I skated when I was young, skatd a little in college, then stopped. When I was 37, my wife bought me a mini cruiser which I love, las year I bought a Sector 9 longboard.
Last April I crashed the longboard hard in Alabama. By far the worst accident I've been in since I was 17 years old (I'm 39 now). I've even crased my motorcycle and was not as hurt.
Anyway, looking for old guys like my self for advice and imput on getting better at longboarding.
well, im a wee bit under your age (im 33 >34) but keep on riding, dont overdo it, wear the safety gear, practice safety slides etc, practice practice practice! ride whenever you can, if its pissing rain out ride a parkade, hang out with other longboarders, i find that riding with others make me hone my own skills better.
oh yea and ice and anti-inflammatories are your best friend.
Yeah, wear you pads/helmet and practice. DON'T go over your head!!! If the hill looks too big or too steep, don't try it from the top - try it from halfway and move up the hill a bit more when you're comfortable.
Learn how to foot brake - taking one foot off and dragging it to slow down. Try it on a mellow hill you're familiar with, again a little at a time.
Also, never play cards with a man named after a state, and be careful of chicks with dagger tattoos
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Wish I could reply, but at 50 years of age and being a woman, I guess I don't qualify......
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I'm going to be 44 tomorrow. I've been skating since I was about 12. I guess there's really no magic formula other than keep on riding and don't start off doing things that you did long ago. Ease your way back into it.
I was lucky I guess because I really never stopped riding. Even when skateboarding kind of died out I still rode. I will admit to not being able to do the stuff I did when I was younger and probably won't ever be able to do it. But most of that stuff is vert and I keep working. It was weird because I hadn't ridden many pools or parks when I was young. I always rode half pipes. When we got our park it was a whole new experience pumping and carving. I'm so used to setting up going straight up a wall instead of angling into it. Plus I always kept my trucks tight because there really wasn't any need to run them loose. So that's a few things I've had to adapt to.
As far a longboard cruising, carving, bombing, etc. goes it's pretty much business as usual. I ride just about as good as I ever did. I may not get as low in turns and stuff but that's about it.
About the only actual advice I can give you is don't just jump into the deep end without knowing how to swim. Ease into it. Get your skills back and if it looks crazy it probably is and instead of bombing the whole hill right off maybe take a run from the half way point and see how that goes before hitting the whole hill.
Have fun! That's the bottom line. If your just cruising around and it's fun than that's all that matters.
I'm 39 and I started back this year. I also bought my first longboard this year, but I have a severe lack of good longboard riding spots and there are skateparks everywhere. So where did you get hurt in Alabama? I'm in Montgomery.
Hehe, just kidding, but more power to you for riding.
I would give advice but since my balls haven't dropped yet(kidding, I'm 17 but compared to some of the people here I'm a young'in) so all I can really say is wear a helmet, it will do you good in the long run.
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Maybe its time to go for a ride.
One thing I've come to appreciate here is that we've got quite a mix of young and old(er) and new and experienced skaters, not to mention cruisers and gonzo savants. There's a pretty significant number of skaters on here with parallel skating lives to yours.
__________________ Relax, Don't Worry, Ride Your Longboard.
43 and just started up again after about a seven year break. My friends long board got me back, now i'm trying to ride pools, and i never could drop in before. So old dogs can learn some new tricks...
It's true about the stretching, i'm a yoga teacher by profession, and i'm sure its part of what keeps me fit and makes recovery faster.
Yeah I'm 46. Been skating since I was 5 or 6. As long as you don't let your ego get the best of you you'll be fine. I have come to realize I can't do the things I used to do when I was 20. I had to get over that. I felt like if I couldn't show people now that I can still do that stuff, they would never believe that I used to be able to do that stuff.
Now I'm like, "so what?" Longboarding I do for me ... because it feels sooooo goooood. I love casual cruising. I love going fast. I've learned to skate for myself. I still like to pull out the short board and run cones or spin some 360's about once a week (not this time of year), but it's all about what brings me the most pleasure now. I'm not out to impress or defeat anyone. Those days are gone. I'm just out ot enjoy the stoke. It's one of life's greatest pleasures.
Oh yeah - wear pads and a helmet. When I was young and 10' tall and bullet proof I didn't think I needed any of that panzy gear. But I'm smarter now. When I fall onto my padded elbows or helmeted head - and it doesn't hurt - I have to wonder why everyone doesn't wear pads.
aw Airin, feel free to input some advice, you might be 50 but damn you kick my young 33 y/o butt every time we have gone out with the ConeHeads and cruising back from 37th!!
I'll be 44 in a few months. I've been skating for approx 7 years (after a 10-year layoff). As an overall skater, I've easily improved 100%. I've broken a few bones along the way, but I'm still going. Wear your safety gear, be sensible, and have fun. That'll keep you rolling for a long time.
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Be vigilant in checking your set up for wheelbite. Wear a helmet at a minimum, pads help, and I've switched from wrist guards to slide gloves this year.
Learning to footdrag is a plus and you can follow that up with a safety slide-to-stop. Find your self a decent video or download some found around here. There is a BIG difference between photos and videos. Videos help understand what happens before and after the cool pose.
AND
I'm having the time of my life slaloming. It's not to diferent from longboarding and you get to do it in big groups of 20-50 skaters between high school and retirement. It's competative, but social, and very friendly to new people.
Maybe after you get your longboard chops down you can come skate with us.
Looking for old guys who can relate, +35
43 and I should know better!!
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