I started skating in 1976 when there was nothing else but going down a hill doing turns, going up and down curbs and doing downhill runs.
The following years I started to compete in contests that included freestyle, slalom and jumping disciplines. The jumping thing never got me so I did freestyle and slalom. Boring slalom, straight 6 feet 25 cones, indoor gymnastik halls, bad surface, slow ramps, but I did it and was never any good.
Then the ramps came up and I skipped slalom totally, skated a little freestyle and took my Hester H-Bomb for a few runs when the dust settled on it. Not more than 2 times a year.
That was around 1982.
I had several injuries during my 30 years skateboarding, the most severe being a dislocated elbow 3 times. The last time was in 2002. The doctors noticed a torn ligament in my elbow making the joint instable.
It was during this time that I discovered the slalom scene on the internet and found my old friend Attila Aszodi after 20 years
http://www.sk8mag.de/People/Attila_Aszodi/index-en.html
2002 I found out about the Grueningen races in Switzerland and went for it. I visited Attila, raced in Morro Bay and the Tunnel race the same year.
I was back on it.
I had surgery on the elbow in 2004 and I am so stoked to still be a part of skateboarding.
Thanks to everyone who accompanied me on the way, Attila, Yoyo, Georg, Jadranko, Jani, Donald.....all the racers.
The courses are getting tighter and I still feel I am getting better.
Skateboarding rules.
![Image](http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e360/bertrevert/skate/PSC063.jpg)