Looking for old guys who can relate, +35

[valskater]

Never owned a skateboard in my life until this past Christmas!


When I told my wife I wanted a skateboard to compliment surfing, she was laughed. She still can't take it seriously as if it's embarrassing for someone my age to skate. She still associates skating to juvenile delinquints or something.

Congrats Bro on gettin' something that brings you joy, is healthful, youthful etc.

My wife doesn't understand it either. At least I'm not spending all my time on the internet....... Wait. At least I'm not tryin' to pick up younger chicks. Yeah! I'm not doin' that.

Though I don't understand all the Rubbermaid totes of X-mas decorations, knicknacks, etc either.

[Pepperoniquesadilla]

I may only be 14 but ive takin my fair share of spills (almost broke my nose when i was 9) and im in sort of a time warp...the movies dogtown and z-boys and lords of dogtown were a real inspiration to me...i ride a retro board i made...has tracker mid-tracks and abecc11 bertz (ill post pics later) but all i can say is for all those beginners out there (and u to mojo jojo with ur new board) is keep ridin and find some friends that do to...i go longboarding with my friends whenever im not surfin and im in great shape and can tear up the streets...so for all the beginners out there keep doin ur thing and youll get good one day

[Mojo Jojo]

Thanks for the kind words to a new - older skater.

Now here's a question for the older skaters... Do your co-workers know you skate? What is their opinion? I realize other peoples opinion shouldn't matter but I'd like to hear for humours sake. I've kept my board in my car hoping to ride it for lunch pickup or maybe hit the parking garage when the security is not looking, but all I can think about is explaining myself to coworkers when I'm being tossed by security and of course it's that whole "too old to be skating" deal!

Apologies if I'm hijacking the post, but I thought it would be relevant in keeping this "older skaters" post going and not burying it by starting a new thread.

[mangels]

ignore this ... it was a double post. see the next one:

[mangels]

Yeah - Wassup wit dat? If you see an older person riding a bike, jogging, or roller blading everyone thinks it's wonderful that they're staying shape. But if you see one of us 40-sumpthins on a skateboard, we're being rediculous. I always just tell 'em skateboards are safer than roller blades. If I get in trouble on my skateboard I can jump off and run for it. Those roller blades are tied to your feet. If you get in trouble - you're going down!

But you know what shut's 'em up? Let 'em watch you skate. I must admit, I feel a lot of pressure when people are watching me skate to be perfect. I feel like if I ever mess up while someone is watching I'll get the "You're too old for that" lecture. That's why I like to skate between 4:00 and 6:00AM.

I do make the occasional appearance during normal waking hours. I was zooming down a hill on a local bike path with a 135* turn near the bottom. There were also two early teen girls enjoying the same thrill on their roller blades. Around the 5th time the board slid out from under me and I landed flat on my back. Falling is part of skating. If you can pop right back up and shake it off you're proving your point just as well. I got back up and did it a few more times with 'em.

it's an embarssing photo in that it was back before the days of enlightenment ... no helmet or elbow pads. Just wrist braces. I wear a helmet and pads now.

[Mojo Jojo]

Wow! Great style! I hope I develop your grace, really that pic is inspirational!

[phm14]

Yeah - Wassup wit dat? If you see an older person riding a bike, jogging, or roller blading everyone thinks it's wonderful that they're staying shape. But if you see one of us 40-sumpthins on a skateboard, we're being rediculous. I always just tell 'em skateboards are safer than roller blades. If I get in trouble on my skateboard I can jump off and run for it. Those roller blades are tied to your feet. If you get in trouble - you're going down!

But you know what shut's 'em up? Let 'em watch you skate. I must admit, I feel a lot of pressure when people are watching me skate to be perfect. I feel like if I ever mess up while someone is watching I'll get the "You're too old for that" lecture. That's why I like to skate between 4:00 and 6:00AM.

I do make the occasional appearance during normal waking hours. I was zooming down a hill on a local bike path with a 135* turn near the bottom. There were also two early teen girls enjoying the same thrill on their roller blades. Around the 5th time the board slid out from under me and I landed flat on my back. Falling is part of skating. If you can pop right back up and shake it off you're proving your point just as well. I got back up and did it a few more times with 'em.

it's an embarssing photo in that it was back before the days of enlightenment ... no helmet or elbow pads. Just wrist braces. I wear a helmet and pads now.

Nice form :thumb:

[valskater]

Nice style.

[ol'dude]

Now here's a question for the older skaters... Do your co-workers know you skate? What is their opinion? I realize other peoples opinion shouldn't matter but I'd like to hear for humours sake. I've kept my board in my car hoping to ride it for lunch pickup or maybe hit the parking garage when the security is not looking, but all I can think about is explaining myself to coworkers when I'm being tossed by security and of course it's that whole "too old to be skating" deal!

Apologies if I'm hijacking the post, but I thought it would be relevant in keeping this "older skaters" post going and not burying it by starting a new thread.

I have 4 of my boards hanging from the loft in my portion of the shop. And I'm the youngest guy in the shop. Not only do they know, they quiz me, listen to tales, walk in and stare...
I tell them I'm going to skate after work, the next day they want to know if it was good.
My last job was running Skate School, so my co-workers/employees and customers not only knew I skated, they skated with me. 8) Hell, part of my job was teaching people to skate, and taking them out to Carve'N'Cruise!

Use every excuse you can to skate at lunch, and let them see the stoke when you come back. If you get picked up for trespassing/vandalism/geriatric non-compliance, use it as a badge of honor.

[redroller]

I am 50 years old and still ride when weather is good. Not too fast or far, but still have fun. Usually wear a brain bucket and pads, will add gloves after seeing that hamburger finger picture. I can now afford any board I want, just can't risk too many falls. Still skiing, snowskating, and driving my 2005 Pontiac GTO, 400 HP, 400 ft-lbs, 6 speed, bright red.

[silversurfer]

Usually wear a brain bucket and pads, will add gloves after seeing that hamburger finger picture.

So it was worth getting a little grossed out inorder to save the hands of one our brothers.

Cool stuff you got there redroller, mid life crisis?

I see the young chicks coming next.

[jmclure]

Can't resist, must reply
Ok does 34 qualify? I'm definately the oldest in my crew of 20ish longboarders. At least most of them can go to the bar with me afterwards or before (not the best idea). I work with some of them and the others I work with are all younger 16-27. Of course I'm the boss (only have to take orders from the owner and he's not on site), but at least I'm the cool boss cause I surf and skate. I would definately feel more self contious about it if I were not the boss and I were working with others my age. However I've been doing my job for 16 years cause it's fun and exciting, so I wouldn't fit in with stuffy office types no mater if I skated or if I played golf (yuck). Of couse I still have long hair and goatee. I'll wait for it to come back in style then I'll cut it.
Ok I'll sit down now, I just wanted to add my intro to the
Old Dude Skaters Anonomous meeting going on here.

Oh and to qualify my old schoolness, my big sister taught me to skate in 76. It's her fualt I'm goofy footed. I skated sidewalks on my hammy down plastic banana till the 80's, then when we moved I made new friends that showed me how to skate half pipes and quarter pipes. Did that through middle school, then moved again and didn't have any skating friends in the new high school (it was backward small town). Step dad made me tear down my quarter pipe. Funny thing was, about 1 block from my house was an old concrete park that was grown up with weeds. Not a very good one, but it had a bowl (half full of water). I looked at it but had no idea how to skate it, having only riden half pipes. No one else did either I supose cause it never got used. I never saw anyone on it, so I never skated it either. Just would have needed to bail the water out and clean up the glass and weeds. We moved again and I must have sold my skateboard in a yard sale, but we moved back to the beach, so when moms asks what I want for my 15th bday I can't think of much so I say a surfboard since we live 2 miles from the beach now. Caught surfing bug and still have it. Never touched a skateboard again till about 2 years ago my friend who skimboards and I'm teaching to surf got a tahoe longboard. I'd see some hippy kids riding longboards like 10 years ago, but didn't think much of them. I tried my friend Tahoe and fell in love with skating again. I turned and carved like a surfboard. So 2 years later I have bought 6 boards and made about 6 more. I keep trying the different hybrid designs just to check them out but always come back to a 45-60 inch board with Randals as my favorite ride.

Crap sorry so long. If you read all this I owe you a beer.

[Smitty]

I like my beer thick and chewy like my women. Oops, did I say that out loud?

E

[Mile_High_Mark]

I like my beer thick and chewy like my women. Oops, did I say that out loud?

E

But do you like your women like your trucks? Wide and loose...

[valskater]

I like my beer thick and chewy like my women. Oops, did I say that out loud?

E

But do you like your women like your trucks? Wide and loose...

Ewwww.

[Smitty]

I don't care if they're loose as long as they're maneuverable.

E

[inbred]

I'll turn 57 in a couple weeks. I got on a board a few weeks ago for the first time since the 60's. It felt really good, like coming home. Like others say, wear protective gear. It may not look real cool but then neither does a ground off finger or exploding head. Have fun.

[klen]

[Joe & Nick]

I like my beer thick and chewy like my women. Oops, did I say that out loud?

E

I like my beer like i like my women.

Bitter!

[valskater]

I like my beer thick and chewy like my women. Oops, did I say that out loud?

E

I like my beer like i like my women.

Bitter!

Plenty of them out there.