Skateboarding at 90
And reflections on reaching the 10th decade…
If you were a rocknroller in the ‘70s, you’ll remember a song by Dr. Hook,
“…the thrill we’ve never known
Is the thrill that’ll get ya when you get your pitcha on the cover of the Rolling Stone”
WELL — I made it on the cover of my hometown newspaper on Saturday, November 29.
Peter Hartlaub, Culture Critic of the Chronicle ,wrote the article, after a Zoom interview and then a visit to the homestead along with photographers Benjamin Fanjoy and Ryan Curry. You never know how interviews will turn out, but this turned out to be a good one.
Here’s the article: https://archive.ph/akTJ8
It brought to mind Doc Ball, an older surfer, who wrote the book California Surfriders in 1946, which we all had in the ‘50s (when we were surfing in Santa Cruz before wetsuits). Doc also skated in his later years and I remember seeing a film of him skating in his ‘90s, and thinking ”Wow!”
Here’s a film of Doc skating at age 92:
https://www.eos.surf/videos/video-doc-ball-skateboarding-at-age-92
Above: me skating last month at the bottom of the Bolinas-Fairfax road, with my Tangent board from Loaded Boards. This is a breakthrough board: stable, smooth, maneuverable. It rejuvenates my skating stoke. Every time I look at it, I want to roll. Thanks to Don and the boys at Loaded for keeping me rolling.
Thoughts on Aging
OK, so I’m doing things that not many 90-year-olds do, but it’s simply that I’ve kept at it. I think the baby boomers are going to have a large percentage of active older people.
By far the most popular post I’ve done here has beenA The Final Lap, or What It’s Like to Be 89. Now that I’m a year older, I’m planning another post on the subject, but here are a couple of random thoughts on the 10th decade.
It’s new territory. We’ve never been this old before. And sure, you could say the same thing for your ‘50s or ‘60s or ‘70s, but the difference now is that things are breaking down. I’m way weaker now than I was 25 years ago. Not as flexible. I wear hearing aids, have needed two tooth implants, depth perception not so good. Nature is trying to figure out how to take us down.
We have a lot more past than future.
There are fewer same-age compatriots, with whom to share precious memories. Our semi-annual Lowell High School lunches now consist of 7 of us — last men standing.
You are a Great one. It is a joy to watch you continue to LIVE.
I coached a group of mid 50 something Crossfitters this morning and you (and Doc Ball) move way better and are more agile than that group was, Loyd! I'm sharing this link with that Crossfit group for inspiration!