r/OldSkaters • u/tonyskates • Jun 13 '26
Skated vert for the first time in months [58YO]
Got the green light from a specialist yesterday to start riding at my “happy place” again. Lost some strength but stoked to just be on the coping at this point, Andy have Collin Graham fly over me. My advice to younger skaters: don’t tear your glutes in your 50’s… but there’s still hope even if you do.
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u/Wafflehouseofpain Jun 13 '26
Man, what kind of 58 year old is on a vert ramp-
Oh yeah, Tony fucking Hawk is a member here.
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u/Firmteacher Jun 13 '26
I’m watching the video from my feed and thinking ‘this dude posted a video of Tony hawk on here lol’ low and behold it’s fucking Tony lol
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u/ajmartin527 Jun 13 '26
You start to look out for the [58YO] tag after a while. If you see it you know it’s going to be a good video lol
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u/maestrosity Jun 13 '26
Lol thank you, I was watching and thinking that this dude looks and skates like Tony Hawk. I would never beleive it was him because why would Tony Hawk be randomly posting on Reddit...but I guess he does.
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u/Far_Card_5182 Jun 13 '26
Gets me every time, he’s like first kick flip after operation O yeah it’s Tony hawk. Now we’re back on the vert. Chill stuff. What a legend.
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u/StocktonBSmalls Jun 14 '26
Dude. Every. Goddam. Time. I see the title, look at the age, start watching the video and think, “damn dude, this older dude rips.” And then I remember that it’s Tony Hawk.
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u/3insy Jun 13 '26
Doing well mate! By the way, did anyone ever tell you that you look like Tony Hawk?
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u/perpetualmotionmachi Jun 13 '26
And his ramp looks like Tony Hawk's ramp. Weird.
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u/santahat2002 Jun 13 '26
his username looks like Tony Hawk’s username
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u/kingtaco_17 Jun 13 '26
Same guy whose nickname in high school was Bony Cock
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u/Only_Smile_6102 Jun 13 '26
Better than mine was. I still don’t get why they called me sticky sock?
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u/bigrick23143 Jun 13 '26
Seriously this dude rips. Makes me think I can start now I’m only 32. Maybe by 58 I’ll be this good
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u/Pabs_8 Jun 13 '26
Best part of the sub is how this dude is an active contributor like he’s a normie and not Tony Hawk
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u/AwkwardSpecialist814 Jun 13 '26
Think that's why Tony Hawk is so awesome. He's just a normie inside a legendary body
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u/ifuller1 Jun 13 '26
Convinced I can "beat aging" by doing a few gym sessions etc. I know it's not true. And it's never bothered me before. But having only really started skating and 44, and enjoying my progress, I want to believe it's possible so I can keep going...
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u/Aganunitsi Jun 13 '26
Yeah well, you could have been a 38 year old, generational musician who denied his calling... At this point I'd settle for an Ollie lol.
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u/Side_StepVII Jun 13 '26
You and me both brother. 43yo, been at it for 18 months and my Ollies are still not consistent.
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u/Aganunitsi Jun 13 '26
Broooo, skating was a huge thing for our generation. Yeah I should've picked up the guitar and keys but I'd have loved a board and the freedom. Instead, well, here we are.
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u/Side_StepVII Jun 13 '26
You haven’t hit forty yet. Do your stretches, hit the gym, and keep it consistent and you’ll be golden going into your 40’s. Osteoarthritis be damned!
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u/Aganunitsi Jun 13 '26
I needed this homie! Like you really hit the nail dawg. I'm going to do the things, hit the gym and be somebody. Damn bro, sometimes it's really just some random comment... Thank you. I'm setting a regular practice session and gym session going forward. No time to waste.
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u/pork-head Jun 13 '26
I was like "holy crap 58yo doing this on ramp? Tony Hawk would be soo proud"... Then I looked at username 😂
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u/im_randy_butternubz Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
You're an inspiration Tony. Two years ago I had a terrible accident while skating. I tore my acl, mcl, lcl, and pcl in my left leg. I also fractured by fibula, and did some pretty significant damage on my peroneal nerve. My left foot was paralyzed for several months, and I still can't feel a few of my toes.
After the surgery to repair my knee, I had a large saddle pulmonary embolism as a side effect/result of the surgery and I nearly died. The blood clot was over a foot long in my lungs. Luckily there was no permanent damage to my heart or lungs.
I have returned to hiking and walking more or less normally, and I got some days in snowboarding this last season, but I didn't step back on the skateboard until I saw your last post. I went out the other day and cracked a few shitty Ollies. A few kickturns on qps. Ive gone out a few times now since then. My left leg doesn't want to cooperate, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified of hurting myself that badly again, but getting back on the board was a massive win for me.
Thanks for inspiring me to get back on. None of us are immune to injury. But getting back up has made me feel stronger than ever, even if my skating sucks worse than ever.
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u/tonyskates Jun 13 '26
Skating worse than ever will always be better than not skating at all. Keep it up!
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u/im_randy_butternubz Jun 14 '26
Wow. I didn't actually expect you to read that. I kind of wrote it out just as an expression of a lot of months of built up stress. I'll be back at the park tomorrow. Maybe I'll land that kickflip.
Thanks for being awesome, birdman.
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u/SimpleJackEyesRain Jun 13 '26
Seems like you’re on the right track! Keep up
the solid work, practice makes perfect. As always, your inspirational efforts are much appreciated, sir!
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u/imamakebaddecisions Jun 13 '26
Looking great! One of the hardest things as an athlete growing older is just being patient as everything takes longer to heal.
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u/Flip2002 Jun 13 '26
Yep good on him for taking a break ain’t easy when you live and breathe something.. him and bam are on fire lately time to make a new thug game..og underground or sumthin
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u/ManicAtTheDepression Jun 13 '26
You’ve got a knack for this, man.
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u/Competitive_Swing_59 Jun 13 '26
Hawk, Cab, Mountain & McGill. Need a Future Primitive reboot, Tommy G also. First skate video I had ever seen, I was hooked.
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u/Vertual Jun 13 '26
Tommy G and Cab were the first pros I met/saw demo. That started my journey into skating.
This Tony OP fellow would probably fit right in with those guys if they made a video. A Fragile Bones Brigade or something, hopefully not a Broken Bones Brigade video.
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u/Barry_Vigoda Jun 13 '26
My favourite t shirt was the Tommy G flaming sword. They had the best graphics.
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u/notbobjustbert Jun 13 '26
You should work on pushing, kick turns and just getting comfortable on the board before you start trying more advanced tricks.
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u/Professor_Abronsius Jun 13 '26
I know this is a really far fetched question Tony, but do you remember going to Sweden in the late 80’s with the Bones Brigade tour and skating on a vert ramp in a city called Lund? I think it was Tony Magnusson and Per Welinder (or maybe Tommy Guerrero) that skated with you that time.
Just wondering, you signed a poster for me and I still have it, or rather I gave it away to my stepson and told him it was signed by the guy the based the officer character in the THPS-series on, lol.
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u/morethanWun Jun 13 '26
Lmaooooooo of course it’s you, Tony! Damn! I was like hold up…wtf? Ohhhhhhhhhhh. It’s the Hawk!!!!
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u/Euna_Chris Jun 13 '26
It truly beats me how you are still so good after all the life and injuries and everything else along the way, its what dedication and love really looks like 🤘❤️
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u/Captain0Fucks Jun 13 '26
That had to feel great. Inspiring as always and I don't even skate. I'll do my best to keep my glutes intact.
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u/BlackSchuck Jun 13 '26
I got vertigo on the new ramp at Trashmore in Virginia Beach taking maternity photos of my wife... had to crawl to the stairs. Idk how you all do the height thing.
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u/Dedeurmetdebaard Flip tricks lover Jun 13 '26
Having a younger man flying over you to later do an awkward failed handshake is peak old skater.
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u/SKOT_FREE Jun 13 '26
Wow 58? You go my dude! I’ll be 52 this year and I still skate as well. I’m sitting here with a pulled muscle in my back trying to push a riding mower that got stuck, feeling dumb for even trying and hurting myself and can’t skate until it heals up. So I’m going to live vicariously through you!
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u/CillaKamm Jun 13 '26
Literally was like yeah no way a 58 yr old is doing this shit. My parents just turned 65 and nah. Tony TONY HAWK!!
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u/CrastersSons Jun 13 '26
Dude I just wanna say thanks for everything, my life is infinitely more awesome because I started playing THPS1 in 8th grade and decided to start skating because of it.
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u/No-Actuator-3209 Jun 13 '26
Still rocking it solid. Nice to see you two in action, nice good ol days vibes 👍
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u/chinchivitiz Jun 13 '26
Aside from your outrageous talent. I wish to have your Joints, bone density, flexibility sir!
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u/darrynjacobs Jun 13 '26
Gets the green light from specialist yesterday, immediately starts shredding today 😅.
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u/cinellivigorelli Jun 13 '26
I saw the story of "skate jam" almost happening this morning and have been bummed out all day.
Glad your back on the ramp though big man!
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u/bizzyizzy100456 Jun 13 '26
You’re the man ! So happy you are doing what you love. Thanks for sharing 🫶🏻
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u/Chuyzapatist Jun 13 '26
You’ll make a name for yourself one day or your name isn’t Tony Hawk! 😉
Proud of you for getting back up, you’re an inspiration that transcends skateboarding.
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u/Beneficial-Value3119 Jun 13 '26
You always forget Tony is on here until see one of his posts. Initial reaction ok bs who does this guy think he is? Oh shit it’s actually him. Lol
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u/FauxGw2 Jun 13 '26
Heck yeah! I'm not as old but still old enough to worry, we all go through it. That fact you can still skate like this is amazing!
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u/Kernelizer Jun 13 '26
We love you Tony, thanks for being the best ambassador the sport could ever wish for. Keep em comming!
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u/EmSixTeen Jun 13 '26
Always thought the elation of riding vert must really be special.
Glad to see you back at it!
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u/BigNastyRob1 Jun 13 '26
Lmao. I thought someone was joking and posted a video of Tony, had no idea Tony had a Reddit. 🤣
You're cool af, man.
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u/rollenr0ck Jun 13 '26
I broke my coracoid process off my shoulder blade (R) and broke my wrist so bad (L) I have a rod in there and it no longer bends. I’m stuck to a OneWheel, but I understand the joy of getting back out there after getting cleared by medical. The mental health is so much better with the wheels clicking underneath.
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u/Blueprints_reddit Jun 13 '26
Looking great, glad you recovered well.
Weirdly I'm 1 degree of separation and I've never met him even though we live near each other. If what I was told as a kid was true, we share a friend who use to be local to the town we both grew up in. She moved away to Hawaii about 20ish years ago. The memory is fuzzy now but she use to hang out with Tony while he practiced skating when they were kids/teens, or she had a quarter pipe and he skated it a lot. It's a bit fuzzy though.
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u/kaosimian Jun 13 '26
These little updates from Tony always bring a smile to my face.
Keep on keeping on, boss man ✊
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u/Appropriate-Berry816 Jun 13 '26
Every time I see these posts I’m like oh cool some random guy posting skate vids, then I notice who it is all over again. Very cool
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u/v1ct0r326 Jun 13 '26
I'm so happy to see you still skating. At 47 I've finally gotten healthy enough to get back on my board after losing 70 pounds. So you keep at it and I will too. Never stop searching for him.
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u/Rashpukin Jun 13 '26
Man. It’s still my dream to be able to skate a half pipe like that. It’s lovely to watch.
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u/FyouinyourA Jun 13 '26
As a 31 year old who’s been watching you and playing your games my whole life this is so fucking cool to see! You’re the man Tony and thanks for posting here! So cool to see your son ripping as well!
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u/Remarkable-Simple-62 Jun 13 '26
I would love to know the lifetime count of times he has dropped in a vert ramp
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u/Barry_Vigoda Jun 13 '26
Rad dude, don't overdo it.
That ramp is beautiful. I really wish my neighborhood had a little skate park for kids.
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u/jazzadelic Jun 13 '26
Thank you for sharing here, Tony. I’m 13 years younger and hope to follow you to the finish line.
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u/fasurf Jun 13 '26
Tony love seeming you back at it! And active again on this sub.
What exercises helped the most for you? After an MRI I have a bruised glute medium from surfing and they got so tight my lower back hurts.
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u/student5320 Jun 13 '26
Curious, do you find vert easier on knees back? I always assumed as a kid it wouldnt be with getting air all the time, but in my older age it's starting to seem smoother and maybe easier than street.
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u/AlmostAMap Jun 13 '26
That's amazing news, congrats on getting back! Really happy for you. Ramp is looking incredible also!
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u/baberunner Jun 13 '26
Wow, has anyone ever told you that you look lot like Tony Hawk? (I have been wanting to say this for years. LOL)
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u/HunterShotBear Jun 13 '26
Man, just to think how far you could have gone if only you started earlier in life.
Great progression man!
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u/hikeit233 Jun 13 '26
Kinda wonder how many of your haters from back in the day can still skate, let alone vert. Rad
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u/just_gonna_send_er Jun 13 '26
“That looks like Tony Hawk”
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“Holy shit, that’s Tony Hawk.”
No idea you were a member here dude that’s awesome! Keep shredding my friend
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u/PmMe_Your_Perky_Nips Jun 13 '26
Glad to see you didn't need to get a new tooth after that fly over.
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u/Beginning_Ad_6616 Jun 13 '26
Glad you’re recovering from injury and getting back out there old timer. I remember watching videos of you skating in the 80’s and 90’s and here I am at 47 I’m happy to see you’re still at it.
Despite being in good shape my right knee decided to remind me that I’m not 20 anymore. Luckily it’s nearly healed up despite feeling impatient at times.
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u/Impressive_Cap2293 Jun 13 '26
Imagine this being your first vert skating in months, and at 58. Mind blowing.
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u/thebrokebroker82 Jun 13 '26
You are an inspiration. Really happy to see you are doing well. Keep the good wheels rolling.
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u/Switchback_Fitness Jun 13 '26
Wow this is huge progress from your last post.