Skateboarding Without a Shirt

Photo by Sean Stratton on Unsplash

​Okay, I have something that I need to get off my (bare) chest. 

You ready?

I still don't get the whole "skate without a shirt" vibe. 

Never have. Never will. 

Now, let me explain some of my reasoning as I know many of you out there still ride half-naked on your four wheels. I probably only tried it a couple of times back in the day when I was younger, and much skinnier. I wouldn't dare try this today while rocking my #dadbod. I'd probably get arrested. 

Sure, there are plenty of places all over the world that are so hot during the summer that it makes sense, but I will always be sweaty t-shirt guy for life. 

Skateboarding without a shirt also made me feel so vulnerable and exposed. I just couldn't get used to the feeling. Nah, I'm good. Thanks. 

Plus, falling sucked and you end up with dirt all over your back, chest, arm pits, butt crack, etc. I like knowing that if my body is headed towards hot pavement that I'm going to crash to the ground with a t-shirt layer to protect me. 

I feel that it also serves as a potential distraction as it adds another element to think or worry about. Skaters already get in the zone and focus on landing tricks, but why add something to mix that could cause more harm. 

It's estimated that there are roughly 65,000 skateboarding injuries per year. That's about 176 per day. 

​Skateboarding has been around for decades, as well as shirts, but the two often times don't go together. 

How do you stand on the whole skateboarding without a shirt deal? 

Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash