Something I've learned since I started skating (at age 48, first time ever in a skatepark at 49, 54 now) is how every single skater is different, with a different history, different mental outlooks, different physical capacities, different everything. I can drop in, up to about 6 foot, but I've never been able to grind or even stall. The frustration of that was strangling all the love I had for skating and I'd leave pretty much every session feeling like a failure and totally pissed off. So I did something totally out of character for me - I quit. Not quit skating, just quit trying to learn stalls and grinds. Five and a half years of trying was long enough, and I can't handle making zero progress long-term. Having nothing to show for years of practise is stupid. So now I concentrate on big wheeling, using skates for transport, commuting and fitness, and just use the skatepark to roll round in when the weather's crap and to meet up with blader friends. Each to their own. You're doing amazing and progressing just great so I hope you manage to stay fit and well and keep it going. Strength to you. 👏👏💪💪
You are so right, every person is different and being hurt or frustrated takes the fun out of everything. I am glad you found your groove. We have made some friends at the local park (mostly skateboarders) and now half the fun is just hanging out with them.
My skating improved massively when I started to focus on perfecting what I know rather than learning new tricks. Now I'm at the stage where if I do attempt a new trick, I pick it up a lot quicker than i did in the past, but I won't spend a whole session on it. I'll maybe spend 80-90% of my time doing what I already know. An added benefit is that I always leave the park feeling like it was a good session, rather than feeling frustrated that I spent the whole time trying to learn a new trick and didn't land it.
That's exactly what I am going for now. My backwards skating is improving, my transition skills are improving, my general confidence on the skates is improving, and I leave every session in a lot less pain than previously, and that's as much or more motivating than the trick progression. I still want the trick progression, but now I am enjoying the journey a lot more, which is a new thing for me.
Yes, I am 45 with my body, but my mind is still in my teens and 20s you’re doing an amazing job. I got back into skating because of your videos. It is a mental struggle that I can’t do what I used to do but I do have to get that realization that I’m not young anymore so go at your own pace, it still is amazing for us older peoples to watch and join you with our journeys as well. Set up before and I will still say it you’re an inspiration to a bunch of us keep it up. And get those basics down and then slowly start adding one bit at a time. I’ve gone to a couple skate parks and do have fun dropping in, but I can’t grind and I can’t do the spins that I used to do or the flips I used todo and it does suck. we are getting out there keeping our youth going so again keep it up. 👍🏻
Great to hear from you again and know you are still skating! I have been working on just general skating and working my way back up to stuff I was doing before I was injured and hopefully that will keep me off the concrete a bit more. Having started from scratch, there are so many things I want to be able to do, but I don't have the same struggles I do with say skateboarding, where I was pretty good in my youth, that's a much harder mental struggle. Its probably the same with the inlines, its much harder to come back and not be able to do things you used to be able to. In the end though we are getting out there and having fun and that's what its all about!
There was a moment when I decided to slow down, to reduce the pressure of learning faster, stop trying to compete with people I follow on Instagram (who of us learn more tricks faster). Everyone is different and has different pace of development. So now I try to just enjoy rollerblading ☺️ Looking forward to seeing you again skating soon 💪
You hit it exactly, I was putting pressure on myself to learn faster and for no real reason. For most everything I have ever done, I operated that way - push, push, push until I get to a certain level then move on. Inline skating is one of the few sports I have taken up with no desire to complete, I just wanted to have fun with my son but found myself in that old mode of push, push, push. Sometimes it takes an injury to make you step back and reevaluate your motives and for that I am grateful. I am back skating now and enjoying it even more, so in the end even though it was painful, it was a positive lesson.
In life I'm a generalist. In my first go around with aggressive inline (90s, early 00s) I was very much a generalist who constantly tried new things but never worked at anything. This time round, I'm taking it slow and learning things so I can do them reliably and well. I'm also learning everything on both sides. I recommend it, it transforms any given skate spot.
Working on both sides is a great idea. Some things I am better at one way and some another. Some of that is the arthritic knee and some is just balance, but all of it can be improved.
I hear ya!! I realized that learning the basics, as unimpressive and flashy as that is, is so important. That really goes against my nature too though. I love to just jump in and do something! Plus, it's so hard when you watch people online who are so good. I know I'll never be that good, but I want to do something cool! Then I remember that it's cool I'm doing this in the first place- learning something new that most people past 20 don't even attempt. And, just like you with Seth, it's been so great to skate with my husband. Anyways, glad you're healing up. take care!
It is definitely hard to compare yourself to other online skaters, they always make learning look so fast and easy! Now I am easing back into it and just trying to enjoy the journey and the time with my son more than the pressure to progress.
As someone that's recently started skating again, being decent in my youth and started skateboarding as a complete beginner, I've come to realise that at 41 I'm not going to be keeping up with the youngsters so in addition to relearning/learning all the basics I'm trying to focus my trick selection to lower-risk but odd/weird/creative/technical things as opposed to the huge gaps and long grinds of my youth. I was inspired by a skateboarder called Richie Jackson (check him out) and though I have no hope of reaching his level I hope to apply some of the same creativity to both skateboarding and rollerblading.
I come from the exact opposite camp, I was a pretty good skateboarder in my youth and just recently started inline. I have been dividing my time recently between the two while trying to get my MCL healed up. My loss of skateboard skills bothers me way more than the slow progression on the skates, but like you I have come to realize I'm never going to be able to keep up with the kids, or even the 40 somethings. Slowing down my expectations has really helped me deal with both sports and is keeping me off the concrete more, and that's a good thing. In the end, I still love skateboarding and inline skating now too, and its all about having fun with it. I get the added benefit of spending time with my son too, so its a double good deal.
The frontwards is good, the backwards I am still working on. That is not a natural motion and with age related stiffness, quite challenging. I am getting better though and hopefully someday will be able to cruise either direction at will.
I’m 38 and started skating in December. I learned a couple grinds in my garage over the winter. I skated a flat set up around the block for the first time and I realized I barely know how to skate. So this spring/ summer I’m focusing on skating and stoping. Maybe a few little jumps and that’s it.
That's what hit me. I realized I was trying all these new tricks when I couldn't even skate the length of the park backwards or do some other basic skating moves that would be required to skate on the street. Learning new tricks at the park is certainly fun, but so is leaving every session without pain and the motivation is higher when I feel better. Good luck on your progression this year!
I'm 38 too and started in October! :) Yay us! yeah, I learned quickly- after running into a wall and breaking my nose!- that learning to stop is very important so smart to prioritize that! 😅
Another 38 (this year) and learning pretty much from scratch, other than a little ice/inline skating at around 12. Picked up big wheel skates in November 23 after a few sessions on rental skates. Got aggressive skates in January and it has been a painful learning process. Nearly gave up a couple of times but it's starting to click.. A little at least
@@Fredward1986 I think starting from scratch at any age other than probably your teens or 20's is much harder and glad to hear you got into it. I think the "aggressive" part is what gives me the most trouble. Skating the transitions is really fun, but the grinding is really hard for me. I have a knee with advanced arthritis and it really limits my jumping ability, so trying to work around that has been a challenge. Backing down and working on the basics has kept me off the concrete a bit more and that certainly helps. I would really like to try some urban skating too, maybe in time. Keep at it and stay safe!
I took the dumbest fall and basically buckled my leg and ankle.... I ended up breaking my ankle, and Im out for months now. Pretty down in the dumps about it all ngl... but doing my best to keep striving on.
Oh man, I hate to hear that! Make sure to keep up as much strength and mobility work as you can, it goes really fast. I wish you a full and speedy recovery!
@sabrinajennings8371 yup always the dumb falls... this is the 3rd time in my life I've broken a bone. It's never been from something that probably should have broken a bone but always the small goofy falls... Thanks for the kind words!
Over time I have had my share of injuries from a variety of sports but I wouldn't say I ever struggled with them any more than the average participant. As I get older though, they do seem to come more frequently and mostly due to a lack of mobility and the knee arthritis. The mobility I am working hard on, but its a very slow process for me, the knee issue is just something I have to deal with, its not going away.
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Something I've learned since I started skating (at age 48, first time ever in a skatepark at 49, 54 now) is how every single skater is different, with a different history, different mental outlooks, different physical capacities, different everything. I can drop in, up to about 6 foot, but I've never been able to grind or even stall. The frustration of that was strangling all the love I had for skating and I'd leave pretty much every session feeling like a failure and totally pissed off. So I did something totally out of character for me - I quit. Not quit skating, just quit trying to learn stalls and grinds. Five and a half years of trying was long enough, and I can't handle making zero progress long-term. Having nothing to show for years of practise is stupid. So now I concentrate on big wheeling, using skates for transport, commuting and fitness, and just use the skatepark to roll round in when the weather's crap and to meet up with blader friends. Each to their own. You're doing amazing and progressing just great so I hope you manage to stay fit and well and keep it going. Strength to you. 👏👏💪💪
You are so right, every person is different and being hurt or frustrated takes the fun out of everything. I am glad you found your groove. We have made some friends at the local park (mostly skateboarders) and now half the fun is just hanging out with them.
My skating improved massively when I started to focus on perfecting what I know rather than learning new tricks. Now I'm at the stage where if I do attempt a new trick, I pick it up a lot quicker than i did in the past, but I won't spend a whole session on it. I'll maybe spend 80-90% of my time doing what I already know. An added benefit is that I always leave the park feeling like it was a good session, rather than feeling frustrated that I spent the whole time trying to learn a new trick and didn't land it.
That's exactly what I am going for now. My backwards skating is improving, my transition skills are improving, my general confidence on the skates is improving, and I leave every session in a lot less pain than previously, and that's as much or more motivating than the trick progression. I still want the trick progression, but now I am enjoying the journey a lot more, which is a new thing for me.
Yes, I am 45 with my body, but my mind is still in my teens and 20s you’re doing an amazing job. I got back into skating because of your videos. It is a mental struggle that I can’t do what I used to do but I do have to get that realization that I’m not young anymore so go at your own pace, it still is amazing for us older peoples to watch and join you with our journeys as well. Set up before and I will still say it you’re an inspiration to a bunch of us keep it up. And get those basics down and then slowly start adding one bit at a time. I’ve gone to a couple skate parks and do have fun dropping in, but I can’t grind and I can’t do the spins that I used to do or the flips I used todo and it does suck. we are getting out there keeping our youth going so again keep it up. 👍🏻
Great to hear from you again and know you are still skating! I have been working on just general skating and working my way back up to stuff I was doing before I was injured and hopefully that will keep me off the concrete a bit more. Having started from scratch, there are so many things I want to be able to do, but I don't have the same struggles I do with say skateboarding, where I was pretty good in my youth, that's a much harder mental struggle. Its probably the same with the inlines, its much harder to come back and not be able to do things you used to be able to. In the end though we are getting out there and having fun and that's what its all about!
There was a moment when I decided to slow down, to reduce the pressure of learning faster, stop trying to compete with people I follow on Instagram (who of us learn more tricks faster). Everyone is different and has different pace of development. So now I try to just enjoy rollerblading ☺️ Looking forward to seeing you again skating soon 💪
You hit it exactly, I was putting pressure on myself to learn faster and for no real reason. For most everything I have ever done, I operated that way - push, push, push until I get to a certain level then move on. Inline skating is one of the few sports I have taken up with no desire to complete, I just wanted to have fun with my son but found myself in that old mode of push, push, push. Sometimes it takes an injury to make you step back and reevaluate your motives and for that I am grateful. I am back skating now and enjoying it even more, so in the end even though it was painful, it was a positive lesson.
In life I'm a generalist. In my first go around with aggressive inline (90s, early 00s) I was very much a generalist who constantly tried new things but never worked at anything. This time round, I'm taking it slow and learning things so I can do them reliably and well. I'm also learning everything on both sides. I recommend it, it transforms any given skate spot.
Working on both sides is a great idea. Some things I am better at one way and some another. Some of that is the arthritic knee and some is just balance, but all of it can be improved.
I hear ya!! I realized that learning the basics, as unimpressive and flashy as that is, is so important. That really goes against my nature too though. I love to just jump in and do something! Plus, it's so hard when you watch people online who are so good. I know I'll never be that good, but I want to do something cool! Then I remember that it's cool I'm doing this in the first place- learning something new that most people past 20 don't even attempt. And, just like you with Seth, it's been so great to skate with my husband. Anyways, glad you're healing up. take care!
It is definitely hard to compare yourself to other online skaters, they always make learning look so fast and easy! Now I am easing back into it and just trying to enjoy the journey and the time with my son more than the pressure to progress.
As someone that's recently started skating again, being decent in my youth and started skateboarding as a complete beginner, I've come to realise that at 41 I'm not going to be keeping up with the youngsters so in addition to relearning/learning all the basics I'm trying to focus my trick selection to lower-risk but odd/weird/creative/technical things as opposed to the huge gaps and long grinds of my youth.
I was inspired by a skateboarder called Richie Jackson (check him out) and though I have no hope of reaching his level I hope to apply some of the same creativity to both skateboarding and rollerblading.
I come from the exact opposite camp, I was a pretty good skateboarder in my youth and just recently started inline. I have been dividing my time recently between the two while trying to get my MCL healed up. My loss of skateboard skills bothers me way more than the slow progression on the skates, but like you I have come to realize I'm never going to be able to keep up with the kids, or even the 40 somethings. Slowing down my expectations has really helped me deal with both sports and is keeping me off the concrete more, and that's a good thing. In the end, I still love skateboarding and inline skating now too, and its all about having fun with it. I get the added benefit of spending time with my son too, so its a double good deal.
Yes brother the fundamentals are everything.. Learn to zip around the park comfortably, forward & backwards etc.
The frontwards is good, the backwards I am still working on. That is not a natural motion and with age related stiffness, quite challenging. I am getting better though and hopefully someday will be able to cruise either direction at will.
I’m 38 and started skating in December. I learned a couple grinds in my garage over the winter. I skated a flat set up around the block for the first time and I realized I barely know how to skate. So this spring/ summer I’m focusing on skating and stoping. Maybe a few little jumps and that’s it.
That's what hit me. I realized I was trying all these new tricks when I couldn't even skate the length of the park backwards or do some other basic skating moves that would be required to skate on the street. Learning new tricks at the park is certainly fun, but so is leaving every session without pain and the motivation is higher when I feel better. Good luck on your progression this year!
I'm 38 too and started in October! :) Yay us! yeah, I learned quickly- after running into a wall and breaking my nose!- that learning to stop is very important so smart to prioritize that! 😅
Another 38 (this year) and learning pretty much from scratch, other than a little ice/inline skating at around 12. Picked up big wheel skates in November 23 after a few sessions on rental skates. Got aggressive skates in January and it has been a painful learning process. Nearly gave up a couple of times but it's starting to click.. A little at least
@@Fredward1986 I think starting from scratch at any age other than probably your teens or 20's is much harder and glad to hear you got into it. I think the "aggressive" part is what gives me the most trouble. Skating the transitions is really fun, but the grinding is really hard for me. I have a knee with advanced arthritis and it really limits my jumping ability, so trying to work around that has been a challenge. Backing down and working on the basics has kept me off the concrete a bit more and that certainly helps. I would really like to try some urban skating too, maybe in time. Keep at it and stay safe!
38 too. Gotta keep it goin
I took the dumbest fall and basically buckled my leg and ankle.... I ended up breaking my ankle, and Im out for months now. Pretty down in the dumps about it all ngl... but doing my best to keep striving on.
Oh man, I hate to hear that! Make sure to keep up as much strength and mobility work as you can, it goes really fast. I wish you a full and speedy recovery!
Aw, that sucks! It's always the dumb falls, I know from experience🤦♀Hope you heal quickly!
@sabrinajennings8371 yup always the dumb falls... this is the 3rd time in my life I've broken a bone. It's never been from something that probably should have broken a bone but always the small goofy falls...
Thanks for the kind words!
@theaverageoldguy Thanks for the kind words, dude! I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for you as well! Happy adventures! Keep on keepin' on!
you seem to be pretty active. have you been struggling with injuries this much with other sports you've done?
Over time I have had my share of injuries from a variety of sports but I wouldn't say I ever struggled with them any more than the average participant. As I get older though, they do seem to come more frequently and mostly due to a lack of mobility and the knee arthritis. The mobility I am working hard on, but its a very slow process for me, the knee issue is just something I have to deal with, its not going away.