I recently met up with Kevin Marks from Look Back Library (ruclips.net/video/ZpwQ8wry5uQ/видео.html) to get his thoughts on the aging skateboarders perspective. Also, checkout Kevin's mini ramp part after you watch this: ruclips.net/video/YAZnRDb5yWk/видео.html *Kevin's addendum "I don't want it to sound like I'm complaining that I'm SO OLD. I want to acknowledge that people are skating well into their 60's now and in some cases into their 70's. I look to people like Dave Bergthold {@blockhead_skateboards}, Phil Burcher {@hoot_ride}, Kyong Kim {@kyongkim}, Wrex Cook {mtpoolz}, & Jim Gray {@grayslide} for routine inspiration. These fine gentlemen are older than me and not only are they always out skating, they also put out fun edits of many of their sessions that get me stoked. - Kevin Marks"
I wanted to ask about the ramp dimensions myself...anyone who can turn me onto those exact ramp plans (or very similar) I'd be willing to pay a few $heckles!!
@@nicvlcek I can't tell you a ton as it's not my ramp but I've built a fair few ramps in my day. Based on the 4x8 sheet of plywood, it's 16' wide, about 4' high on the low parts, ~5' on the high, probably an 8'/9' transition (size of the radius) and an 8' flat in the middle. I particularly like the little drop channel they have next to the extension on the right side. Hope that helps! :)
I just turned 36 earlier this year and I struggle with this already. Skateboarding has been my identity since I was 13 years old in one way or another. I quit actively skating for 10+ years but still stayed in the skate culture if that makes any sense. Health problems arose and I gained a bunch of weight, got lazy, made bad decisions, yada yada. A year ago this month I decided that I needed to push myself to be active and healthy, so I started skating again. I have a family but still make time to go to the park 3-4 days a week on average, sometimes more or sometimes less. Skateboarding has given me my life back in a mental AND physical sense. I'm healthier now than I've been in a LOOONG time. I'm no longer obese and I'm in a better place mentally. My core group of skate friends are half my age but they are solid people who push me to be a better skateboarder. Hell, I have progressed more in the last year than I did at any point in my teens and twenties, but I'm not partying like I was back then. I'm focused on having fun, learning some new tricks, and focusing on feeling comfortable with who I am a at this stage in my life. Sorry for the long post, but this topic doesn't come up much and I'm glad to see this video. Thanks Zack!
Dude! Sounds similar to my situation however I stopped for about 14 years and picked it back up 6 months ago at 30 and am now as fit as I have been in years, lost 20kg and am skating the best I ever have, albeit at a sort of low intermediate level 🤣
56 here. Stopped skating at 28ish I think, once the family started. I've been wanting to get back into it as a casual, health oriented thing (like you I put on some weight as I think skating was the only thing keeping me in shape). I'm no where near as nimble and flexible as I once was but perhaps taking it slow and steady I might be able to go carve a bowl or grind some coping again. Like your story, congrats.
Bigger wheels, wider boards, less stairs and more bowls, less slams and still more injuries. It changes. Still, the thing I miss the most, is the camaraderie. A lot of sessions are alone, I miss rolling 8 deep with my 7 best friends.
I get together with a few of my old friends a couple times a month. My friend Davie, my friend Kate and my friend Neil. We get together and plan it out. Go down the bar, get a few beers and skate until 2am.
Old school skater here, 61 years old. Smashed my ankle bad and had to hang it up in the early 80s, but I still love watching the videos. Count yourself blessed to still be skating at all.
I had to stop skating in 2014 at the age of 39 due to cancer. I have for the time being made a complete recovery and am now working again. Five years later and I'm looking to jump back in but nowhere near the level I was before. I just want to cruise around and do low impact stuff. That ramp looks fun!
Good luck man. Just know your limitations. I'm 50 and as for me, I am currently happy just carving around and working on manuals. You don't need to be doing rails or anything else crazy to have fun. Look at Andy Anderson. I want to learn the freestyle tricks he does on a big board.
Dude I'm 44 and been skating since the late 80s, My Sk8 Sess starts off with me Watching The Old School H-Street Hokus Pokus Video to get Pumped then Sk8 for like 30 mins to an hour, That passion will never leave Me..... If I'm not actually skating... I'm Always skating in my mind. #IAMGenX 🛹 #Sk8orDie 🛹
It's not easy to articulate into words, but yes it is different now at 50. My skate bestie is 52, and my other homie is 38, it's always us 3 amigo's. We skate super early sessions, and right at 3 hours our bodies are feeling done, our sessions are always positive and a "Injury free day" is a win/win!!!
I got my first born at 23 and stop skating... i was still pushing a board around. Now at 40 i skate with my 17years old son and 15 years old daughter, when they want their dad around heheh. Be able to skateboarding with my kids is one of the best feeling i had, sharing moments with them and passing to a new generation what skateboard really is.
I’m right here with you. 40 is knocking on my door and my confidence is worn. Between work snd family injuries are a constant fear and I find myself just wanting to cruise around more than anything.
I love that one of the first clips is you sweeping the ramp. It's the first thing I do when I ride the outdoor mini nearby. You speak a lot of wisdom in this video -- good on you! I still ride and I'm fifty-five, but I live in Dresden, Germany now. Seeing that there were no skateboards available before the fall of the wall in 1989, the next oldest skaters here are roughly forty years old. So the roughest part about skating is I'm riding with people half my age or they're even young enough to be my grandchildren. As you mentioned, their intensity level is insane. So I push myself - I shattered my collarbone two years ago. Took a frontside dive from the the top of the six foot high ramp. Ha! Titanium is holding me together. The same problem here with the big city parks. Lots of little kids push around the parks on running bikes and scooters. I stay away from those parks. Live long and die skating! Cheers from Dresden!
The root of suffering is attachment. If you are too attached to the past, you will beat yourself up for not being as good as you used to be instead of enjoying the present moment: that you are having fun doing what you love.
I totally agree. I'm not living in my glory days of being a brilliant skater. I'm happy just to be able to rediscover the joy of doing what I can after lots of life's challenges robbed me of that ability. No expectations. Just joy and fun in today's skin. I started a small group of likeminded people. New good times and achievements no matter the age. 50 is the new 35!
nah mate. It is what defines some people. It is their self image. A lifetime of a self image, a defining aspect of a human, career, life choices. Then strip away the acquired image slowly, due to ageing. It is hard. I work in the industry, I have seen it with the amazing pros I have been lucky enough to work around. IDK, I get it, it is hard for athletes. It is not attachment, it is loosing the skills that once defined ones self image (i do realize it sounds like attachment, it is more of a struggle of coming to terms with a loss, like any loss in one's life. Almost like the steps in grieving)
Just turned 35 and this popped up in my feed (you've been skating for almost as long as I've been alive). I think I needed to hear everything you had to say... Your not alone with those worries and fears starting to have them now. Especially as my crew starts to have kids, become boring and move away.
the good thing about never being very "good" when i was younger is that after taking a long break for most of my 20s/30s at 44 i am actually better than i ever was before....of course that comes with having (in my mind) reasonable ideas about what i can/want to do on my board...but just being stoked to carve around, grind, ollie...doing basic shit that just feels good...
46, restarted skating 2 years ago, still progressing, with better focus but worse body compared to the 20 year old me. I stretch a lot doing yoga and workout with weights to fight muscle loss. Gonna keep carving bowls as long as I can walk!
Spot on brother. I'll be 42 this year. I often find that when someone asks if I'm any good, I say I should be alot better considering how long I've been skating. I shouldn't dog myself like that. I've beat college students at their games of s.k.a.t.e.. I tend to skate solo for an hour at most a couple times a week. The slams happen less, but they hurt for longer and recently I've found the pain migrating around my body as my bones settle. Sucks getting older, but skating is part of me and it ain't dying til the rest of me does. You're looking plenty comfy on that board, on that ramp, in your 50's.
You’re the only skate “vlog” channel that isn’t fake, corny, or pretentious. Love what you do Zach this is an awesome video. I’m 27 and hearing older guys talk like this really motivates me to stay on top of my health and appreciate skating for the right reasons.
I’m 47 & feel the exact same way..thanks for sharing this. BUT look at Tony Alva..60 years old and still breaking into backyard pools. If you want to skate till 60 you will bro.
Yeah Man! I am picking up what you are putting down. The mental challenges that come from being an aging skater (52 yrs currently) are truly real and have to be confronted. I have wrestled with the intelligence of continuing skating many times. Particularly after a bad injury. I’ve always have concluded that the rewards far outweigh the risk. Keeping the reins in and being satisfied with the little things has kept my stoke high. Progression in fluidity and grace is where I find satisfaction, along with just being around the parks and scenes for the sheer enjoyment of watching the shredding go down right in front of my face. (Prince Park is good for that) Thank you for sharing your thoughts and hope to see that blue sprinter in the lot real soon brother, skateparkrespect!
Wow. This hit me right on the money. 47 years old here. Started skating seriously from 14-18. Gave it up because of life getting busy, college, marriage, kids, and many other excuses I told myself. Last year my two youngest sons asked me about skating and wanted to try it. I had an absolute blast picking out boards, trucks and wheels etc with them and building their boards with them. It prompted me to start skating again too! Surprisingly my balance is still pretty damn good but my cardio sucks compared to my teens obviously ha ha. I’m having a good time though carving and surfing around, grinding and sliding a bit etc. I never thought in a million years I’d find the love of skating again in my later 40’s. Thanks for sharing. Ya got a sub from me sir. Cheers!
I'm about your age and also began skating in the early to mid 80's... What got me was recovery times from injuries. Then as a result having to take time off work. After a back injury a few yrs ago I'm just an observer now but admire the folks still out there hustling away on a skateboard Good times 😎
As a skater that recently turned 52. I appreciate the time I get to skate. I focus on having fun. This is the most important to me. I do love skating with close friends and that I make new friends when I do skate.
I hear ya man. I started skateboarding around 73, when I was 6 years old. Started out on an orange plastic board from K-Mart. Im turning 54 this year. Hard to believe the aches and pains I feel sometimes. I may can do some of the thigs I used to do, but it takes me longer, and after, I can can sure feel it. Welcome to CLUB 50.
I'm 57 and still ride. Rode a couple of years in the late 70's, then didn't get on one again 'till I was around 45. One thing about never having gotten good in the first place - never really had the opportunity to ride and learn on parks and ramps - is I don't really have skills to lose. I'm just happy to ride a board. Carve turns, do 180's, take a long board on the bike trail... Oh, and stay in shape! Getting fat will make everything physical that you do that much more difficult. I've stayed lean and muscular to this day.
Great vid! The biggest positive I can see for you is all the single 50 year old Ladies checking out your butt thinking how much cooler and fitter you are than all the other 50 year old guys that sit in office chairs all day! As an almost 50 surfer I hit the wall at 40 and stopped surfing due to injuries. Then discovered yoga, ice baths, Wim Hoff and breathing exercises which completely blew me away. Now ripping better than ever. Keep learning and don't believe anyone that says you cant! Keep those wheels rolln!
This is awesome, I know exactly what you're talking about, Kevin. I'm a 46 yo woman that still shreds almost daily. I'm a street skater but really into ramps lately. The only thing that changed is that injuries take much longer to heal and I pad up+ wear helmet when I hit the park ( I'm a single mom and want to be around for my young son ). If I can keep up the good health I plan to rip till I r.i.p..
Great to see you skating. I'm the same age but only got into skating in my 40's. Nothing technical, I just enjoy it from time to time. I do a little surfing also, and that's something I know I can do without getting injured as easy. I have a few surf buddies, all similar age as me so I consider myself very lucky. Keep skating, you're incredible still.
Thanks for this!!!....I appreciate how you expressed the inner dialog and the importance of having a crew to keep it going as we get older. I'm lucky to have a group of skate friends of mixed ages who are super supportive and skating together keeps us connected and keeps me skating. I've been rolling since '72 and am turning 59 this year so I'm the oldest dog at 99.9% of the sessions. I really have to push myself out the door but I always come back with a smile on my face!
So cool of you to post your way of dealing with age. My son worry’s at 23 . I’m 77 and still try things I did at a much younger age. I still drag race a quick chevelle. Keep inspiring young people.
48 years old, started skating in the mid eighties, and at it again after a 19 year "hiatus". . Blew out my knee skating in 2001, and trying to overcome that fear is the hardest damn thing. Been skating with my 10 year old son, all padded up. We went to a new skatepark in Myyrmäki, Finland last weekend and we both had a blast. Kevin spoke a lot of what I am feeling and seeing out there nowadays. Thanks for the interview! Keep skating, be safe and fight those damn "fear demons"!
Good Video. I'm 47 years old and a late starter, only started skating 3 years ago, so rather than my skills diminishing as I get older, I feel like I'm progressing..(learnt to kick flip at 46)...I skate whenever I can. Solo, with my sons, with friends, with the locals at the skate park, with strangers..... I just love the feeling of skateboarding and love the camaraderie that there is amongst skateboarders of all ages. I hope to do this for as long as physically possible.
Hit the nail right on the head. I will be 49 in October and share the same exact thoughts as you said. I find myself at the park as soon as the sun comes up to avoid crowds and distractions also . I ride shaped boards and will always have a reissue with me to offer up to young skaters who think it’s cool looking to try and shed some light of where it started. My teenage son rips and it’s cool to just skate with my son and share some bumps and bruises. Keep it going until you can’t is my thoughts also and Great video.
I’ve skated since I was 10, I’m 43 now . I don’t mean skated for 2 years before I got a car, I mean played with it from 10-12 then skated every single day pretty much until I was 38 or so. I skate about once a month now and I can’t deal with not being good anymore. It is pure depressing, and I’m not a depressed person. Any given time I ride a skateboard could be the last. So here’s what I say to anyone who would listen - Don’t get too into skateboarding. After you turn 40, unless you are extremely gifted, working just a little too much, or going through a life change, or any responsibility at all really can snatch 20+ years of hard work away. I’m thankful that I spent my best years skateboarding, and during the best eras of skating. But skateboarding can never be replaced by anything else. And time and the world will always take it
Thanks for this video. It's hard being 32, 3 knee surgeries and having most of my friends move on from skating. It's time to just enjoy to little things more. I can still skate and that's what matters most.
I made it to mid-40s before I got side-lined by breaking my tib/fib doing frontside grinds over a cut-out. Watching your foot flop backward is a pretty gnarly experience. I still go out and roll around, but I'm not gonna lie... I'm pretty gun-shy now. Glad I found this vid! Keep rollin'!!
I'm 47 and I do both BMX and Sk8. I hurt more when I bail but that's pretty much it. then again the problem here is that many of us have jobs and don't have time to skate the way we did when we were younger. my thing is, I went back to basics and it's fun. The young kids don't mind, they love it when an OG rides and shreds with them.
I'm 46 and can relate to everything you say! I'm really happy to be still able to slash round the local bowl compared to the guy's I went to school with and what they're doing now! I really agree with what you say about skateparks being used by parents as a playground for their kids! It's got a lot worse in the last few years! The scooter thing is so bad here Germany that I won't even go out after midday to a public park ever! It's just not worth it. I try to encourage the etiquette thing at our park but usually it's a waste of time. The thing I get from being an older skater is an appreciation and perspective for just enjoying being on the board.
This is so cool. Thanks for the effort and wisdom. I grapple with all this stuff all the time, but have settled on acceptance. You gotta celebrate the numinous-ness of still being able to simply roll around. It truly is an amazing skill to acquire and to keep doing it, even if it is slack and simple and mundane, it is something to cherish. I've been skating for at least 45 years, am soon 56, a teacher, and look forward to my summer off to skate a bunch. As I age, skating - though I don't do it as often as I'd like - somehow becomes more important and more sublime. Thanks so much for posting this stuff - I am a fan. Keep up the good work. Cheers!
@@cycologist7069 it's the best kind of bowl! You can get you gnarl in it and you can have local bands playing around it while you do! Oh...and it's concrete...😏
Good on you man. I'm 45 and just got back into it after a 30 year break (due to my kids starting skating). I have a constant bruised right hip. It takes me a long time to warm up each time I go out and the falls are so much harder. The good thing is, I know I don't have time on my side so I go for things I would of put off when I was younger. They always say, 'fear doesn't stop bad things happening... It stops you living'.
I'm loving these age-related videos. I didn't stop skating till I was in my 40s and that was after breaking my arm and realizing that it took way longer to heal. I'm going to be 50 soon and I don't think I'm going to wait that much longer to get back on a board. Thanks for posting this stuff.
This video came up in my feed right after a best trick vid where somebody nailed a bs kickflip lipslide revert. I am 48 and that vid was making me feel old. Then I watched this and feel better. I agree with most of it but I LOVE skating new places, especially new (to me) skateparks and skating for hours on end when I make a road trip to a park. I think what messes with me more than anything else as an older skater is the stress of life getting in my head. I used to be able to push all that out of mind a lot better. Sometimes a good slam is what it takes to remind me to get in the flow and focus on what I am doing. Many thanks for posting this honest video. And 50/50 fakie is still a great trick to have in your bag!
Getting 39, skated for 15 years, stopped 10, but watched and observed skateboarding A LOT for the last 6 years, while not actively skateboarding. Tomorrow, my new deck is arriving! Can't wait for getting out there again!
@@idmhead0160 that's a good reminder, thanks. It's so tempting to think everything will still work like it used to back in the day. First I'll hit the good old flatground.
@@jorris58 Last year when I got my first new board, I skated for miles. Must have been exercising muscles in the bottom of my feet that don't normally get used. It felt like tendonitis or something. Luckily that went away. I'm able to skate for hours now without a problem. Though, I know not to over do it.
You are awesome! I feel you on so many levels incl. the vanlife:-) Im 37 now picking up skating after 20 yrs pause and if I am on your level when turning 50 I would be more than happy.
@@tonyravioli144 lol I don’t think you have half the education I do einsteinium, you missing the point. you are quick at looking Google and think you look smart 😂 you don’t. Period.
Dude keep killing it! I'm 35 and just got back into after roughly 20yrs off. Wish I never stopped because it's definitely way harder now to go skate with work and a family. Fear of injury is way bigger now as well and I don't imagine that's going away. Just doing my best to enjoy the 1ish session I get per week and trying to make the best of it!
This is really a conversation about life. Our motivations and circle dwindle with the years. The people we shared the strongest bonds with move away and we have to make new friends or move on to new endeavors. Nice ramp, looks fun. Pivot to fakie was very clean, I’d be happy to do one like that.
I relate to everything he says 100% It's uncanny. I haven't really had a decent session in over a year. I'll be 48 in June...I need to get off my ass and not worry that I can't do what I used to... Thanks so much for sharing!
I think there is a saying that says something about how people always remain the same, their bodies just get older. That's the way I feel. I am still a skater at heart at 50. I can still remember one day in particular probably back when I was round 18. I was ripping and hitting every trick. My friends couldn't believe it. I was just laughing. I don't think I felt better any other time in my life.
44 yr. old skater also going through something with identity as I also have Achilles tendon injury that just will not heal, bro. Life is weird today, gotta admit that without skating. I'm feeling jaded as I thought I could get more out of this semi- healthy vessel
I hear you. I'm sitting here with a swollen ankle. I've always had issues with my ankles. I started skating again about a year ago and have had good luck for the most part. I was off for decades before that for fear of more ankle problems. In 2001 I sprained my right ankle bad and figured that was it. Sad thing is, I think the latest injury wasn't even from skating, but, from crouching down setting up new deck and installing the grip tape. Woke up the next morning to a tight feeling ankle swollen ankle. I f-ing hate ankle injuries. I have spent most of the past 30 years at a desk writing computer code. Now my vision is getting worse. Too many hours staring at a screen. I would rather be out on my board carving around than sitting at a computer. Plus my dad died in a car accident a few months back. Skating is one of the only fun things in life. Hopefully my ankle will heal up and I won't have too many future problems. I have a new set of wheels and trucks coming in on Wednesday. I'm staying off my ankle and keeping compression on it. Hopefully the swelling won't take a long time to go down. I've had this happen before and it takes a month. Good luck with your tendon.
I hope I can still skate at 50, im working on reversing damage now, strength training, eating right, cardio, shit you should do when you feel like that next number is creeping up on you much love to everyone pushing numbers, still getting it
I know this feeling too well. I am going to be 50 in July and I still want to flip my board and hit some honest skatepark handrails but there are moments I struggle with stopping because of my age...then someone at the park or my son says "You got this" and age goes right out the door! Still, a body in motions tends to stay in motion
No one says you have to be doing hand rails. There is a lot more to skating than that. At 50, I am happy to just be carving around and working manuals.
I’m 37 and I still feel like I am progressing. Maybe it’s because I make a lot of time to stay on my board and I don’t have any kids. I definitely have to focus on exercise, stretching and warming up but if you take care of your body, it really helps your longevity in skating.
Truth!! I have some friends that are 40 and progressing. It's all subjective, I think once the 50s hit you have to find that sweet balance, but again - if you condition you body you might be able to hang.
At first progression is slowing down, than you start to digress and digression speeds up with age. For example, the effort you need to put in to do a kickflip triples from 35 to 45.. etc.
@@Xmkdco not if you stretch and strengthen your lower body. I m actually more in shape than I was in my twenties are thirties because I've been training with resistance bands, kettlebells, etc...and it helps my skating a lot, I wish I would've done this as a young skater. Being more flexible overall is great. Just doing bodyweight squats helped my ollies.
@@sebp400 Yes, you need to do more physical activity outside of skateboarding, which proves my point. When you were younger you could ollie a set of stairs straight out of bed. You can't go against nature. Training will prolong your skating ability, so you will have to train and stretch more and more as the years go by thus spending 2-3 even 4 hours stretching and strengthening your body to be able to skate for 1 hour. Then recovery times also prolong. Do a good 1-hour session in the fifties and you need 3 days of recovery.
36 here and I've done some tricks recently that I never even learned when I was skating heavily in my late teens and early 20s. Progressing at this age feels absolutely incredible. Definitely doing looooots of stretching, haha
I’m 47 , now 250 lbs... I pick up a skateboard once in a blue moon just to see kids be shocked cuz I looked like an overweight/ muscled veterano . So at 35 I thought up to do a 180* tail stall , shove it out. At 42 I learned a Rodney Mullen big spin. Just never thought of those tricks before. At 46 I pulled some lowland tricks for a large group of teens who were shocked by what they thought was a paisa. I fell and got hurt from pure exhaustion doing a simple Oli. I played off the injury and everybody got in line and give me a high five. Never talk to my injury went to the hospital haven’t skated since.....
This is so spot on. I ride BMX and Mountain Biking at age 54 and this is what my RUclips channel is all about. The key for me is to just keep going and be as active as I can. There are a lot of things people can do to prolong their joy of whatever activity it is they do. A huge part of that is eating healthier, staying nimble (yoga helps) and always keep doing stuff that involves your body, even if it's just work around the house. I am also sober. Alcohol, smoking and drugs age your body faster than anything else. I had a left knee replacement and it has given me a renewal on active life. If you have issues with your body, it is so worth it to get the orthopedic care you need. This is video absolutely awesome. I hope to keep going well into my 60s. Sure, I don't learn all the crazy tricks people do these days, but for me that's not what it's about. I love riding at any level that I am capable of riding. ✌️
Thank you for this video. I can really relate to what you are talking about. I'm from Sweden but am also a single guy that have had lots of friends who have moved away. But it makes me so happy to here someone else that thinks the same way I do. So once again, thanks! Keep rolling. ✌🤙❤
Hell yeah! At 41 I feel this whole video. I took a hiatus for a while but now I try to skate 2-3 times a week, but everything he's saying is truth. All the older dudes I used to skate with kind of phased away and now I'm skating with people half my age. Remember all...it's all about the fun.
I always wanted to progress more but now I have to be content with what I can still land. We know a lot of weird tricks too, if you started in the late 80' s.
Your story is my story. I'm over the pursuit of the next trick. My love now is smooth downhill pavement and wheels with rounded edges. Big slides and carves. It's all about getting out there and feeling that freedom, just like when you got away from authority figures as a young teenager.
I hate that I quit around 25 and started again at 37, now 38. But like you said, I have to remind myself to be thankful. I'm learning new things and staying healthy the best I can.
Got my first skateboard in 1964. I was 12. Finally stopped a few years ago and gave away my last board last year. Im now 69. It was the injuries and lately, the fear of injury from a fall. Torn rotator cuff 3 years ago was a game changer. I still snowboard, ski, kite, bike and a bit of surf but cannot afford a hard forward fall so am a lot more careful so I can continue for a little while longer. I skated parks well into my early 60s. It does keep you young if the injuries dont get you.
Today is my 43rd birthday. I've been skating for 30 years. After a really nasty slam at a new park a couple of weeks ago, I had to accept the necessity of wearing pads and wrist guards EVERY TIME I ride concrete parks, because I know I like to go fast, and I know I am going to slam every session, and I can't afford any more serious injuries. I am officially a "Barney", that padded old guy. I'm okay with that, if it means I will be able to keep skating.
I made peace with this, a couple of years ago. It made skating fun again, because I’m just enjoying what I can do, and letting go of the anxiety of feeling like I’ll never learn certain tricks. I’m almost 45, and I’m a musician who can’t afford to get injured, so… I just poke around and have fun. There are plenty of tricks I can still do, and it’s a really fun way to get some exercise without feeling like I’m exercising. Also, you’re right about the energy between us and the young guns. I get stoked (and a break) watching them do my dream tricks, and they’re psyched that I’m still skating, and able to do some old school stuff that they can learn. It’s a passing of the torch, but it took some time to be okay with. There was a feeling of loss at first, but now I’m fine, and having a great time. Thanks for sharing this. It all resonated with me. Glad you’re still enjoying it. Skating is just good fun, and skaters are some of my favorite people. There are a ton of really intelligent, artistically talented people in the community, which I absolutely love!
Compound fracture to my ankle at 39 pretty much killed my skating....I still roll around and cruise but mentally it broke me. Can't take that risk with a job and family. Skating is just a sport where there is no way to guarantee you will not get hurt. Even the smallest insiginficant trick can take you out.
Nice perspective! We are so fortunate to have the ability to walk, let alone skateboard. There are many people with mobility issues. I'm now realizing that I need to take advantage of my able body while I have it. Also, nice mini-ramp.
I hear you man. Wife, kid, house to upkeep and full time job sure make it hard to find the time. Also nothing as discouraging as spending a whole sesh just warming up 😂. Back in the day it was like I’m awake so let’s go skate. Now I gotta be like wife, I’m putting it on the schedule, don’t try to stop me! Haha
I feel ya! 🤙🏼. 46 and still going had to take the foot off the gas though. Realizing sometimes you have to think of the next session instead of the next trick. Keep rolling! 🤘🏻🍻
I'm 41 and today I had my 30 minutes session in the park with all the youngsters and several good friends in their 40's as well. Just to be there rolling and tries to ollie, kickflips makes me happy in a way.
42 and just skated my local park today. At the end of my hour and a half sesh, I was teaching kids how to inward heel and nollie hard flip. But now I hurt and ice the shit out of my knees and ankles. Lol
I am totally wit you. 44 years skating for almost 30 years, still having best time on my board. Street no longer, parks and ramps late evenings and mornings. Last for one hour straight, no brakes because once you cool down cannot skate again. But still so humbly appreciating that I still can. One little injury and you done for life. All the best and hope we can still last :)
I'm almost 39 and my last skate buddy is 46. While I accept we're getting older and that's why we suck, he is adamant that the boards are worse and there is a secret cabal of nefarious players within the industry that want to make crappy boards. Anyway, we have been spending a lot more of our skate sessions building concrete obstacles and repairing our old spots. Neither of us have kids, so this is the best we can hope for to have any sort of legacy. we're doing a good deed for a community we care about and it's really fun!
LOL! Your friend sounds like a righteous dude. I'm down with the cabal of nefarious players making crappy boards theory. I will stop telling people how old I am and use that excuse instead.
I'm 50 .... Started skating again . I took up Surf Skate. It's easier on the body now . To me Surf Skate is the essence of skating ... Constant motion ....carves and flows ... I see other skate styles as stunts... Too old for that .... Break a leg now you're done for months . I also find it very meditative just pumping and carving.
I love it brother!! Really appreciate ur words!! I'm 46 . Falling freaking hurts like hell but I hav 5 kids that love the idea of bein able to skate at a public park.. to be honest I feel young again to!!! Thnx man!!
This video was great. I know Kevin and can definitely relate to everything he describes. I covet his pivot-to-fakie's and was recently inspired by him to get a few on the QP in my driveway. For anyone interested, here are a few things that have worked for me to keep the stoke alive at 46: 1.) Develop a routine. As you get older with work, kids, etc..., life is already a series of routines, why not make it work for you? Pick a couple of spots and go there at the same day and time every week for a couple of months in a row whether anyone goes with you or not. This helps get you out there (and that's half the battle) and usually snowballs into a small like-minded crew with similar schedules that can stay intact when you switch spots. 2.) Switch spots often. Getting older makes us fall into ruts and then we start noticing when a trick we have been doing forever starts taking longer. This leads to frustration and burn out. Keeping it fresh with new spots helps keep skating enjoyable. 3). Open your mind! This one seems easy but it took a long time for me to give up on my old beliefs about only skating a certain way, doing certain tricks and "looking cool". For example, when flip tricks stopped working I learned sweepers, bean plants, texas plants etc... Those were all tricks I didn't think were "cool" until I tried learning them and realized how fun they were. Skate a shaped board! Pad up and skate a bowl! Get a slappy session in the parking lot if the park is too crowded! As long as you are open to learning and experiencing new things you will always feel a sense of progression. Don't get hung up on being "cool". 4.) Skate vert. Trying to skate vert in my 40's has brought more humility and patience into all aspects of my life. I suck at it. The learning curve is incredibly slow for me and it makes me feel like I just started skating. But it is also incredibly fun and the feeling is like nothing I've ever experienced. The less hard you try, the better you get. It forces you to learn how to remain calm when you are terrified. I'm addicted. 5.) Ignore me and do what you want. Skateboarding rules!
Interesting perspective. I've had two ACL injuries in recent years and I am slowly (and cautiously) picking up the board again. Longboarding for now, streetskating later on hopefully. Still in my young twenties, but the thought of not being able to do something you love and enjoy (other sports as well) really goes deep. Your self-image and identity carry more weight than you would think. Although our situations are different I can relate on a deeper level (especially with the friend situation, as being unable to do sports meant I slowly disconnected with some of them over time). Great video!
I am 52 and i love to skate around town every day. I have been skating again since age 45. I can't really do any tricks, i can go off a curb. I ride very fast. "Spark up" a joint and go for a ride. I love it.
Me too. I'm 50. For the most part didn't skate for 30 years, but, started back up again last year. I had a bad ankle injury back in 2001 and figured that was it for me. Surprisingly, skating seemed to kind help that ankle. I'm mainly just skating the asphalt streets near my home. Just carving around and working on manuals and balance tricks. Maybe I can get my Ollies back, but, I'm happy just carving around even if I don't.
I have switched to a new wheel with zig zag tread. I have been using those, and i must say, these wheels are what i needed. They enable me to roll across rough surfaces like asphalt. They are called "Shark Wheels" fifty bucks for all four. I have put probably 250 miles, and it's barely starting to wear.
I quit skating when i started driving. I was a driving fool. Real quick this, real quick that, F that! I found a new love for skating again after i saw some beautiful longboards at Big 5 about seven years ago. This is when i am most happiest. I have had some hard crashes too. I crashed so hard one time a few years ago.I did what they call a "washcloth", my face hit the ground first while i had a grocery bag in each hand. I was rolling down the driveway as slow as i could while turning. That was a crazy incident. It looked like i got jumped. Bloody nose, Mark across my nose where it hit the ground. It was at night and nobody saw. try to push myself to go a little faster all the time. I can't do tricks except down one curb drop. I run around on the board all day. I can literally take the board to the store quicker than my friend can with his car. Peace.
I hurt my ankle too about two years ago. I dared myself to go in between a sign that said "right turn only" and the curb drop off to the street, it was a high curb. I probably could have made it, but i "choked" as i was doing it, and i stepped onto the street with the wrong foot. I wasn't supposed to step down anyway. I continued the ride home but i knew i messed it up.The next day i could not walk. Thought i broke it. Still could not walk on it. Twenty days later i went to the e r. I thought for sure it was broken. They took an x ray and found no indication of anything. I felt like a baby.Pretty soon the ankle got better and i was off and running. Peace
Love the vibe. So important in life to enjoy where one is and accept it. I'm 43...and I guess because I skate or exercise almost every day I can go two hours sometimes three hours on a session and still learn new tricks, but I know it won't last forever...
There's so much I love about being an older skater (46 at the time of this writing). You kinda look back at all the dumb stuff you grew out of, one of the main things is you truly, undoubtedly stop giving a damn about what anyone thinks the older you get (even if you think that way when you're younger). I just wish I bounced like I used to. I'm getting spinal fusion surgery done pretty soon, but I'll be able to skate again three months after the procedure's done, so I'm stoked. Before I wrecked my back a few months ago, I couldn't imagine not rolling, I'll just say that not rolling SUCKS! Can't wait to be back on again.
This hit for me as I’ve been struggling with these things. I’m 35. I started skating when I was 10 and stopped due to an accident when I was 22. Started up again last year. I need skateboarding not only for my sanity but I don’t want to loose who I am. As youre older the time available def diminishes. I beat myself up every session
It begins & ends with a carve. Skateboarding now is as fun as it ever was. It's even more special since I don't get to do it as often. Your wisdom resonates, thank you!
maybe LDP, carving and some Dancing Tricks.. gladfully I was never in park with skateboard. But I was with inliners and was doing the big halfpipes in my 20th and 30th .. had a big accident and never returned with inliners to park. Started longboarding year ago and snowboarding 5 years ago and I know that for skate parks I am too old. Snowparks to some extend.are ok.. but not pushing anymore like in my 20th... not getting hurt is most important. Returning on inliners to big halfpipes and noticing that I am not able to do what I was many many years ago would make me feel lost.. losing tricks and seeing average age in skatepark is 14.. is a tough story. With Inliners I returned to street and dancing.. still some fun though I lost even there some tricks.. skate park is hard business.
I recently met up with Kevin Marks from Look Back Library (ruclips.net/video/ZpwQ8wry5uQ/видео.html) to get his thoughts on the aging skateboarders perspective. Also, checkout Kevin's mini ramp part after you watch this: ruclips.net/video/YAZnRDb5yWk/видео.html
*Kevin's addendum "I don't want it to sound like I'm complaining that I'm SO OLD. I want to acknowledge that people are skating well into their 60's now and in some cases into their 70's. I look to people like Dave Bergthold {@blockhead_skateboards}, Phil Burcher {@hoot_ride}, Kyong Kim {@kyongkim}, Wrex Cook {mtpoolz}, & Jim Gray {@grayslide} for routine inspiration. These fine gentlemen are older than me and not only are they always out skating, they also put out fun edits of many of their sessions that get me stoked. - Kevin Marks"
Do you know the dimensions on this ramp?
I wanted to ask about the ramp dimensions myself...anyone who can turn me onto those exact ramp plans (or very similar) I'd be willing to pay a few $heckles!!
I'm 47 and go through all the scenarios he was talking about. Nice to hear I'm not the only one
@@nicvlcek I can't tell you a ton as it's not my ramp but I've built a fair few ramps in my day. Based on the 4x8 sheet of plywood, it's 16' wide, about 4' high on the low parts, ~5' on the high, probably an 8'/9' transition (size of the radius) and an 8' flat in the middle. I particularly like the little drop channel they have next to the extension on the right side. Hope that helps! :)
I'm old and down to skate😁
If you gots a ramp in your yard, you ain't over the hill, you're ahead of the curve. ®
Truth!
Hell yeah!! Straight up goals!!! 🖤🤘
Most underrated comment brother.! Amen
I have one in my shed and it's honestly the best and mine is only small
Best comment here! Cheers from Fresno Cali
I just turned 36 earlier this year and I struggle with this already. Skateboarding has been my identity since I was 13 years old in one way or another. I quit actively skating for 10+ years but still stayed in the skate culture if that makes any sense. Health problems arose and I gained a bunch of weight, got lazy, made bad decisions, yada yada. A year ago this month I decided that I needed to push myself to be active and healthy, so I started skating again. I have a family but still make time to go to the park 3-4 days a week on average, sometimes more or sometimes less. Skateboarding has given me my life back in a mental AND physical sense. I'm healthier now than I've been in a LOOONG time. I'm no longer obese and I'm in a better place mentally. My core group of skate friends are half my age but they are solid people who push me to be a better skateboarder. Hell, I have progressed more in the last year than I did at any point in my teens and twenties, but I'm not partying like I was back then. I'm focused on having fun, learning some new tricks, and focusing on feeling comfortable with who I am a at this stage in my life. Sorry for the long post, but this topic doesn't come up much and I'm glad to see this video. Thanks Zack!
man, I love this.
Are you me!? I’m working on getting back on the horse.
Dude! Sounds similar to my situation however I stopped for about 14 years and picked it back up 6 months ago at 30 and am now as fit as I have been in years, lost 20kg and am skating the best I ever have, albeit at a sort of low intermediate level 🤣
I built a mini ramp in my shed, best decision ever! I now skate with my 11 year old son who is better than me lol
56 here. Stopped skating at 28ish I think, once the family started. I've been wanting to get back into it as a casual, health oriented thing (like you I put on some weight as I think skating was the only thing keeping me in shape). I'm no where near as nimble and flexible as I once was but perhaps taking it slow and steady I might be able to go carve a bowl or grind some coping again. Like your story, congrats.
Bigger wheels, wider boards, less stairs and more bowls, less slams and still more injuries. It changes. Still, the thing I miss the most, is the camaraderie. A lot of sessions are alone, I miss rolling 8 deep with my 7 best friends.
I get together with a few of my old friends a couple times a month. My friend Davie, my friend Kate and my friend Neil. We get together and plan it out. Go down the bar, get a few beers and skate until 2am.
Keep ripping OG🤙✌
no flip tricks or shuv its out of grinds
and that is the essence of skateboarding... the crew. i also miss mine.
I'm 58 to continue skating I went bigger and wider. Works for me, no tricks ,just cruising now but still have fun
Old school skater here, 61 years old.
Smashed my ankle bad and had to hang it up in the early 80s, but I still love watching the videos.
Count yourself blessed to still be skating at all.
lm 52 and this video hits the nail on the head... if youre lucky enough to be alive at all dont knock yourself,and go get get it when you can
I had to stop skating in 2014 at the age of 39 due to cancer.
I have for the time being made a complete recovery and am now working again.
Five years later and I'm looking to jump back in but nowhere near the level I was before.
I just want to cruise around and do low impact stuff.
That ramp looks fun!
Good luck man. Just know your limitations. I'm 50 and as for me, I am currently happy just carving around and working on manuals. You don't need to be doing rails or anything else crazy to have fun. Look at Andy Anderson. I want to learn the freestyle tricks he does on a big board.
I'm 48 and holy crap this is like I said it myself. I agree 100000% with everything he said.
Seriously this was spot on!
Dude I'm 44 and been skating since the late 80s, My Sk8 Sess starts off with me Watching The Old School H-Street Hokus Pokus Video to get Pumped then Sk8 for like 30 mins to an hour, That passion will never leave Me..... If I'm not actually skating... I'm Always skating in my mind. #IAMGenX 🛹 #Sk8orDie 🛹
As a 46-year-old skateboarder it’s good to know that other dudes have some of the same struggles!! thanks for the video man!!
It's not easy to articulate into words, but yes it is different now at 50. My skate bestie is 52, and my other homie is 38, it's always us 3 amigo's. We skate super early sessions, and right at 3 hours our bodies are feeling done, our sessions are always positive and a "Injury free day" is a win/win!!!
I got my first born at 23 and stop skating... i was still pushing a board around. Now at 40 i skate with my 17years old son and 15 years old daughter, when they want their dad around heheh. Be able to skateboarding with my kids is one of the best feeling i had, sharing moments with them and passing to a new generation what skateboard really is.
I heard a friend say he stopped skateboarding because he's getting old. I told him, "no, you're getting old because you stopped skateboarding."
You are only as old as you feel you are........ Skateboarding definetely keeps you younger, especially if you do it with the younger generations
Skaters do not decide to stop. They are simply stopped.
@@ohooha7 This is very true unfortunately......
Quoted from Jay Adams… 👍🏻
I’m right here with you. 40 is knocking on my door and my confidence is worn. Between work snd family injuries are a constant fear and I find myself just wanting to cruise around more than anything.
As a 47 year old man I’m concerned I may never get that dew sponsorship
I know what you mean mate, I'm 48 and still not got mine either! 😁
make a video drinking a dew on your way to work
Reminds me of The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
45, don't feel bad ✌️😂
Lol
I love that one of the first clips is you sweeping the ramp. It's the first thing I do when I ride the outdoor mini nearby. You speak a lot of wisdom in this video -- good on you! I still ride and I'm fifty-five, but I live in Dresden, Germany now. Seeing that there were no skateboards available before the fall of the wall in 1989, the next oldest skaters here are roughly forty years old. So the roughest part about skating is I'm riding with people half my age or they're even young enough to be my grandchildren. As you mentioned, their intensity level is insane. So I push myself - I shattered my collarbone two years ago. Took a frontside dive from the the top of the six foot high ramp. Ha! Titanium is holding me together. The same problem here with the big city parks. Lots of little kids push around the parks on running bikes and scooters. I stay away from those parks. Live long and die skating! Cheers from Dresden!
The root of suffering is attachment. If you are too attached to the past, you will beat yourself up for not being as good as you used to be instead of enjoying the present moment: that you are having fun doing what you love.
I totally agree. I'm not living in my glory days of being a brilliant skater. I'm happy just to be able to rediscover the joy of doing what I can after lots of life's challenges robbed me of that ability. No expectations. Just joy and fun in today's skin. I started a small group of likeminded people. New good times and achievements no matter the age. 50 is the new 35!
I do this to myself and learn to just love the moment in skating.
You just saved me hundreds in therapy.
nah mate. It is what defines some people. It is their self image. A lifetime of a self image, a defining aspect of a human, career, life choices. Then strip away the acquired image slowly, due to ageing. It is hard. I work in the industry, I have seen it with the amazing pros I have been lucky enough to work around. IDK, I get it, it is hard for athletes. It is not attachment, it is loosing the skills that once defined ones self image (i do realize it sounds like attachment, it is more of a struggle of coming to terms with a loss, like any loss in one's life. Almost like the steps in grieving)
Just turned 35 and this popped up in my feed (you've been skating for almost as long as I've been alive). I think I needed to hear everything you had to say... Your not alone with those worries and fears starting to have them now. Especially as my crew starts to have kids, become boring and move away.
the good thing about never being very "good" when i was younger is that after taking a long break for most of my 20s/30s at 44 i am actually better than i ever was before....of course that comes with having (in my mind) reasonable ideas about what i can/want to do on my board...but just being stoked to carve around, grind, ollie...doing basic shit that just feels good...
Amen! Facts!!
46, restarted skating 2 years ago, still progressing, with better focus but worse body compared to the 20 year old me. I stretch a lot doing yoga and workout with weights to fight muscle loss. Gonna keep carving bowls as long as I can walk!
Spot on brother. I'll be 42 this year. I often find that when someone asks if I'm any good, I say I should be alot better considering how long I've been skating. I shouldn't dog myself like that. I've beat college students at their games of s.k.a.t.e.. I tend to skate solo for an hour at most a couple times a week. The slams happen less, but they hurt for longer and recently I've found the pain migrating around my body as my bones settle. Sucks getting older, but skating is part of me and it ain't dying til the rest of me does.
You're looking plenty comfy on that board, on that ramp, in your 50's.
You’re the only skate “vlog” channel that isn’t fake, corny, or pretentious. Love what you do Zach this is an awesome video. I’m 27 and hearing older guys talk like this really motivates me to stay on top of my health and appreciate skating for the right reasons.
Check out Tyrone Olsons channel.
I’m 47 & feel the exact same way..thanks for sharing this. BUT look at Tony Alva..60 years old and still breaking into backyard pools. If you want to skate till 60 you will bro.
I turned 40. And my skating career morphed into a mini ramp in my yard. Best decision I ever made.
Damn dude, that is a life goal right there........ (turning 35 this summer and i can only dream of a mini in the yard)
Buddy just built one 2 weeks ago. All us OGs have all been over there since getn back in the saddle. Felt amazing
Yeah Man! I am picking up what you are putting down. The mental challenges that come from being an aging skater (52 yrs currently) are truly real and have to be confronted. I have wrestled with the intelligence of continuing skating many times. Particularly after a bad injury. I’ve always have concluded that the rewards far outweigh the risk. Keeping the reins in and being satisfied with the little things has kept my stoke high. Progression in fluidity and grace is where I find satisfaction, along with just being around the parks and scenes for the sheer enjoyment of watching the shredding go down right in front of my face. (Prince Park is good for that) Thank you for sharing your thoughts and hope to see that blue sprinter in the lot real soon brother, skateparkrespect!
Wow. This hit me right on the money. 47 years old here. Started skating seriously from 14-18. Gave it up because of life getting busy, college, marriage, kids, and many other excuses I told myself. Last year my two youngest sons asked me about skating and wanted to try it. I had an absolute blast picking out boards, trucks and wheels etc with them and building their boards with them. It prompted me to start skating again too! Surprisingly my balance is still pretty damn good but my cardio sucks compared to my teens obviously ha ha. I’m having a good time though carving and surfing around, grinding and sliding a bit etc. I never thought in a million years I’d find the love of skating again in my later 40’s. Thanks for sharing. Ya got a sub from me sir. Cheers!
I'm about your age and also began skating in the early to mid 80's... What got me was recovery times from injuries. Then as a result having to take time off work. After a back injury a few yrs ago I'm just an observer now but admire the folks still out there hustling away on a skateboard Good times 😎
As a skater that recently turned 52. I appreciate the time I get to skate. I focus on having fun. This is the most important to me. I do love skating with close friends and that I make new friends when I do skate.
I hear ya man. I started skateboarding around 73, when I was 6 years old. Started out on an orange plastic board from K-Mart. Im turning 54 this year. Hard to believe the aches and pains I feel sometimes. I may can do some of the thigs I used to do, but it takes me longer, and after, I can can sure feel it. Welcome to CLUB 50.
I'm 57 and still ride.
Rode a couple of years in the late 70's, then didn't get on one again 'till I was around 45.
One thing about never having gotten good in the first place - never really had the opportunity to ride and learn on parks and ramps - is I don't really have skills to lose.
I'm just happy to ride a board.
Carve turns, do 180's, take a long board on the bike trail...
Oh, and stay in shape!
Getting fat will make everything physical that you do that much more difficult.
I've stayed lean and muscular to this day.
Great vid! The biggest positive I can see for you is all the single 50 year old Ladies checking out your butt thinking how much cooler and fitter you are than all the other 50 year old guys that sit in office chairs all day! As an almost 50 surfer I hit the wall at 40 and stopped surfing due to injuries. Then discovered yoga, ice baths, Wim Hoff and breathing exercises which completely blew me away. Now ripping better than ever. Keep learning and don't believe anyone that says you cant! Keep those wheels rolln!
This is awesome, I know exactly what you're talking about, Kevin. I'm a 46 yo woman that still shreds almost daily. I'm a street skater but really into ramps lately. The only thing that changed is that injuries take much longer to heal and I pad up+ wear helmet when I hit the park ( I'm a single mom and want to be around for my young son ). If I can keep up the good health I plan to rip till I r.i.p..
Great to see you skating. I'm the same age but only got into skating in my 40's. Nothing technical, I just enjoy it from time to time. I do a little surfing also, and that's something I know I can do without getting injured as easy. I have a few surf buddies, all similar age as me so I consider myself very lucky. Keep skating, you're incredible still.
Thanks for this!!!....I appreciate how you expressed the inner dialog and the importance of having a crew to keep it going as we get older. I'm lucky to have a group of skate friends of mixed ages who are super supportive and skating together keeps us connected and keeps me skating. I've been rolling since '72 and am turning 59 this year so I'm the oldest dog at 99.9% of the sessions. I really have to push myself out the door but I always come back with a smile on my face!
So cool of you to post your way of dealing with age. My son worry’s at 23 .
I’m 77 and still try things I did at a much younger age. I still drag race a quick chevelle. Keep inspiring young people.
48 years old, started skating in the mid eighties, and at it again after a 19 year "hiatus". . Blew out my knee skating in 2001, and trying to overcome that fear is the hardest damn thing. Been skating with my 10 year old son, all padded up. We went to a new skatepark in Myyrmäki, Finland last weekend and we both had a blast. Kevin spoke a lot of what I am feeling and seeing out there nowadays. Thanks for the interview! Keep skating, be safe and fight those damn "fear demons"!
Good Video. I'm 47 years old and a late starter, only started skating 3 years ago, so rather than my skills diminishing as I get older, I feel like I'm progressing..(learnt to kick flip at 46)...I skate whenever I can. Solo, with my sons, with friends, with the locals at the skate park, with strangers..... I just love the feeling of skateboarding and love the camaraderie that there is amongst skateboarders of all ages. I hope to do this for as long as physically possible.
Hit the nail right on the head. I will be 49 in October and share the same exact thoughts as you said. I find myself at the park as soon as the sun comes up to avoid crowds and distractions also . I ride shaped boards and will always have a reissue with me to offer up to young skaters who think it’s cool looking to try and shed some light of where it started. My teenage son rips and it’s cool to just skate with my son and share some bumps and bruises. Keep it going until you can’t is my thoughts also and Great video.
I’ve skated since I was 10, I’m 43 now . I don’t mean skated for 2 years before I got a car, I mean played with it from 10-12 then skated every single day pretty much until I was 38 or so. I skate about once a month now and I can’t deal with not being good anymore. It is pure depressing, and I’m not a depressed person. Any given time I ride a skateboard could be the last. So here’s what I say to anyone who would listen - Don’t get too into skateboarding. After you turn 40, unless you are extremely gifted, working just a little too much, or going through a life change, or any responsibility at all really can snatch 20+ years of hard work away. I’m thankful that I spent my best years skateboarding, and during the best eras of skating. But skateboarding can never be replaced by anything else. And time and the world will always take it
Thanks for this video. It's hard being 32, 3 knee surgeries and having most of my friends move on from skating. It's time to just enjoy to little things more. I can still skate and that's what matters most.
Yeah buddy!!! So true and I’m so much happier accepting my position. It’s a victory every time I step on my board!!!!
I made it to mid-40s before I got side-lined by breaking my tib/fib doing frontside grinds over a cut-out. Watching your foot flop backward is a pretty gnarly experience. I still go out and roll around, but I'm not gonna lie... I'm pretty gun-shy now. Glad I found this vid! Keep rollin'!!
I never rode my skateboard with dreams to be sponsored. I rode it because I loved it and it made me happy. I'm 43 been skating since I was 12.
I'm 47 and I do both BMX and Sk8. I hurt more when I bail but that's pretty much it. then again the problem here is that many of us have jobs and don't have time to skate the way we did when we were younger. my thing is, I went back to basics and it's fun. The young kids don't mind, they love it when an OG rides and shreds with them.
I'm 46 and can relate to everything you say! I'm really happy to be still able to slash round the local bowl compared to the guy's I went to school with and what they're doing now! I really agree with what you say about skateparks being used by parents as a playground for their kids! It's got a lot worse in the last few years! The scooter thing is so bad here Germany that I won't even go out after midday to a public park ever! It's just not worth it. I try to encourage the etiquette thing at our park but usually it's a waste of time. The thing I get from being an older skater is an appreciation and perspective for just enjoying being on the board.
This is so cool. Thanks for the effort and wisdom. I grapple with all this stuff all the time, but have settled on acceptance. You gotta celebrate the numinous-ness of still being able to simply roll around. It truly is an amazing skill to acquire and to keep doing it, even if it is slack and simple and mundane, it is something to cherish. I've been skating for at least 45 years, am soon 56, a teacher, and look forward to my summer off to skate a bunch. As I age, skating - though I don't do it as often as I'd like - somehow becomes more important and more sublime. Thanks so much for posting this stuff - I am a fan. Keep up the good work. Cheers!
Agreed. Even if you are just carving and skating around, it is still fun.
I’m turning 48 and have a concert bowl in my yard. It’s really nice to hear someone having the same thoughts as me. Great content!
@@cycologist7069 it's the best kind of bowl! You can get you gnarl in it and you can have local bands playing around it while you do!
Oh...and it's concrete...😏
Good on you man. I'm 45 and just got back into it after a 30 year break (due to my kids starting skating). I have a constant bruised right hip. It takes me a long time to warm up each time I go out and the falls are so much harder. The good thing is, I know I don't have time on my side so I go for things I would of put off when I was younger. They always say, 'fear doesn't stop bad things happening... It stops you living'.
I started wearing more pads once I got over 40 too and that helped me a lot.
I'm loving these age-related videos. I didn't stop skating till I was in my 40s and that was after breaking my arm and realizing that it took way longer to heal. I'm going to be 50 soon and I don't think I'm going to wait that much longer to get back on a board. Thanks for posting this stuff.
This was a beautiful excerpt of how to understand life in general. We can't stop time, but we can sure make the most of it.
So valid, 47 y/o SoCal skate/surf woman here…way to represent
Shout out to all the cool skater dads, setting a good example of getting your kicks while you're still able to get em.
This video came up in my feed right after a best trick vid where somebody nailed a bs kickflip lipslide revert. I am 48 and that vid was making me feel old. Then I watched this and feel better. I agree with most of it but I LOVE skating new places, especially new (to me) skateparks and skating for hours on end when I make a road trip to a park. I think what messes with me more than anything else as an older skater is the stress of life getting in my head. I used to be able to push all that out of mind a lot better. Sometimes a good slam is what it takes to remind me to get in the flow and focus on what I am doing. Many thanks for posting this honest video. And 50/50 fakie is still a great trick to have in your bag!
Getting 39, skated for 15 years, stopped 10, but watched and observed skateboarding A LOT for the last 6 years, while not actively skateboarding. Tomorrow, my new deck is arriving! Can't wait for getting out there again!
Work on the basics first. Don't get injured right off the bat trying to do what you did in high school.
@@idmhead0160 that's a good reminder, thanks. It's so tempting to think everything will still work like it used to back in the day.
First I'll hit the good old flatground.
@@jorris58 Last year when I got my first new board, I skated for miles. Must have been exercising muscles in the bottom of my feet that don't normally get used. It felt like tendonitis or something. Luckily that went away. I'm able to skate for hours now without a problem. Though, I know not to over do it.
You are awesome! I feel you on so many levels incl. the vanlife:-) Im 37 now picking up skating after 20 yrs pause and if I am on your level when turning 50 I would be more than happy.
I’m 59 and still skating. You got years ahead of you yet
Dude you're lucky to be alive. Idk about years to go....
@@tonyravioli144 LOL yeah I'm carrying more than my fair share of aches and pains nowadays
@@tonyravioli144 humans get to live normally around 100 years as far as I remember, so he is still 40 to go
@@aaronovski9949 wrong, healthy male = 76 years and female 81years life expectancy. Stay in school einstein. 😘
@@tonyravioli144 lol I don’t think you have half the education I do einsteinium, you missing the point. you are quick at looking Google and think you look smart 😂 you don’t. Period.
Dude keep killing it! I'm 35 and just got back into after roughly 20yrs off. Wish I never stopped because it's definitely way harder now to go skate with work and a family. Fear of injury is way bigger now as well and I don't imagine that's going away. Just doing my best to enjoy the 1ish session I get per week and trying to make the best of it!
This is really a conversation about life. Our motivations and circle dwindle with the years. The people we shared the strongest bonds with move away and we have to make new friends or move on to new endeavors.
Nice ramp, looks fun. Pivot to fakie was very clean, I’d be happy to do one like that.
This is dope Zack, Kevin! I am 54 and dislocated my little finger today after a fall. Put it back and skate on, 4 ever... Fingers crossed.
I relate to everything he says 100% It's uncanny. I haven't really had a decent session in over a year. I'll be 48 in June...I need to get off my ass and not worry that I can't do what I used to... Thanks so much for sharing!
I think there is a saying that says something about how people always remain the same, their bodies just get older. That's the way I feel. I am still a skater at heart at 50. I can still remember one day in particular probably back when I was round 18. I was ripping and hitting every trick. My friends couldn't believe it. I was just laughing. I don't think I felt better any other time in my life.
44 yr. old skater also going through something with identity as I also have Achilles tendon injury that just will not heal, bro. Life is weird today, gotta admit that without skating. I'm feeling jaded as I thought I could get more out of this semi- healthy vessel
I hear you. I'm sitting here with a swollen ankle. I've always had issues with my ankles. I started skating again about a year ago and have had good luck for the most part. I was off for decades before that for fear of more ankle problems. In 2001 I sprained my right ankle bad and figured that was it. Sad thing is, I think the latest injury wasn't even from skating, but, from crouching down setting up new deck and installing the grip tape. Woke up the next morning to a tight feeling ankle swollen ankle. I f-ing hate ankle injuries. I have spent most of the past 30 years at a desk writing computer code. Now my vision is getting worse. Too many hours staring at a screen. I would rather be out on my board carving around than sitting at a computer. Plus my dad died in a car accident a few months back. Skating is one of the only fun things in life. Hopefully my ankle will heal up and I won't have too many future problems. I have a new set of wheels and trucks coming in on Wednesday. I'm staying off my ankle and keeping compression on it. Hopefully the swelling won't take a long time to go down. I've had this happen before and it takes a month. Good luck with your tendon.
I hope I can still skate at 50, im working on reversing damage now, strength training, eating right, cardio, shit you should do when you feel like that next number is creeping up on you much love to everyone pushing numbers, still getting it
I know this feeling too well. I am going to be 50 in July and I still want to flip my board and hit some honest skatepark handrails but there are moments I struggle with stopping because of my age...then someone at the park or my son says "You got this" and age goes right out the door! Still, a body in motions tends to stay in motion
Yes Ted!
No one says you have to be doing hand rails. There is a lot more to skating than that. At 50, I am happy to just be carving around and working manuals.
I can relate. 47 and still skating. All the same concerns as you do. Inspired me to keep on pushing.
I’m 37 and I still feel like I am progressing. Maybe it’s because I make a lot of time to stay on my board and I don’t have any kids. I definitely have to focus on exercise, stretching and warming up but if you take care of your body, it really helps your longevity in skating.
Truth!! I have some friends that are 40 and progressing. It's all subjective, I think once the 50s hit you have to find that sweet balance, but again - if you condition you body you might be able to hang.
At first progression is slowing down, than you start to digress and digression speeds up with age. For example, the effort you need to put in to do a kickflip triples from 35 to 45.. etc.
@@Xmkdco not if you stretch and strengthen your lower body. I m actually more in shape than I was in my twenties are thirties because I've been training with resistance bands, kettlebells, etc...and it helps my skating a lot, I wish I would've done this as a young skater. Being more flexible overall is great. Just doing bodyweight squats helped my ollies.
@@sebp400 Yes, you need to do more physical activity outside of skateboarding, which proves my point. When you were younger you could ollie a set of stairs straight out of bed. You can't go against nature. Training will prolong your skating ability, so you will have to train and stretch more and more as the years go by thus spending 2-3 even 4 hours stretching and strengthening your body to be able to skate for 1 hour. Then recovery times also prolong. Do a good 1-hour session in the fifties and you need 3 days of recovery.
36 here and I've done some tricks recently that I never even learned when I was skating heavily in my late teens and early 20s. Progressing at this age feels absolutely incredible. Definitely doing looooots of stretching, haha
I’m 47 , now 250 lbs... I pick up a skateboard once in a blue moon just to see kids be shocked cuz I looked like an overweight/ muscled veterano . So at 35 I thought up to do a 180* tail stall , shove it out. At 42 I learned a Rodney Mullen big spin. Just never thought of those tricks before. At 46 I pulled some lowland tricks for a large group of teens who were shocked by what they thought was a paisa. I fell and got hurt from pure exhaustion doing a simple Oli. I played off the injury and everybody got in line and give me a high five. Never talk to my injury went to the hospital haven’t skated since.....
This is so spot on. I ride BMX and Mountain Biking at age 54 and this is what my RUclips channel is all about.
The key for me is to just keep going and be as active as I can. There are a lot of things people can do to prolong their joy of whatever activity it is they do. A huge part of that is eating healthier, staying nimble (yoga helps) and always keep doing stuff that involves your body, even if it's just work around the house. I am also sober. Alcohol, smoking and drugs age your body faster than anything else.
I had a left knee replacement and it has given me a renewal on active life. If you have issues with your body, it is so worth it to get the orthopedic care you need.
This is video absolutely awesome. I hope to keep going well into my 60s. Sure, I don't learn all the crazy tricks people do these days, but for me that's not what it's about. I love riding at any level that I am capable of riding. ✌️
Keep it rolling brother! Most of the people at your age can't do any sports and you're still in a great shape!
I rolled down the road today, first time on board in over 2 years.. if I can still tsk Ed off down the road I’m happy..
Jay
47 years old
Thank you for this video. I can really relate to what you are talking about. I'm from Sweden but am also a single guy that have had lots of friends who have moved away. But it makes me so happy to here someone else that thinks the same way I do. So once again, thanks! Keep rolling. ✌🤙❤
Forgot to also say that I'm 42 and have allot of injuries. 😁🤙
WOW. I was speaking to Thomas Taylor of Stratosphere about this EXACT SAME SITUATION- Old Man Problems!!!
Hell yeah! At 41 I feel this whole video. I took a hiatus for a while but now I try to skate 2-3 times a week, but everything he's saying is truth. All the older dudes I used to skate with kind of phased away and now I'm skating with people half my age. Remember all...it's all about the fun.
I always wanted to progress more but now I have to be content with what I can still land. We know a lot of weird tricks too, if you started in the late 80' s.
Your story is my story. I'm over the pursuit of the next trick. My love now is smooth downhill pavement and wheels with rounded edges. Big slides and carves. It's all about getting out there and feeling that freedom, just like when you got away from authority figures as a young teenager.
I hate that I quit around 25 and started again at 37, now 38. But like you said, I have to remind myself to be thankful. I'm learning new things and staying healthy the best I can.
That's it!! Skating will always be there. Sometimes it's healthy to step away and come back in a different state of mind.
i started back at 38. 43 now. keep pushing. it only gets more fun.
+1 here. Wise words
That back D at 2:17...very pleasing
You continue to have one of my favorite channels, man. Really love where you steer the conversations and topics within skateboarding. ❤️🙏🏻
Means a lot Matt, because your channel is one that inspired me to get on YT. Thank You!
Got my first skateboard in 1964. I was 12. Finally stopped a few years ago and gave away my last board last year. Im now 69. It was the injuries and lately, the fear of injury from a fall. Torn rotator cuff 3 years ago was a game changer. I still snowboard, ski, kite, bike and a bit of surf but cannot afford a hard forward fall so am a lot more careful so I can continue for a little while longer. I skated parks well into my early 60s. It does keep you young if the injuries dont get you.
Not bad for 70 dude. You are doing more than a lot of people in their teens. Sorry to hear about your rotator cuff.
Today is my 43rd birthday. I've been skating for 30 years. After a really nasty slam at a new park a couple of weeks ago, I had to accept the necessity of wearing pads and wrist guards EVERY TIME I ride concrete parks, because I know I like to go fast, and I know I am going to slam every session, and I can't afford any more serious injuries. I am officially a "Barney", that padded old guy. I'm okay with that, if it means I will be able to keep skating.
So true about the recovery thing. Even when I don’t take a slam I’m still sore for a few days after a good session. It sucks being an old fart!!!
I made peace with this, a couple of years ago. It made skating fun again, because I’m just enjoying what I can do, and letting go of the anxiety of feeling like I’ll never learn certain tricks. I’m almost 45, and I’m a musician who can’t afford to get injured, so… I just poke around and have fun. There are plenty of tricks I can still do, and it’s a really fun way to get some exercise without feeling like I’m exercising. Also, you’re right about the energy between us and the young guns. I get stoked (and a break) watching them do my dream tricks, and they’re psyched that I’m still skating, and able to do some old school stuff that they can learn. It’s a passing of the torch, but it took some time to be okay with. There was a feeling of loss at first, but now I’m fine, and having a great time. Thanks for sharing this. It all resonated with me. Glad you’re still enjoying it. Skating is just good fun, and skaters are some of my favorite people. There are a ton of really intelligent, artistically talented people in the community, which I absolutely love!
Compound fracture to my ankle at 39 pretty much killed my skating....I still roll around and cruise but mentally it broke me. Can't take that risk with a job and family. Skating is just a sport where there is no way to guarantee you will not get hurt. Even the smallest insiginficant trick can take you out.
update: slowly getting back into it.....with minimal risk. But if I can slash grind and carve around, I'm good!
Nice perspective! We are so fortunate to have the ability to walk, let alone skateboard. There are many people with mobility issues. I'm now realizing that I need to take advantage of my able body while I have it. Also, nice mini-ramp.
I hear you man. Wife, kid, house to upkeep and full time job sure make it hard to find the time. Also nothing as discouraging as spending a whole sesh just warming up 😂. Back in the day it was like I’m awake so let’s go skate. Now I gotta be like wife, I’m putting it on the schedule, don’t try to stop me! Haha
I feel ya! 🤙🏼. 46 and still going had to take the foot off the gas though. Realizing sometimes you have to think of the next session instead of the next trick. Keep rolling! 🤘🏻🍻
I'm 41 and today I had my 30 minutes session in the park with all the youngsters and several good friends in their 40's as well. Just to be there rolling and tries to ollie, kickflips makes me happy in a way.
42 and just skated my local park today. At the end of my hour and a half sesh, I was teaching kids how to inward heel and nollie hard flip. But now I hurt and ice the shit out of my knees and ankles. Lol
I am totally wit you. 44 years skating for almost 30 years, still having best time on my board. Street no longer, parks and ramps late evenings and mornings. Last for one hour straight, no brakes because once you cool down cannot skate again. But still so humbly appreciating that I still can. One little injury and you done for life. All the best and hope we can still last :)
I'm almost 39 and my last skate buddy is 46. While I accept we're getting older and that's why we suck, he is adamant that the boards are worse and there is a secret cabal of nefarious players within the industry that want to make crappy boards.
Anyway, we have been spending a lot more of our skate sessions building concrete obstacles and repairing our old spots. Neither of us have kids, so this is the best we can hope for to have any sort of legacy. we're doing a good deed for a community we care about and it's really fun!
LOL! Your friend sounds like a righteous dude. I'm down with the cabal of nefarious players making crappy boards theory. I will stop telling people how old I am and use that excuse instead.
I'm 50 .... Started skating again .
I took up Surf Skate. It's easier on the body now . To me Surf Skate is the essence of skating ... Constant motion ....carves and flows ...
I see other skate styles as stunts... Too old for that .... Break a leg now you're done for months . I also find it very meditative just pumping and carving.
I love it brother!! Really appreciate ur words!! I'm 46 . Falling freaking hurts like hell but I hav 5 kids that love the idea of bein able to skate at a public park.. to be honest I feel young again to!!! Thnx man!!
This video was great. I know Kevin and can definitely relate to everything he describes. I covet his pivot-to-fakie's and was recently inspired by him to get a few on the QP in my driveway.
For anyone interested, here are a few things that have worked for me to keep the stoke alive at 46:
1.) Develop a routine. As you get older with work, kids, etc..., life is already a series of routines, why not make it work for you? Pick a couple of spots and go there at the same day and time every week for a couple of months in a row whether anyone goes with you or not. This helps get you out there (and that's half the battle) and usually snowballs into a small like-minded crew with similar schedules that can stay intact when you switch spots.
2.) Switch spots often. Getting older makes us fall into ruts and then we start noticing when a trick we have been doing forever starts taking longer. This leads to frustration and burn out. Keeping it fresh with new spots helps keep skating enjoyable.
3). Open your mind! This one seems easy but it took a long time for me to give up on my old beliefs about only skating a certain way, doing certain tricks and "looking cool". For example, when flip tricks stopped working I learned sweepers, bean plants, texas plants etc... Those were all tricks I didn't think were "cool" until I tried learning them and realized how fun they were. Skate a shaped board! Pad up and skate a bowl! Get a slappy session in the parking lot if the park is too crowded! As long as you are open to learning and experiencing new things you will always feel a sense of progression. Don't get hung up on being "cool".
4.) Skate vert. Trying to skate vert in my 40's has brought more humility and patience into all aspects of my life. I suck at it. The learning curve is incredibly slow for me and it makes me feel like I just started skating. But it is also incredibly fun and the feeling is like nothing I've ever experienced. The less hard you try, the better you get. It forces you to learn how to remain calm when you are terrified. I'm addicted.
5.) Ignore me and do what you want. Skateboarding rules!
You are the bomb brother just keep skating!!! You are a inspiration for sure
Interesting perspective. I've had two ACL injuries in recent years and I am slowly (and cautiously) picking up the board again. Longboarding for now, streetskating later on hopefully. Still in my young twenties, but the thought of not being able to do something you love and enjoy (other sports as well) really goes deep. Your self-image and identity carry more weight than you would think. Although our situations are different I can relate on a deeper level (especially with the friend situation, as being unable to do sports meant I slowly disconnected with some of them over time). Great video!
I am 52 and i love to skate around town every day. I have been skating again since age 45. I can't really do any tricks, i can go off a curb. I ride very fast. "Spark up" a joint and go for a ride. I love it.
Me too. I'm 50. For the most part didn't skate for 30 years, but, started back up again last year. I had a bad ankle injury back in 2001 and figured that was it for me. Surprisingly, skating seemed to kind help that ankle. I'm mainly just skating the asphalt streets near my home. Just carving around and working on manuals and balance tricks. Maybe I can get my Ollies back, but, I'm happy just carving around even if I don't.
I have switched to a new wheel with zig zag tread. I have been using those, and i must say, these wheels are what i needed. They enable me to roll across rough surfaces like asphalt. They are called "Shark Wheels" fifty bucks for all four. I have put probably 250 miles, and it's barely starting to wear.
I quit skating when i started driving. I was a driving fool. Real quick this, real quick that, F that! I found a new love for skating again after i saw some beautiful longboards at Big 5 about seven years ago. This is when i am most happiest. I have had some hard crashes too. I crashed so hard one time a few years ago.I did what they call a "washcloth", my face hit the ground first while i had a grocery bag in each hand. I was rolling down the driveway as slow as i could while turning. That was a crazy incident. It looked like i got jumped. Bloody nose, Mark across my nose where it hit the ground. It was at night and nobody saw. try to push myself to go a little faster all the time. I can't do tricks except down one curb drop. I run around on the board all day. I can literally take the board to the store quicker than my friend can with his car. Peace.
I hurt my ankle too about two years ago. I dared myself to go in between a sign that said "right turn only" and the curb drop off to the street, it was a high curb. I probably could have made it, but i "choked" as i was doing it, and i stepped onto the street with the wrong foot. I wasn't supposed to step down anyway. I continued the ride home but i knew i messed it up.The next day i could not walk. Thought i broke it. Still could not walk on it. Twenty days later i went to the e r. I thought for sure it was broken. They took an x ray and found no indication of anything. I felt like a baby.Pretty soon the ankle got better and i was off and running. Peace
Wow I’m 46 and getting back into it and your talking about everything I’m feeling and thinking thanks!
Love the vibe. So important in life to enjoy where one is and accept it. I'm 43...and I guess because I skate or exercise almost every day I can go two hours sometimes three hours on a session and still learn new tricks, but I know it won't last forever...
There's so much I love about being an older skater (46 at the time of this writing). You kinda look back at all the dumb stuff you grew out of, one of the main things is you truly, undoubtedly stop giving a damn about what anyone thinks the older you get (even if you think that way when you're younger). I just wish I bounced like I used to. I'm getting spinal fusion surgery done pretty soon, but I'll be able to skate again three months after the procedure's done, so I'm stoked. Before I wrecked my back a few months ago, I couldn't imagine not rolling, I'll just say that not rolling SUCKS! Can't wait to be back on again.
This hit for me as I’ve been struggling with these things. I’m 35. I started skating when I was 10 and stopped due to an accident when I was 22. Started up again last year. I need skateboarding not only for my sanity but I don’t want to loose who I am. As youre older the time available def diminishes. I beat myself up every session
It begins & ends with a carve. Skateboarding now is as fun as it ever was. It's even more special since I don't get to do it as often. Your wisdom resonates, thank you!
maybe LDP, carving and some Dancing Tricks.. gladfully I was never in park with skateboard. But I was with inliners and was doing the big halfpipes in my 20th and 30th .. had a big accident and never returned with inliners to park.
Started longboarding year ago and snowboarding 5 years ago and I know that for skate parks I am too old. Snowparks to some extend.are ok.. but not pushing anymore like in my 20th... not getting hurt is most important. Returning on inliners to big halfpipes and noticing that I am not able to do what I was many many years ago would make me feel lost.. losing tricks and seeing average age in skatepark is 14.. is a tough story. With Inliners I returned to street and dancing.. still some fun though I lost even there some tricks..
skate park is hard business.