Summer's Shenanigans

I stumbled upon "The Mental Guide To Skateboarding" today and I think it is a REALLY good read for anyone getting into skating or trying to progress in skateboarding.

ACTUALLY, it's a really good guide for skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing and wakeboarding, too. I never got that heavy into skating (I ate shit way too much and pavement really fucking hurts), but I can totally apply these rules to snowboarding and surfing. For example, I'm a pretty good snowboarder, and I have never been serious hurt doing it. Why? Because I always rode at my own level. As soon as I was 99% in control, I was hitting the little jumps, as soon as I landed 99% of those, I was off to the big jumps, as soon as I landed 99% off those, I started 180's...and so on.

Once you have the ability (which can take years for most, so don't try and rush it :D ), the rest is all mental. For example, when I was motivated and competing in snowboarding, I had no problem hitting just about anything...Until I smashed my face on a rail one day...It was a baby rail that I had successfully hit at least 100 times before and I didn't even get hurt (Luckly I was wearing goggles that took all of the physical damage), but it just scared the shit out of me. I was used to ALWAYS making it and falling on your face on a rail is NO BUENO. Any how, it took me TWO YEARS to hit a rail again, because mentally I blew it...

Any ways, enough about me being mental...I think one of the best quotes from The Mental Guide To Skateboarding is:

"Have Fun:
Skateboarding wasn’t invented to be competitive or to piss off people or to increase the curculation of weed. Skateboarding was invented as a way to get from surfers house to the beach and back. Who cares if someone is better than you or if you cant do a particular trick, if your not enjoying skating, then stop skating."

That may seem obvious, but I can't tell you how many people I've know that skateboard/snowboard/surf/wakeboard/whatever, for the wrong reasons...

Labels: Sports