Why do we skate?

What was the reason I do this thing again?

This question is simple to answer actually. I just wanted to make it complicated. The skating gives us a boost of well being that the video games doesn’t. We are physically moving, it’s biologically good. We are perfecting tricks and reaching small goals of landing them. Goals are fulfilling for us. Why are goals fulfilling? I think in the same way as defeating a bear to give us food is rewarding.

1st: You battle the bear and get excited and win the battle and we feel like a champ for doing so.

2nd: We consume the bear and enjoy that as well.

First comes the fight, then the reward. I think this is why we film skateboard tricks.

1st: we really try to get that proper 360 airwalk 5-0 triple flip out and repeat the trick until we get all tic tacs and sketchiness out.

2nd: We have it on film to consume.

All the senses want to achieve

I’m thinking that all the senses might be motivated toward achieving something hard and then enjoying the reward. We enjoy viewing with our eyes after we made a trick when we watch it.

A question for another time: why are we tired of a video part right after making it?

Compare yourself to yourself

I’m starting to get into the thoughts of worse tricks than other people and still enjoying it is a good thing. That means to not have to be the best. Good in this way: it makes you compare yourself to yourself instead of others. You’re trying to be better than you yourself are. That’s a positive thing to do. Then the question is, is there a point in trying to become good at skating? If it keeps you sane, yes. If it keeps you exercising, yes. If it gives you money or opportunities, yes.

The typical answer

The average answer for why skating is worth it is that if it makes you happy and you have fun, then it is worth it. That’s a really important element because you will be better at something you like than what you don't like. If it’s for the fun of it, then the point sort of stops there. I find that troublesome and too hedonistic. I need your help. Is fun a good enough reason to use your time on it?

Having an effect on the outter world

When something is creating a chain of events that humans want, then I consider it worthwhile. For example, you skate and do tricks and film. Somebody want to sponsor you to sell more product, and that’s a chain of events that started. Posting clips that nobody watches are not creating that chain. Skateboarding going into the market and creating value for people and people being inspired by the skaters is creating a chain of good for that people want, and the end result is effectiveness in the world.

Back to the fun part. Something fun is actually a need. You need to satisfy yourself. Second, if you’re doing something, it needs to be fun for you in some parts of the process. Human needs like satisfaction and play need to be fulfilled for us to function properly