Middle Aged Skate Dad's Skateboarding Journey at 52 Years Old | The 5Cs of Skateboarding

This year, as a mediocre, middled aged skateboarding dad, I once again started looking back at how I learned how to ride a skateboard & skatepark at 42, and then starting putting together a list of skating skills and tricks learned or challenged.

As I continued to progress, I felt that the tricks organized into what I termed the "5Cs of Skateboarding | Curves, Corners, Curbs, Coping and Carving"

Hopefully, this video consisting of "The 5Cs" will show that you CAN start to learn how to skateboard in your 40s and incrementally progress. These are real(istic) tricks down by a real (not skateboarding legend/pro) middle aged dad.

I feel that my biggest progression between ages 51 & 52 was learning the frontside 5050 and also the backside floaters off the corners of the bowls.

As always, you also may want to set your expectations low, then set them lower again so that you will not be disappointed....

One key thing to point out is that the skateboarding is also not just about the tricks. If you notice, I'm having A LOT of fun riding. I'm enjoying riding with friends and soaking in the stoke and joy skateboarding brings. It is the best feeling sharing the stoke with friends.

I'm also eternally grateful for the gift of being able to experience being a dad through skateboarding and supporting JMAN in his passion. I still remember that first night many years ago that he was able to balance and ride the skateboard by himself for 7-8 ft. after trying for over 6 months, I remember falling to my knees in gratitude.

May you also find the same love, light and connection in whatever passion you share with your family.

And as I conclude in each of the videos to date;
"What kind of idiot starts skateboarding at the age of 42 and still skates at 52?" That idiot in 2023 continues to be 'Me....."

５2歳スケボー
51歳スケートボード
50代スケボー
50代スケートボード

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Background on why I am a Middle-Aged Skateboarding Dad....

In 2013, at the age of 42, I started the process of relearning how to ride a skateboard on flatground. I had not ridden a skateboard in over 25 years, but I was determined to learn how to ride again so that I can teach my autistic son how to skate.

I then transitioned and started learning how to ride the skate park.

Up until then, I had never ridden a skatepark or had much experience riding bowls or transition.

For years, we struggled to have him even acknowledge us as his parents and to find a common bond as a family. Through skateboarding, our autistic son began acknowledging us.

We have been grateful for having found skateboarding. It has become an integral part of our life and family's life extending to the grandparents who are also very supportive.

One day, our son found an old skateboard in the garage which he had no idea how to ride. He just found that the wheels spun and he would sit there and spin the wheels over and over. One day, he had a meltdown and I put him on the front of the skateboard and rolled him across the sidewalk.

I noticed an immediate relaxing and calming effect that it had on him and we began to use skateboarding as a therapeutic activity to allay his anxieties, build confidence and a relationship with our son.

At the time, I searched for a skateboarding instructor for my son throughout Northern California, but none had experience working with special needs children. I came to the conclusion that I would have to relearn how to skateboard and then teach him.

In addition to developing a connection and relationship with my son, through this whole experience, I not only relearned how to skate, but am enjoying the ride along the way, and have met a lot of great people.

Skateboarding has truly bonded my family and brought the stoke back into my life. I have now skated longer than I have in high school and a better skateboarder than I was when I last set foot on a skateboard at the age of 17.

I'm grateful that I have the continued health and ability to ride the skateboard and parks with my son. Most parents; including those younger than me in their 30s~50s don't ride and watch their kids from the sidelines or the car.

Please check out our other videos on this channel, including the mini-documentary on our son titled, "Justin's Journey"

   • Justin's Journey - A Family's Challen...