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Thoughts on van-life skating? (lemm.ee)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/skateboarding

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I want to learn to skate and would love to go to lots of skateparks. I have almost no experience with skating and I'm also moving into a van to live in full-time in the near-ish future to travel around Australia, so I'm concerned that when I have injuries from skating I sometimes won't be able to drive temporarily, which is a huge issue. So living in a van seems it would make skating as a hobby a little bit difficult at times. I'm unsure if I should skate or how to work around this issue. What are your thoughts?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I lived in a van full time for over 2 years, I skated, mountain biked, kick boxed among other things and to be honest never even gave a thought to injuries. What was more a day to day concern for me was how sweaty you get during these activities and being able to wash myself as this was not long after covid when I started that life and so gyms with showers n such was not an option.

My opinion of it is that why let the what ifs and this could happens dictate what you do in your life. All those activities have their own dangers associated with them but also the benefits of both fitness and mental well being as well as just pure enjoyment far out weigh the risks in my eyes.

If I got injured then that is something I would deal with as and when it happened. You can negate risk by taking proper precautions and making smart decisions but you could just as easily get hit by a car or something that is out of your control.

So personally I say go for it! I loved being able to wake up next to some trails, have breakfast then go out for a ride. Or wake up next to a beach and go out for a run. I was never thinking about injury. If it happens it happens but don't let the possibility ruin your enjoyment of life! :D

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Thanks for the encouragement! Yeah, you might be right that I might not often have injuries; not any that would be severe enough to handicap my driving at least.

Skating seems like it would fit the van-life really well on one hand, it just seemed on the other hand to be too risky for someone constantly travelling around in a vehicle; especially when that vehicle is your home and contains most of your possessions and you don't want to get stuck somewhere you don't want to stay. I guess it's not really worth worrying about than. I'll figure out what to do when that day comes that I get injured enough to not be able to drive, if it ever comes.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Believe me I know full well that feeling of not wanting anything to happen when you live in your vehicle and all your possessions are contained within. For me I was more worried about the vehicle itself braking than my body. Whilst I have mechanical knowledge and did carry some tools around with me my first van the engine blew and that was a less than fun situation being stranded and having to essentially leave your home with someone to fix and thus not being able to use your home. It was weird.

You said you are going to be Australia though, on the east coast most places have decently paved stretches along the beaches and the like so use them to get used to just cruising on your board if you have no prior skating experience. There you can get used to the way the board feels and just get comfortable. I did the same, living out of a van on the east coast and I used to cruise all the time as it is a beautiful places to do so and like you say a skateboard doesn't take up much real estate in a van (unlike my two bikes which was a decision I regret at points xD)

After you are more comfortable you can graduate to trying out more parks or just hit some bowls and learn to carve them a bit. As long as you slowly ramp up with the levels of risk and danger I think you will be alright and you won't regret getting out there and getting involved.

More than anything have fun :D (I'm fucking jealous xD I miss my van life even with the uncertainty it sometimes bought)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Sounds like fun.

Skating is only as dangerous as you make it. I've been skating for 38 years and never had any serious injury. Bruises, road rash and sprains, sure, but never anything that I couldn't walk or drive away from.

Maybe learn the basics first and wear adequate protection. Don't jump down large stairs and stuff. That's usually where people get hurt. Most skateparks are quite safe. Of course the concrete is hard but it's also smooth so you can better slide off falls instead of getting wrecked in actual streets.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Yeah, you're right. I should probably just make sure I've got enough protection, especially in the legs and arms which I need the most to drive. Helmet is obviously something I'd always wear though. Mitigating the risks is probably more than enough to be safe.