Brother in Christ Ryan Sheckler has some simple money advice for his younger self, and it is something upcoming skaters can take seriously while they are still young.
During a conversation with influencer RimRehab while working on Shecks' wheels, he was asked what he would tell himself at 15 years old if he had the chance to go back.
Shecks' first answer was about property.
He said he would have invested more money into property at a young age and bought rental properties. His thinking was that by the time he had a family or wanted to move into his own home, the property could already be paid off.
For young skaters hoping to make a living from skating, that is advice worth thinking about.
A career as a pro skater can bring money, sponsors, trips and opportunities, but it does not last forever.
Majority of pro skaters have made good money during their careers and later struggled financially after their income slowed down. Being talented on a board does not automatically mean someone will be good with money.
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That is where Shecks' advice comes in.
If an upcoming skater starts making decent money while they are young, the goal should not only be buying expensive things and enjoying the good years.
Putting some of that money into property or other long term investments can give them something to fall back on when their skating career changes.
Shecks also talked about the lessons he learned from difficult experiences.
He explained that you cannot have the good without the bad, and if everything had gone perfectly for him, he would not have learned as much.
He even admitted that without those experiences, he probably would not have been a very nice person.
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That is another useful message for young skaters trying to build a career.
Skating can open doors to work outside of simply riding for a sponsor.
Content, filming, appearances, coaching, events, business opportunities and other jobs can all become part of making a living.
For the next generation of skaters, Shecks' advice is pretty simple. Work while you can, take opportunities when they come, and be smart with the money you make while you are young.
You never know how long the checks from skating will keep coming, so building something for the future while you are still getting them could be one of the smartest things you do.
