There is some really fantastic stories on here. Thank you all for sharing.
After reading these entries, my little spiel won’t be too great, but here goes…
Skateboarding has a special place in my heart and is the single most sentimental “object” in my life. Through all of the pressures and troubles that life seems to throw your way as a teenager, my skateboards were with me the entire way.I’m 20 years old, and I’ve ridden skateboards for roughly nine years. I skated street (tricks, stairs, rails, etc) for about half of that time, and the feelings that it gave me… The exhilaration, the camaraderie, the passion, the drive, the determination—I can go on forever. I never thought those feelings would be matched. I burn through hobbies like a forest fire. Juggling, kendama, penspinning, cupstacking, magic, contact juggling, etc. Nothing ever seemed to stick like skateboarding… Until I started to throw.
In short, I no longer skate street, but on nearly a daily basis I still ride. I own two complete street set ups, a cruiser, and a longboard. Every time I hop up onto one of those wooden planks and just let myself zone out, it’s like all of my worries melt away and all of the nine years of past joy that these boards have brought me are relived in an instant… I believe that throwing has reached this point as well. I’ve thrown for, say, a year and a half. I’m not nearly as good as I think I “should” be for throwing this long, and I’m DEFINITELY not good enough to justify my collection. But when I throw and get into that zone that we all know and love, I get that same feeling that skateboarding has brought me for nearly a decade. When I get into that zone, everything disappears… And life is good.
Alas, none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for YYE and this great community of throwers. Being in and out of a lot of hobbies, I can also say that I’ve been in and out of a LOT of forums. This forum, despite the occasional upset here and there, is by far the best forum I’ve ever encountered. So many of you are kind, helpful, and are just great human beings. I’d like to thank YYE for not only providing me with all of the tools I need, but for being a pillar in this great community. I’d also like to thank all of you, for quite honestly, making the simple amazing. <3
PS. That’s a Manly Man’s Heart.