Learning the hard way

When I started skating again, I didn't think about any protective gear. Never used it when I was young, and I felt confident that I can manage the risk.

It hasn't really been an issue in the small bowl, or on smaller obstacles. First, I'm not doing gnarly stuff, not going crazy fast or high. I land on my feet and can outrun most situations.

Problem being: haven't really included hangups in that calculation. When I was young, we didn't skate much transation, and hangups weren't a thing. You would wipe out, or slam because not landing well on your board.

Another problem: next to the skatepark I'm going there's a sand plant, working with gigantic piles of fine sand. When microclimate is just about right, the wind blows sand into the park, and adds this fine, thin and super slippery layer of sand in the bowl.

The combination of me, not knowing how to carve the big bowl, and a small patch of sand in the transition was not a good one. The result was my board slipping out and me sliding down the transition with my elbow tucked in.

I left a good chunk of skin today in the bow. Not super big deal when you're a teenager, but in your forties, things don't heal as they used to.

Time to pad up!

Now I'm wearing a set of Skate One Knee Pads, a Skate One helmet (certified, that's important!) and some Triple 8 Elbow pads.

Pads give me more confidence, if I slam, it has less consequences, and I'm not out for 3 weeks or longer.