Skateboarding in Pattaya
Outside the Pattaya Tai Big C Shopping Center there’s a skateboard club. Some Thai kids trying out tricks. Some were good. I tried a few moves and was surprised that I could do a wheelie. Hadn’t really intended to be so acrobatic. A question of putting too much weight on the back foot. The kids applauded my move and I handed back the skateboard, happy not to have taken a fall.
At 53 making contact with hard objects can be quite painful.
But I started thinking. “I’m not that old. I can still grind.”
Royal Garden had a few boards. 600 baht and 4000 baht.
I bought the cheap version and started skateboarding on my street. My daughter liked being pushed on the skateboard. It was harmless fun, until one day I was watching the Winter Olympics. It’s been years since I skied. I thought skateboarding down a hill might satisfy my downhill needs.
I mentioned to my wife that I wanted to skateboard down Jomtien Hill.
She asked, “How old are you? I know the answer. Do you?”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll wear a helmet and go in the new park. You’ll ride behind me so no one will run me over.” Thais have a finely honed disregard for pedestrians and it’s always open season on fallen farangs.
“Bah.” She thought I was crazy, but realized it was my own life. “Som nam nah.”
We drove over to the new park and I got out of the car. The roads were smooth. The high speed descent might rival the thrill of skiing. I wore a helmet for protection and flip-flops.
Sneakers would have been a better idea, but I didn’t think I would be going that fast.
“Sure you want do this?” My wife wouldn’t think me any worse for backing out.
“Yes, I’m fine.” I signaled I was ready. My daughter was in the car too.
I got on the board and pushed off.
I picked up speed.
A little faster than expected and I was soon rolling at 20 kph. then 30.
There were no brakes. I was out of control. I panicked and deboarded, only my flip-flops failed the test of hitting the ground running.
Two steps and face plant.
My helmet thunked the pavement and my shoulder crumbled under the weight of a 53 year old body. I got up slowly. Nothing broken, but my cellphone which I hadn’t taken out of my pocket. 3500 baht. Squashed
Plenty of cuts and bruises. Blood seeping from open wounds.
My daughter was crying thinking that I had really hurt myself.
In fact I had and for the next two weeks, I felt like John Gotti’s Mafia collection agency had beaten me with a baseball bat.
Pain is a way of letting your body is not yet dead.
Then remind you how of your age but not letting you heal quickly.
Snow is definitely softer than the street. Lucky I didn’t break any bones.
Everyone upon hearing this story says the same thing. “How old are you?”
I think I’m 25 but act 15 sometimes.
My friend Jocko Weyland is a well-known skateboarder. Wrote a history of the sport from his view THE ANSWER IS NEVER. Thought my effort was commendable. “Dude.”
So i was a dude to one person in the world.
I still am sleeping on my right side only, three months after the crash. And the skateboard is gathering a fine veneer of dust.
“How old?”
VERY OLD, but still young at heart. In other words stupid too.
http://www.mangozeen.com/green-curtain-redux-by-jocko-weyland.htm
