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So You’ve Decided To Skate Again. Maybe they built a skatepark near your home. Maybe your kid is getting into skateboarding and you want to get in on the fun. Maybe you just want a plausible excuse to wear baggy pants and a backwards hat again. Whatever your reason for wanting to get back on a skateboard (or on it for the first time as an adult), let us be the first to tell you “Welcome back!
First off, let’s get one thing clear. You are never too old to ride a skateboard. You may not look as cool as you used to and the chances of having a pro career are slim to none, but there are no age limits to skating. What’s more, it really doesn’t matter what condition you are in. Whether you are hefty or skinny or even frail, as long as you take your time and skate within your abilities, you can enjoy skating.
The first thing you will need is your own skateboard. No borrowing your kid’s board. A crappy toy store set-up can’t handle an adult human riding it so don’t waste your money. You’ll want a good old 7-ply maple skate deck. If you want top of the line parts, go for it. One of the advantages of being an adult with your own money is that you get to spend it however you want. The main thing is to get a set-up you are stoked on and proud to ride. Many of the brands from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s are still around, so you can reinvest in an old favorite, or check out what is new. There are lots of cool shaped boards available now as well.
Check out the CCS Skateboard Buyers Guide for more details on gear specifics and what might work for your size and skate goals. Be prepared to spend around $150 on all new gear, but once that initial investment is down, skateboarding is free after that!
Another thing you will want to seriously consider is safety gear. It is true that as you get older the slams get harder, the healing takes longer, and you probably don’t want to go back to the office Monday with a cast on your wrist. If you are worried that you won’t look cool while wearing protective gear we have good news; nobody will think you are cool either way. With that out of the way, you are free to pad up as needed. And, fortunately the stigma against pads and a helmet is nearly gone from skateboarding, so protect your neck (and your knees and elbow and head).
Time to skate. Before you even step on a board, you’re going to want to stretch out. Some of the most frequent body strains an older skater faces aren’t from impacts but from sudden twists in unexpected directions. Get loose and warmed up before you even step back on a board (and even then, keep it mellow for the first 10 minutes).
Start slow. You may recall jumping down stairs and catching air back in the day, but your body and brain has completely forgotten how to do that stuff (and probably couldn’t still do it even if it remembered). The older we are, the longer it can take to warm up and get loose (even after stretching). Spend lots of time pushing and rolling and carving and turning. You can have a great day on your skateboard without even attempting a single ollie. If you want to skate the bowl, start by pumping up from the flat bottom before dropping in.
Your skills will take a long time to reawaken (and some may never come back), but if your goal is to get out there, get moving, break a sweat, make friends, and to have some fun, a fulfilling session is guaranteed.
A few more tips:
