Tag: Sports

Skateboarding is a sport I have always enjoyed much, but haven’t necessarily been very good at. I’m good at riding! But tricks are not so much in my ballpark. An ollie and a manual are the extend of what I can do in terms of tricks. To be honest; that’s fine by me. I’d like to be able to be a little better at riding ollie’s so I could more easily transfer over curbs and small gaps, so cruising is even more fun. But “real” tricks I don’t really care to do. However, when you consume skateboard media (either a movie, short clips on Instagram or a tutorial on YouTube) you quite quickly get sucked into this idea of: skateboarding = learning/doing new tricks. That the sport is based on challenging yourself is something I’m definitely behind. This is the main reason why I like doing it, particularly now I’m in my mid 30’s. Challenging the body, status quo (30’s is considered an old age to skate) and the mind (what is within my limits of capability?). These things inspire me and I find them important to my growth and aging over time.

This Sunday I got sucked into a mindset that was a little beyond the reasons why I like the practice the sport – I started to think I needed to learn more tricks to be able to enjoy skateboarding again. A mindset that was brought on to me by the media I consumed, more than my own ambitions. I was practicing new tricks on a sunny Sunday. I heard from someone that the weather would be shit the coming 10 days (which, it hasn’t been… it’s still lovely spring weather). And, although already being tired of skateboarding for the past 1-1,5hr, I still went to practice some more pop-shuvits. Now I’ll be honest; part of me was also trying to show my cool to the people in the park… another BIG reason not to do things. Anyway; I tried the trick and sprained my ankle. It hurt, not too bad, but I was definitely done for the day (and week).

2 days later it’s still swollen and although it doesn’t hurt much, its definitely uncomfortable and making me limp slightly. What is for certain is that running and doing any sort of sports this week (and probably the next) is out of the window. It’s very disappointing but also has been humbling. It’s made me wonder why I do the things I do, and what are the things I get out of them (specifically in the realm of sports). I sport to be inspired, to relax and to remain or become stronger and healthier. I sport for longevity. This mindset has come to me once I became a father and to be honest (as you’r a father for live) won’t go away I think.

Movement is live and live is joy and wonder. Skateboarding is fun and I’ll probably keep doing it. But what I like doing more is keeping my body and mind fit. Running, calisthenics, tennis, cycling, basketball, skateboarding; they are all part of my “sports protocol”… my way of practicing sports. And what I care about most is enjoying them in the way that suits my abilities and enjoyment; not that of others. It’s not a game, its a challenge – a challenge with myself and with my own live and ageing. As the below inspiring 87 year old runner says:

Youth isn’t an age, it’s a mind-set