I’m 27 years old. For blading, that’s a dinosaur. Part of the reason we don’t see very many old bladers is due to the fact that our sport is so young. There are only a hand-full of bladers who still shred into their 30s. Hopefully that’s a trend that will end as the current era of pros gets older. I’d like to not only see people blading into their 30s, but blading better than ever. There’s no reason we can’t continue to progress as we age.
I just recently got some new blades (Valo black and wines). As we all know, seeing that UPS box at your door when you get home is one of the most boner-inducing moments. I was super pumped to go shred, but when I started skating I was disappointed. It wasn’t because I wasn’t used to the skates. It was because I sucked. Sure, I was able to do some of my go-to tricks, but I lacked that comfort and confidence that I was used to. I wrapped up that session feeling an overall malaise. It sucked. I sucked. For about a week after, I was convinced I was over the hill. “I’m just too old,” I thought. “I better buckle down and buy some khakis, cuz that’s it for me.” The truth is, I just hadn’t skated all winter. I didn’t suck because I was too old. I sucked because I sucked. It had been a long winter and I hadn’t gotten my sea legs back. I continued to blade every day, mostly at a local concrete park. One day it just clicked, not only did I have that comfort and confidence back, but now I was actually learning new things again.
If we as aging bladers continue to do what we love, we’ll be able to do it for as long as we want. Of course grown-up shit like work and relationships will enter into the equation, but that doesn’t mean we need to neglect doing what we love to do. I know I’m going to keep trying to learn new tricks, film new clips and hold off buying those khakis for as long as possible.
Casey just explained what happened to me for a little while. One day it did just “click”, i feel better than ever right now. Nice write up Casey, and dope section in DINNER. loved every section in that vid, but ive said this before hahah.
Thanks Louie!
I second that!! Your dinner section was awesome and my lil 2 year old loves the spaghetti. We have to watch it over and over again. You jut a baby dog…glad it clicked and you didn’t throw in the towel and get fat!! Take it from me we age like a fine wine!!! 34 this year and still ripping JSF and learning new deals. Any other sport and we’d be in our prime!
thanks! JSF in the house!
I have a new edit dropping with in the next week and I just turned 38 years old in February so peep it when it drops and there’s no such thing as getting to old since I didn’t get into the sport until a late age of 22. Stay in shape eat good and blade forever!!!!!!!
Nice article, Im a bit like that too Casey, being 33 years old
Pshhh. I’ll show you old. I skate an hour a day. Everyday. I just turned 47. I ride the deepass bowls at Hoffman skatepark. If u want to be shredding in your forties, here’s the secret. Pad up. Helmet. Eat healthy, and listen to much dubstep.
Started up again recently after a 6year layoff. Got fat and lazy so its been hard but I missed it too much. Started in ’96, I’ll be 56 in June
Take it from someone who rolls with multiple 30+ skaters (I will be 35 next month) up in Maine, we are out there and we feel great. It’s all the mindset.
The magic of technology: funny to think that back in 98 I used to watch Loui’s sections in full amusement believing he was extraterrestrial or something. Now, 15 year later, I can share comments with the man himself trough this board. Words of wisdom Casey, pretty dope from you being able to express exactly how many of us feel. Turning 32 this year. Came back in the game 2 years ago after a 10 years break. Long break but I never stopped loving the art. This 2 years have been a bit of a struggle but I’ve loved every minute of it.
Great article man. I turn 30 this year and just started skating again January after a 10 year hiatus. This article describes my situation to a T accept I haven’t had that click moment yet. I started skating when I was 6 years old so the fundamentals were there, it was like riding a bike. My wife had never seen me skate and when I strapped my blades and showed her what I could do I almost had to close her jaw for her. The thing is now my body is thrashed from years of abuse so my stamina is just about non-existent and my recovery time has increased from a day to a week or more and I constantly have to wear my knee brace. However, the problem holding me back the most is a lack of people to roll with. Hopefully that’s about to change though. My buddy Isaac said he’s gonna hook me up with Jeremy Townsend and Juan Mosqueda for a sech. Here’s to hoping that pans out. Even if it doesn’t I’m gonna roll till my body can’t hang anymore.
Turn 30 this May. Busted shoulder, but I fill I’m still shredding @ decent level. I was bummed @ first upon getting older, only my blading never seemed to show it. Hella “old” dudes still doing their thing! Nice piece too!
I’m only 17, but i got madd respect for the older shreding guys!
There are 2 guys in the crew that I blade with that are 30+ and have more steeze than the rest of the younger guys. Best thing is that they’ve never stopped doing what they love- blading. They are who I want to be when I’m to be their age. Never stop blading in the first place! SYF
Rob you humble sonofagun. “I’m still shredding @ decent level” smh syf
good to see that people stay doing what they love no matter the age im 26
Great read right here. Gotta give it up for all my dudes 30 goin on and still pushing themselves more and more everyday. Shouts to Louie for being more inspirational than ever! – 24
You’re over the Hill. Step aside old man
31 and blading since 95 I’ve had a few injuries, surgeries and a 4 year break from 2000 to 2004 and although my body is not as young and I have a full time job I blade as much as I can and have no plans of ever quitting, blading is like heroin to me I’ve managed to quit cigarettes after 12 yrs of smoking and weed after almost as many years but just can’t stop Rolling! Even though I can’t shred as I did when I was 17, I love it enough to base my lifestyle around it to the extent that I’m eating healthier, stretching and keeping my body in shape and making wiser decisions with my lifestyle overall to make sure I can keep blading for as long as possible! Much love from the NYC and to all fellow rollers old n young worldwide!
Dude thats exactly what I’m going through at the moment (or for the past two years) I’ll blade maybe twice a month if I’m lucky, and every time I do, I feel like I’m terrible. Just need to buckle down and start skating everyday, I fucking hate khakis.
Miss you bud.
This is true in any sport, go skiing and day one your legs burn like an STD… Go surfing and the sea hands you your ass and tries to drown you… Ride bikes and your out of breath, ride my dirtbike and can’t get out of my own way fast enough… it’s all the same. It is ALL about frequency, and physical fitness. Most bladers only blade, so when they stop for a while, even for a couple months, coming back is really tough. Those in shape, usually snap right back into it with minimal bad vibes. One thing I have learned to embrace when doing something new, or getting back into something like this, is that the first few days are more than likely going to be tough mentally and physically. Focus on getting through it and just put in the work even if you mind is fighting you, and when shit starts to click the smile never ends. =)
Boner enducing is an understatement haha. Good article man!
I’m 33 and bought my first pair of aggressive skates this February. I feel like I’m 16 again with bruises all over and skinned knees, ripped jeans and tore up elbows. But what an awesome feeling. Thanks to the few old school bladers that skate with me sometimes. They have helped put me on the right track and showed me the ropes. I don’t think you’re ever too old to do something awesome like blading.
Do what you love, love what you do, ages doesn’t matter
I found this article after searching for an answer to a question I had….”Am I too old to start skating again at 30 … after 10 years of not?” …
After reading all that positive feedback,… that- mixed with my undying urge to grind every handrail and ledge Ive come across in the last decade, I gotta say the answer would be a “hell no”.
…Just ordered some USDs.
It’s great to realize you’re not the only one wondering if buying or not a new pair of skates…. But more than a decade without blading definitely makes you wonder.
I just bought a Remz and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be weird being back on track, but thanks to this article I feel a lot more confident.
Regards from Colombia!
I’m 43 and I just got my first pair of aggressive skates last summer. I’ve always skated, hockey and rec/fitness, but had never laid foot in a skate park in my life. My 9-year old daughter discovered the park and told me “I have found my people”, so I had to find out what she was talking about, and then I kind of threw myself into it. She got a proper set of aggro skates for Christmas and now it’s our thing together.
Don’t fear the khakis; it’s totally recoverable.
Yeah 37, been 16 years since i last skated. The town I lived in just had a concrete park built and I saw guys nearly my age down there with skateboards and BMXs and thought what the hell! My K2 Unnaturals arrived today and I was stoked, once the pads arrive I’ll get into it but considering a light skate tomorrow just to get the feel back. I really dont think anyone cares nowadays, skating in all forms has been around for a while now that there is always gonna be guys 30+ shredding it up. Great fun fitness too!
Great article, i asked myself the same question just last year atm im 29 and turn 30 in a couple of months. It took me a while to pluck up the courage to get myself another pair of skates after almost 15 years away from the sport and decided to get a pair of Razors SL2, i thought it would be like riding a bike and i would just fire them on and go like i was 15 again….fuck me was i wrong! My legs were like jelly, my balance was all over the place, I had zero stamina and i was skating horrible! I feel like I pretty much had to learn from scratch all over again but once i started getting my fitness up and started going skating more often all those old tricks and techniques i had when i was younger just started to fall into place and im really enjoying it again! I still have a long way to go to get to the level i was at back in the day although slowly but surely i will get there. My only regret is i waited so long to decide to pick the sport back up as i wish id done it years ago! Now i just have to wait for the winter to end and spring to roll back around to go back out blading again.
Awesome little article.
I’ll be 35 in a few weeks and I’ve had to find various ways to stay active since my High School and College days, back when skating enveloped my whole life. I’ve done intramural basketball, slow pitch softball, bicycle commuting… you name it. Rollerblading fell off of my radar completely until a few months ago when my son expressed an interest in extreme sports and parkour and I began teaching him the history of his obstacle-jumping obsession.
Over the past twelve months, I’ve taught my kids to ride bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and we are currently working on quads and blades. Their love for outdoor sports and recreation led us a local municipal skate park that I didn’t even know existed, and subsequently the brief revival of my 1998 Rollerblade Suedes.
I concur with almost everything expressed here – it’s not the age. Our biggest obstacle is simply being out of practice (and out of shape).
