I've been off my board for quite a few years now. I suffered a broken femur while skateboarding in a banked slalom race, started skating right afterwards, competed in a few more races, then had another few knee surgeries. I think its been more than 5 years since ive seriously skateboarded. I went out for a longboard cruise yesterday and noticed that my courage for catching speed and sliding went out the window. I'm not interested in bombing hills, but I want to start slalom racing again. I haven't lost my pump or my form, but im afraid ive lost my "balls". Does anybody have experience with this?
I don't know if it's about "lost balls or confidence". Bails after bails that cause injuries will naturally sway you away from the cause.
I would reccomend you just come slowly. At 25 you are still young and hopefully the worst of your injuries are behind you. Although I still love to race slalom and take some really good falls they don't scare me.
I find that when I'm on ramps and in pools I skate them more for physical fitness and conditoning then to try and learn tricks. I hardly even do any frontside kickturns anymore (since injuries my ankle in 04) I just keep enjoying it and mix up my ridung. Just accept where your at and if it changes over time good! The bottom line is you should be enjoying what you are doing.
As for Slalom there are all levels of racers out there. Most people at contest are going to try to help you out. Good Luck and have some fun.
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Many Happy Pumps
Avatar-Cortesy of Silverfish - Incinitas open 2006
I don't know if it's about "lost balls or confidence". Bails after bails that cause injuries will naturally sway you away from the cause.
I would reccomend you just come slowly. At 25 you are still young and hopefully the worst of your injuries are behind you. Although I still love to race slalom and take some really good falls they don't scare me.
I find that when I'm on ramps and in pools I skate them more for physical fitness and conditoning then to try and learn tricks. I hardly even do any frontside kickturns anymore (since injuries my ankle in 04) I just keep enjoying it and mix up my ridung. Just accept where your at and if it changes over time good! The bottom line is you should be enjoying what you are doing.
As for Slalom there are all levels of racers out there. Most people at contest are going to try to help you out. Good Luck and have some fun.
i was injured at 19, and at 25 i have become quite the old man, the knees are pretty bad with arthritis and pain, but i've come to a point in my life where I know I hurt, and its going to keep hurting no matter what. My doctor told me i am going to need a knee replacement some time in my near future, so i might as well go out doing something i spent a large chunk of my life doing. I was content with walking away from skateboarding a few years ago, but now that I have a career, and spend most of my time working in a hot kitchen full of adrenalin, i need something to feed my adrenalin needs while not in the kitchen.
When i was skating in the slalom scene a few years ago, everybody I met was absolutely awesome, helpful, and generous with tips, equipment, and time to help out a young and new slalom skater. I am really looking forward to getting back into running cones, and getting back into the slalom family.
I feel you man. Six days after I went to my first race as a cone head I was skating on JG's ed economy when I was hit by a car. Snapped my tib/fib baadly, I spent 9 days in the hospital including 3 different surgeries. 1 month in a wheel chair. Had four metal rods going through my leg for 2 months. My leg has basically been rebuilt.
Skating wrecked my body but it also built it back better than before. I found slalom to be a great exercise to rehab my legs with low impact.
All I can say is nothing is impossible and I really hope you get back on a board... take it easy at first. I really struggled for three years to get over fear and to rehab but it makes me appreciate being able to pump down the street a whole lot. Good luck man.
I hear you. In '75 I ripped a knee playing football, a year later full knee surgery. A couple years later the knee ripped appart playing softball. A nother couple years and full reconstructive surgery again but this time on the 2d injured knee.
I've had to minor knee surgeries since, one on each. I've had arthritis and pain for the last 20 or so years of playing many sports at a competitive level.
this past winter after the worlds I started working out specifiaclly to try and lose weight ( Iput on quite a bit he last year stressed running the sk8parks) and to try and strenth=ghen my weak knees.
Somwhere along the line I did something right things as the Arthritis is almost non apparent anymore. It is still there as I feel it once in a while but not even on a weekly basis. I am skating more then I have in the last 10 years or so.
Just keep your head up, smile!!!!!
Life is too short.
__________________
Many Happy Pumps
Avatar-Cortesy of Silverfish - Incinitas open 2006
Slalom can be HIGH IMPACT!!!!!!!!!!! I had a compound tib fib episode while practising Slalom. Leg will never be the same, but I still skate golf play volley ball ect.
Over the last few years I've had back injuries, rib fractures, foot slams, and knee slams dodging cones. and honestly have found a great "rehab" in long distance pumping with a longer, slightly flexy board, out on some open trails.
Two of my bros recently broke bones on the course-- and one of them is doing a distance session with me this weekend, the other guy's wounds are still a bit too fresh, but as soon as he's up for standing on a board, hoping to get him out on the trails as well. I really think LDP's a great way to get some turns in, get your pump addiction cured, soak in some sun-baked scenery, and gradually boost your confidence for the hills again.
[Hey JP, I know you weren't talking about me, but I'm another one of your friends that needs rehab and to get back skating. I just had an mri yesterday for my shoulder, it's all f;d up. I need some low stress low speed long distance stuff to get back in shape. Get in touch with me when you get a chance. I have been letting the shoulder beat me lately and I need to get over it. I want to get into the park too but the doc told me no way at least for awhile.
There's no hurry to get back to where you were before. Maybe you never will, but maybe you'll go way past where you were before.
Just spend time on your board enjoying yourself, at the speed you feel comfortable with. The chances are that your confidence will build up to where it was before...
There's no hurry to get back to where you were before. Maybe you never will, but maybe you'll go way past where you were before.
Just spend time on your board enjoying yourself, at the speed you feel comfortable with. The chances are that your confidence will build up to where it was before...
..........+!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by livefortoday2007
It is almost like racism to seperate street skating and longboards.
skating after injury.
