ALBERT Skipper – better known in the Bendigo community as Skip – has a new lease on life.
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Skip is taking on a new challenge after years working in and around Bendigo’s music scene.
He and friend Mick Wright have opened Skip’s Skateboard Shop in Eaglehawk.
It specialise in three things – skateboards, coffee and donuts. Mick does the coffee and donuts and is learning to skate and Skip does the skateboarding.
Over the years, Skip has played in numerous bands, run Rock Pride Music, taught toddlers in Nappa Dakka and worked as music therapist.
“A lot of lessons can became counselling sessions and the takes a lot out of you,” he said.
“I gave music away. Everyone knows me for that and I’ve been teaching for a long time but found it tiring because I had been doing it for so long.
“Hopefully this can free up my time where I can go and enjoy music again. It’s been a hard slog in that respect.”
While many people list skateboarding as a teenager’s pastime, Skip said there was an ageing demographic that was returning to the sport.
“Skateboarding comes with a bit of stigma but the (boarding) community is a great one,” he said.
“It engages the youth and introduces a different culture to more senior people. The older guys try to show the younger ones the need for respect and being nice.
““The group I'm in (Bendigo Old School Skaters) has over 100 members with one thing in common – we skated in the 80s. Older blokes and even women are getting back into it.
“Not everyone wants to do wine club or knitting. People want to try something different, outside of their circle.”
Skip said after skating everywhere in the 80s he inexplicably gave it away.
“It wasn’t until about six years ago I got back into it,” he said.
“I was going through rough trot. I was run down, a bit depressed and a friend of mine contacted me and told me still skated. I said ‘What? In you’re early 40s?’ He told me to try it so I did. It was embarrassing to be the old guy wearing knee pads and a helmet but I persevered.”