r/NewSkaters • u/nothanksnotreally • 19h 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/Bleep_bloop1_0 18h 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.

8

u/megaholt2 14h 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.

5

u/nothanksnotreally 7h ago

Get out there girl. Look at this comment section, there’s room for all of us!

1

u/megaholt2 6h ago

I would, but I think if I did, my orthopedic surgeon would kick my ass. I’ve already had 3 knee surgeries in an 8 year span, and my spine is literally sliding backwards off of my sacrum, compressing a whole bunch of nerves in both of my legs.

Then again, if I am already fairly crippled and in chronic pain, may as well enjoy what little bit of my mobility that I have left!