Skateboarding is one of those things you can do all day, every day, until you can’t.
No matter how much you love it, there comes a time when your body doesn’t bounce back the same way.
That doesn’t mean you stop skating, it just means you have to start thinking about what else you can do while still staying true to what you love.
Professional skateboarder Neen Williams has been through it, and he’s got some solid advice for skaters who want to set themselves up for the long haul.
In an in-depth podcast interview with former pro skater Mikey Taylor, he explained the best way for skateboarders to learn how to pivot in life.
"You can skate all day every day but there's a point where you're like older where you cannot skate all day every day at your optimal," he said.
For Williams, it’s all about balance. Skate hard, but recognize when it’s time to focus on other things, too. "You can skate for three to four hours, after that it's a wrap, and you can work on other things that you do and start building something on the side for your future."
That "something" could be anything like a full-time job, a small business on the side, or a passion project that grows over time.
Williams himself has his spice and burger joint, "NADC," proving that skaters can build businesses while still staying connected to what they love.
He also emphasized that side projects and skating can go hand in hand, but understanding your limits is key. "I think in my opinion it would be the best route," he explained when asked how skaters can prepare for life beyond the board.
One of the biggest lessons Williams shares is not to rely on just one thing for your future. "You wanna have a couple of little different income streams coming from different areas you know, but you also want to give them 110%, and that's going to come down to structure and how you go through your days."
For skaters, that means treating every opportunity with the same dedication they bring to their skating.
It’s about staying disciplined, setting up different ways to make a living, and making sure you’re not left scrambling when the heavy sessions slow down.
Skating isn’t just a phase. It’s something you carry with you forever.
But knowing how to make it work alongside everything else in life? That’s the real lesson. Just like landing a trick, planning for the future takes effort, patience, and a willingness to adapt.
Williams laid it out plain and simple. So, take notes and make sure you’re setting yourself up for a solid ride ahead.