"Skateboarding is Freedom!"

I first encountered skateboarding in my third year of junior high school, influenced by an older student, and to this day, it remains an indispensable part of my life.

I remember in my school days, my friends and I would go to various spots to practice, and simply riding a skateboard was so much fun.


All I wanted was to learn tricks and get better. I was completely engrossed in it.


Even as an adult, I still skate hard. I've also learned the joy of being particular about how I grip tape my board, and how I can give a used deck a new purpose by re-working it. I feel like I love skateboarding even more now than when I was younger.


This time, I want to talk about the appeal of "reshaping," which is cutting a used deck and bringing it back to life as a new board.


Skateboard is Freedom!





Reshaping itself was something an older student of mine used to do, and it always intrigued me.

I'd ask, "How do you do that?" or "This shape is insane!"

The catalyst for me actually trying it myself was when my son started going through decks faster.


My son, who now skateboards almost every day, wears out a deck in about one to two months.

While frequently replacing his decks, I suddenly remembered reshaping.

Since my son's decks are kid-sized, I realized that if I cut around the perimeter of my own used deck, the nose and tail would be revived.

In reality, it's surprisingly labor-intensive once you start, like having to peel off the grip tape before cutting, and re-drilling the bolt holes to shorten the wheelbase.

But that extra effort is also fun.







For me, there was a deep sense of emotion in my son riding a deck I cherished.

...However, my son wanted a brand new one. (laughs)

Well, the pop was probably getting worse, so I understand how my son felt. (laughs)


Now, besides cutting decks to kid size, I also cut my cherished decks into various shapes and enjoy them as cruiser boards.


As I was writing this article, I even tried cutting the collaborative deck "ACT A FOOL" with JUTA-san.

The weirder the shape, the more I inexplicably want to ride it.

Reshaping has that kind of mysterious appeal.

There's no right answer, so once you start, various parts catch your attention, you get extremely particular, and before you know it, you're so engrossed that you lose track of time.


To take something existing, add your own perspective and interpretation, and transform it into a new form.

That feeling, in a way, reminds me of sampling.

That's where originality is born, and your own style emerges.

And the exhilaration you feel the moment you ride a reborn deck is something irreplaceable.


Skateboarding has approached me with new charm, now that I'm not as agile as I once was.

I'm captivated for life.