So, yesterday, I mentioned that Isaac and I got Christmas presents that were bruise-causing. Â Awhile back, Isaac mentioned that he wanted to try skateboarding. A friend of mine is big into skateboarding so I consulted with him to find good starter skateboards and pads for Isaac and me. My friend skates with his sons and has a lot of fun. I figured that as Isaac and I age and we have our times where we don’t see eye-to-eye, we’ll need something to do to burn off some energy.
So, Isaac and I got set up with new equipment and headed to Cookskin Park’s skate area. Â It was 75 or so degrees and really beautiful so there were a number of people there to watch the noobs try not to break bones.
Everything started off pretty well. Â I got a somewhat effective set of sea-legs and was able to handle most of the ramps (read: I could skate down them without falling….no tricks of course). Â Isaac had a smarter approach. Â I asked him if he wanted to try a ramp. Â He said, “Dad, you know I am not a risk taker!” Â He tooled around on the flat surfaces learning to coast and balance…bright kid. Â Abigailsurprised me though and grabbed her scooter and follwed me on all of the ramps. Â Anyhow, I was starting to feel like quite the skater so I started talking with one of the teens there and he suggested a 
different way of getting on the board to ride down the ramps. Â I had made 30 or so runs with no problem. Â Atop the highest ramp I had skated, I decided to try the new method.
Skating Lesson 1: Â Never take skating advice from a teenager.
Skating Lesson 2: Â Never ever try a new trick on the highest ramp around.
Skating Lesson 3: Â Always wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards…absolutely no one else in the park had any safety equipment. Â Mind you, this safety equipment is partly for show as you will still get an awesome bruise…but you’ll look good when you hit the deck from 5 feet in the air!
Abigail was the only girl at the park which I thought would intimidate her. She was also the youngest. My fearless daughter was awesome though. She cruised around like an old pro! I think that scares me…a lot!
We surely had a lot of fun and I even earned this trophy! Â It’s actually much larger than it looks but I don’t think you could handle if I showed any more leg! Â It’s already turning a wonderful shade of yellow on the edges…sort of like a bag of Skittles exploded and tatooed my leg!
Woo-hoo! Kudos for taking a chance on a new trick!
Ohhhh! Nice tat!
Tooo funny! Nice looking bruise though – at least you got your first battle wound! Glad you all enjoyed yourselves!
Kris
Are you sure you weren’t just showing off for your kids? You always were a daredevil.
Ouuuuchhh! It either makes you very, very, cool or too old to be doing such things. I think you should go with the first!!! Kim
Follow Abigail’s lead…use a scooter!!!
Then work your way up to a skateboad.
Wow, an adult skateboarding? Didn’t know it was possible, good for you! Just seeing the pictures made me hear the sound of my back breaking. Ouch.
It was a blast and, as my mom mentioned, I have never particularly been known for my timidity in adrenaline production. It really is a lot of fun and I think I have learned a few lessons. We’ll be back on the boards when the sun is out some day. The funny thing is, my friend from whom I got skateboarding advice is around 15 years older than me and he’s a good skater. I guess adults can survive it…most of us at least know enough to wear a helmet!
Looks like fun-until the pain!
You look every bit like Tony Hawk. Well, with the exception of the bruise. Looks like lots of fun. However, it reminds me I tried to build my own little ramp as a kid. Just a piece of wood on top of a log. I fell on my rear end and that was the end of it.
It was fun but that bruise really developed into a nice one. We’ve been back out a time or two more but the weather has been bad…we’ll see!