Skate Life

When are you too old?

So my wife shows me a video of the Yasutoko brothers the other night and all the old memories come flooding back. I skated a lot in Jr. high and high school then got caught up holding down a living, going to the military, getting married, and going to college. Here I am at 27, haven't sk8ed in years, and all those great memories have had me thinking about getting a pair of skates for the last few days. Then I think, am I too old to start up again. The question is I had fun when I was younger but am I too old now? I see a lot of the pro's now are younger and start to think that it would be weird for some old dude to start trying to skate again, what do you all think?

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Permalink Reply by Mike on December 17, 2009 at 7:12pm

Im 22 and sometimes I wonder when im gonna be too old to throw out 540s and whatnot, but its definetly going to be in my late 30s. 27 is so young! And I know exactly what you mean about getting into a boring routine. At my last job it seemed all I ever did was work. I was always tired and kinda down, so I started making a point of hitting up the skate park for at least half an hour after work.. And it made all the difference. It was such a release and it broke the monotony. I had to be responsible because i was an auto mechanic so a broken hand or leg wasnt gonna cut it, but those half hour sessions were like insta-cures. So get back on the blades!

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Permalink Reply by Kotatsu Mushi on December 17, 2009 at 10:30pm

Haha, yea, having more sole was something so beautiful back in the Rollerblade brand days. Rollerblade skates had no sole. I don't know how many times I almost lost my teeth trying to sole grind with them back then. When fattys came out it was like heaven and it seems there is mega sole on all the new skates now. The one plus for all the booters who start in the 90's is it made them strong at tricks so they can stick em on anything. I remember my Oxygens, I was so happy to get them but they were so heavy it was like having anchors anytime I jumped gaps or hit handrails. When I got the Majestics it was freedom. Using skates with no sole or tanks like Oxygens only made it easier for those who stuck with it and progressed with inline technology I would imagine.

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Permalink Reply by Elaun Chambers on December 29, 2009 at 8:46am

Yeah, it's nice to hear "You're never too old! I'm the same way, I'm 29 and still rollin"... but fact is, maturity will change you, as well as your perspective. We cherish the fond memories of our youth, comparing it to what we've become. This generation of extremists and 90's alt rock rebels now turned adults. I completely understand that feeling of being disconnected, especially because we experienced the dawn or birth of the sport. Skateboarding existed long before late 70's-early 80's born 90's kids took the beach-side exercise activity, slammed a dew and and started hopping on rails. But those of us that witnessed it's inception, those who pinned up Jon Julio posters on our walls, are now pushing 30, with a wife, two kids and a mortgage. The sport has changed so much. What's typical of rollers these days is now a potentially unpaid 4 week hiatus from your bread and butter. And in these times too?

Its interesting because there's a big part of us that was so pure, innocent and free. Rolling was that for me at least. When I watch videos and check out profiles on Youtube, I still think I can get out there and rip some shit, in fact I know I can, but then reality sets in and I think about my priorities. What am I doing purchasing skates? Trying to get back into it? Trying to relive the glory days? To capture youth and relish it ultimately before I hit the big 3-0? (I'm 27 as well, btw) Of course I whip out my credit card anyway, but really, how much can we really get back into it? Eventually life is going to say "Hey Chambers!, You're 27... not 17!, quit fucking around, take off the boots and make more money!" And I will, because as much as I hate to admit it, money, at 27, is now so much more important to me than risking my coccyx and landing a full torque.

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Permalink Reply by ifen27 on December 29, 2009 at 11:48am

not sure if this is relevant but, my dad's 50 and ran his first marathon at 49, he started running at 47. so in my opinion your never to old to do something(as long as ur up for the extra challenges that might come with it)

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Permalink Reply by Kotatsu Mushi on December 29, 2009 at 6:28pm

Very well worded and a pleasure to read; memories of a booter. The good ol’ days were nice and it was significant to be a part of the conception of the sport. Capturing one’s youth becomes a focus as we see it slip away in bills, mortgage, and maturity. I understand the toil between capturing the glory days and remaining focused on priorities. Most of our lives are now stuck in the pitfall of status, salary, and direction. As I close in on 30 I am reminded more of the glory days as more of my life is constricted by responsibility. For these reasons I feel, much like the posts above, it is never too late to start again doing something which provides release and brings happiness no matter how ridiculous it may seem to the main stream. When did we ever file in line? We have a whole life to live, one full of successes and failures, one full of happiness and sadness, but one fact I feel that is important is reminding ourselves periodically that life is not as serious as we are meant to believe. Part of success is allowing ourselves the time to indulge in activities which bring us happiness. Life is a continuous balance and as long as we maintain harmony within that balance we can continue to nurture or youthful spirit while sustaining our responsible character.

Unfortunately as we mature and money becomes more of a driving; however, as so many have said before money isn’t everything. I can agree that money, especially in today’s economic clement, can provide relief as we struggle to sustain a good life and quench our thirst for achievement. Although staying responsible in order to provide food on the table and a secure future is imperative, it shouldn’t extinguish our ability to pursue hobbies or find peace in our forward march. So I end by saying that although as we mature it is important to stay responsible, and that we may never end up on a poster or in a video, slapping on the skates at the end of the work day can only help our maturity as a well rounded individual by allowing us to express our freedoms and pursue or passions.

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Permalink Reply by Mada on January 23, 2010 at 1:06pm

You know, I was thinking about this very thing the other day. I'm 26, doin my PhD hoping to submit this summer. I'm working like a dog and have jumped into adulthood with both feet. A couple of months ago, I looked at my life and thought so this is it? I lived my life as a teenager, looking forward to my twenties thinking I will get the chance to do all those things I couldn't back then. I will be free of studying, work a nice little job and have no stress. My philosophy was work hard and I can play later. So I gave up skating, because I got tired of all the bullshit I used to get around here. What's this short-haired tomboy of a girl running around on skates in a country like Oman? [that's in the middle east by the way ;)]
Needless to say, I went off to college, worked, still in college for some reason, and still working. So I asked myself, is this really the life you pictured? Are you really still who you started out to be? The answer was no. I lost that edge, that part of myself that relished the exhiliration, the isolation of pushing yourself to acheive that smooth rolling gait, the adrenaline, the wonderful breeze wooshing past you. So I went out, much the same way I did when I was ten, only this time, I wasn't saving up for months upon months on end, I had a wallet to my name, and bought a pair of skates. This time, it felt better than it ever did, because I lost something precious and have rediscovered it.
It will not be the same as it was when you were younger. It would feel better now. Not because you will be better at it, but because it will loosen that vice grip that held your heart captive while you navigated the rat race, and remind you that we work to live, not the other way round.
My two cents worth :) go for it!

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Permalink Reply by Kasey on January 23, 2010 at 2:08pm

Mate, I'm 32 this year, only got back on my skates last year so fuck it - you're never too old to do something you love, tho just remember, you do any damage you're not gonna heal as fast as ya did 10 years ago. My first night out on my skates I bust my wrist real bad n spent next 4 1/2 months strapped up from elbow to my knuckles. Know what? it was worth it! Havent been able to skate for last few months cus of the weather here, should be dryin up soon tho. cant wait.

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Permalink Reply by Roll2create on January 23, 2010 at 4:11pm

yea its all good, i know guys in Australia that are 31 and still go hard and do some siick tricks and have flow... its all about streching as well like in any sport , to get nice and loose and not tear a muscle etc.. especially as you get older.. i know of a guy called dante and he was previously a speedskater back in the 90s and he is id say 45!! so be inspired by that fact, im 22 still got years to go.. in this sport and even when not skating/rollerblading/rolling ;P ill be organiseing events and mabe open a skate shop one day. going to thw WINTERCLASH! this year in berlin www.winterclash.com ;) worth the trip. wish me luck competeing..

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Permalink Reply by Kotatsu Mushi on February 1, 2010 at 3:47pm

Yes, since I posted this I have seen so much inspiration from many corners plus all of you who have replied. Thank all of you for the support, I'm only about $50 away from buying some skates. Good luck at the winterclash Roll2create and may your PhD come as painless as possible Mada.

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Permalink Reply by Tom "Back Farv" Watson on February 2, 2010 at 6:05pm

when your dead XD

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Permalink Reply by AliceLikesSkate on February 3, 2010 at 7:15am

Go for it dude.
27 is very young. Plus you've had experience.
At park whenever Im done, I always like to look around for a older guy and watch what he can do.
If you want to skate? Skate.

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Permalink Reply by Scizyr on February 3, 2010 at 7:49pm

Never too old. A good thing to remember though if you haven't been keeping up with physical activity, don't jump right back thinking your muscle memory will be sufficient to absorb hard landings. After being inactive our bodies lose their conditioning. I don't just mean muscle mass/density either.

What I didn't realize when I first started getting into aggressive skating was that Wolf's Law was working on me every hard landing, every crash I took. Wolf's Law is the one where you hear about people saying how bones get stronger after they heal from breaking. It's very true! We skaters use that law just like martial artists to strengthen our bodies and we don't even realize it. :) Basically how it works is every time you hurt your bones, your body sends a bunch of calcium deposits to that spot, making it denser and stronger. So with that in mind make sure you have plenty of calcium in your diet.