• On day 1, I meet some of the best skaters in town and they teach me how to ollie and stuff.

• First weekend, I get invited to the screening of a film they’ve been shooting. Amazing night.

• A couple of weeks later, I meet a skater from the US who came here for a competition. We chat for the whole morning.

• The next day: road trip with the best skaters in town and the American guy. Idk why they took me around as they’re all so skilled and I’m in my corner practicing ollies 🥲 but I got a lot of tips and even learnt reverts! We all had dinner together at one of the guys’s house.

• By now a lot of the regulars there know my name and I’m starting to struggle remembering everyone’s (I have a list of around 50 names…)

• Another guy notices me and another newbie, and we all travel to another town to try out riding in a pumptrack. We have packed lunch by the lake.

[I have gotten hurt in the meantime and am recovering from a wound that needed 2 stitches at the hospital]

• One night this guy who’s been skating his whole life looks at me trying to do manuals, shuvits and ollies and says that he’s got a new setup lying around and that I deserve to have it. I travel to his house and get a BRAND NEW SKATEBOARD with great trucks and spitfire wheels!

• The guy who gave me his board introduces me to his friend and now they always text me for a sesh. Our levels are worlds apart but they don’t mind…

• We also skate a lot around town and the vibes are immaculate 😮‍💨 Skated my first street spots too!

• Another event! Skate competition, board reveal and short film by the locals. The best freestyle skater of the town and I had a long conversation and he tried to teach me some basic freestyle tricks.

• The beginners at the skatepark are now asking me how to ollie?! I can’t believe this. I can clear small obstacles but my ollies are far from being decent. But it still meant a lot.

• Now whenever I go to the skatepark I’m not anxious anymore. I know someone I know will most likely be there and it’s all fun!

This, and much more… and it all happened in just over 3 months!!

To all of you: NOBODY WILL JUDGE YOU. They’ll see your efforts and will appreciate it and help you improve.

If you’re too afraid to go, save this post to motivate yourself!!