Kickflip the Fiftysomething Script
Tony Hawk 52 Skateboarding legend
Tony Hawk went pro at 14, landed the mythical 900 (two and a half spins) at 31 and then retired from competition. He marked turning 50 by doing 50 tricks that he invented over his four decades. His best one? That he’s still going.
01 Use it, don’t lose it
When I was a kid, once people turned 18, they had to get a job. They’d quit skating. There was an assumption that, “Look, you can’t do this physically into your thirties.” My biggest secret is that I never quit.
02 Get regular tune-ups
Skating has been my only true form of exercise, and my body has paid the price. I get comments like, “Oh, is something wrong with your neck?” “Yeah, about 30 years of whiplash.” All those falls, they take a toll. I get worked on at least once a week – massage, acupuncture.
03 Ease yourself into it
I used to be able to drop in right off the bat and do a McTwist. That’s not happening these days. You have to start out slow. If I drop in now on my first run, I know my body won’t react the way I need it to.
04 Play the long game
A helmet and pads are crucial when skating transitions or anything over 3ft high. And be a little more conservative. Just because you have an hour to skate, it doesn’t mean you should skate for that full hour if you’re going to get worn out.
05 What midlife crisis?
Guys our age have kids who are interested in skating, and that will snap you back into it. Also, all the great new facilities. Then there’s the idea that, “Hey, we were doing this in our youth. Why do we ever have to quit?”