So where in Alabama were you riding when you crashed? I'm a native only recently moved. I try to keep tabs on any longboard action going on in Alabama recident or transient.
I'm only a few months away from the big 3-5. So far I think what everyone has said is pretty sound advice. I find I don't push the limits as much as I used to and when I go to far and slam it takes a bit more time to recupe. Take your time recovering from those injuries. Pad up. Stretch. Remember your not as rubbery as you used to be. But keep at it. Don't let Bama get you down.
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I`m 38 and skating harder than ever.
I got myself a Rockgardn "Flak Jacket",MTB padded shorts gloves, knee pads, HELMET and I`ve had one crash that would have killed me in my younger days when I only ever skated with knee pads.
Use all the gear all the time and you can push your limits all the time with little fear of major damage.
I think the biggest thing that has helped me become a better skater in the last few years is putting in the hours on a regular basis. During the warmer months I take my wife, she rides up and down the hills on a MTB while I`m skating. Nothing like quality time together huh
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"if everything is under control you're going to slow" - Ralph Castelberg- Rad Air Tanker 200 Rider.
47 here; with the same skated/stopped/skated again story.
Lots of good advise here; hekmet and pads, stretch, footbrake. Take it slow to start, and learn good habits as you go.
Welcome back to skating, and welcome to the 'fish.
Airin; your 2 pennies are always worth the cost.
__________________ Duke City Derby
no venue, no fans, no season, no problem
I'm 41, skated as a kid through college and then started Mt. bike racing so, the board stood in the corner. Put together a long board a couple of years ago and now the bike has to share my time with the board. I still jump on the short board every once in a while for a little "Ooh crap, here comes a small rock!" excitement.
It's tough skating in the NW this winter unless you like lubricating bearings after each ride, lots of rain. I find myself watching the radar in hopes of seeing a couple hour break in the weather for some quality time with the long board.
I put together a Sector 9 super cruiser with Randle 150s and Abec 11 Flashback 70s. I have a set of Revenge trucks coming from UPS TODAY! I have a new set of Flashbacks ready. All I need is a board to complete a second set up. I'm looking at getting a loooooong board.
Now for some questions.
The helmet.
Most of my skating is on the flats during the winter (carving hills on wet pavement is scary). I always were gloves but no helmet (I know, I know). This spring I plan on more hills and need to get protected. I would like to get a helmet but I want one that I WANT to wear and is not a burden to wear. I want one that is light with lots of air flow. One that someone in their 40s wants to wear. any suggestions?
The board.
I want a new board. A looooong one. When I say long I mean between 48" and 60" I guess that isn't all that long but I want to ride it around town. I'm a big boy (220 lbs.) so strength is important. Any suggestions?
Thanks for any advice you all can give.
Peace 8)
E Smith
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There are two kinds of people. Those who have an LBL and, those who will.
Hip pads, Nothing worse than nailing the hip on pavementI was at BC Sports and saw some awesome pads in the snow board dept. They have the regular pads inside but on the outside they had the hard plastic caps like knee pads on all the points, hips and tail bone area.
If they make a protective pad for some spot on your body, GET IT. When I am back on a board in a few months I will be getting the mnt bike shoulder pads as well, a lot of the slalom guys are into that now. Not hard to launch on to a shoulder. My son wears them now and he has really stepped up his riding. He just knows it is a matter of time before he take a digger and he now skates with confidence. Also makes dad breath a bit easier See picture
I am amazed at the number of older guys and gals actively involved in this community - we should all be proud.
I having 42 approaching in the next 6 weeks and I feel younger now than I did when I was 25. Racing slalom and longboarding keeps the blood flowing and the joints moving.
I think advice has been covered well - pads, helmet and take your time trying things out - you should have no problems.
All the best,
Rob
"The Older I Get - The Better I Was"
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Been Riding to Hell, Since the Day I was Born!!
I would like to get a helmet but I want one that I WANT to wear and is not a burden to wear. I want one that is light with lots of air flow. One that someone in their 40s wants to wear. any suggestions?
I guess we could use other threads for this, but since you're a crusty old mountainbiker, I had empathy or pity... Try an MTB helmet. Personally, I don't think I need the venting in a skate helmet that I do on my bike, so I picked a Pro-Tec B9 skate helmet, but it also has the look of an MTB helmet, as opposed to the "lump" look of some "skate" helmets.
__________________ Relax, Don't Worry, Ride Your Longboard.
There should be a seperate graphic injury page and if you want to see that sort of shizzle the go ahead but that one snuck up on me and I too felt quezzy....
creep up on your ride - most of us geriatrics have a more advanced sense of mortality than the majority of the spawn in the forum. get to the comfort point reliably THEN go bigger.
at our age, we should ride for us, not those around us and besides, often, what is old is new to the surrounding spawn.
practice your rolls on the pavement from time to time to keep it automagic and remind you that riding is not without a twinge or two from time to time.
don't know if you learned to slide on knee pads but that is a huge change from old school riding back in the day with cloth/foam knee pads - ol-dude's (former?) school has some pretty good links with regard to learning to go down using updated equipment.
just don't have a senior moment and try to slide out without - you quickly remember that shi---stuff hurts.
keep a good turny board in the car all the time and whenever you park, take an extra minute or two to check where you're at.
Nothing like quality time together huh 
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