WKWSCI

When senior business development manager Mark Ng could no longer go on his trips to China because of the Covid-19 pandemic, he decided to take up a hobby ー skateboarding.

At 44, and after several falls and a dislocated elbow, Mr Ng is pleased as punch that he can ride a skateboard. “It is like ticking off my bucket list and I can finally move on to learn more tricks.”

When asked if he would continue skateboarding even after his travels begin, Mr Ng said: “Of course, this weekly routine is already ingrained in me and it is my stress reliever.”

Like Mr Ng, more grown-ups in their forties have been drawn to the extreme sport, contrary to the common belief that it is a hobby for youngsters.

Por Vida, a skateboarding school at Kallang, saw an estimated 30 per cent increase in the number of adults in their forties enrolling in the academy since the pandemic hit.

Founder Tan Lepham, 36, said: “More adults are inspired after watching videos of skateboarders in their age range and they want to keep themselves occupied in their free time.”

YouTube channels like Braille have taken the Internet by storm, racking up 26 million views.

Freelance coach Cavan Chia, 24, who teaches adults only, also noticed a 20 per cent increase in the number of adults in their forties signing up for his one-on-one lessons.

He explained that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the sport made its debut with the first-ever street skateboarding competition, could have influenced the rise in numbers.

Skateboarding’s Olympic debut was an “eye-opener”, Mr Chia said. He added that the sport, which was once illegal here in the 1970s, is gaining traction amongst adults who now think it is cool.

Down at skateboarding stores, more grown-ups in their forties have been buying skateboards. D’Lordx Skate Supply founder Erik Tan, 45, said there was a 20 per cent increase in sales to the age range.

Mr Tan, who has been running the business for 17 years, notes that some adults pick up skateboarding as they are influenced by their friends, while others may find it to be a relatively cheaper sport, he said.

The skater of 13 years added that some adults, who dabbled in the sport in their younger days, are also returning to the scene.

One of them, Mr Eric Ng, 46, signed up for skateboarding lessons in December last year to spend time with his daughter after she expressed interest in the sport.

For Mr Ng, however, it was his second shot at skateboarding. He had tried to learn basic tricks in his teenage years but gave up after feeling frustrated when he could not land the tricks.

He now practises at least three days a week with his daughter and said that it is also a way for him to get into shape.

After three months of practice - and several abrasions on his limbs - the music producer achieved a personal goal - going down the skate ramp.

“At that moment I realised there is more to skateboarding than just being cool. It is about experiencing failures and not giving up,” he said.

But skating has been met with trepidation to some adults, who find it is too risky to skate at an older age.

Mr Freddie Tan, 42, said he is unlikely to revisit skateboarding since he stopped in his youth.

He said: “As we age, we become less agile and our reaction time is slower. A fall may lead to serious injuries that our bodies cannot handle.”

Ms Poon Wai Ling, 42, said injuries were a concern to her but think that the benefits of skateboarding outweigh it.

The mother of four attended her first skateboarding lesson in April as she wanted to keep fit, worried her bones would go stiff with age.

“Jumping around while doing tricks lets me maintain my flexibility and burn off calories,” she said.

The project manager also hoped that she would inspire her children to be lifelong learners.

“I want to show them it is never too old to learn something new and they can do it if they put their minds to it."