Why I Took Up Skateboarding
Why you might want to, too.
I am not young anymore. I have back problems, and a bad sacro-illiac joint. I’m not uncoordinated, but hardly what anyone would call adroit.
These are all excellent reasons not to take up skateboarding. Then, why did I?
I’m going to give you three explanations:
Logical Explanation.
Skateboarding is like a public transportation extender. Roughly speaking, I find it cuts the time going from a Metro station to destination in half. The only timed test I did was walking from my place to Chevy Chase Circle, which took me 30 minutes. Going back (downhill, but I would dismount and walk if within half a block of a pedestrian) took me 15 minutes. And, that’s not on particularly good pavement.
Philosphical Explanation.
I really don’t know what a Zen experience is. But there’s a point where you do actually feel one with the skateboard, so maybe that’s a Zen experience. Today, for instance I had that feeling going down the long paved slope between Montgomery College Takoma and the Metro. I was going way faster than I had ever before. Much faster than I could run (see: Fallacy, Beginners). And then I realized how fast I was going and the board suddenly became very wobbly. I jumped off, but the impact with the pavement sent me to a long, scraping head-forward dive. My first thought after making sure nothing was broken was: “Fantastic!” I keep replaying that rush down the slope in my mind. I can’t wait to do it again.
I seem to recall a parable from Buddhist literature about a tiger falling off a mountain grasping a strawberry on the way down. The taste of the strawberry, according to the story, was incomparable. In my own way, I can understand how that tiger felt.
Eye Candy Explanation.
Have you checked out a board recently? They’re seriously bad ass.
July 30th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
My first thought after making sure nothing was broken was: “Fantastic!” I keep replaying that rush down the slope in my mind. I can’t wait to do it again.
You are well and truly lost to the Skate. Enjoy the ride
July 30th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Ya know, that’s the best way of putting it I’ve heard. The Skate is a more powerful force than even the Bushies.
I only wish I’d picked this up when I was 15, or 25, or 35, or…