also makes you respect the pros that simply walked off into the background of the industry or silently walked off to do other things with their lives instead of being dragged kicking and screaming back to the land of the “normal”

The whole fallback of “disillusionment with the industry” becomes harder to swallow with the older pros…they know how it works and what needs to be done to stay relevant (i.e. shaking hands, burying old grudges, smiling in lifestyle ads, etc.). It is an industry. Industries sell goods. Adams used to have a marketable “persona” with his style and trick selection (i.e. in the 90s, you wouldn’t see a red curb dancer do a wallie boardslide tailgrab), but now with it being acceptable to do just about any trick in the book at any time on any team, it is now more about pure luck, who you know, and handshakes then what tricks or supposed “attitude” you bring to a team.

For a select few, skateboarding prolongs the care free life and holds off responsibilities past it’s natural expiry date.

A white collar job is a huge step up from a blue collar job. Ask any immigrant parent what their wish is for their child.

I’d hate to be in the position of a 30-something pro who didn’t plan for their next gig after skating.