It was the year 2012 and the truth was that I felt like my life was spinning pointlessly, from work to home and from home to work. Until I saw a documentary about a brand "sector 9". And that sparked a spark in me. I had that spark for many years before, but the truth is I come from a humble place. In my childhood you didn't see many skateboards on the street, your parents shouted to the sky if you said you wanted to ride one, and for my part, my mother didn't have the money to pay for a good board. So for many years I settled for playing "Tony Hawk" on the "Playstation" of a friend who lived close to home.
Years passed and when I was in college. What I mentioned about the documentary happens, wow it was fascinating, the sensation that invaded my soul.
So for months I worked to buy my first board, I watched some videos, tutorials, studied the different modes, etc. And while I was collecting money I came to a conclusion.
I was already in my 20's, I had to work, and I was in the process of becoming independent from my mother, so I told myself "I can't do something that will keep me injured."
So the double tail boards ๐น (skate) were not an option, I was not up to jumping stairs and railings. But in the documentary the girls used long boards. (Note: I didn't mention that the documentary was about some girls in a van traveling through Spain.) Something I've always dreamed of is taking a road trip like this. (That's left for another anecdote).
I did a little research and decided that mine would be the long board to be able to do (freestyle & free-ride) some modalities both to move on flat asphalt, on routes, squares, parks and also with the ability to go downhill.
Wow, the descents - it is the most spectacular thing that exists, that feeling while you go down and control the speed through a way of braking known as "skidding" right at that moment that you control the speed to brake and in a single movement that includes arms, legs hips and torso to continue walking again is indescribable my words are only 10%.
But what happens? Perfecting that movement to flow downward is complicated and cannot be achieved in one day. That's when the falls came, and the scratches on my arms, legs, back, and even a little bit on my head. Fortunately I never had an accident in any serious way, I was always careful and went calmly, even some more advanced kids bothered me which I never minded.
I tried a thousand times until I achieved the movement and could go down with the Group skating. In the beginning I walked down (where the practices were held was a high place, and when we left there was a route of about 10 minutes on a skateboard downhill, or 25 minutes walking like I did in my first days) the days went by, there were I had stopped university a few months before, and at my parents' house the rules were, if you are not going to study you must work full time, so I spent my days working from 8 to 4-5. And I would come home, take the board and go to the place to practice. Six months later I made my first descent without taking my feet off the board the entire way. That was one of the best days.
After that I continued steadfast for 5 years, almost skating every day. Until migration knocked on my door. And I had to abandon that life, that place where I lived, and start from scratch in a new place.
A trip that still keeps me outside my country, a bitter trip in its beginnings, but a trip that I understand was necessary to better understand the world around me. And it brought me here today in this great community.
Today I continue skating but not as dedicated anymore, today some years later I have my own family so I distribute my time differently. Although sometimes I organize family routes, me on my skateboard ๐น, my wife on skates ๐ผ and my daughter on a bike ๐ฒ. Or almost always when I go to the store or do some errand.
"Ride or Die" ๐ช๐ค ๐นโก๐
Thank you for reading this anecdote.
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