Why Do I Have So Much More Fear Than Everyone Else?
Fear is weird. Some people treat skating like it’s a video game—you respawn, try again, no big deal. And then there’s you: heart hammering, palms sweating, mind running 20 different “what if” scenarios before you even step on the board. You watch your friends session lines that make you sweat just to look at, and it feels like you’re playing some other sport entirely.
Here’s the truth nobody tells you: fear isn’t weakness. It’s just a part of your brain doing its job—protecting you, making sure you survive. But here’s the shitty part: survival doesn’t care about progression, style, or fun. It just screams don’t do the thing that might hurt you.
So why do some skaters seem fearless? They’re not fearless—they just learned how to ignore or channel their fear. Some of it is natural temperament, some of it is experience. Every time they fall, they absorb the lesson and move on. You’re doing the same thing, just slower. And that’s okay. Progress isn’t about matching someone else’s courage; it’s about moving forward at your own pace.
The hardest trick in skateboarding isn’t the kickflip over a gap—it’s stepping up to the board when fear is screaming at you. And here’s the secret most people forget: fear is also a teacher. It forces you to respect your limits, to plan, to focus. It makes success feel earned. When you finally land that trick, the rush is ten times stronger because fear was sitting right next to you the whole time.
Overcoming fear isn’t about being fearless. It’s about small victories: rolling down a new curb, nailing one trick, falling and standing back up. It’s accepting that fear will always be there, but you’re going to skate anyway.
The next time you feel paralyzed while your friends cruise past, remember this: their lack of fear doesn’t make you weaker, it just makes their path different. Your fear is part of your style, your story, and eventually, your triumphs. Keep showing up. Keep pushing. Keep landing in spite of it. Fear isn’t a wall—it’s a step.
