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*** I had just started typing and maybe this is not quite the place for it, but I thought I would just post it anyway ***
So much history, so much life lived, but maybe so much still to do for some people...
I don't know much about looking forward - every day is just another day to keep on going, sometimes better than yesterday, sometimes not, but any which way, I do know that without a skateboard, things would have been very different.
Some people I know have said in the past if it wasn't for skateboarding, they would be dead or in jail, with particular mention of me, usually in terms of keeping them rolling in whatever capacity I had been able to help, which is not to say I am out there being a skateboard saint, far from it, but I have been fortunate enough to be able to help a lot of people with skateboards over the years, running a lot of events for local Councils, youth based groups or agencies, church groups or pretty much anyone who wanted something skateboarding, who didn't have a big enough budget to get in "the professionals", although I even worked for "the professionals" on and off for a number of years too, usually as the instructor to go with their pro demos and whatever else was going on at that event.
Still being able to ride a skateboard is not something I take for granted either, but I would put it down to never going too hard or being too daring, so although I still skated a lot when younger, had injuries - broken arm when first starting back in the mid 80s, broken ankles at different times from 1988 through 1990, or a few other smaller breaks throughout the years since then, I am thankful I never had anything that took me out completely.
Most others I skated with who went way harder, got way better and ultimately skated themselves into early retirement due to various injuries, more often than not needing knee reconstructions, having back problems, some with other breaks or issues that just prevented them still rolling as much as they wanted, but it is just one of those things with this thing we love to do.
I still skate, still get in on a session and still enjoy seeing people I know being able to learn new tricks or get a good line or whatever else, so that part will never get old for me, along with getting my hands on skateboards and skateboard parts, testing different things, modifying setups to make them work in different ways, talking about skateboard stuff, in particular, on Slap skateboard forum and in person in the shop or at skateparks, so in that way, I have never lost the love of it either.
Some people who have worked in the skate industry have become jaded, negative, almost ended up hating skateboarding because of what they had to do, which is unfortunate for them, but everyone is on their own journey, so it is also up to them to find their way back to it, if or when they can, so I am quite thankful I have never really felt like this towards skateboarding either, as is often the way for older crew.
If we can still wake up each day, still be stoked on skateboarding, still want to look at a new video, or try a new product, or pass by a spot and still think of something we might like to do or see done on it, then we can still live as full a life as we are able, even if we cannot skate for whatever reason at any given time or day.
I think the world would be a lesser place without a skateboard, a group of friends and a place to roll, or at least my world most certainly would be.
* Sorry this might be a bit longer than I wanted, but being 51 and still finding as much enjoyment from skateboarding now as I ever have, I just let it all out and maybe said too much or said not enough (for an over 50s skate group) but I will just leave it as is.
Topic: Skateboarding After 50 (Read 18640 times)