“Do you play a sport?” This is a question I’ve often faced over the years and each time I find myself unsure of how to respond. I have skateboarded for around six years and consider it to be a hobby rather than a sport, despite its recent addition to the Olympics. 

I don’t view skateboarding as a competition against others, but rather as a competition against yourself. For me, how far you can push your limits and how much fun you can have are the most important parts. 

Why start skateboarding? Besides learning a new and impressive hobby, skateboarding can teach valuable life skills like perseverance and confidence and also create a feeling of accomplishment and joy. 

These all stem from the uncomfortable situations we skateboarders put ourselves in. 

The first time I ever went to the skatepark I was set on dropping in on a ramp for the first time, but was scared out of my mind. Dropping in is when you place the tail of your board on the edge of the ramp and slam down your front foot, rolling yourself down the ramp. 

I ended up standing on top of that ramp for nearly an hour, wimping out every time I was about to go for the drop-in. I could feel sweat dripping on my hands, and an uneasy feeling in my stomach. 

Finally, I became fed up with myself. I told myself that no matter what, I was going to walk to the edge of the ramp and go for it. With an immense amount of fear still in me, I put my board down on the top of the ramp and slammed my front foot down, fully committing to the trick. 

A second later I was on the ground, my arm throbbing in pain, but I didn’t care because I had JUST COMMITTED! Overcoming fear like this is a feeling like no other. 

Half of you will be set on fully going for a trick, while the other half of you will be screaming at yourself, out of instinct, to stop and take yourself out of the way of danger. 

Not listening to your body and overcoming something that you felt was impossible can be one of the most rewarding and joyous feelings.

Though this feeling is great, at the end of the day you won’t go home feeling accomplished if you don’t actually land the trick. 

Right after falling, I ran back up the ramp and continued trying the drop-in, over and over again, constantly falling and getting back up, until I rolled away from the ramp. 

Landing the trick is even more rewarding than the feeling of committing, and the perseverance that I have learned from struggling with tricks often helps me push through tough situations that I face in my daily life, from persevering through a hard math or physics problem to pushing through the pressures of high school.

You might be thinking “This guy is exaggerating,” or “This guy’s overhyping skateboarding,” and I get it. 

To someone who has never skateboarded before, what I am saying can sound like a reach, or just not convincing enough to start skateboarding, as it’s hard to grasp situations and feelings that you have not experienced before. 

A more digestible benefit of skateboarding is the human connections you make along the way. I have met most of my closest friends through skateboarding, many of whom go to different schools, meaning I would have never met them in any other circumstances. All the great memories and connections I have made with them are thanks to skateboarding. 

Skateboarding is something that you can bond over with any fellow skateboarder, whether it be by talking about tricks to sharing clips and spots, and is a hobby you can always turn to when looking for some fun. 

Skateboarders can be some of the friendliest and welcoming people out there, despite all the negative stereotypes that people like to perpetuate about them. 

People often label all skateboarders as stoners, or just bums, which is just not true and can often deter newcomers from starting. 

I promise you that not all skateboarders are like this and you don’t have to change anything about yourself to start skateboarding.

After reading this, I hope you at least try skateboarding and figure out if it’s for you. 

I will admit it’s not for everyone, but if you’re willing to get a little hurt and put in some hard work, you might end up finding a new fun hobby that could make you grow in ways you never expected.