In the last few months I’ve found myself watching more and more skate videos. At first I figured it was another rabbit hole obsession. Initially I was watching documentaries on the skaters I grew up watching and idolizing on my teenage walls. Seeing many of them completely changed by life experiences was rough to watch. Then I decided to just go full blown into today’s skate era blind. I was blown away!! I am by no means a skate expert but the current gen of skaters are insane! It brought me joy to see the tricks they were doing in the spots they were doing them in.
I always wanted to be a skater. In late middle school/early high school I was introduced to punk (or what I thought was punk at the time, more like pop-punk, emo and some punk like NOFX) and skateboarding at the same time. They were intermingled with me forever. Unfortunately, I was never good at skating. I loved skating places with friends and working on their boards but I never believed in myself enough to be good at it. I think I landed a kickflip once and ollied a two stair twice before bailing once and almost breaking a leg. The group of people I skated with dissolved and so did my passion for physical skating. The constant from the beginning of all this was Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Mixing all of my passions at the time, video games, skating and good music. Aside from that singular dude who turned me onto punk and AFI, I owe my entire childhood to Tony Hawk. Which is why I found myself emotionally reflecting while watching his final skate part.
I’ll admit I was always a “vert sucks” dickhead when I was younger. All these years later I can only laugh at what an idiot I was. Tony Hawk put skating on the map and more importantly gave me access to music I never would have known existed. And of course the second game being one of my favorite games of all time. So watching his (from what I keep seeing) final part was something of an event. Tony Hawk is in his 50s and kicking so much as. Again, I’m no skate expert, not even a little, but watching his part gave me chills. Tony looked amazing out there and the tricks he did looked impressive and technical as hell. Tony Hawk and his influence changed my life in so many ways and to be able to sit there and watch him still doing what he’s been doing all these years brings me so much joy.
Even if you don’t watch skating, the video is still impressive. Tony is doing things most people won’t ever be capable of doing. I know he isn’t going anywhere but I want to thank that man for everything he’s indirectly done for me.
All The Stuff With BlinkAfi 