The older I get, the more bored I become of repetitive gym workouts. Don’t get me wrong: I DO exercise three to four times a week, usually a routine that is a mix of walking in nature, biking, or strength building that I can do within my home. Last year, I began to see a surge of posts featuring young women skateboarding. Unlike the gravity-defying vert style of Tony Hawk or the gritty, trick-heavy street skating epitomized by Tyshawn Jones, a Black skateboarder from NYC, these women were effortlessly flowing down streets with stunning scenic backdrops.
Their movements were graceful and fluid, embodying a sense of freedom and joy. This style of riding is called “surf skate,” and it mimics the carving, pumping, and gliding motions of surfing on the ocean. These videos brought me back to when I learned to surf six years ago. Surfing is one of my favorite things to do and I have wanted to recreate the same vibe while on land. Just like that, I decided to try and capture the sense of liberation and joy of these fun-loving women. At 53, I was taking up skateboarding.
To be fully transparent, I learned to skate when I was about 7 but hadn’t touched a board since I was around 12. I noticed that the boards these young women were using were quite expensive; a decent one could easily set you back a couple of hundred dollars, not to mention the cost of protective gear like helmets and knee, wrist, and elbow pads. Unsure whether I’d still enjoy it, I wanted to keep my initial investment low, so I opted for a Penny ‘nickel’ board. I scoured Facebook Marketplace and found one in near pristine condition for just $20.
I wasted no time and began practicing on any day with decent weather. My first few times on the board were filled with fear and worry about falling, which I did. Each time I fell, I’d shake it off and get right back on, even with skinned palms and elbows. Within a very short while, I began to try simple tricks like tic-tac-toeing (a move where you shift your weight side to side while maintaining a steady speed) and 180s (a trick that involves spinning the board and yourself 180 degrees) and found, “I still got it!”
If there’s one thing I’m going to encourage other Black women to do, it’s to try something new. Here are five unexpected benefits I’ve gained since taking up skateboarding again at 53:
1. Confidence
As we age, our confidence often takes a hit. Society worships youth and beauty—things we can’t hold onto no matter how hard we try. The physical changes that come with aging can affect our self-image, and shifting roles, like becoming an empty nester, can create uncertainty about our identity and purpose.
For me, skateboarding has reminded me that our biological age doesn’t have to limit our ability to try new things (or old ones). Embracing a hobby that is unconventional for my age or race brings me a sense of confidence that traditional ego boosters, like professional success or physical appearance, just can’t provide.
2. Mindfulness
Skateboarding builds mindfulness because it demands your full attention in the moment. This has improved my mental health and provided me with natural relief from anxiety and stress. When I’m on my board, I have to focus on everything around me—the feel of the pavement, my body movements, and the flow of my ride. All the chatter in my mind fades away as I practice tricks or navigate around the acorns scattered across the street that threaten to throw me from my board. Skateboarding teaches me how to let go of thinking while surrendering to the joy of movement.
3. Coordination
Skateboarding is a great way to improve our coordination. For example, when I’m doing a 180, I must balance my entire weight on the back two wheels of the board while swinging my body weight to the right or left. To successfully pull off the trick requires eye, body, and spatial coordination. Turning and maneuvering helps us to develop better body awareness and quicker reflexes, too.
4. Toned Body
Source: Peathegee Inc / Getty
Skateboarding is an effective full-body workout that helps tone your legs and arms. Pushing off the ground and maintaining balance engages all the muscles in your legs: your quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and glutes. Staying on a board engages your core muscles, including your abs and obliques. Skateboarding forces us to extend our arms outward and upward as we move, which helps us maintain our balance while toning our shoulders, triceps, and biceps. At 54, my body is almost as tight as it was a decade ago thanks to my three-times a week skate sessions.
5. Swagger
Source: Peathegee Inc / Getty
Swagger is an outward expression of confidence that encompasses body language and style. For me, skateboarding has become a way to showcase my individual style in both how I skate and what I wear. I love the flowing motion of California surf skating, and while I don’t have a Carver skateboard (yet), I use my Penny ‘nickel’ board in a similar fashion. However, because of its narrow size, I’m limited in how fast I can safely ride. Its smaller width makes it harder to balance at higher speeds, so I tend to be cautious and avoid rolling too fast. When I was growing up, skateboarders wore a standard uniform of baggy tee shirts and shorts, and Vans sneakers. Today, I wear whatever makes me feel comfortable. My standard outfit is a long, flowing dress (with a fanny pack to hold my keys and phone), and comfortable sneakers. Hair pulled back in a low bun with a bold red lip color, I’m a mashup of contradictions. No matter what we’re doing, we can bring our own sense of swagger.
Skateboarding can be what you make of it. Your style. Your gear. Your way. I’m redefining what it is to be a middle-aged Black woman who skates and loving every single minute of it.
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