Final fitness met up with pro skater Helena Long, to see what it takes to skate, and David White even tried out a few tricks himself.

FF: How long have you been skating?
HL: I reckon about almost 5 years now but injuries here and there have always been an annoying set back!
 
FF: How did you get into skating?
HL: I think it was when I used to play Tony Hawks Pro Skater on the Playstation and thought yeah I reckon I’ll give that Mc Twist a go. Although I later found it was that easy haha.
 
FF: What’s your favourite skate trick?
HL: Hmm I don’t think I really have one but I guess it’s probably the one I do most which is a nollie inward heel.
 
FF: Whats been your greatest achievement so far?
HL: I think probably placing first at the first Girls skate comp at NASS extreme sports festival but most of all placing 1st at the National Women’s Day skate comp in Manchester.

FF: When you’re skating by yourself, what’s your favourite thing to do?
HL: Set myself a new trick to learn or a new line of tricks to do in a row.
 
FF: Where’s your favourite place to skate?
HL: Probably my local skatepark in Mudchute I always have a good skate sesh when I’m there.  But also street skating around London is great especially finding new skate spots around town.

FF: Do you listen to music while you’re skating, if so which tracks will we find on your ipod?
HL: I do sometimes but I always get worried I’m gonna fall on it and break it! But when I do I listen to the funniest combination of songs.  When my ipod was on shuffle I went from listening to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to some Sex Pistols.
 
FF: Do you injure yourself through skate boarding?
HL: Unfortunately I do quite a bit! Nothing ever major like broken bones, but a lot of sprained ankles that take forever to heal and remain pretty swollen for quite a while!
 
FF: Do you keep fit in other ways too?
HL: I ride my bike a lot to college everyday and when I can’t skate I often have a go on the old exercise bike at home.
 
FF: What advice would you give to anyone who wants to get into skateboarding?
HL: I’d say just go for it.  If you think you want to get into skateboarding give it a go, you may fall off but that’s just part of it.  Find friends to skate with too and it’ll make it a lot more fun.
 
FF: How good are david’s tricks on the skateboard?
HL: I reckon he should be teaching me some tricks!

FF: Do you love final fitness?
HL: Of course who doesn’t?! I think it’s great because it introduces new and more fun ways to help keep fit.