Mid-Life Crisis or Mid-Life Renaissance?

I prefer to think of it as a Mid-Life Renaissance.  At the young age of 49, I have purchased a RipStik.  You can see what they are here.  I got a great deal on a red one at Amazon (I don't know why the red one was cheaper, but it was).

Here's what it looks like:

Basically, it is very much like a skateboard, except instead of having four wheels, it only has two.  This enables you to power the board without pushing your foot on the ground like you do with a regular skateboard.  Instead, you use a back and forth hip motion to make the board pick up speed.  I have no idea how I'm going to learn to ride this thing, but I know that I am.  I will report back with video when I can do it.

Wow

Now this is an inspiring surfing story...

Here's One Way to Do It

This isn't me, of course, but was so cool a thing to be able to do I have to post it so I'll always see it until I'm able to do it! This one takes place on the traveling rings in California, but you could do the same thing on the rings in Riverside Park NYC...

Rings at Riverside Park

These are the rings at Riverside Park in New York city.

You're supposed to grab a ring with one hand, and swing and catch the next ring with your other hand.  Then repeat until you get to the end.  There are smaller versions of these for kids in a lot of places, but there's only a couple like this one for adults.  Believe me, its a lot harder for adults.  I'll post a video when I've mastered it.

Why do I find these rings important?  Two reasons.  One is that, like surfing, it inspires me.  I think it will be really cool when I can do this.  The second is that as humans, we should all be able to do this.  But most adults can't.  We've lost something as a species, a physical capability that is our birthright, and is important.

Being able to perform the rings requires a basic level of functional strength, something many people no longer possess, even if they work out.  As for myself, I've got shoulder issues from sitting hunched over at a desk for too many years with poor posture.  So I need to address the shoulder issues.  There are a few good methods for doing so, and the one I'm going to start with is by doing the exercises in Pete Egoscue's book Pain Free.

Think about this...  If no one could graduate high school without being able to go back and forth one time on a set of rings like this, how would that change our society for the better?

The must-have maneuver for pro surfers in 2010

Don't know how to surf, yet, but I find the thought of being able to do it inspiring, and good motivation to stay healthy and in shape.  How cool would it be to be able to do this?

The must-have maneuver for pro surfers in 2010