The late Jay Adams once said; “you don’t stop skating because you get old, you get old because you stop skating.” I can personally attest to the fact that this is true. I began my love affair with skating, surfing and the like when I was in middle school. A bit late by many standards I admit but at that time the “Z boys” weren’t a distant memory, the Bones Brigade was a big thing and the pioneers of our sports were still in the game.
I skated everywhere, everyday, constantly looking to improve and learn the latest moves. After years of skating I was old enough to buy a car and despite the fact the crowd I ran with were widely accepted as the best skaters in our area it wasn’t enough to keep me motivated to continue because having a car was far more liberating.
Time went by and I grew complacent and lazy I neglected my fitness and gained a lot of weight; the more I gained the less active I became. Although I was embarrassed by my appearance, I still wasn’t compelled to make changes.
Twenty years went by before I began to wake up to the reality that I was missing out on life by sitting on the sidelines making excuses for why I couldn’t do things instead of making reasons why I could. Now far beyond my prime and no chance of ever qualifying for the WSL championship tour I live with a great deal of regret, I write about surfers, surfing, and things which keep me connected to the world I once dreamt of being a part of. So one of my goals is to spread the word, encourage young people to get outside get involved in sports and athletic activities and push themselves to be more than lumps on the sofa. Go beyond what you think is possible and push those boundaries to new heights.
I can’t tell you how to achieve your goals we must all find our own path. What I can tell you is pushing yourself beyond what you think possible and failing is still far more rewarding than living with regret and wondering. “What if?”