by Alberto Olivier
illustration by Joe Scordo
Skateboarding and hiking look like they’re on opposite ends of the map, but for me they’ve always felt… kind of the same. Both start with a push, the moment you leave whatever’s on your mind to go venture outside. Skateboarding starts with that first push on the concrete, and hiking begins with that first foot on the trail, but they do something to you in the same way. It’s a sort of movement that clears your head and helps you reset, and they both thrive on the idea that you can do more with less. All you really need is the drive to explore the unknown and let it pull you in.
When you land a new trick or hike a trail you’ve never done before, you get this feeling that’s almost indescribable. It’s adrenaline mixed with excitement, and that internal shift happens only when you complete something that challenged you. Skaters know this all too well. That clip you battled for days, weeks, or months and finally roll away from. Hikers get this feeling too, standing in front of a view that took time to plan, organize, and work for. Legs burning, short of breath, but that feeling you can’t quite describe when you reach the summit and look around. The reward is worthwhile, reminding you why you showed up in the first place.
They both also demand a lot from you physically. You have to want to do the hard work. Early mornings, long days, and longer nights—all requiring a dedication that’s only built over time. Skaters will spend the whole day roaming around a city looking for a spot nobody’s touched yet. Hikers do the exact same thing, just in different terrain. They search for that golden trail or hidden gem people have never been to or spoken of, the overlook tucked just out of sight, the hidden camp spot that feels perfectly untouched by humankind.
Each trip builds confidence the same way each session does. Every clip, every mile, you start carrying yourself with a calm you didn’t have before. You start putting lines together differently and ascend summits higher or more difficult than before, realizing your potential. You see possibilities instead of obstacles that once stood in front of you. Skating sharpened that for me, and hiking widened the horizons. Both teach you to stay patient and trust your intuition. They remind you that big things have small beginnings. They’re both about exploration, challenge, and finding new ways to push yourself. They offer an escape from the modern world and a sense of freedom that stays with you long after you’re done. Once you recognize how closely they’re connected, it’s easy to see why so many skateboarders are hikers, or vice versa. It’s another way to move, explore, and discover what’s out there.
