But not too late for Thrashin. I made it out twice this weekend. Saturday afternoon was overcast and cool enough for physical exertions. The "B" was deserted, as it has mostly been since the opening of the new municipal skateboard facility, earlier this spring. I hauled the grinder box over to the flat. It's surface was worn from a winter of being exposed to the elements. Having the park to myself, I went through some basics: ollie to tail, rail slide, various flips. Started working on the "hump ramp" -- I don't know what else to call it. Due to winter erosions, this obstacle rocks as you hit it. I was having fun just ollieing onto it and turning around, riding off. Some bikers came by, and some local kids.
When I got tired, I lent my board to the kids, who took turns surfing the park and trying to ride up the curb. They spoke a beautiful and unfamiliar language--Samolian, it turns out. I told them it sounded nice, and they said "thanks". It was great to have the park largely to myself, and to watch the kids skating when I got tired. Then Scott showed up. We skated a bit, and he told me about some physiotherapy options. He was working on blasting ollies out of the bowl, and seeing how high he could clear on flat...pretty high, it turns out. "It's all a head-game," he said. I did one ollie over the lowest part of the metal grinder bar he had configured, tapped my back wheels on it on my way over, and, rolling away, decided to leave it at that.
For a couple of old skaters, we could still hold it together. As the body wears out, one becomes more cautious and calculating. But it's hard to quit, perhaps even reckless and dangerous to do so. Giving up the expanded senses and widened reflexes that skateboarding offers, quitting outright leaves one in a reduced an vulnerable state. Skating keeps one focused and aware of the here and now, like moving meditation. It's also choc full of Vitimin X.
