Comments on: Thanks for Quitting You Old Asshole! Just More Rolling for Me!

By: bballog

bballog — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:23:57 +0000

I’m a little late stumbling onto this gem, but I wanted to say I’m really relieved by the statements you made. I’ve been tossing these ideas around in my head for quite some time now, pretty much after I read that Randy Spizer interview in ONE. And then I thought of all the people who I started skating with when I was 15, and how I’m the only one left. Then I thought about BCAM, Feinberg, and all those people who were supposed to love rollerblading and they fucking quit. It irritates me so much because I also share your thoughts about health, pain, and the struggle to skate at a high level approaching mid to late twenties in age. I never want to quit. And I have also been inspired by rollers like Rob G and Kevin Yee who rigorously practice Yoga or sustainable methods of helping your body endure the perils of rollerblading.

I’m 25, I went to college for 5 years, earned 2 degrees, I work a full-time job, run a zine, and I still rollerblade. IN FACT…I rollerblade 4-5 times a week, more than I ever have. I stretch twice a day, everyday, I eat better, but I still drink too much. But the point is that I feel as if I’m drastically better as i’ve gotten older. I’m less risky, but a better refined skater. And I want to continue this model well into my thirties realistically. God Bless Jon Julio. Thanks for liking Roll Zine.

By: K@rL!To$

K@rL!To$ — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:38:54 +0000

I’m a 27 year old accountant from Puerto Rico, who right now is finishing his Masters. Rollerblading is my lifestyle since back when I started doing it in High School back in the day in 99’. Is true that many people quit skating for lots of reasons but I must agree with Nick that sometimes those reasons are bullshit. Wife, responsibilities, kids must be a lot of shit to handle but if you love sometime like rollerblading then you must design your life to have time to do what you love. You don’t have to skate the crazy shit the Pro’s are skating. I skate normal spots for like normal people. I’m not Abdiel Colberg and perhaps I will never achieve that level of skating but I can do an Acid Soul almost anywhere. I don’t do 450’s or any of the new shit that the new kids are doing these days but I really enjoy the things I can do on blades. I try to get better but at my own pace without fucking myself up. I had the opportunity to have Rob G stay in my house for a week and that man is an example of what people 25 plus can do. I had the privilege to see that man kill 2 of my local skate parks in Aguadilla like it was nothing and with better level of skating than everybody, no matter what age. Rob G produces art when he skates. If you are older than 25 motivate yourself and keep blading because if I can, U can. Check my YouTube profile and see what a 27 year old accountant can do with some blades strapped at his feet:

http://www.youtube.com/RolliN4MoneY

I’m old and I skate y esa la que hay. Saludos a to’ los viejos que patinan como yo. JaJaJa. Cuídense y sigan patinando. No se quiten.

Nick props from Puerto Rico man and keep writing good articles…

Roll4Life

By: Good Responses to my and Counter Arguements to my “Thanks for Quitting You Old Asshole! Just More Rolling for Me!” Article « CanadianROLL

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:44:38 +0000

[...] Just More Rolling for Me!” Article 4 07 2009 I received a lot of response to the “Thanks for Quiting You Old Asshole! Just More Rolling for Me!” article, which was surprising because it was just an article I wrote to tide me over for the rather [...]

By: Azur

Azur — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:57:09 +0000

Thought provoking, inspiring and instigating of far right thinking I´d say!
I very much side with Oli Benet on this one, the hatred disqualifying has no room in adulthood, but I understant resentment and have gone through similar feelings many times.
Still, despite I mainly agree with most that has been said, I feel that most people do not aknowledge the “rabbit hole factor”; the psychollogical side of our subculture has much pollution from the leissure industry propaganda, and is in a sense a big fake. Nonetheless, this is ignored in the rolleblading community and all the rest of the action sports niches. (Ref. the apple series)
I feel it is one of the most important aspects of the curve that the average rollerblader has go through, when balancing normal life with rollerblading and the latter slowly goes on to one side. We, the ones that got really implicated, are a majorly marginalised group among society and need to readapt. I am always astonished about how there is such little thinking on these issues, when they represent the very root of the problem. The leissure industry does not take responsibilities for bombarding youth with ideas that aren´t exactly apropriate for them, but how would they, the whole world is irresponsible for their actions. Then you get a whole generation trying to work out what the hell happened with that lifestyle we were sold like it happened from 1999 onwards…
What is key to understand in these subjects is that we have been sold an image for an activity, and that image has to evolve within us because they (industry leaders) won´t market a saner image of it; as profit is tehir religion. As for us, it simply can´t stay in the trick after trick porn, “have a quicky and get rid of the tisue” format. It needs to attend to the intellectual and spiritual needs of teh individual.
This activity must remain giving the individual positive aspects and a sane mindframe, and when it does not, it simply must be adapted without treason threats from the environment or the community.
These ideas are so contemporary they are actually becoming common in rollerblading trends now (bear with them) “quitters never loose”, and stygma ties for you office lovers.

May sarcasm start replacing hatred?

Never too late!

Azur, 29 in few days.

By: kunle

kunle — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:25:18 +0000

true that!
i’m only 14 and i know i have alot of glory years ahead, but although i would like to get really good, i often think that the reason why i started out was purely for the fun and thrill so i will not quit, only slow down when i know i need to, cheers nick.

By: Razors

Razors — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:28:43 +0000

Im 20, thats not even old but with other life commitments I struggle to find anywhere near the amount of time I did when I was 12 to Rollerblade.

By: karlo

karlo — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:51:11 +0000

Thanks for the kind words,
was going to drop the whole idea due to finding out how young these aggressive skaters are.
Well wish me luck and must admit, you people have guts!!!!!

By: canadianroll

canadianroll — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:42:20 +0000

To all those he believe I was a little to militant, I must say, I totally agree. I took a harsh stance, but I think that is because I love rolling so much and have seen far too many people come and go. Having said that, I understand where everyone is coming from. Like most of you I have other hobbies, it is just that rollerblading has been my main for for quite some time now.

I do think people who quit and tell me “I used to rollerblade” are still bitches though. There is no reason to drop it completely. I don’t necessarily think you have to rollerblade, but like “andy” pointed out he still participated be either staying involved, buying merchandise etc etc…

I think Oli Bennet and Garret raise good points, which makes sense because I respect both of them very much. I remember Garret’s surfing and it brought him a lot of joy, which I agree with. However, I don’t think you ever stopped loving blading. For Oli, I totally understand where you are coming from. You may be right, I may still be in a bitter stage where watching people drop out of rollerblading still annoys me, and chances are I will move passed this phase, but for right now I am just writing down my feelings for people to read.

What I do love is the discussion that this whole article brought along. The different points of view, the different stories. Everything. It was all great to read in the comments section. I value everyone that posted something up, especially people who offered valid counter points to my argument. Looking at things from a different perspective always helps to bring clarity.

By: andy

andy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:55:39 +0000

much love to you sir….i started in 97
in 06 i drove an hour and a half up to octona skatehop and left my prized al dolega salomon specials at the shop. said good bye to skating and drove home..

now its 3 years later and im glad i did it. ive found other hobbies, grown as a person and taken on tasks that skating could not offer.. and after all the trouble i went through to get rid of skating, i find myself geeking out online on rollerblogs, supporting the companies i appreciate and building whatever skate shit i want to stay active even if its skating my prail alone. perhaps its the overall grasp on my dreamy adolesence that skating had, or maybe it was the thrill being able to travel the counrty during the peaked core years of skating (imyta, early bittercolds and superhicks, motor city showdown, the detour etc…) but regardless of my lack of caring about the lifestyle, the trends and the ethnocentrism these days, when i think of fun, i get my skates..when i wanna be entertained, i watch a skate flick…. once skating was a art and a passion, now its just good cardio and good ol fashond fun.. ive definetly tried to quit skating but it seems that skating just isnt willing to quit me… i feel the same way about my smoking habit but thats a horse of a different color…

By: aşk şiirleri

aşk şiirleri — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:47:04 +0000

Thanks good article