Page 39 - THE ENDLESS WAVE | Skateboarding, Death & Spirituality

THE ENDLESS WAVE | PART ONE
When I created the SkateGeezer Homepage in 1995, I was thirty-one years old. I am now just a few years away from being almost twice that age. When I go to a skatepark, I know I will be one of two other people over 30 skating — if I am lucky. Most of the time, it’s me and a whole bunch of scooter kids. I know they are enjoying themselves and I never want to take anything from their experi- ence, but I know damn well none of them will be riding a scooter at a skate- park at my age.
So, what does this have to do with death and dying and this damn book? First and foremost, I am writing this book for a small audience. I know that some skaters will simply dismiss it. But I also know that it will engage a few of them and get them thinking about death and dying. This is a good thing. Too many people (and especially men) don’t want to talk about death and dying. The subject definitely freaks people out. When people avoid talking about death and dying, it can lead to some immense issues. But if this book is able to bring about conversations that lead to concrete action, then it will have all been worthwhile. Consider this book written by skaters, for skaters.
There are now 4 generations of skaters who have experienced the boom/bust cycle of skateboarding. They have seen the “death” of skateboarding and re- birth. Skaters also know that they could die or get seriously injured while they skate. These are all powerful metaphors, seen through the lens of death and dying. Does this mean skateboarders have a unique take on death and dying? I would venture a guess that it really all depends on who the skateboarder is in question.
In truth, I am not qualified to examine why skaters might have a better grip on dealing with death and dying. This is not the reason why I wrote this book and I’ll leave it to qualified researchers. I can only go with what I have experi- enced as a funeral director’s assistant and as a skater. So, yes, there is quite a bit of rumination and speculation within the pages of this book. You might not agree with all of it and that’s cool.
If you’ve been rolling around on a board for a few decades and still enjoy it, then kudos to you. If you still get stoked when searching out a new skatepark,
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