Also, it’s worth bearing in mind that one of the two authors for this piece invented a trick called the “FlippyLillis”, so maybe take it with a grain of salt.]
Names often times can be the first thing that is impressed on a skater. The name of a trick can either catch a skater’s interest or not. Deciding what names to give to a move or trick in any sport can be very challenging.
Once something is given a name, that thing becomes an entity, it now has solidity, it has been born! When a newborn baby comes into this world, deciding what name to give can be a very big deal to the parents. Well, it should be, because that baby will be identified as that and most likely, the behaviour and personality of the child can also be influenced by the name.
So a name is definitely something that must be given care and attention. so, how do we come up with names for our skateboarding tricks? Here are a few suggestions:
- consider the technical aspects of the trick and make it the basis, like a first name
- consider the poetic or artistic aspect of the trick and incorporate it.
- consider the previous history of the trick; like if it is an offshoot or a variation of an older trick then merge the old and new.
- consider the feelings that get evoked when doing the trick and see if the name you choose can picture that feeling.
- since this is a sport and art choose words from sporty, athletic and artistic vocabulary not political, rockstar, sex star or whatever kind of lingo.
- and since this is skateboarding, choose words that are related to skating, skateboard, the environment when skating and the spirit of skating.
