Just Skate

I've been skateboarding since I was twelve years old. My friend at the time convinced me to start. I remember not even wanting to skateboard and I would make up excuses as to why skateboarding was dumb. The truth was I just didn't want to be embarrassed. My friend eventually convinced me after showing me 411 video Issue #14. He let me use a hand me down board that he got from his cousins, who were the ones that got him into skating. It was a Dead Industries skateboard. The bottom had a white background with "DENY" printed in huge bold letters.


I remember feeling completely useless the first time I went skating. I could barely push off let alone stand on the board. My buddy would have to wait up for me constantly. I didn't think I would be able to get any better. The problem was I was way too into the skateboarding culture to give up. I knew all the pros names and what companies they rode for. I watched skate videos whenever I could. During middle school, I discovered that our library had tons of old issues of Thrasher Magazine and needless to say I spent a lot of time in the Library "studying". I was obsessed with skateboarding.

As time went by, I got to know my skateboard. I practiced riding and carving down hills all the time. I needed to know that I had full control over my board. It had to be an extension of me. Once I felt comfortable enough I began to practice my ollie and also began incorporating old school tricks such as foot and hand plants into my repertoire. Over time other tricks began to come to me more naturally. I also began to skate faster as well.

Now at the age of twenty seven, I am still skateboarding and loving it. I may not be pro or amateur status but I am comfortable. Back when I was a teenager, all I wanted to do was get sponsored. Unfortunately there are many factors in real life that hinder one from achieving their dreams. You need to be persistent. I was too much of a mess to get sponsored. I just have fun with skating now. It's my escape from everything else. It's my most reliable friend.

Skateboarding is fun. Keep it that way. Don't worry about how you appear to others during the learning process.

Just skate.