board. However, by 1978 a high rate of injuries led to an end of these races. Although the U.S. Skateboard Association was no longer hosting races, street luge enthusiasts began holding their own events in the 1980s and early 1990s as part of other groups like the Underground Racers Association and the Federation of International Gravity Racing. Street luging has been rising in popularity since the late 1990s thanks to an increased focus on extreme sports through competitions like the ESPN X Games and the NBC Gravity Games. Although street luging is not currently a sport in either of these large competitions, it is still popular around the globe. By some estimates, there are over a thousand active street luge competitors. Street luge riders may reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour. In part due to the rider’s very short distance from the ground, street luging can be a dangerous sport. Although it is safer to compete today than in the 1970s thanks to new safety regulations, street luging still requires the wearing of helmets and pads, like most related sports. Currently, street luge board designs used in competitions must have skateboard-style trucks as well as front and rear padding. Mechanical brakes and a shell to enclose the rider’s body are prohibited. Different sanctioning bodies may have rules on length or width restrictions for boards used in street luging competitions. Most riders use custom-made street luging boards, although a few commercial designs are on the market today. Street luge courses range from half a mile to 3 miles long, and are always downhill. This sport requires excellent balance and a fast reaction time. If you’re a skateboarder who is looking for the next challenge, try street luging.
Learn moreHow to Fall Correctly on a Skateboard
If you are learning to skateboard, you may think that learning how to stay on the skateboard and perform tricks is the cool part, but learning how to fall correctly is just as important. Yes, there is a correct way to fall and an incorrect way to fall. If you fall the wrong way on a skateboard, you can break bones or get a concussion, even if you weren’t very far from the ground to begin with. When you’re learning how to skateboard, you can’t be too afraid to fall, or you won’t have the confidence to learn anything. Wearing a helmet and pads can help you learn how to skateboard without worrying about injuring yourself. As you fall over and over again, you’ll soon realize that there is definitely a wrong way to fall. As you get better, hopefully you’ll fall less often, but when you do fall, your body should naturally move so that your falls hurt less. Most people start to flail wildly as they realize they are losing their balance on the board. This can actually make you more likely to fall because your limbs can’t regain balance if they are moving rapidly and in random directions. Instead, start to crouch low on your board. As you get closer to the ground, your body will have a shorter distance to fall when you finally lose your balance. Plus, the lower center of gravity you create by crouching down on the board can actually keep you from falling. Another automatic reaction is to tense up your body. Consciously make your body more relaxed, because you’re less likely to get injured than if you fall with stiff joints. If you’re up in the air and you realize that you won’t be able to land on your feet on the board, try to position your body so that you land on the areas that have flesh rather than bone. Tuck your elbows and head in. Landing on your butt, your back, or your stomach will hurt a lot less than landing on your head. Knee and elbow pads, a helmet, and a mouth piece can protect the areas that you don’t want land on. Some skateboarders try to tuck and roll as they fall. In fact, this it is probably the best way to fall, as long as you know what you’re doing. Rolling is a particularly useful skill in the bowl of a skateboard park because its sloped sides usually work well with this technique. Roll so that you land on your back or your shoulder. If you don’t roll, try to wear gloves when skateboarding, so that you don’t scrape up your hands when you inevitably use them to stop your momentum. Another way to fall is to continue your momentum by running, or by sliding on your kneepads if you’re on a ramp or bowl. Once you learn how to fall, you won’t fear it like you did when you first started skateboarding. As a result, you’ll be willing to try new tricks that you were too afraid of before. However, make sure that you don’t find yourself up too high in the air if you don’t know what you’re doing. Falling from any height is much worse than falling off your board when it’s on level ground. And remember, even if you have been skateboarding for years, you will still occasionally fall. Knowing how to fall correctly and never forgetting to wear your pads and helmet can help to minimize the damage when you do. Got a board? Check out our large selection of Skateboard Racks
Learn moreGetting a Skate Park Built in Your Community
Too many skaters don’t have a nice area to practice their skating. Skate parks have bowls, ramps, rails, and other features designed specifically for skating that usually can’t be found anywhere else. If you love to skate, but there isn’t a skate park nearby, consider taking action to get a skate park built in your community. Although some skate parks are built by skate companies or others in the industry, grassroots organizations can also get skate parks built. First, figure out how much interest there is in getting a skate park built. Try to determine how many skaters live in your town. If there is a local skate shop, talk to the owners, and see if they can estimate how many skaters there are. This will go a long way towards showing the need for the park and drumming up interest for the project. Once you determine who would be interested in a skate park, form an organization. This should include skaters and others who are interested in the park, such as local business owners. Make sure that you have plenty of adults involved, not just teens. Since the majority of community members are not skaters, concentrate on providing information on the benefits to the community when getting people to support your skate park project. Once you have enough interest in getting the park built, it’s time to determine how much the skate park will cost. How big will it be? What kind of features do skaters in your community want to see in their park? You may want to visit nearby skate parks to get an idea of what you want. Contact construction companies in your local area, or one of the larger skate park building companies located around the country. Ask for a general estimate of how much it would cost to build a skate park. Think critically about how the skate park will operate. Who will pay for maintenance or repairs? What about liability if someone falls while skating? Will the park be monitored? What hours will it be open? Will BMX bikes be allowed, or only skateboards? Those in charge of skate parks in other cities can be a valuable resource for determining the best answers to these questions. Be sure that you have ready answers to these questions. Now, print posters and flyers to attract the general community to your cause. Hold community meetings to generate interest, but be ready for those who are opposed to the area. Some in your community may feel that skating is too dangerous or that a skate park may attract the wrong crowd. Be ready to address their concerns. Choose a few articulate members of your organization to do most of the speaking. These meetings should be held in a public place in your community, like the local library or recreation center, or in the local skate shop. You may want to develop a petition once the larger community becomes involved in your project so that you can show how many supporters you have. Don’t forget about the internet as a way to spread the word. Once you have a plan developed, take your case to the city council. At the meeting, present the need for the skate park and show your evidence of community support for the park, like the petition. Ask your community leaders about any possible funding sources they can offer for the skate park. Once you get people excited about the park, you’ll need to make a plan to start raising cash. Ask your local skate shop if they’d be willing to provide space for a donation box. The owners may even be willing to donate directly to the cause. Hold lots of fundraising activities. Raising the money is often the hardest part of getting a skate park built, so be patient. When you’re getting close to reaching your fundraising goals, your next step is to determine where the skate park should be. There should be plenty of community involvement in this step. Host community meetings and hang up fliers to get community input. The skate park should be located in a central area, but there may be concerns if the park is located too close to other businesses. Got a board? Check out our large selection of Skateboard Racks
Learn moreSkateboarding Films
If you love to skateboard, check out skateboarding films! These shows range from history and culture to how-to or demonstration reels. There’s something for everyone, from those who have never been on a board to expert skateboarders. To learn about the history of skateboarding, watch “Lords of Dogtown.” This blockbuster hit explored the history of skateboarding in the 1970s in California. A group of skateboarders called the Z-Boys started what eventually became the punk/skater subculture that exists even today. “Lords of Dogtown” was written by Stacy Peralta, one of the earliest pro skateboarders, and he appears throughout the movie, showing off amazing tricks. Their story was also explored in the movie “Z-Boys and Dogtown.” For the 1980s history of skateboarding through the eyes of pro skateboarders from that era, check out “Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator,” a documentary. All three are must-see movies for those who are interested in the origins of today’s skateboarding culture. Are you trying to improve your skateboarding skills or learn new tricks? Many top skateboarders produce their own demo films. Some are clips of their competitions; others actually show you, step-by-step, how to perform skateboarding tricks. Some are designed for beginners, even those who can do nothing on a skateboard besides simply rolling forwards. Others include more advanced tricks, including some that are so tricky you may not have even seen them in real life unless you’ve been to a major skateboarding competition. Skateboarding films are a great choice for skateboarders, and they’re also a good way to prepare yourself for skateboarding. If you have young kids and aren’t quite ready to let them skateboard yet, let them watch skateboarding films to feel like they’re part of it all. In fact, there are many skateboarding shows that are designed especially for kids, even those who have never skateboarded themselves. The cartoon series “Rocket Power” is a great example of this. It has all of the great skateboarding culture, without the danger of falling. There are many other family-friendly cartoons and comedy movies that incorporate skateboarding, too. If you’re looking for a little entertainment with a skateboarding theme, there are plenty of dramas and comedies incorporating skateboarding. “Grind” is a movie featuring several pro skateboarders as high school students seeking to strike it big as pro skateboarders. “Gleaming the Cube” is a unique drama featuring both a murder mystery and skateboarding. Many of these movies feature pro skateboarders, whether they are documentaries, demonstrations, or even comedies. Tony Hawk is perhaps the best-known skateboarder with numerous video games and movies featuring his tricks. If you want to see some of his most famous tricks, watch “Tony Hawk’s Trick Tips,” which features tricks for everyone from beginners to pros. His “Boom Boom Huck Jam” series features skateboarding, BMX, and motocross performances filmed during his Boom Boom Huck Jam live performances. Many of these have been big hits, but there are also countless independent films about skateboarding, ranging from drama to documentary to how-to instructional videos. These can be found on Youtube or through the Skateboard Film Festival, held each August in Seattle. If you enjoy skateboarding, these movies can entertain you, teach you about skateboarding culture, and even show you new moves.
Learn moreUsing a Skateboard Park
If you love to skateboard, chances are good that you visit skateboard parks whenever you can. These parks offer skating opportunities that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can do anything you want once you’re in the skate park. There are a few etiquette rules that you should pay attention to when using a skateboard park. Skating is an inherently dangerous activity, so you must pay attention to what you’re doing to avoid crashing into other skateboarders. Many skate parks develop certain traffic patterns on ramps and pipes; don’t try to skateboard against the flow of traffic. Don’t begin down a ramp until there are no other skaters in your way. Always be aware of where other skaters are in the park so that you don’t crash into them. This is particularly true if you see younger kids in the park, as they may not always move in predictable patterns. If there is a line, don’t ride out of turn. If you visit a skateboard park with a group, be sure that other skaters that aren’t in your group are able to use the ramps and any other park features. Know your abilities, and don’t try to do tricks that are too difficult for your skill level. The skate park may offer the steepest ramp you’ve ever seen, but be sure you can handle it before you try it. Otherwise you may end up hurting yourself or others. Skate parks offer a variety of features for skaters at every skill level, so remember that you don’t have to try out everything you see. Master the basics before visiting a skateboard park. Always wear a helmet and safety pads while skating, whether you’re on the street or in a skateboard park. You may feel silly being out in public wearing these items, but feeling silly is better than falling and ending up in the emergency room. Don’t bring food or drinks into the skateboarding area. These can be enjoyed around the park, where most skateboard parks have placed benches. Don’t sit on the edge of the ramp or on the rails while waiting for your friends; instead, move off the skateboarding area, and sit on the benches. This way you won’t get in anyone’s way. Keep everything you don’t need on you to the sides of the skateboarding area, but only bring what you need to the skate park, so that you don’t have to keep an eye on expensive possessions that you’ve left to the side of the skateboard park. Many skate parks have their own posted rules. Always read these before skating, and follow them while you’re at the park. For example, the park may be closed after dusk. Even if there’s no one there to enforce this rule, it is not safe to ride in the dark. Skateboard parks are a great opportunity for skaters and the perfect alternative to makeshift ramps or alleys, curbs, and other places not designed for skating. When skateboarding in a skate park, remember that the park is not there for your exclusive use. There are others skaters at the park. Follow skate park etiquette to keep skating there safe and fun.
Learn moreSkateboarding Legend Tony Hawk
The world of skateboarding just wouldn’t be the same without legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk. An inspiration for many new skaters, he has taken the sport to new limits, setting dozens of records for his amazing skateboard tricks. Though Hawk is clearly a leader in the sport, it is important to remember that he started off where all skateboarders did. At one time, Tony Hawk had to learn how to skateboard, like all other skateboarders. He has put a lot of hard work into becoming the top pro skateboarder that he is today. Born in San Diego, California, he first began skateboarding at the age of 8 after his older brother bought him a used skateboard. His father, a retired U.S. Navy officer, built a ramp in their backyard for Tony to practice. He won his first skateboarding contest just three years later, and turned pro at the young age of fourteen. Since then he has won dozens of major competitions in the world of skateboarding, becoming a top name in the sport. Tony Hawk is known for completing the first 900, or spinning around for two and a half rotations while on a skateboard. This feat was accomplished at the 1999 X-Games, the world’s largest alternative sports competition. It took twelve attempts for him to land this trick during the 1999 competition; he again successfully completed the 900 during the X Games in 2001. Tony Hawk is best known as a vert skateboarder, meaning that he uses ramps and bowls rather than skating on flat ground. Vert skateboarding is known as being very difficult; it can take quite a while just to learn how to drop in to the bowl, making his tricks all the more impressive. Tony Hawk is known not only for his skateboarding tricks, but also for his video game line distributed by Activision. These realistic games provide an opportunity to practice tricks virtually by taking on the persona of a pro skateboarder. The series debuted in 1999, and there have been 11 titles to date, including the Pro Skater and Underground series and the latest game, 2009’s “Tony Hawk: Ride.” His skateboarding-related activities extend beyond competitions and video games. In 2002 Hawk started the Boom Boom Huck Jam, a live show featuring displays in motocross, skateboarding, and BMX. He has also appeared in many films, including “Police Academy 4” in 1987, “Gleaming the Cube” in 1989, “Jackass: The Movie” with Bam Margera, Lords of Dogtown about the history of skateboarding, and several other movies. He has also donated money to help build skate parks across the country and provide skateboards for kids who can’t afford them. He has spent years encouraging others to take part in the sport he loves. He often interacts with his younger fans at competitions and other appearances, and is known as somewhat of an ambassador in the sport. Tony Hawk is among the best-known names in the world of skateboarding, and for good reason. His story, competition record, impressive tricks, and other skateboarding activities have earned him a place in the history of the sport.
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