Express Action Sports

I cannot answer your question but I am sure someone else can once you add the answers to these questions to your questions…
what is your budget?
Do you have any photo skills?
References :

Most of my colleagues who shoot sports use either Nikon D300/D3 or Canon 1Ds, Mark III camera

NONE of my colleagues shoot in the burst mode. We instead shoot at the peak of action.

It takes enough time sorting through 250 shots from a game, without over shooting.

Shooting skateboarders requires good timing, just like when shooting the X-Games"
References :
proFotog

I’d suggest getting a used 7D for the autofocusing speed. While it does go up to 8fps (if I’m correct), its the AF speed that’s more important. I currently use a 40D. Its my first and only DSLR and I’ve had it for more than four years. It does 6fps, but I don’t usually use burst mode. I don’t like AI Servo on my camera. I find that it doesn’t do a good job of quickly focusing and keeping the focus on the subject like the 7D. I don’t shoot sports, but I do shoot some action (kids, pets, scripted pieces, etc.). You’ll surely feel frustrated with the focusing of the 40D for action. The way I go about shooting action shots is by predicting what’s going to happen. Once you get good at predicting a scene, you can couple it with burst mode to capture a sequence of shots. For example, wait right before the jump and trigger burst mode until the landing, then stack the photos in Photoshop or Elements to create one awesome image.

Predicting events is one of the biggest things you can do to improve your action photography. Next in line is being ready at a specific point. For example, you frame and focus ahead of the action and take the photo once the person passes through that plane of focus. This is crucial for those night shots and when doing manual. The 7D has 18MP vs the 40Ds 10MP so you’ll have more cropping power. Last on the list is shooting off many pictures. Keep in mind that the buffer size for continuous shooting is much smaller on the 7D as opposed to a 1D body. Canon released some updates for the 7D to increase the buffer size, the same can’t be said about the 40D.

Is there more? Yes! You can take video with the 7D. The 40D… does not. Sure, a used 7D is going to cost a lot more than a 40D, but if I were you I’d start saving. Don’t even consider the 5D2 for this line of work because it would be even worse.
References :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awe-inspiring

Any DSLR is a good place to start.

I a with fhotoace on sports shooting technique, I try and anticipate the "decisive moment" as burst mode usually ends up with frames either side of the action. Burst mode is useful for continuing action, such as a crash in motor sports.

At a local track when I do the photo finish and need to get the nose of horse or dog exactly on the finish line the special camera has a frame rate of up to 1650 frames per second.

http://aviewfinderdarkly.com.au/2011/03/08/using-panning-in-motorsport-photography/
References :

Ok, let’s start by looking at what "you" need.

-You want a camera to shoot skateboarding, well most camera can dot it and the Canon 40D can do it pretty well, forget about the other answer who recommend you a 7D or a newer camera, stick to your budget.

– The 6.5 fps ont he Canon 40D can give decent sequence, for those of you out there, burst mode is a nice tool for skateboarding & snowboarding photographers. It’s very normal to watch a skateboarding movie and hear some camera burst from time to time..Heck all you need is to buy a skateboarding magazine to find plenty of sequence.

Now let’s start with the advices.

– You don’t need a fast AF because with this sport you can easily use the manuel focus, that’s what I use most of the time, here is how I do it:

I find a good spot, work my composition, make my setting, aperture, shutter speed (always make sure you’re using a fast shutter speed, for me the minimum is 1/800 when the light is low, otherwise it’s faster), iso. Once this is set, I will auto focus where most rider will do their trick then I will switch my AF into manuel to lock it up. Keep in mind I am not walking around when I do this, I stay still, if I have to lay on the ground I’ll do it.

Heck you can always do the same thing using a tripod and a remote control, and you can use this technique for sequence, that way you’re sure the AF won’t fuck it up because you missed the guy and the AF did the focus on the background.

– Try to use the rule of thirds.

– Timing is everything, you want to take the picture at the peak of the trick, if the guy do a flip down some stair you need to hit the shutter before he start coming back down. Anyway I am sue you get the point.

– Do not do butt shot, unless it give you a nice composition.

– All focal lens are good, fish eye give a special effect but you have to be very close and sometime it can be lethal for the lens or you if there is too many people skating around.

– Long focal lens (70-200, 70-300) I like them because they allow me to get physically further away from the action therefore I do not put unnecessary pressure on the riders, after a while they forget you’re there and you can get some really good shot.

– I use short focal lens when there is only few people around.

– Like I said, use a fast shutter speed (at least 1/800) to freeze the action, lower than that and you’ll hand up having some blur on the finger etc..

– Skateboarding ain’t football or tennis, so close up shot are not what give the best result around, try to include the environment surrounding the rider.

– Be creative, play with the DOF, sometime a particular shot will be best when the subject is isolated with a big aperture (f/2) and sometime a small aperture (f8) will give you allot more DOF to get the surrounding in focus. Play with the angle, don’t be afraid to try different things..Read some Transworld Skateboarding magazine, Thrasher Magazine to see what’s done in the sport.

Be aware of cheap 70-300m lens, they’re kind of soft, especially at 300mm.

The 50mm 1.8 is a nice lens for skateboarding, it’s cheap and you get a nice f/1.8 aperture, but "you will might find it hard to work with" because you really need to work on the composition.

Have fun.
References :

a camera with a fast fps like canon 1d
References :

You’re 14 which makes me think you are not going to have the money to buy the proper camera unless your parents are wealthy and generous. If that is the case, get a Nikon D4. Otherwise I’d look at mirror less cameras. I saw a Sony one that is really fast but I can’t recall the model. I Skate and shoot sports and I know what you need to capture the moments and sequences but to get it, you need to drop US$5000.00. You can also look at a used Nikon D3 or D3s but it will still be a lot of money. With a fast, mirror less camera you’ll get shots that look really nice but will not be quite the same quality as in magazines in most cases.
References :