Let this be a warning to all 54 year olds trying to learn how to skateboard!
Tried practicing how to mount off, push with left leg and mount on again (and keep repeating). Within five minutes took a fall. Front foot was too far forward – the board pivoted on front wheels and swung – throwing me off the board.

Scraped some skin and the right palm and middle finger hurt for some time (the right arm hit the concrete first) – but after a few hours, I was okay.

Fortunately, I had chosen a time when nobody was there to laugh at me.

Need to go back there soon and try again…

There were too many kids waltzing around. I need to go there early morning when nobody is there to laugh at me. Came back home and practiced on our driveway and road…

Ventured out for the first time in Fowler Skate Park. Molly and Bill went back to the trail for more miles and I took advantage of the fact that no kids had shown up yet at the skate park. Compared to my driveway, the surface was far smoother – so, needed some adjustment. Eventually, the kids started showing up and I high tailed it before they could have too much fun at my expense…

Learnt how to get up and stay up. In fact after this video, by the time I was done, I was able to kick up more speed and go from one end of our driveway to the other.
Next up: Need to figure out how to reposition myself as I am slowing down to kick with the left foot again…

Thanks to Nikita’s tip, I finally figured out how to get on the board and stay there for a few seconds. Of course, it is not pretty as I flail my arms like a drunken sailor to not fall overboard… and my left foot is clearly on the edge which is making the board turn left constantly… but at least, I stayed on.

By the way, Nikita’s tip was “You are overthinking this, Dad. Just get up.” Amazingly enough, it worked!!!

Getting started is still a challenge. But staying up is getting easier. Tried some down slopes to see if I can stay stable as it gains speed. Nikita has figured out how to get started and get up. She told me it took her about an hour of practice. Which means for me, it would be three to four hours. Let’s see…

In a bit of sheer lunacy, I tried unicycling. Learnt the hard way that at the age of 54, I have certainly lost a lot of my sense of balance that came naturally to me as a kid. I am told that this process continues thru our old age. (one key reason why elderly people fall down so much).

I am pausing my attempts on unicycle. But to extend that streak of madness, I am now going with skateboard to see if I can master it. Well, when I say master it, for my age, if I can get up, go for fifty yards steering around a few objects and get off without hurting myself, that counts.

None of those flipping tricks I see the kids do in Fowler Park Skate Park. Now, my problem is that I need some space to practice. Which would mean I have to go very early in the morning before the kids show up. Nobody wants to see a old man trying desperately to stay on a skateboard and falling down…