RAMP UP YOUR WEEKLY WORKOUTS

Roll into Baysixty6 skate park to put the thrill back into your training, while shoving your fat loss, mental strength and physical toughness to a new level

We know what you’re thinking: can a skate park even be a gym? Well, we’d argue that limiting yourself to barbells and weight plates will only hold you back. So, broaden your horizons – or shred them. We’re not recommending you replace all your interval sessions with tail slides. But, just as glute bridges will add to your deadlift, learning to skateboard is a functional accessory to your weekly programme that will make you a more complete athlete.

Skateboarding burns calories. Harvard Medical School notes that a 30-minute ramp session can grind through 222kcal – more than the daily brisk walk recommended by the NHS. Meanwhile, learning new skills bolsters your cognitive functioning*, improving high-level processes such as your working memory. The kicker? The more challenging and enjoyable the skill, the more robust the reward. Add to that the proprioception gains from mastering complex moves such as the pop shove-it, as well as the toughness you’ll develop from stacking it onto concrete.

Baysixty6 is the place to jump on board. Beyond the expert kit in the on-site shop, it’s here that you’ll receive the best coaching in the country. “Our main aim is to create a controlled learning environment for people of all abilities,” says founder Paul Mcdermott. There’s no need to be embarrassed: for every sponsored pro, there’s a beginner attempting his first kickflip. Just don’t play the hero: always wear padding. “What’s cooler – a few pads, or a fibreglass cast and the inability to roll for months?” asks Mcdermott. We’ll see you in the queue for the helmets.