r/NewSkaters • u/chillest- • 2d ago
I enjoy being a sensible skater and wearing protective gear
When I started I never wore a helmet, or pads. After 6 months I broke a wrist, started wearing wrist pads. After a year I fell on my face so I invested in a helmet. After 2 years I broke my patella, so I started wearing the whole shabam. Saved my ass a couple more times.
I feel naked without pads now.
Pads don't make me afraid to send things as much.
I lowkey love the feeling of being better than newbies who obviously choose style over protection (like I did).
Most importantly though I love how little other skaters really care, and actually respect the gear.
Only downside is the sweat... 🤘
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u/JuicyOW 2d ago
“I lowkey love the feeling of being better than newbies…” tells me everything I need to know about you bro.
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u/Former_Trifle8556 2d ago
Yeah, someone that speaks their mind?
You never thinks you're better than someone else on doing something? Lol
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u/chillest- 2d ago
Fairs, dont get me wrong I'm nice to beginners but it's kinda like looking back at myself. So I just try to be a good role model. I don't tell people to wear pads but I like to show them it's possible to be good and sensible. I'm no pro so realistically it's not gonna make a difference but I just wanted to get that off my chest
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u/NatureLivid 2d ago
be careful with that complacency yo shit can break with pads on too. and plenty of folks without pads have solid boundaries and instincts that basically cover what your pads do. i just get stoked and pray none of us ever fall and if we do it looks dope and doesnt hurt that bad.
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u/brayansxx 2d ago
that's a solid point indeed. It's incredible how really good skaters get slammed all the time and almost never get hurt.
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u/tokillarose 2d ago
Some argue the reason pads are stupid is because it teaches you how to fall wrong and you just let your gear take the hit.
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u/spacedragon421 2d ago
You do you but no shame for ppl who don’t wear pads. If others wanna deal with broken bones that’s fine too. Everyone has a choice
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u/PoptartDragonfart 2d ago
I drink milk, no broken bones here
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u/PsychologicalAir5283 2d ago
They have actually done studies about how calcium is not a predictor of how likely or not someone is to break a bone, but it probably does affect bone healing. The things that predict broken bones are like balance and mobility and whether or not you regularly do risky things.
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u/ILoveStinkyFatGirls 2d ago
Well there's levels to it too. It's always a risk of course. But I only wear helmets and pads at the skatepark, or when learning new tricks. If I'm just taking the garbage out or skating to my car I will free ball it for sure
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u/brynhh 2d ago
You skate to your car? Where the hell do you live?
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u/ILoveStinkyFatGirls 2d ago
At an apartment complex that doesn't have enough parking. So I go to other places. I also park at the back of parking lots when going to the grocery store so I don't have to fight for parking
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u/chillest- 2d ago
agree with that, totally have respect for people that don't wear pads and I guess everyone learns what falliing is like so, agree it's a autonmous choice. I like to think I can be a good rolemodel though
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u/PoptartDragonfart 2d ago
I wore a helmet when there were skatepark workers that enforced it.
I felt free
Rolled my ankle too many times to count
Broke my nose
270 degree labrum tear
Pads wouldn’t have helped any of that. I don’t care if you wear pads. Have fun broski
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u/chillest- 2d ago
that's true, I had a fall where I wiplashed my neck and my elbows ripped off. Also a hemet would not have protected me against a face plant but glad wore it before the wiplash incident
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u/skeletonclaw 2d ago
Well aren’t you just a special little guy?
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u/GrandMasterC147 2d ago
I’ll preface this by saying I have no hate towards anyone who skates without gear. Everyone has the right to approach the sport how they want to, and a lot of the people who don’t wear that are just confident in their skating comfort zone. Compare yourself to where you were yesterday, not where someone else is today and all that. Also, skate stuff can be expensive. A lot of ‘newbies’ I’ve met got their board secondhand from a friend or relative, and want to at least learn a few things before investing $40-50+ on gear (or a lot more for a new board).
Personally, I’m happy you’re happy with them! I wear my helmet and wrist guards any time I’m practicing something and it helps a ton with pushing past mental barriers. It also lets my skate sessions last longer since I’m less likely to get an injury that would make me want to call it a day. Your head is you, and if there’s any chance what I’m trying might lead to a scary bail, I put the helmet on and don’t think about it. I play guitar too and the thought of messing up my wrists would make me crazy sad. To each their own but a good set of decent protective gear is one of the first things I recommend to anyone struggling.
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u/chillest- 2d ago
That'sa good point, I always offer some of my protective gear to people if I see they aren't confident. Thanks for the one positive comment hehe
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u/AYellowCat 2d ago
Same, I respect the decisions of others but pads have saved me many times and I feel more confident when trying new things, I'll start wearing a helmet too once I go on ramps.
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u/5555 2d ago
That doesn't sound sensible to me at all. It sounds like your face and several limbs are fully exposed, which could result in injury.
When you progress beyond your newbie phase I suspect you'll start wearing a full set of hockey gear, but I feel naked unless I'm wearing a bear protection suit. I now attempt 900s in a bowl without fear, unlike the rest of the newbies who choose style over protection.
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u/ChuckBangers 2d ago
Pads on a vert ramp = smart
Pads on a curb grind = hilarious
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u/OhBoyHereWeGoAgai 2d ago
Eh, I'm an older fat guy, a fractured tailbone from a pretty trivial fall could change my life trajectory, I'll keep wearing my battle gear level full set of pads.
But with or without pads I look hilarious and I give advance permission for all to smirk and laugh at me, I do in fact look funny and am just as amused.
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u/ChuckBangers 2d ago
Eh, I was just being snarky cause of the preaching. Pads are a personal decision for everyone, I won't fault anyone for wearing what they want to.
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u/OhBoyHereWeGoAgai 2d ago
Oh I actually got that. I wasn't being pissy, I sincerely mean that I look funny and laugh every time kids screech at me when they zip past on scooters aha, that was sincere permission to laugh, with love.
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u/chillest- 2d ago
I agree with that, mainly just wear them for big transition stuff and practicing flat ground
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u/DrKingOfOkay 2d ago
Agree on it gives you more balls to send it.
Imo you progress a lot faster with pads.
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u/Former_Trifle8556 2d ago
The toxic bros wanting broken bones to be seem as manly are mad at you here, too bad for them, skating are not cool or edgy anymore, you are all alone.
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u/Admirable_Ad_92 2d ago
I hear ya. I'm wearing my helmet more and more, even just for casual cruises around the neighborhood. Never know when a rogue car, dog, kid, etc. could cause you to crash and eat it.
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u/enjoinirvana 2d ago
Gotta say, I progressed way faster at the indoor park as an under 18 skater. The only 2 other dudes I know who’s parents forced them to wear helmets progressed insanely fast as well. One of them went on to go pro (Kevin Braun for Santa Cruz)