Skateboarding
Skateboarding
I already had a skateboard, but it hadn’t ventured much beyond my living room. It seemed like asking for trouble (too small, too unstable). Then I saw someone using a longer type of skateboard at my local park (I was throwing discus and frisbee left-handed at the time). I went on Amazon and found that such boards are made and quite a bit longer than the average skateboard (about 44 inches). I ordered one. I tentatively tried it out in my driveway clad in appropriate armor (knee pads etc.). Then, yesterday evening—crepuscular time—I decided to make a real effort to make some progress. I went out on a local street, again protectively clad, and took the plunge. Yes, it’s pretty scary, steering is hard, and stopping feels impossible; but it is possible. I learned how to do it in about half an hour. Admittedly, I had some experience with board sports—paddleboarding, surfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, skim boarding—but it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. Fun, too. So now, I’m a skateboarder, age 74.
That’s interesting, I never heard of skim boarding. Learned something new. I’m curious which you prefer, skateboarding or rollerblading. I always wanted to try the latter.
I think skateboarding because you can disengage yourself from the board but not the skates. It’s also more floaty feeling.
You probably don’t see much of this in the Sunshine State, but in one of her Q&A columns I recall Marilyn vos Savant stating she never had an interest in chess, or board games, preferring, instead, physical activity — her favorite being ice skating (& though I can’t recall, I wouldn’t be surprised if she threw in an exclamation point, for emphasis).
Actually I was a keen ice skater in Blackpool, England, during my teens, and later a (poor) skier. My life has been dedicated to three sorts of activity: intellectual, athletic, and musical. I did a little ice hockey in Connecticut several years ago.