I skated solidly from around ‘88 to 95’ when clubbing and stoner life took over. A good 2-3 of those early years were with @shake. We had no parks at that time just gnarly West Yorkshire surfaces, not a transition on site (nearest vert ramp would probably have been Warrington or Retford). As Ste (@shake) will attest it was all flatland, fly-offs, stairs and curbs.
I’m now 45 and while about 5 years ago I did pick a lot back up (skating Meanwhile every week or two) I’m now mega rusty. To be honest the cruiser set up now gets more use, but the arrival of a beautiful new skatepark 5 mins from my front door is making me itch.
So much of skating was about the freedom, creativity, meeting such diverse and wonderfully odd people - bit like music in that way. I still view the world as a skater, seeing possibilities around me I’ll probably never realise.
As inclusive as I always found skating it was always very masculine and had that boys club vibe - it’s therefore great to see so many female and LBTQX skaters now carving their own way.
I’m still using that board I bought when we both lived in north London that I got to go to the skatepark with my nephew when he visited! Very tempted to get a new one.
The mix of ages and gender at skateparks now is amazing. My daughter was so surprised at how nice and polite everyone is. Gonna check out Crystal Palace Park this weekend. It looks superb.
It never leaves your imagination. Body definitely.
Your experience sounds pretty similar in terms of style of skating. Not a lot of ramps/parks back then, so you had to be pretty creative and were often being chased by security etc.
Agree too about the freedom. From quite a young age, we would jump on a bus or train for other cities/towns looking for new spots. And meeting other skaters. Nothing like the buzz of finding a nice new spot to skate.
Might have posted these already on the forum. My neighbours brother has a ramp in shed not to far from us. He’s a surfer and lived in Australia competing until he got injured moved home with family and bought an old house down the coast from here… Couches and fridge on the deck is a nice touch
still skate for fun and travel, but i’ve lost a ton of pop (my daughter says “dad’s ollies are on vacation”) and yep - the fear of destroying my wrists and ankles keeps me out of the parks, for the most part.
I’ve spent half my working day today looking at old skateboards Didn’t realise they now remake old classics. Nearly bought an old New Deal beauty in a fog of nostalgia
You’re in Ireland right? Did you ever see that documentary on Dublin street skating? Was really good. Can’t remember what it was called though. I used to love skating Belfast, Newtonards, Comber and Bangor when I visited relatives over there.
Didn’t realise they now remake old classics. Nearly bought an old New Deal beauty in a fog of nostalgia