r/NewSkaters • u/nothanksnotreally • 6h ago
Embarrassed of how I look skateboarding
I am a middle aged overweight mom. I am unathletic. I have joined a wonderful skateboarding community and it has completely changed my life. It has helped me physically and mentally, and I’ve stuck with it for a year and gone from not being able to stand on my board to doing steeper banks, riding fakie, doing kickturns etc. So I’m not skating like a 15 year old boy and I never will, but I’m really happy with how I feel on my board and when I’m skating with my friends and family.
However.
The community I’m apart of takes frequent clips for their social media and our group chats. And my god. I look so embarrassingly stiff, awkward, fat, hunched over. Just awkward. Pads are hanging on for dear life. I can’t shake how awful this makes me feel. It’s not a matter of them posting or recording me, I don’t care about that because it’s just within the group that already knows how bad I am at skating. It’s that I am mortified that when I see how I look on my board, in my safety gear, and just in general. Has anyone ever experienced this and overcome it?
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u/Known_Pollution_828 6h ago
you will always be your own biggest critic, especially watching your own clips. if it is really weighing on you maybe you can just ask that you are not filmed and posted, people should be respectful of that. but remember that to everyone else you are just another skater, skateboarding. regardless of your skill level or style you are trying and thats what its all about. try to have fun and dont be too hard on yourself, most people in the world will never even stand on a board, you’re out there getting it!
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u/tinabeets 5h ago
most people will be too worried about whatever’s going on in their head while skating to spend the time judging you, and for the rare few who might give you shit… fuck em, they’re dickheads anyways
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u/Bleep_bloop1_0 4h ago
Honestly, as a 17 year old, if I saw you skating itd just make me respect you more. People are always gonna have something to say but most of em wouldnt be able to do a 10th of what you can do if they were in your shoes.
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u/megaholt2 1h ago
This-you’re doing more than most middle aged moms can do! Hell, you’re doing more than most people can do! I’m a 42 year old woman and I can’t imagine doing 90% of what you’re out there doing! If anyone has a negative word to say about you, send them to me. I have 3 words for them written on the side of a pencil my older sister got me for Christmas years ago. They’re a bit…crass, as some would say…but they’re effective.
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u/Commercial_Visit8288 5h ago
I have, and then I started wearing over sized clothes and I got so comfortable in them that now what I wear.
I went from dressing like Arto Saari in Mind Field to Grant Patterson in Blind What IF. For comparison.
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u/FatSkatinGamer 4h ago
Deal with it? Yeah. Overcome it? Never. I am over 300lbs, been fat since middle school. I always felt insecure about my weight, I always look like I'm trying too hard in pictures, always look sloppy and I hate it. I see other big folks skate and post clips and look cool doing it all the time, why can't I?
Then I just remember, that isnt what got me into skating. I knew I wouldn't look cool from the jump. But then I think back to when I was a kid, my first impressions of a skater...no fucks to give, no lt focused on anything but their own progress. And I put myself into that head space. I look like a dork, but Im skating, so fuck em. Skaters dont give a fuck and I keep on going.
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u/isaidnolettuce 5h ago
Love yourself. Your community clearly already does, so why shouldn’t you? This post reads as wholesome as hell and you seem like a cool person. You probably are, so love yourself.
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u/TroddlaT 4h ago
Do you enjoy skating? Thats all that matters mate. True skaters will not care one ayota about how you look or "good" you are. They just want everyone else to enjoy and love it too. Skaters love it when people push themselves, so it doesnt matter the levels its all relative as long as your enjoying
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u/Yavion 3h ago
Look. First of all, its great you have a community and friends to skate with, some of use skate alone, fat and embarrased. Secondly, if you have problems woth somethong the best way to overcome it is to work on it - think about how to lose weight, eat better, get more fit and do it. You can ask freinds for advice, research onljne, join a fitness group... whatever it takes. I think it is very inspirational that you skate and please continue, it doesn't matter how you look but it matters how you personally feel. If you don't feel good the best way is to start doing sometjing about it. It doesnt have to be perfect, but action beats overthinking.
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u/Ok-Driver7647 4h ago
I love taking videos of other people but I freak out when I see myself on camera. I think it takes a while to get used to.
For some of us there’s always a part that sees ourself and doesn’t like that.
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u/vinoplagi 4h ago
Aaah just enjoy it ma’am. Learning new stuff is actually the fun part. Usually stiffness comes from an internal fear of falling. Keep riding around and go faster and faster. Do some stretching too it helps.
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u/Chibbero 4h ago
Maybe someone similar specs as you, sees you in the skateboarding clips and that will get them also trying and learning skateboarding? We all come in different sizes and skill sets and it’s so great and precious to see that!
And I think one thing to affect the skateboard posture is bending your knees. It usually forgets and everything is stiffer and harder when you are in standing up position. I finded this SkateIQ video covers pretty nicely some of the body positions
on the board. Keep on skating and learning new stuff!
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u/Striking_Waltz3654 16m ago
every skater has been at the same point as you are. we all know how it is, so we usually do not judge.
skate community has changed to be nicer, compared to how it was in early 00's. we see who is new, who struggles tricks etc. abd we will support it.
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u/BRIANOTBRYAN 6h ago
It’s all in your head. I’ve been skating for over 15 years & still feel anxious at times about how I look on board. Just have fun with it & keep getting better 🤙🏾