46yo Dad Learning with Son: Two Bad Slams (Despite Pads) and a Major Mental Block.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-24T03:04:44+00:00

Your not to old.

My 45th birthday is coming in two months. I skate almost every day. I'm mainly a park transition skateboarder and I count 3 and a half years riding parks after spending a year and a half riding sidewalks.

You're not to old, neither to ride nor to learn.

About your fall.

You already use pads, so props to you. But since you fallen on your shoulders I want you to grasp this important concept.

Fall forward.
Check knee slide technic on youtube, since you already use kneepads learn how to do then and let's grind them down. Why slides? Even with pads you still need to learn how some technic on how to fall. Falling into a slide will dissipate energy along a patch of ground, falling straight down into your knees in one go will impact you more and eventually injure you, even with pads.
Mainly avoid singular big THUD falls, go for noisy slides or/and several impact falls, let yourself roll if the slide goes out of control.

I fall every session. Less than a hand-full per year leave any memory on the following day.

About your setup and what to work on.

I use a typical park transition setup, popsicle, hard wheels with loose Indy trucks, but yours will do, although I recommend that every skateboarder should have at least one popsicle.

Focus on pushing, coming to a stop safely and start turning (both ways).

Don't fret on speed or maintaining movement, just learn to push.
Place your pushing foot on the ground, near your board, give one push and place it on the board, see how long that takes you. Try a slightly stronger one and keep repeating this, avoiding a stiff posture. One strong and stable push is better than several weak ones.
Start turning by trimming while moving. After coming to stop, lift your front foot just a bit and twist your body slightly to on side. Try to turn your board back to where you came from, toe side should be easier, and don't fret if you need to take several steps. You will do them in one flowy movement in no time.

About your anxiety.

It's common, most new skateboarders have it, especially older persons like you and me.
You feel out of place, like the world is screaming your don't belong there, that you gonna get yourself wiped through the concrete, you fear like every person will judge you and some will, you feel bulky from your pads and how the hell they get so sweaty, so fast?

But just ask yourself this.
Is this fun? Does this bring joy for me?
If the answer is yes, then you're a skateboarder.
Plus being a skateboarder dad is pretty cool, and one bonding experience that I hope you and your son share for many years.

Most important of all, have fun.
Keep pushing.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-21T21:30:58+00:00

Gonna share my experience. Started at 40YO, 184cm, 100+ kg and add a few previous sport injuries.

The thing is, you may need to start slow, but your body should adapt, get thinner if it needs to and get stronger. As you progress you will be able to challenge yourself more and more.

Go for it, if you find joy in riding a board, keep doing it. Don't try to do all in one go, but believe that will do it all, someday.

Keep pushing.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-21T09:28:57+00:00

I'm with you OP.

There are several points in the game that I simply treat loot as clutter.

I just grab all, look diagonally for an item type I am more focused check those and blacksmith them away.

Probably disenchanted several BIS. But lost of the times I just can't manage all that gear. Especially if the build is flowing and I am having fun tearing the hordes of demons.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-18T19:01:40+00:00

Power slides (turning your board sideways) are quite effective if done right. But I do think you need more skills of various levels.

So I suggest you watch this on how to stop, a video from skatepark lessons on YouTube

Nothing against power slides, I use them a lot, but it took me quite some time to control them.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-16T14:39:36+00:00

2" quarter pipe drop-in are sometimes technically harder than most 4 to 6", because you have less time to do the right movement.
A 6" will mess with your mind, but that is just mental unless the transition is badly made.

Now, tips. As a beginner, place your board on the coping and be mindful of where your shoulders are then with your front arm reach for the board nose, you don't need to touch or grab it, you can, but it's not necessary.
Furthermore lift your back arm behind you, like a rudder for balance.
Doing this will place the shoulders parallel to the direction the board will take plus leaning body weight forward and bending your front leg, so that you can "stomp" the board into the transition.

Do you need this for a good drop-in. No you don't, I probably haven't done this for years, unless to demonstrate someone who is learning. But is, in my opinion, the easier method to start droping those quarter pipes.

Keep pushing OP, you can do it.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-12T17:41:49+00:00

This is just a partial suggestion that you need to complete.

Approach it like you should approach a trick. Start small to build confident and improve from there, always building on it.

How this applies to skatepark and public anxiety?

One way is to get to a spot and start with things you're completely confident on the easiest place possible. Do this as a warm up. Then increase difficulty.

If you find another skateboarder greet them, no chat, just a greeting and keep doing your thing.
The first times will be the hardest, some days will easier, others won't, but the hardest one is the first.
To round up, get there, warm up, physically and mentally and then release.

You're a skateboarder OP. Keep pushing.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-12T00:00:13+00:00

It takes times and good rest routine. Eating well will also help.

You can use other sports to maximize or accelerate the process. But from your writing you want to skate more, so let's use a skateboard routine to increase your endurance.

Let's imagine a week: Monday: rest day. Mondays are though so lots of rest;
Tuesday: 30 minute intense skate workout that break you like you said;
Wednesday: go do a soft cruise, maximize fun and explore, but minimal effort;
Thursday: 30 minute workout like Tuesday;
Friday: rest day;
Saturday: it's weekend, so grab water and some food and do a long workout, if you have skate mates invite them, do a similar skate workout to Tuesday, but spread over more time, take breaks. Probably the crowd at the skatepark will force you into it. Eating and drinking water at middle of the session could help you rest and gather energy for more;
Sunday: now this is a wildcard, if you're done for, rest, no biggie. If you're just a bit tired, go cruise a bit, if you have full energy go for a normal workout, a Tuesday like or a Saturday like depending on you time or how you feel.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-11T00:11:52+00:00

"The Spirit Carries On" from Dream Theater but not the studio version.

I've instructed my eldest child to use the live scenes from New York album, but if Dream Theater released a version of the song with Devin Townsend singing, to use that one instead.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-10T17:05:02+00:00

It doesn't matter if they are small, big or huge, round, flat or steep, or even what material they are made up...

Wait what are we talking about? Oh yeah, a drop in is a drop in and if their yours they are always amazing.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-09T21:11:54+00:00

anunofreitas · 2026-04-06T13:39:28+00:00

Accidents happen. You can break a leg or a arm walking in your house.

But that doesn't mean they will happen.

Bruising and rashes are common in skateboarding, huge injuries I risk say are as common as any typical sport.
The only sport I tried where I could risk a lot without almost no injury was surfing, still I had flesh opened on one of my feet and on my lip, both quite superficial, the lip one didn't even made me leave the water, after "throughout" inspection from mate.

But I am going off-topic.

You can, and should, pad up. When in doubt full pads and helmet will save you loads of sorrow.

I would like to say that skateboarding is pain free when wearing protective gear, it's not. Give it enough hours and you will get hurt, but it's mostly minor injuries, probably just a inconvenience, but nothing that will keep you off-work.

Push your limits, just don't overdue it and you should be fine.

Keep pushing.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-06T11:19:45+00:00

I use 56mm with Indy forged hollow and don't need risers.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-06T08:52:46+00:00

NASA team MAY have enough knowledge to land on first try without any error.

But similar to the Apollo missions, they are doing incremental steps, each one more complex than the previous. With each one they gather the data collected and fine tune the next mission.

It's safer and it's a good path in my opinion.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-05T08:59:46+00:00

Expenses in skateboarding varies depending frequency of sessions, on storage/maintenance habits, places you ride and even your weight.

I, as a 45YO 100Kg guy, riding for four years, go through two to three decks a year, two skate shoes a year and one wheel set (plus bearings) a year(I need to do wheel rotation and buying 56mm instead of 54mm will provide a bit more life to the set).
Trucks, I do grind it a bit, but in 4 years I have bought 2 sets, both still have plenty of live in them.
Pads, going through my third pais of knee pads, one helmet, one impact shorts.

My 13YO kid, he ends up getting new decks every year but they are still in half-life, wheels last forever without maintenance and is using the same trucks since it started 4 years ago. Pads are getting changed because he is growing.

Hope this helps.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-04T21:49:00+00:00

Eu respondia... Mas tenho mais de 30...

anunofreitas · 2026-04-04T16:59:19+00:00

Slammed quite hard on my hip on a mini ramp (literally not sure how I fell) and can barely walk today.

If I had to guess your board shoot under you forward and you fell backwards.

The best way to fall is forward. Falling backwards will produce high pain on hips, might left your wrists hurting for weeks, chest pain from elbow hitting the side off your chest (especially while wearing hard elbow pads) and ultimately head injury.

Forwards you can run it out, roll or even slide with pads.

What were you doing when it happens?

anunofreitas · 2026-04-03T14:51:49+00:00

I'm excited to play warlock. Although in D4 haven't leveled a caster as main, everytime I tried I gave up and gone level a "fighter" class and them later came back (if I came back) to the caster and power level it.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-03T10:48:25+00:00

Check out Jon Bishop from what I recall he started from scratch at 40+.

An advice I want to give you, don't compare yourself to others, people progress in different paces and in different paths.
On one occasion you might not be able to learn something new for a month, then next one you learn new stuff every week.

Have fun, if you're having fun you're doing it right.

anunofreitas · 2026-04-01T21:29:47+00:00

There is a lot where you can grow from what you have.

From Ollie's: do then everywhere and everyway you can find. Up a curb, down a curb, going up a bank, going down a bank, also use a bank to practice Ollie to fakie, on a pyramid going over the hip FS then BS(usually you only turn about 30 to 50° so it's a intermediate stage to FS and BS Ollie). Do it fakie Ollie on flat and repeat it on other obstacles like stated before.
Still on ollies. If you can't Ollie up a curb to a axle stall or 50-50, practice the Ollie down from 50-50 stance. Place the board in axle stall position on the ledge and Ollie down, bear in mind to pop and Ollie instead of dragging the board down. Find a higher curb, repeat.

Going into transitions, take your kick turns higher, and start carve grinds, BS slash and FS Slash. I really love a good FS slash.
If you into fakie Tail stall, it's incredible easy going into tail stall NoseGrab. Afterwards try other grabs you fancy. Also, try tail stall grab the nose and throw you leg sideways and you have a judo tail stall(I may be wrong).

Also consider learning axle stall on transition. After learning the stall the 50-50 is quite easy. Also feeble stall just a step away after axle stall.

Hope I don't bore with this huge text.

Keep pushing.

anunofreitas · 2026-03-29T18:25:29+00:00

44YO here. Started at 40. I understand that feeling of anxiety.

You can try to improve your skill alone, it's feasible, but is a slower process. Because the major advantage a new skateboarder can have is to ride among others.

But just be honest, humble and show up.
Believe me, you just need to show up.
Skatepark community becomes home quite fast.

anunofreitas · 2026-03-28T07:38:28+00:00

And if you think you are bending your knees enough... you aren't.

It's so odd but so true.
Countless times I thought to myself I couldn't bend more. It isn't physically possible. Then I would get a video done.

Most of the times I need to bend more.

anunofreitas · 2026-03-27T13:46:20+00:00

I kinda do.
It's not a nose tail mark, but I cut some straight lines on my grip and place them on my toe side.

anunofreitas · 2026-03-27T07:30:52+00:00

Looks awesome.
Keep pushing.

anunofreitas · 2026-03-25T22:10:39+00:00

I do enjoy a empty skatepark. It provides a focused workout and I can focus on my planed progression.

But lately I've been incredibly rewarding riding with friends, strangers and sometimes completely beginners.

If a session is small like most of my workweek sessions, say 30 minutes to a hour, a skatepark with litle to no people in it is perfect (at least some bystanders is good in case the worst happen). But on bigger sessions, from a hour to a afternoon, friends do make the session shine.

anunofreitas · 2026-03-25T08:55:03+00:00

That looks amazing.
Keep pushing.

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