So, yesterday, I mentioned that Isaac and I got Christmas presents that were bruise-causing. 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. 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. 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). Isaac had a smarter approach. I asked him if he wanted to try a ramp. He said, “Dad, you know I am not a risk taker!” He tooled around on the flat surfaces learning to coast and balance…bright kid. Abigail surprised me though and grabbed her scooter and followed me on all of the ramps. 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. I had made 30 or so runs with no problem. Atop the highest ramp I had skated, I decided to try the new method.
Skating Lesson 1: Never take skating advice from a teenager.
Skating Lesson 2: Never ever try a new trick on the highest ramp around.
Skating Lesson 3: Always wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards…absolutely no one else in the park had any safety equipment. 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! It’s actually much larger than it looks but I don’t think you could handle if I showed any more leg! It’s already turning a wonderful shade of yellow on the edges…sort of like a bag of Skittles exploded and tattooed 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!