Buzz
The first time I stepped on a skateboard was in high school. I had moved from a predominantly Black school in Detroit to one with a mostly White student body, and adjusting to this new environment—discovering activities like hacky sack, field hockey, and acoustic guitar—led me to Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2, and later, to a group of kids playing 'S.K.A.T.E.' outside.
The rules seemed pretty similar to those I knew from basketball—H.O.R.S.E. and P.I.G.—so when they assured me that learning an ollie would be a breeze, I believed them. But when I got on the board and tried to jump, the skateboard slipped out from under me, sending me crashing sideways. I couldn’t catch my breath and ended up bruising my ribs. I never got back on a skateboard after that.
When Mytour's resident health expert Beth Skwarecki was planning our monthly Mytour Fitness Challenge series, I decided to use this as a chance to face one of my biggest fears. My idea was that by picking something I’ve always wanted to try but was too scared to, and making it public, there’d be no turning back. (That might have been the reasoning behind our parenting editor, Meghan, deciding to take up running.) So here I am, closer to 40 than 30, aiming to overcome my fear of skateboarding.
Skateboarding is a physically demanding activity where I’m bound to get injured. It’s pretty much unavoidable. I might trip over my words when learning a new language, but at least it won’t cause me physical harm...
The source of my fear towards skateboarding
I’m usually not intimidated by learning new things, as I don’t mind looking foolish. This is one advantage I have: Many adults struggle with learning because we’re so used to being competent in our work, hobbies, and other interests that we’re resistant to looking or feeling foolish, but I’m good at laughing at myself. Like many adult learners, I find inspiration in stories like how Vera Wang didn’t begin designing dresses until she was 40, or how Toni Morrison didn’t release her first novel until she was 39, or how Ava DuVernay didn’t pick up her first camera until she eventually did.
However, skateboarding is different in that it’s more of a physical skill than a mental one. Specifically, skateboarding is a physically risky hobby where injury is practically a guarantee. My tongue might fumble when I’m learning a new language, but it won’t make me bleed; my fingers won’t hurt if I hit the wrong piano keys.
What I’m afraid of is the pain and the potential long-term injuries that could sideline me well beyond the duration of this challenge. I’m fearful of the sensation I experienced when playing S.K.A.T.E. and landing on my ribs, and the immediate failure that comes with an injury. To deal with those fears, I may have gone a bit overboard in my preparation.
I purchased enough protective gear to survive a fall from the second story, let alone a regular one.
The cost of my beginner skateboarding gear
Mytour staff writer Sam Blum shared his tips on how to begin learning skateboarding as an adult, so I took his advice and went shopping for a skateboard (I picked mine up at a local NYC skate shop called Uncle Funky’s Boards), found a beginner-friendly place to practice (I chose a local basketball court in Harlem), and got inspired by following skaters on social media (my Instagram feed is now filled with skating accounts).
What Sam didn’t cover, however, was the essential safety equipment I would need to feel comfortable getting back on a board at my age. I ended up buying enough pads to protect myself from a fall from the second floor, not just a regular fall—so many that Sam couldn’t help but laugh when he saw me swathed in gear. Did I go overboard? Most likely. And to be completely transparent, I didn’t do much comparison shopping or look for the best deals either.
Here’s what I bought and how much it cost me:
Fairweather Street 8.5 Complete: $175.00
Triple8 Certified Sweatsaver Helmet: $60
187 Elbow Pads: $38
187 Wrist Guards: $25
187 Knee Pads: $45
Adding $30.44 for New York’s 8.875% sales tax, my total came to $373.44 to face my fears. Anyone else learning to skateboard might spend much less if they shop around, but I was in a race against my own fear and felt good about supporting a local skate shop that patiently answered all my questions.
You could definitely spend less. After a week into my journey, I’ve learned that I could have gotten by with just the wrist guards, skipping the other pads. Those were the only ones required at my local skate park, and while I’ve had a few tough falls, none have been hard enough that I felt the pads were absolutely necessary.
How the skateboarding community can support a beginner
Since I started learning to skate, I’ve received a few helpful tips and support from both friends and strangers, and I’ve asked them all the same question: “What’s a reasonable trick for beginners?”
(The first thing I asked the staff at my local skate shop was whether learning to ollie in a month was even possible. The clerk’s response was, 'That depends... how committed are you?' Since then, I’ve received all kinds of opinions about whether ollies are a good 'beginner’s trick' or not, so I switched my approach and began asking what trick I should focus on mastering.)
What I know for certain is that I need a specific goal to make progress, and that’s where I need some help. I quickly found my own answer to the ollie question: Here’s my first baby ollie after skating nearly every day. So, what’s next? A smoother ollie? Tic tacs? Or something completely different? I’m open to whatever advice makes sense for a reachable goal—and I’m definitely open to encouragement too. I’m still nervous, but I won’t let that stop me.
