Middle Aged Skate Dad's Skateboarding Journey at 53 Years Old | "A Deck of Cards & a Joker..."

Once again this year, as a mediocre, middle aged skateboarding dad, I started looking back at how to ride a skateboard & skatepark at the age of 42 and then continued to incrementally progress.
As with previous years, you may want to set your expectations low, then set them lower again so that you are not disappointed.
Also, keep in mind that I'm a parent working a full time job which averages around 50-60 hours a week, and commuting to work typically 1.5 hours each way.
Continuing to build on my biggest progression of learning how to frontside 5050, I combined this maneuver with the direction of our 'parental party' crew of working on mini-bowl/mini-ramp tricks.
The biggest breakthrough was doing mini ramp variations from the front 5050 and getting comfortable going back into the ramp/bowl fakie.
There are some new tricks and learns in this video, but most importantly, I am having a lot of fun and enjoying life with my son, friends, and the stoke that skateboarding brings to our lives.
I continue to be eternally grateful for the gift of being able to experience being a dad through skateboarding and supporting our son's passion for skateboarding.
May you also find the same love, light and connection in whatever passion you share with your family and friends.
As concluded in each of the previous videos to date;
"What kind of idiot starts skateboarding at the age of 42 and still skates at 53 years old?!"
That idiot in 2024 continues to be "Me....."
Song 1: Sensi Trails ft. KBong - Just Livin'
Song 2: Fortunate Youth - Good Times (Roll On)
53歳スケボー
53歳スケートボード
50代スケボー
50代スケートボード
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Background on why I am a Middle-Aged Skateboarding Dad....
In 2013, at the age of 42, I started the process of relearning how to ride a skateboard on flatground. I had not ridden a skateboard in over 25 years, but I was determined to learn how to ride again so that I can teach my autistic son how to skate.
I then transitioned and started learning how to ride the skate park.
Up until then, I had never ridden a skatepark or had much experience riding bowls or transition.
For years, we struggled to have him even acknowledge us as his parents and to find a common bond as a family. Through skateboarding, our autistic son began acknowledging us.
We have been grateful for having found skateboarding. It has become an integral part of our life and family's life extending to the grandparents who are also very supportive.
One day, our son found an old skateboard in the garage which he had no idea how to ride. He just found that the wheels spun and he would sit there and spin the wheels over and over. One day, he had a meltdown and I put him on the front of the skateboard and rolled him across the sidewalk.
I noticed an immediate relaxing and calming effect that it had on him and we began to use skateboarding as a therapeutic activity to allay his anxieties, build confidence and a relationship with our son.
At the time, I searched for a skateboarding instructor for my son throughout Northern California, but none had experience working with special needs children. I came to the conclusion that I would have to relearn how to skateboard and then teach him.
In addition to developing a connection and relationship with my son, through this whole experience, I not only relearned how to skate, but am enjoying the ride along the way, and have met a lot of great people.
Skateboarding has truly bonded my family and brought the stoke back into my life. I have now skated longer than I have in high school and a better skateboarder than I was when I last set foot on a skateboard at the age of 17.
I'm grateful that I have the continued health and ability to ride the skateboard and parks with my son. Most parents; including those younger than me in their 30s~50s don't ride and watch their kids from the sidelines or the car.
Please check out our other videos on this channel, including the mini-documentary on our son titled, "Justin's Journey"
• Justin's Journey - A F...

[@jamescat2386]

ultimately the best 'trick' to pull on a skateboard is having fun, and your big smile there tells me you pulled it off

[@tmangler7812]

Daaaaang thats a deep bag of tricks, your killing it!! 🤘🛹‼️👌👏

[@goosedizon]

Inspiring bro., thank you for sharing 🤙🏽

[@BagelDaze]

You are making some of my favorite skate videos lately. I hope I can progress like you

[@corybrown9933]

So encouraging. I watched ur vids last year, then fell and tore my rotator cuff. I’m 50 now, but I’ve been back at it and just learned a couple of weeks ago for the first time how to drop in. Dropped in at 4’ and now 5’. I don’t know what to do when I get to the other side yet, but I’m getting there😂

[@roscoecoltrane9523]

Sunnyvale. Lake Cunningham. My two haunts. See you out there. From one 53yo to another.