Tag: skateboard

Screw social convention, skateboarding isn’t just for the kids

I have been known to skateboard, but of course I’m over the age of 30 and social convention dictates skateboarding is for skater kids and emo teenagers.

Well I called total bull on it! A while ago Ross bought me a skateboard for memory sake and I went out and got it upgraded. Some people were shocked to see me skateboarding.

Mike sent me a link to a Guardian piece about the new trend for adults to be riding skateboards.

Skateboarding is enjoying a mid-life surge in popularity. The sport that was once the preserve of the cool or alternative is now becoming decidedly mainstream, as evidenced by the fact that adults can now take skateboarding classes. At least they can in Brooklyn.

Maybe I should join a skateboard class, be great to finally learn how to Oli after so many years…

Skateboarding is enjoyable and frankly Manchester city centre is ideal for it, in-between the anti-skating board architecture.

My new skateboard

My new magenta skateboard

Yes I am over 30 but after Ross and Carley got me one for a joke on my 30th birthday I’ve been thinking about using it for a while. I had a little mess around on the skateboard but the bearings were shot and the whole thing was basically too sucky.

Devil board

I was considering getting a pair of rollerblades but can’t seem to find many my size and frankly I prefer the idea of skateboarding as I use to go everywhere on it for miles. Hopefully with more use of the skateboard I’ll also get fitter and even lose a bit of weight.

The other day I was able to skate from the Media City platform to the Harbour City tram stop and catch the tram coming from Eccles. If I was walking/running there would be no way I could have caught it but with the skateboard I had plenty of time.

My new magenta skateboard

My skateboard is pretty mental. When I was skating year and years ago I swear the bearings and wheel technology wasn’t anywhere as good as these ones. The ride is so smooth and just keeps going for ages.

Yet to fall off it but I did have to loosen the trucks because it was too tight and I’m still not confident enough to skate through traffic or even while people are walking along the street. At this pace, it won’t be long till I’m back skating down the middle of the road and weaving in and out of the human traffic…

My new Skateboard

My new Skateboard

Theres a strange divide in my friends, most won’t connect me with a skateboard but in actual fact in Bristol I was known as the kid with the skateboard.

Ross and Carly decided to buy me a skateboard for Christmas and I’ve finally had a little ride around my flat (the wooden floors make it perfect for doing so).

The next step is to take it out for a ride outdoors, and to be fair Central Manchester is great for skateboarding because its mainly quite flat and everythings not that far on a skateboard. I can also hop on and off the free buses (yes Manchester has a few free buses) if I get tired of skating.

Before you start thinking about ole kickflips and all that. I only really used the skateboard to get around town. I use to travel a total of about 4/5 miles a day going to work in showcase cinema. Then sometimes I would travel back up hill late at night on the skateboard.

Yeah I was pretty much tied to the skateboard and although hanging the skateboard off a wall in my flat was the original idea. I’m getting tempted to go for a quick spin and maybe use it to go to work on.