yea so ah.... i skatebosrd and i think it helps.  first of all, it gives u better balance in general, but esp on rails, i learned to grind way quicker than my brothers who don't skate.  second, i think the whole mentallity helps, because it gives you determination to land a trick and such.  yea, thats about all i can think of.  skateboardnig is too hard........ but its still fun.
~Chris
You know something that would really make me applaud?  A guy gets stuck in  quicksand, then sinks, then suddenly comes shooting out, riding on water  skis.  How do they do that?