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Bought my missus for Christmas last year then she fell pregnant! But worth her at 36 and me 39 at least if I fall off badly I’ve got a health scheme I can use from work to help me with physio!
In all honestly barely used it as been busy with the little one and the drive has to I much DIY rubble on it! Here’s to two weeks time after the skip’s left and I can break my ankle pretending I’m young!
Still having fun, still can't olie
Local skatebowl is open and weather has not been fun, there's a covered skate zone, but that's for the pros!
My kids show sporadic interest, I'd love to find somewhere near work so I could use my lunch hour!
Been put on the cruiser a few times, big soft wheels makes life a lot easier.
I have a coached session on Monday. Going with a mate, I have limited skatepark skills, he has basically none. Should be entertaining/brutal, I'm at a point where I need a bit of a push to actually be able to 'use' a skatepark, so this might help.
Has anyone been to XC skatepark, any tips? Really looking forward to some miniramp time, but will be taking all the pads!
Thought I'd add to this post above as some feedback from having a coached session, in case anyone else was thinking similar. Had a 2 hour session with Lee from TrickTech with a mate, we both really enjoyed it. Worked out at £50 ish each, for just the two of us on the session.
I'm surprised at how much I got from having some tuition / coaching. I honestly thought it would be more ramp/trick focussed, but it ended up being far more about fundamentals and finding lazy habits and blind spots that would hold us back as we progressed (like backside body varials for me 😀 ). Having been out skating since then, I'm much more aware of what I'm doing and we both feel way more confident, as well as having lots of things to work on, just on flat ground if needed. So all in, a coached session was great fun and genuinely helpful. Five stars etc.
Got a treat for Xmas. A reissue of the deck I got for Xmas 1990 (New Deal Andrew Morrison) to add to my collection, plus a pair of NB skate shoes based on a pair from an old R.A.D cover shot.
Also got this Blind Powell rip-off models set.
That's a lot of decks!
Absolutely agree with the mental health I'm laughing like a loon sometimes. I've only got local outdoor ramps/spots the weather is killing me.
Kids are back at school so I get the place to myself good times
That mental health video captures a lot of what us older skaters get from it, but I think the Andy Anderson description of why skating is fun in itself is also a good one.
I have an Anderson Flight deck and this makes me realise how wasted it is on me 😀
I might ask for a new deck for my next birthday in a few weeks... I've for decent wheels n trucks. I'll be 59 and it'll be to ride, not hang on the wall 😀
Latest update : found the braille skateboarding boitcamp videos very useful, I've downloaded the app too which has a checklist of techniques and tricks.
Definitely giggled like a baby when I've got something just right a few times
I really look forward to my Saturday morning skate bowl sessions.
I had a play last week at the local small park, first time in a year after bad ankle injury. Did a few kickturns and flat ground ollies, even dropped off a curb.
41yo checking in with his post Christmas board!
My son's got bored of his already, who would have guessed? But he's got a scooter now so we still get to hang out at the park together.
My level of distinct unawesomeness basically stops at 180 kickturns after rolling up then back down a small quarter pipe.
I've conquered the dizzy heights of rolling in small ramps and dropping in from the tail on very small ones. (I s disproportionately pleased when an 11 year old taught me to do this, mostly by yelling 'COMMIT!' at me)
However, was trying to pump transitions on a small half pipe today, and a couple of times when I was pumping on the way down it felt like the front had hung up on something. My son said it looked like the wheels were grabbing the board as I was correcting my course. It does look like there are scuffs above the wheels.
I'm only about 70kgs, and I've already tightened the kingpin (I think that's what it's called!) To the point where it's about to bulge. Do I need some sort of spacer between the board and trucks? Do I need a stiffer elastomer thing?
Or have I just got a crap setup?
buy bones bushings in a hard 96a compound job jobbed
It’s called wheelbite. A thin riser between trucks and deck will help. You could get stiffer bushings ( the rubber bits in the trucks )
But realistically you really need more practice / board control. It’s probably that your pumping action isn’t quite in balance /smooth enough yet.
If you look at how loose most decent bowl skaters ride their trucks, it’s pretty loose. If your trucks are too tight it makes it harder to stay in balance over the board anyway.
If you keep practising your feet will develop enough control / balance that you can keep the board running without wheelbite.
ceepers is correct but if your only riding once or twice a week it'll take about five years to develop the foot strength to balance perfectly without wheel bite
if your a fat knacker like me ( just seen your 70kg get the medium )get the hard bushing they still turn just are more supportive lol
most stock bushing are crap even on indys
Thanks people!
Yeah, did some more reading, and like you say, seems like the best solution is to spend more time on the board and get better! As a parent with a bike/SUP/DIY/run habit it's going to take a good while, will try and get it on the beard as much as possible, or get some ply out in the garden!
Modern trucks are a bit lower so wheel bite can be more likely IME, I have put some risers on mine.
Or go back to the 1990's and buy some wheels.
Probably about the same as me these days, and I used to be able to clear a shopping trolley on its side. Unless you are out there for hours a day, skating to work and sleeping with your deck next to you I doubt you'll get much higher. These things take time and effort.
Well done though. I must get out on my deck sometime.
This seems like a good place to ask, so... my niece (8) has expressed an interest in getting a skateboard and I, as keeper of the wheels (obvs), have been tasked with supply. My experience of skateplanks, however, starts and ends at THPS!
Looking for something that won't break the bank (in case she changes her mind) but good enough that it won't impede her progress if she likes it. Would something like the Mini Logo Complete mentioned above be suitable?
Size-wise 7.5-7.75" seems to be the suggestion. What would be the drawbacks (if any) of going for the larger size for longevity whilst she's still growing?
Finally, what's the recommended protection level for a noob - helmet and knee pads?
tempted to try again at skateboard....i just remember trashing shoes when i skated when younger, the grip tap shredding the sides of the shoe when olleing, any know tips to stop that from happening?
Frogstomp, 7,5 would be fine, its weight of the board really unless shes a huge shoe size. Cheaper boards skimp on bearings so make it hard to roll nicely, Mini logo should be a decent set up as Im pretty sure it a Powell sub brand.
Alcolepone, if you dont want knackered shoes and more knackered ankles dont play on skateboards 😉
Never really got to grips with riding my longboard, as I’m goofyfooted, and my left knee is pretty trashed, I just can’t maintain my balance, so I wobble a lot and I just don’t feel secure on it. I suppose I could get a knee brace, but that’s not a cheap option. I guess at getting on for 70 I’m expecting a bit much. I could have used it to get along to my archery club, except my kit is in quite a large duffle bag kind of thing, and fairly heavy, so I’d probably fall off anyway. *sigh*
Still skateboarding (and falling!) aged 70 years young
“Addicted to the Flow”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Ez1_uwNZc
Just got into skating at 44 (and just turned 45....).
Loving it. I didn't really skate at all when I was a kid, but I guess it helps that I'm a very experienced snowboarder (18 seasons, full time instructor/guide for the last 7!).
My initial ambition was just to be able to cruise laps of the pump track, but I managed that within a few sessions, so I'm now upping my sights to being able to ride the bowl without looking like a total kook. Still don't really have any intentions of learning any tech tricks, just like cruising transitions.<br /><br />I initially bought an Arbor cruiser complete, which is great for the pump track. Now also got one of those Element Star Wars completes (thanks to the awesome dudes at Rollersnakes!) which is better in the bowl.
@stevomcd your mention of Star Wars Element should be a Public Service Announcement…
£25 Millenium Falcon pre-built complete skateboard
@charlie.farley yeah, it's an outrageous deal. I've got the Death Star one:
Mike at Rollersnakes is a top dude. I've met him a few times and ridden both bikes and snowboards with him. He's good mates with Rab, who guides for us. As if Rab's bike skills are not depressing enough, he's pretty impressive on a skateboard as well. There's a whole old-man skate crew centered around Rollersnakes. The Groans Brigade. 60% effort, 100% of the time. They run a contest called the Voltarol Open.
Action shot! 🤣
That boards cheap at half the price just needs some proper wheels.
Jim Martin, who first learned skateboarding aged 50
There’s a whole old-man skate crew centered around Rollersnakes. The Groans Brigade. 60% effort, 100% of the time. They run a contest called the Voltarol Open.
Also check out "Dadlands Carpark" for the associated stuff, really nice and relatable.
sending it.....
.....off a very small kerb, best way to spend my lunch brake
Break. Potentially snapping your ankles is no excuse for poor spelling.
Yes. Hardshell so you can bail out and slide on your knees. They're of more use for ramps and bowls than street.
Must get myself a pair as the local big skatepark had a huge revamp and now there's a rather large multi depth bowl that I want to relearn lipslides in without wrecking myself.
Decent bike knee pads and jeans is a minimum. Learning to knee slide is like learning a trick but basically wear every safety accessory available. Full face, shin pads and gardening gloves ftw.
Had a new mellow park open by us so going to make an effort to get back at it now the kids have gone back to school.
Quick question, Ive got various MTB knee & elbow pads, but are the hardshell skate pads better?
I think hardshell kneepads if you are riding ramps/transition, as has been mentioned above you want to get into the habit of knee sliding out (yeah you can run out of smaller stuff, but if the board comes back under you while you are running out it is a horrible way to fall). I'm not sure elbows etc need to be any different to mtb stuff. Hand or wrist protection is whatever your preference, but I tend to get more general hand impacts than wrist injuries specifically.
Had a new mellow park open by us so going to make an effort to get back at it now the kids have gone back to school
Go easy old 'un, not getting any younger!
Cheaper!
Surprised so far there was no mention of Long distance pushing / pumping skateboarding. At 47 I am skating on a drop cat 38" comuting and excercise after a break of 30 years. currently working on modifying a bennet truck in to a beernet for a pumping setup. So far just using a helmet and gloves but wrist guards on the way. Learning to foot break and ride switch and push mongo for more balanced long distance efforts.
Tried larger 90mm wheels but went back to 70mm for now as they seem to respond more predictably when carving hard to lose speed on hills.
love pumping surfskates, not tried a through deck yet like your drop cat 38″ but can imagine they’re ace for commuting
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I’d like an opportunity to try a setup with orangatang dad bod wheels to roll over everything
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Currently rebuilding my 38” loaded vanguard with purple knuckles to complement the loaded bolsa and little’uns
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The big wheels are nice for rolling over stuff easily, but I think would suit a deck with a bigger drop down and or drop through or even brackets (gbomb type) to keep it low. Its too high with the drop cat which it makes for more painfull achilles tendons after longer rides as well as harder to controll on hills as mentioned before.
I will have to try a surfskate too sometime for a new challenge, but first I like the idea of a pumper for efficient speed and distance. For that an Lepsk8 ldp complete is apealing because its complete and should work. There is so much technical stuff to know about with setups otherwise. But saying that a pantheon supersonic deck is probably more likely to happen.
That loaded 38" ^ looks like it would be a good allrounder.