Returning to skateboarding after 20+ years!!!!!
Discussion
My 6-year-old son got a skateboard at the weekend, and now I am looking at getting one. I used to skateboard a bit in the '90s, then got into snowboarding. However, these days I am more into mountain biking. The sensible thing to do would be to join my son at the skatepark on the unused BMX that sits in the garage, but getting a skateboard seems more appealing.
I am under no illusion that I will be kickflipping down stair sets, or riding vert ramps - I couldn't do that when I was a teenager. I'll just be happy cruising around the skatepark with my son.
I am under no illusion that I will be kickflipping down stair sets, or riding vert ramps - I couldn't do that when I was a teenager. I'll just be happy cruising around the skatepark with my son.
I've entered my forties and just brought my first board
...and helmet
...and pads
I'd loved the aesthetic of appeal, the cool tricks, used to watch X Games, loved Dogtown & Z Boys, influenced by the fashion but never had the balls to have a go.
The final straw was watching the brilliant coming of age movie Mid90s.
Did my research, watched a load of YT videos and reddit posts and a longboard was a no-brainer for a beginner with little balance and coordination.
...and helmet
...and pads
I'd loved the aesthetic of appeal, the cool tricks, used to watch X Games, loved Dogtown & Z Boys, influenced by the fashion but never had the balls to have a go.
The final straw was watching the brilliant coming of age movie Mid90s.
Did my research, watched a load of YT videos and reddit posts and a longboard was a no-brainer for a beginner with little balance and coordination.
Great stuff. My board is coming tomorrow, but I still need to sort a helmet and pads. I have dug out a pair of Etnies skate shoes from the back of my wardrobe too.
Did you find any of the resources particularly useful? I am just planning on taking it easy to start with - being able to push off and stand on the board is currently sufficient to impress my son.
Did you find any of the resources particularly useful? I am just planning on taking it easy to start with - being able to push off and stand on the board is currently sufficient to impress my son.
I literally ordered it today . Hopefully arriving by the end of the week.
Like you I'm planning to learn to get on the board, balance and get off. Not too keen on learning to come off!
Loads of tutorials on YT but this middle-aged guy is good tutor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seXfMDDD2TI&li...
Like you I'm planning to learn to get on the board, balance and get off. Not too keen on learning to come off!
Loads of tutorials on YT but this middle-aged guy is good tutor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seXfMDDD2TI&li...
Thanks that was a good video.
My son and I went for a little skate this evening, at a nice flat playground area. We were both getting on well, skating across the park, when I made the mistake of saying "one more run", as the park was getting busier. I seem to remember thinking my foot positioning was wrong, but I can't remember if the inevitable happened when I was taking my back foot off the board to do another push, or putting it back on after a push, but the board seemed to shoot out in front of me, I heard a crunch from my knee, then I hit the deck knee first.
I'm not too worried about the road rash on my knee - it will be a reminder to wear knee pads even if I'm "just cruising with my son", but I expect that the initial crunch was to do with my already weak ACL. So will have to take a couple of weeks chilling/doing knee strengthening exercises.
My son and I went for a little skate this evening, at a nice flat playground area. We were both getting on well, skating across the park, when I made the mistake of saying "one more run", as the park was getting busier. I seem to remember thinking my foot positioning was wrong, but I can't remember if the inevitable happened when I was taking my back foot off the board to do another push, or putting it back on after a push, but the board seemed to shoot out in front of me, I heard a crunch from my knee, then I hit the deck knee first.
I'm not too worried about the road rash on my knee - it will be a reminder to wear knee pads even if I'm "just cruising with my son", but I expect that the initial crunch was to do with my already weak ACL. So will have to take a couple of weeks chilling/doing knee strengthening exercises.
A pal of mine had a go at skateboarding at the weekend, to accompany his 7yo daughter. He's 50 and never ridden one before.
As his wife was paying for the board at the shop he fell off it on his very first go and broke his left metatarsal in three places!,
Family camping/hiking trip to Snowdonia next week is somewhat compromised!!
As his wife was paying for the board at the shop he fell off it on his very first go and broke his left metatarsal in three places!,
Family camping/hiking trip to Snowdonia next week is somewhat compromised!!
This is my board. It’s the cheapest longboard bundle with helmet and pads brought from Skatehut.
Started practicing last Sunday evening on the edge of an industrial estate. Another person there in their 30s was also learning rollerskating!
I’m wearing cargo trousers with knee pads underneath to minimize grazing.
Sometimes I catch my foot on the rear trucks and probably not pushing correctly.
Don’t feel comfortable changing foot positions: pushing off to riding stance to pushing. Something tells me I should have gone for a wider deck in hindsight? I'm still going to persevere with balancing on the board.
Happy to rolling turning at very low speeds. Picking up speed is very un-nerving and I bail out.
Haven’t fallen over yet but I have been waking in the middle of the night with falling sensations!
Started practicing last Sunday evening on the edge of an industrial estate. Another person there in their 30s was also learning rollerskating!
I’m wearing cargo trousers with knee pads underneath to minimize grazing.
Sometimes I catch my foot on the rear trucks and probably not pushing correctly.
Don’t feel comfortable changing foot positions: pushing off to riding stance to pushing. Something tells me I should have gone for a wider deck in hindsight? I'm still going to persevere with balancing on the board.
Happy to rolling turning at very low speeds. Picking up speed is very un-nerving and I bail out.
Haven’t fallen over yet but I have been waking in the middle of the night with falling sensations!
PurpleTurtle said:
A pal of mine had a go at skateboarding at the weekend, to accompany his 7yo daughter. He's 50 and never ridden one before.
As his wife was paying for the board at the shop he fell off it on his very first go and broke his left metatarsal in three places!,
Family camping/hiking trip to Snowdonia next week is somewhat compromised!!
Yikes, it sounds like I got off lightly, even if I am having to cancel an MTB trip at the end of the week. My knee is pretty swollen now - hoping I can still drive this evening.As his wife was paying for the board at the shop he fell off it on his very first go and broke his left metatarsal in three places!,
Family camping/hiking trip to Snowdonia next week is somewhat compromised!!
entropy said:
This is my board. It’s the cheapest longboard bundle with helmet and pads brought from Skatehut.
Started practicing last Sunday evening on the edge of an industrial estate. Another person there in their 30s was also learning rollerskating!
I’m wearing cargo trousers with knee pads underneath to minimize grazing.
Sometimes I catch my foot on the rear trucks and probably not pushing correctly.
Don’t feel comfortable changing foot positions: pushing off to riding stance to pushing. Something tells me I should have gone for a wider deck in hindsight? I'm still going to persevere with balancing on the board.
Happy to rolling turning at very low speeds. Picking up speed is very un-nerving and I bail out.
Haven’t fallen over yet but I have been waking in the middle of the night with falling sensations!
Very nice! I would have liked a long board, but figured that I would mostly be riding at the skatepark with my son. Foot positioning on the board is at least easy to practice with the board stationary on the grass/carpet - I've had my son doing that all week.Started practicing last Sunday evening on the edge of an industrial estate. Another person there in their 30s was also learning rollerskating!
I’m wearing cargo trousers with knee pads underneath to minimize grazing.
Sometimes I catch my foot on the rear trucks and probably not pushing correctly.
Don’t feel comfortable changing foot positions: pushing off to riding stance to pushing. Something tells me I should have gone for a wider deck in hindsight? I'm still going to persevere with balancing on the board.
Happy to rolling turning at very low speeds. Picking up speed is very un-nerving and I bail out.
Haven’t fallen over yet but I have been waking in the middle of the night with falling sensations!
Captain Smerc said:
I got back on a board last year , I'm 50 ish ... and not ridden since they first appeared in 1979 ! I'd been watching the longboarders on Brighton sea front for far too long . Came across a good looking Globe Geminon in my local TK MAX and carefully stood on it whilst holding onto the shelf firmly ...
And that was that , 15 months , 5 boards and a (very) steep relearning curve has inevitability led to me being a grinning owner of one of these bad boys
I wish I'd got back into it years ago , it's such a blast ! I feel so much better both physically & mentally . Now the board (s) are always in the back of my car , ready for a cheaky session . But do buy and always wear a good quality helmet , wrist protectors and elbow/knee pads are recommended as well . Ive had some big off's whilst getting my skating legs back , but its all part of the fun
How do you find plod treats you in Brighton? I used to ride along the seafront a lot and loved it but I’m a bit nervous to do so now. And that was that , 15 months , 5 boards and a (very) steep relearning curve has inevitability led to me being a grinning owner of one of these bad boys
I wish I'd got back into it years ago , it's such a blast ! I feel so much better both physically & mentally . Now the board (s) are always in the back of my car , ready for a cheaky session . But do buy and always wear a good quality helmet , wrist protectors and elbow/knee pads are recommended as well . Ive had some big off's whilst getting my skating legs back , but its all part of the fun
A lot of e-skate riders I know have moved on to an EUC and love it. I’m the wrong side of 50 too and agree with you 100% on the protective gear.
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