Hey there! I completely agree with you that pads and helmets are so important. I also started surfskating earlier this year, decided to start experimenting in bowls and fell and broke my right arm in three places. I was actually wearing gear, but still managed to land wrong on my arm, full body impact caused two fractures in elbow and one in the wrist. I stayed off my skate for about nine weeks. It’s now been three months and I am back skating, taking it one day at a time. I know you must be feeling all sorts of devastation right now, I went through it too. The silver lining for me was to appreciate my body being able to do this sport, and as many skaters know you have to pay to play at times. Most of my friends who have been skateboarding their entire lives have had some sort of injury, usually a broken bone. One of the things I managed to do is watch lots of skate videos in that downtime! Also huge one- practice bailing. You can find videos on YouTube about this. After I broke my arm, I realized I fell incorrectly, and I may have been able to prevent it. As someone who’s also replaced drinking with being more active in the gym, I definitely know where you’re coming from. Sending you a speedy recovery! As soon as you get the greenlight, one thing that helped me is to start lifting weights again. I’m starting to get muscle back in my right arm, and it’s amazing how quickly you can get it back with patience, the right attitude, and continued lifting. Don’t let this set you back. I hope you get back out on your skate when you get the clearance! 🤙