An Excellent Reunion

After a full decade of neglect and misfortune, I was able to reunite and skate with one of my two best skate friends from childhood. His name is Gary and he suffered from a traumatic head injury several years back. This injury combined with my exodus from the area (in Idaho) kept us from hanging out or skating for nearly an entire decade. So with all that back story, I can honestly say that the reunion was quite inspiring.

The best part about the entire reunion was not just being able to reconnect with an old friend, but seeing someone who has struggled with a major head injury to take the risky, yet courageous step toward getting back on four wheels and enjoying his beloved hobby. 

I was really taken back by just how impressive Gary was on a board. Given the situation, I didn't realize how much of his balance and agility he was able to rekindle. I made a quick video of some of the tricks he was able to execute in the few hours we skated. 

Even with all the exciting skate trips that I was able to take this year to places like Kona and SPOT, this was undoubtedly the highlight of the year for me. While leaving the park, I felt not only nostalgic for the great experiences that I have had with Gary in the past, but with a sense of inspiration for the resilient human character embodied by my friend.