How difficult would it be to learn skateboarding for a girl on her 50's?

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Simple_Egg7527@reddit

The ground gets harder and farther away every year

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thasparzan@reddit

We get lots of scooter injuries that come to our hospital

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NavierIsStoked@reddit

Most of skateboarding is falling and learning how to tolerate impacts. That’s very difficult to do for the first time in your 50’s, especially as a woman with possibly declining bone density.

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My husband has been skating for over 40 years now and this is exactly why he doesn’t encourage older people to pick it up. Falling is part of skateboarding and he knows how to do it well but it doesn’t come naturally if you’re starting later. We had one woman decide to stand on a board at the bottom of our ramp and before we could say anything, she broke her wrist!

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mwrenn13@reddit

Not difficult but very painful.

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Cvilledog@reddit

Do it!!!!!!! (Consider wrist, elbow, and knee pads and a helmet and start easy at your local skate park, but I say go for it!)

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Freet0beyouandme1@reddit

As a pretty fit 53F, I can’t help but think this sounds like a broken hip or wrist, waiting to happen. Good luck!

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LayerNo3634@reddit

I would break something if I tried. Just sounds painful!

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Reader47b@reddit

I am a 50 year old girl who skated in 6th-8th grade. I never did a lot of tricks or anything, but could tool around town and turn and what not. I tried it again when I was 45 and regretted it...

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skatecrimes@reddit

I’m 50s and skating since 1985. Since you can roller skate you have a head start. I would first pad up. Second roll on carpet. Do all kinds of balance work on carpet. Get yourself a wider stance. Most new people injure themselves I the first few weeks. Speed is not your friend. Going down hills will wreck you. It’s a noobie mistake to think because they can skate flat that they can skate a hill. Two different beasts. Stay low. If you stay low when you fall you fall less. And you will fall because that’s part of skating. Good luck. It’s fun. You will enter flow state.

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chlorculo@reddit

As someone who might have to their bicep from a bike accident and might be facing surgery and 6 weeks of recovery, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

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DPax_23@reddit

I picked up a longboard two summers ago so I could teach my kid to skate and have something to do with him while he learned.. Very different from my old popsicle stick style but fun and a little easier going. Real cruiser.

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Historical_Tomato374@reddit

I would go for it if your balance is good. Longboarding is a lot of fun 😬

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healthywenis@reddit

For the love of god please don't, you're just asking for an injury that either requires surgery and/or many months/years to heal, or even worse you sustain a head injury. A buddy of mine bought a long board (and he's athletic/coordinated) in his mid 40's and he broke his wrist on his first time out.

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One-Pangolin-3167@reddit

Check out the mortality rate by age for hip fractures first!

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KnoWanUKnow2@reddit

I started snowboarding 2 years ago, at 52.

I say that so long as your knees are up for it, go ahead. You're note getting any younger after all. If not now then when?

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THC_Dude_Abides@reddit

Have you broken your wrist yet?

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worstpartyever@reddit

Good for you!

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pinkrobot420@reddit

Go for it. I grew up on a skateboard and skated until I was 18 or 19. I was never very good at it, but I loved it. Im in my 60s and thinking about taking it up again since there's a skate park near me. Just wear all of the safety gear and go slow.

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THC_Dude_Abides@reddit

If you have great balance it won’t be that hard but falling at 50 will suck. But your GenX you can just walk it off.

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pondelniholka@reddit

Also 50 and love skating! Get knee and elbow pads, wear a helmet, and get big fat wheels that roll over debris easily, learn how to jump off if you pick up too much speed, you'll be sweet! It's a total blast and people are always so shocked to see an "old" person doing it.

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middlingachiever@reddit

Wrist guards, too. I still ride my cruiser, but im terrified of breaking a wrist.

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Ok_Driver8646@reddit

Them bones are brittle now. Unless youve been active the last 10+yrs, Im not sure its a great idea. You’re on the cusp though. Don’t hesitate if you do. 😎 have fun! wear gear.

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pondelniholka@reddit

Brittle bones at 50????

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TimeAndMotion2112@reddit

If you don’t try it now you’ll just be a year older when you do.

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paintingdusk13@reddit

I skated up until my late 20's, still have my last board, and don't even mess around on it anymore because I'd rather not break a wrist at 52

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userr7890@reddit

I would prefer you didn’t since your wrists, elbows, knees, hips, are all things you’ll want full use of later, skating ain’t gonna help preserve any of that. Go big if you want, wear pads and a helmet, keep your knees bent and learn to fall in a ball 💃🏼🔥🕺

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Odd_Environment2269@reddit

I’m over 60 and still wakeboard. But water doesn’t break your bones when you fall

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justify-my-buy-bam@reddit

I was an avid skateboarder when I was in my teenage years. However, I jumped on a board when I was 27 and it flew out from under me. Almost broke my hip. I’m in my 50’s now, and know the same fall, would definitely break my hip now.

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ScheanaShaylover@reddit

Do anything you want!!!!!! I’m afraid of hurting myself so I walk and talk shit on the internet for my cardio and excitement lol

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Grafakos@reddit

This and a regular drinking regimen will keep you in top form!

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ScheanaShaylover@reddit

Where do edibles come in on this diagram of dreams

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Grafakos@reddit

An army marches on its stomach.

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put_simply@reddit

Hows your balance? skating, within reason, is prett easy and enjoyable especially if your just plan on street riding. If you've done any activities that improved your balace over your life you'll be fine. go slow-ish....fast enough to move but slow enough to stay un control. Learn to roll with what happens.

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_ism_@reddit

i have been rebounding on a trampoline and it makes me think i could skate but only after a year of all that leg work. i stll wonder if i could stake but so far sticking to the trampoline and the treadmill

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wrenchedups@reddit

I’d start by figuring out if I can still fall down safely.

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small-gestures@reddit

People throw this away like it’s haha a joke. At 50 falling at any speed is a lot iffy-er than at 15

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ScheanaShaylover@reddit

It’s fifty-er!

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81FXB@reddit

Yep. OP, do you bounce or do you splat ?

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Zestyclose-Smell-788@reddit

It more like splat and snap at our age.

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shan68ok01@reddit

I'm not OP but I apparently shatter. My foot twisted in my flip flop while I was in the grass yard and down I went. I now have a plate and seven screws in my wrist.

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marshallkrich@reddit

gif

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SamWhittemore75@reddit

🤣

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umeboshiplumpaste@reddit

Contact your local indoor skatepark (assuming you have one) and ask about lessons. They are the best option for learning to ride (and fall) as safely as possible. Just know you're taking on more risks with falls than you would have when you were younger.

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Sufficient_Stop8381@reddit

gif

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Roseliberry@reddit

Is it better to be safe than sorry??

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MediumPlace@reddit

Yeah we're all going to die, but there's a gap in between where I'm not dead yet but not capable of things I could do when I was younger. I'd like life to be as comfortable as possible right up until the last minute

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Roseliberry@reddit

Agreed. But! Don’t die with “if only!” As your last words! Hell my uncle pulled a President Bush and went skydiving with his daughter. He’s dead now but he lived a full life. Every single thing we do is a gamble. Mitigate what you can, live the best we can.

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MediumPlace@reddit

I skated a bunch as a kid. My daughter wanted a board recently so I got her one. I got on and felt super old super fast. If you screw up skydiving, you don't have to live with a shattered hip, hoping you can afford someone to push you to the restroom in time the rest of your miserable days

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Roseliberry@reddit

Yep agreed. That’s why we do the risk benefit ratio. Skate boarding is not my jam, so there is no benefit to me. But I ride my bike and I’m fully aware I could be injured doing it. The benefit to my mental health outweighs the risk, and I know the risk. Previous cracked knee-cap, and a few scars. Everyone decides for themselves but I’m not advocating a decision made from fear, but rather, logic.

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MediumPlace@reddit

It's funny you bring up the bike, I recently got one of those too. Not as scary as the board but still not the carefree comfort I had as a kid, lol

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Roseliberry@reddit

I read an article about a guy that was a life long cyclist, developed Alzheimer’s but his wife couldn’t keep him from riding. People would bring him home. This literally sounds fantastic to me because I will not be trapped in a nursing home, and I hope there’s enough left of me to get far far far away before they realize I’m missing!

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IranticBehaviour@reddit

I started rollerblading in my early 20s and just recently stopped. I'm 59. But I didn't stop because I'm old or afraid of falling. I stopped because the town I moved to sucks for skating. It's in a valley straddling a river, so everywhere is uphill or downhill, the only flat spots are down by the river (so I had to walk or bike down with my rollerblades, about 30 mins each way, or drive down, too much effort tbh). I used to alternate skating and biking, now I just bike. I still get up on the roof to put up decorations, my balance is fine.

I don't want to say that you should ignore the possible risks if you know you have balance or bone density issues, but there's something to the idea of only being as old as you feel. Get busy living or get busy dying, lol. Personally, I'd take some reasonable precautions, like pads and guards and a helmet, use a long board, which is way more stable, start out in the flattest, smoothest, most pebble and gravel-free area you can find, and go for it.

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Apokoliptictortoise@reddit

Not hard but the healing will be.

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darksideofmypoon@reddit

I have a handful of SoCal 80’s/90’s era skater friends. They all decide to pick it back up again when their kids get to be around 5 or so. Without fail, they fuck their shit up. Two have had surgery.

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_genepool_@reddit

Get a Segway electric scooter. Reliable, easy to use.

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mechamega@reddit

Be careful, someone I know who was pretty active did it and tore their Achilles almost within an hour, juat don’t push it too fast

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believe_in_dog@reddit

I’m a 50 yo female and I recently got on a board to encourage my 10 year old (he was worried about looking stupid). I rode a skateboard for a few days tops in my 20s. I was actually really surprised that I managed to stay on! I definitely wear wrist guards and helmet. And I’m not looking to go fast or do anything fancy… I’m just here to look stupid and take the heat off my kid lol.

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Breklin76@reddit

Get one a SEND IT! Never gonna know until you try. Just make sure you wrap your body in Charmin, first.

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fuzzimus@reddit

I know we didn’t when we were kids, but, wear a helmet!

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Fit-Dragonfruit-4405@reddit

And wrist guards, elbow pads.

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mammothhockey@reddit

Go for it. They make pretty good impact gear for mountain biking. A helmet and wrist guards will help. Longboarding is the ticket.

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jojotherider@reddit

Start off easy and slow. Im only 49 and dont skate, but i snowboard, mountain bike, and sort of surf. Theres a lot of good advice here on how to do it, but the thing i didnt see mentioned was to not look down at your feet. Look ahead. The saying ive heard over the years on sports that require balance and agility is “look down, fall down”

I will sometimes stand on a balance board during work calls (i work from home). I struggle on it when im looking at my feet, but as soon as my eyes come up, everything settles down.

And did anyone say keep your knees bent?

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drfuzzystone@reddit

My son has a long board. I tried to stand on it in my kitchen and nearly broke my face on the counter. But I am very uncoordinated so your experience may be different!

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Dazzling-Astronaut88@reddit

Get yourself a longboard and learn to carve and cruise first. I'd reserve the skatepark and tricks until you can ride and carve.

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greyleef@reddit

My husband decided to start skating around as a hobby in his 40's. He broke his collarbone and he developed an asymetrical look ever since. One shoulder is up and the other is down. Not worth it. We are 55 now. My main exercise is walking and hiking when I can get out :)

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Addapost@reddit

The hard part are the repeated orthopedic surgeries.

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Carpinus_Christine@reddit

Buy a balance pad so that you are already practicing and improving your balance.

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Maximum_Step8973@reddit

Try it- might as well, just nothing too big too quick. Simple standing on the board correctly, practicing balance, maneuvering turns and leans. Be comfortable with hopping off onto your feet instead of falling, that kind of thing. Falling hurts a bit more now unfortunately. I'd say go for a long board they're much easier to learn and use imo.

The last time I was on a board I wiped out in front of my kids and a bunch of their friends right in the middle of the skatepark. My pride took a big hit since they called the husband to tell them mom broke her hip and I envisioned the old lady from the "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial. (I most certainly did not break a hip, I was just sore and had a decent bruise for a few) I have not been back on my board since but sometime this summer i'd like to pull her out of retirement just to roll around a bit since I miss it. I'm beyond the ollie or pop shove it years and I think i'll be ok with keeping my wheels on the ground from now on.

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rochvegas5@reddit

Ask yourself how difficult the recovery will be with a broken bone

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No-Ambition7750@reddit

Bruised rotator cuff.

You loose most of the mobility in your arm for a few weeks. Not fun. Not that I know anyone that had this happen to them…

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MajesticPickle3021@reddit

You can do it! I recommend full helmet, knee and elbow pads and maybe some hockey pants to start. Longboards are perfect for older people to learn on. The wider, the better. A flat , smooth surface is ideal until you get the hang of it. It’s great exercise. Have fun.

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DancesWithPigs@reddit

I hate to sound like an old man, but really a helmet is required. I ride a long board around the neighborhood I wear a helmet like an old dork. I did put cool stickers on it though.

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Able_Original_486@reddit

Wrist guards is the biggest thing and then helmet. And make sure they're high quality wrist guards, there's a lot of crap out there that are worse than useless. There's a crazy statistic about 40 and older adults learning snowboarding and wrist injuries so avoid that.

That said, I still snowboard and it's the spiritual winter twin of skateboarding and there's a lot of us grays on trays up in the mountains.

My advice would be to have fun! (and maybe elbow and knee pads 😉 )

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wheresbill@reddit

When I turned 40 I decided it was time to experience what it feels like to do an ollie. Had a board built, went to a parking lot and promptly rolled my ankle. Shortest sports career I’ve ever taken on.

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_fidel_castro_@reddit

You need big soft wheels and a deck that's not too narrow. Use wrists protectors.

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UnderstandingFew8900@reddit

Pads, everywhere! I'm 49 and decided to buy a longboard instead. Sometimes I even wear padded crash pants. Looks funny but I'm as said 49, I do not care anymore. Try it though, no regrets afterwards.

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past-and-future-days@reddit

I used to ride my bike absolutely everywhere when I was a teenager. Never had an ounce of fear. A year or so ago my husband and I broke out the bikes, and I just don't feel as safe on it anymore. Going straight is no problem, but any time we have to cross a street and I have to glance back for traffic, I feel like I'm going to fall right over. I actually DID fall over one time, when I had to take a corner too fast.

I still walk, run, lift weights, hike, ruck, and am super active with no concerns. There's just something about balance + speed that doesn't feel as safe to me anymore.

I did buy a trike (two wheels with a big basket in the back) that's fun to ride, though, and I feel a lot more secure! it's also a bigger workout!

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tonyevo52@reddit

If you have the health and body of a 20 year old, go for it! If not, plan on busting your ass for a while! I used to skate for years and if I jump on one now, I feel like it's death waiting to happen!

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Rockatansky77@reddit

How is your bone density and do you have good health insurance?

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WhiteRabbitFox@reddit

Just don't fall backwards (seriously)
And wear a helmet.
Watch out for pebbles, get bigger wheels, have fun!

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Organic_Mix2282@reddit

Sure you're GenX? J/k

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WhiteRabbitFox@reddit

lol my dislocated shoulder a few years ago doing the same thing OP wants to do says 'yes'.

Hence, don't fall backwards (and try to brace yourself).
20/20 hindsight, if I had fallen backwards and just landed on my back I'd have been fine.

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KurtStation68@reddit

As long as you're mentally prepared for all that comes with it and have determination. Why not, but also knowing when to walk away.

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Zestyclose-Smell-788@reddit

I say don't do it. I skateboarded everywhere when I was a teen. Our balance isn't what it was, and falling has much higher consequences. We break stuff and it heals slowly. Just not worth it! Stick to roller skating or roller blading. Skateboard can send you to the ER real quick.

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lovemycamper@reddit

I'm in decent shape and did skateboard when I was younger. I'm going to say, depending on your physical condition, weight, heart health...This could be a terrible idea or lots of fun. Be honest with yourself. How are you going to take that first hard fall? How limber are you? How's your balance? I would probably go someplace with a sidewalk, with grass on both sides, so when you do take that first spill, it's not on asphalt or concrete. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

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workswithpipe@reddit

Half the people here have to sit down to put their socks on.

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WideRisk7495@reddit

I thought everybody did that

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WideRisk7495@reddit

Just pad up and you will be fine

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Winter-eyed@reddit

I like my hips. I don’t wanna break em

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jnp2346@reddit

How’s your balance? How good are you at ukemi/breakfalling? This along with bone density, as others mentioned, should be the deciding factor.

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IDunnoReallyIDont@reddit

If you can roller skate you can skateboard.

I can’t skate to save my life. Never could. But at 50 I can deadlift 1.5x my weight so we all have our thing 😂

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jalbathefixer@reddit

r/oldskaters

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Wrong_Pen6179@reddit

Maybe try using a razor first. That will help you with your balance and you’ll at least have the handle.

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MinervasOwlAtDusk@reddit

You can do this! But…how’s your bone density? (No, seriously.) I have a bunch of friends who have taken mild falls from biking, skating, etc., and have then broken bones that never would have broken 15 years ago.

If you know you’ve got excellent bone density from a recent DEXA scan, and you’ve been crushing it with lifting weights (and/or HRT), then I’d skate away! If your DEXA is not above average, then I’d personally either improve your bone and muscle before giving it a go.

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BlownCamaro@reddit

Great advice. I broke my toe just standing up recently from a kneeling position. It bent backwards and I heard "CRACK!" and then it swelled up and turned blue at the break. Two weeks to heal. There is no way that would have happened when I was younger.

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Sitting_pipe@reddit

You got this, but before getting on work on standing on 1 leg to build up your ankle strength, balance is everything on a skateboard at any age.

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fastcatdog@reddit

Get a long board 👍👍👍👍👍😎😎

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sc4wheels@reddit

If you can roller skate, you can roll around on a skateboard no problem. It's just a matter of doing it. Find somewhere fairly smooth, without traffic, and roll. Enjoy!

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errantwit@reddit

Pick one up and start! that's the difficult part. Starting.

A beginners long board is best, in my opinion

I did it in my forties. As transportation.

I ended up getting a bike.

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