Anyone skate, used to skate, getting back into skating? I skated every single day that I could from like 1988 to 1994 or so. Even in the Ohio winter. I would have been about 20 when I got away from it. I’ve made efforts here and there over the years, but now at 48 I’m wanting to start back up pretty regularly. I’ve got a couple boards put together and mess around on the back patio. The problem isn’t so much as remembering how as it is the new found fear of falling. I don’t recall that ever before.

So who else is an “old guy” here that’s still skating?

J

Hey! Thanks for replying to the thread! Yes, it was mostly street. There were no parks around at the time. We would build some sketchy quarter and half pipes at times, but more often than not it was in the street or at a curb. One friend lived up a twisty paved road and would skate down that a lot. You’d just get on and go. And you were almost guaranteed to fall in spots. No worries. I don’t know what I’m afraid of now.

There is a small park nearby now that I have been to but not lately. Definitely going to get some gear before I stop over there again. Thanks for tips and encouragement!

J

In the late '70s my family (4 of us boys) raced BMX. Being the youngest and a little dude, I rode a mini-Thruster while my older brother who was most into it rode the original SE P.K. Ripper.

Later in the 80's I was big time into skating during the height of the Powell-Peralta days. An older kid down the street had a half pipe and worked at Gravity Sports (skate shop) here in Seattle. I have a skull and sword, a mini-rat bones, and a Hosoi hammerhead, plus a modern board as well.

About a decade ago I started skating again now that there are killer parks everywhere - the kind of stuff we could only dream about as kids. But, you get bored and start pushing and the next thing you know you've got torn ligaments and are limping for the next 9 months. Like Jeff said, the older you get the more it hurts and the longer it takes to heal. I had to stop skating parks because injuries made playing drums difficult to impossible.

These days I still poke around on a long board and a FIT "Metal Eagle" BMX bike.

Skins for The Delstroyers

I’ve been skating since 86. I try and get out a few times a week. Best thing to do is just have fun and enjoy learning all over again. It’s harder the older you get, but a great feeling. Back in the mid 90s, skate videos introduced me to Satans Pilgrims and Man or Astroman and a lot of other surf related bands.

That’s a great picture!

That's another member of our crew, Greg Mitre. I was standing next to Chuck Rios, the guy leaning out and cheering him on.
Signal Hill was hands down the most insane "organized" sporting event ever! Everyone should seek out the documentary and give it a watch.

Bill S._______

HELLDIVER on Facebook

Last edited: Aug 16, 2023 18:02:42

Great pictures and stories. I wish I hadn’t gotten away from it for so long. Even during my non skating years I never stopped having those moments where I’d see some fresh smooth concrete or a cool embankment and think this would be nice to skate on. It never really goes away.

J

Me back in the late 80s. I skated pro for Madrid Skateboards. My brother skated for Powell Peralta - Bones Brigade………..

I did a little bit with my kids. Not so much as of recently. I still keep some boards handy in the case I get the bug!

Wow, very cool to have pros here!

I also had a Santa Cruz Slasher, which in retrospect, was not a great first board. It was sooooo concave and the tail angle was extreme! Nonetheless, I rode that thing all over the streets of Sacramento. There were some great competitions there, both street and skate. I got to meet a number of my then-idols... Steve Caballero, John Lucero (later had his board, too), Natas Kaupas, etc. I got pretty good at going down giant hills but definitely bit it a few times when speed-wobbles took over and I was definitely going faster than I could run. Scraped off a bit of my clothing and face one more than one occasion. I got to the point where I could gyrate a bit on a halfpipe but never good enough (or brave enough) to catch air.

A few years ago I had the idea to start to do it with my kid, since there is a decent skate park in town. Looked around at new boards - wow they have changed a lot! I had a very hard time finding suitable shoes wide enough for my stupid hobbit feet, so took that as a sign to just hang up the dream and stay safe.