Scared? Then do it. Twice.
I know you all probably don't care, but I just want to post this so I can track my progress.
Had quite an amazing weekend this last weekend.
It started with me going to one of the most magical places I've been.
Hood River Skatepark
It's 1/2 skatepark, 1/2 nature walk.
The best part was when we went up to the bowl.
We had a nice little session going. The other guy I was with was doing 50-50 grinds up on the 9' wall. The challenge was on and I started hitting it pretty hard as well.
I was nearly hitting grinds on it... on the biggest bowl I've ever skated. It was an epic day.
2 days later I took the kids to Pier Park.
I swore I'd do something that's been haunting me for a while.
No, not the vert drop in, although one of the guys I was with was doing it. It's on now.
Instead, I focused on the "Mouse Hole."
It's a 9' roll in that rolls right into a giant 20' full pipe.
There's no flatbottom, so it's a quick transition from going down to going up.
Here's what it looks like from the entrance.
(Not pictured: pants crapping feeling looking down into the pipe)
I stood on my board with my hands on the doorway. I was in position. My heart was pounding.
I was about to let go, but that self defense mechanism kicked in and said: "No. Don't do this. Try it again some other time."
I took a slight step back, but then I refused to be controlled by fear.
I focused on the opposite wall and rolled in successfully.
I went around a bit, feeling the total rush and climbed back out of the pipe.
My adrenaline was pumping, and my hands were literally shaking. I hadn't been scared like that in a long time.
Then I went right over to the entrance, only this time I started up as I as I possibly could.
1....2......3..... go.
Successful roll in.
It's only May and I'm doing things I've never done before in my life. I can't wait to see what the rest of this summer holds.
But more then just doing cool stuff or going big, I'm really stoked that I was able to conquer my fear. I was able to see that panic hit and then shut it down.
My motto the past few months has been: "Are you scared? Then do it. Twice."
And I did, and I feel incredible.