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Chris Livingston

Wendy Rubicam
Wendy Rubicam

Chris Livingston has been passionate about skateboarding since he was 11 years old. He credits the sport with keeping him young, active, and happy. After being sidelined for five years due to a knee injury, he returned to skateboarding at 38 and feels healthier than ever. Livingston teaches skateboarding lessons and finds fulfillment in passing on his love of the sport to others, especially helping them build perseverance through overcoming challenges.

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BY WENDY RUBICAM EVANS Professional skateboarder Chris Livingstons lifelong passion for skateboarding keeps him young, active and loving life How much can the love of an athletic pursuit affect your life? Chris Livingston has been skateboarding since he was an 11-year-old kid, and will tell you that the art and challenge of the sport are a virtual fountain of youth. Back to skate- boarding at age 38 after being sidelined for five years by his second ACL injury and resulting nerve pain, he is happier and healthier than ever. Livingston remembers two specific influences that sparked his love of skate- boarding when he was just an active kid growing up in Phoenix. A moment, a flash of inspiration as his buddy attempted to jump down a few stairs on a cheap Kmart skateboard on the way home from school, and the style and expression he saw in a photo of skateboarding legend Christian Hosoi, who still remains a hero to Livingston. Those two small moments made an indelible imprint on Livingston, who quit his team sports and started dedicating his time and consid- erable energy to skateboarding. First came local shop sponsors and then skating for the Bare Cover Trick Team back in the mid-1980s, working his way up through the ranks of amateur, national and sponsored competitions. He earned a spon- sorship from H Street Skateboards, one of the first skateboard companies owned by skateboarders, who Livingston says changed the face of skateboarding in the late 80s and early 90s. 30 Scottsdale HEALTH 07/10
a camaraderie because weve all shed blood together. Weve all seen each other slam and keep going. Weve all seen each other do stuff thats amazing and beautiful. Livingstons first ACL injury brought him back to Arizona, where he attended ASU and underwent surgery and rehab on his knee. When he made a summer trip to San Diego after his recovery, he once again returned to skateboarding for an eight-year stint of traveling with the Vans Warped Tour, Got Milk? tours, doing demonstra- tions for everyone from Disney to Red Bull and entering various competitions. Although hed been ranked fourth in the world at one point, Livingston realized that competition was not the draw for him. He finds competitive skating to be too structured and com- pulsory for his taste, and prefers skating empty swimming pools and sessions with friends that allow for endless per- sonal challenges and more freedom of expression. In comparing skateboarding on ramps to taking on an empty pool, he explains that ramps are consistent, which allows for harder tricks and more Everyone falls all the time, air space, but pools require a certain but thats life, too. Its a good metaphor creativity and skill to accomplish even the most basic trick. At first you might for life, to teach you perseverance think youre not going to be able to do and setting goals for yourself and sticking anything in the pool, and then by the with it amidst hardships. end of the session youve figured out lines and tricks and things you never could have imagined youd be able to do. Every pool is different, and the If H Street influenced the world of skateboarding back then, Livingston was reality is that those 7-foot verticals certainly a part of that. H Street is known for its legendary skateboarding videos, and werent meant to be skated, so if you featured Livingston in his own series sold worldwide. After graduating high school accomplish something in one particular in 1989, H Street sent him on a tour through Europe to promote the videos. The one spot, youve done something no one month tour turned into a four month stay in Europe for the 18-year-old, as he made else has ever done. friends and stayed on, making the life-affirming decision to go professional. Livingston is never happier than When he returned, he moved to the H Street team house in San Diego, where when he is skating, and aside from the he immersed himself in a life of skateboarding and the camaraderie that is intrinsic reward and self-fulfillment exemplified by the sport. Its a huge global community, he explains. We have of skating, he thrives on the positive 07/10 Scottsdale HEALTH 31
for life, to teach you perseverance and setting goals for yourself and sticking with it amidst hardships. Livingston works side by side with his students, explaining the mechan- ics of skateboarding in laymans terms and offering support. He points out, A little bit of support from someone they respect goes a long way. For Livingston, injuries are just a part of life. He describes skating as the barometer for his art and his dis- cipline. If you havent been skating We have a camaraderie because a lot its sketchy, its scarier, youre weve all shed blood together. going to fall a lot more, he admits. If youve been disciplined, been skat- ing and been doing your thing, then it gets easier and is more natural. energy that emanates from sessions with friends. Livingstons connections to the I skate with other people and even now I get pushed. Theyre pushing skateboarding world endure as he con- themselves, and even if its a different trick or a different level, you throw that tinues with his lifelong art. He looks energy into the pot and youve got to push yourself at your level. Its competi- to his longtime friends for inspiration, tive within ourselvesno one wins, no one loses. This mindset is the torch he explaining, I have friends in their 50s hopes to pass on to daughter Ella, age 6, and to the kids he teaches to skate- who skate, and they are all so healthy board. Lessons with this pro are one-on-one and tailored to the individual. and exuberant and engaged in life Livingstons goal is to build a solid foundation and confidence that will serve because they have an art that keeps his students throughout their lives. I like each kid to walk away from every lesson pushing them. He clearly sees skate- having made progress, but more importantly, having had fun and feeling empow- boarding as an essential and extremely ered. Even if they quit skateboarding, if they can take those principles into the positive force in his life, and plans to next thing thats a creative outlet for them, then its still working for them. be skating for a long time to come. He acknowledges that skateboarding involves calculated risk and encour- ages students to embrace taking the sport one step at a time, building up skills, Wendy Rubicam Evans is a freelance working hard, and being willing to fall. He says that even the greats like Tony writer and marketing consultant in Hawk fall repeatedly, and insists that youve got to be humble to be a skate- Scottsdale. For more information visit boarder. Everyone falls all the time, but thats life, too. Its a good metaphor www.rubicamwriting.com. 32 Scottsdale HEALTH 07/10
AGE: 38 STATUS: Married TYPICAL DAY OF FOOD: A lot! 10-20 hours of skating a week burns a lot of calories. Can typically eat whatever he wants, with an eye toward nutrition and knowing what his body needs. I eat a little bit of everything, not too much of anything. Starts the day with oatmeal in cool weather, a fruit smoothie when its hot out. Eats organic whenever possible, and supplements with herbs and super-food natural supplements. I drink a lot of green teaanyone who knows me knows that. FOOD WEAKNESS: A couple of beers now and then, and dark chocolate. TYPICAL WORKOUT: Has developed a daily quick and dirty routine of what works for him, including a core workout and various Pilates and stretching moves, and basics like pushups. Hits the gym for full body workouts emphasiz- ing hips and legs once or twice a week. Skating is the best workout. Its so much fun that we dont count the min- utes. I can skate for about four to five hours and its like interval trainingskate for 20-30 seconds, then take a break for a minute and just keep repeating intervals. CURRENT SKATEBOARD: Skating on a Creature Board with Independent trucks and Bones wheels. Wears shoes from his longtime friends at Vans. WHERE HE SKATES: Had a hand in designing some of the Scottsdale skate parks, points to the Pacific Northwest as a hotbed of really creative skate parks, loves the challenge of an empty swimming pool, and has a ramp in his air-condi- tioned garage where he skates with his daughter Ella and friends. For information on skateboard lessons, email livi-lotus@cox.net. 07/10 Scottsdale HEALTH 33

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Chris Livingston

  • 1. BY WENDY RUBICAM EVANS Professional skateboarder Chris Livingstons lifelong passion for skateboarding keeps him young, active and loving life How much can the love of an athletic pursuit affect your life? Chris Livingston has been skateboarding since he was an 11-year-old kid, and will tell you that the art and challenge of the sport are a virtual fountain of youth. Back to skate- boarding at age 38 after being sidelined for five years by his second ACL injury and resulting nerve pain, he is happier and healthier than ever. Livingston remembers two specific influences that sparked his love of skate- boarding when he was just an active kid growing up in Phoenix. A moment, a flash of inspiration as his buddy attempted to jump down a few stairs on a cheap Kmart skateboard on the way home from school, and the style and expression he saw in a photo of skateboarding legend Christian Hosoi, who still remains a hero to Livingston. Those two small moments made an indelible imprint on Livingston, who quit his team sports and started dedicating his time and consid- erable energy to skateboarding. First came local shop sponsors and then skating for the Bare Cover Trick Team back in the mid-1980s, working his way up through the ranks of amateur, national and sponsored competitions. He earned a spon- sorship from H Street Skateboards, one of the first skateboard companies owned by skateboarders, who Livingston says changed the face of skateboarding in the late 80s and early 90s. 30 Scottsdale HEALTH 07/10
  • 2. a camaraderie because weve all shed blood together. Weve all seen each other slam and keep going. Weve all seen each other do stuff thats amazing and beautiful. Livingstons first ACL injury brought him back to Arizona, where he attended ASU and underwent surgery and rehab on his knee. When he made a summer trip to San Diego after his recovery, he once again returned to skateboarding for an eight-year stint of traveling with the Vans Warped Tour, Got Milk? tours, doing demonstra- tions for everyone from Disney to Red Bull and entering various competitions. Although hed been ranked fourth in the world at one point, Livingston realized that competition was not the draw for him. He finds competitive skating to be too structured and com- pulsory for his taste, and prefers skating empty swimming pools and sessions with friends that allow for endless per- sonal challenges and more freedom of expression. In comparing skateboarding on ramps to taking on an empty pool, he explains that ramps are consistent, which allows for harder tricks and more Everyone falls all the time, air space, but pools require a certain but thats life, too. Its a good metaphor creativity and skill to accomplish even the most basic trick. At first you might for life, to teach you perseverance think youre not going to be able to do and setting goals for yourself and sticking anything in the pool, and then by the with it amidst hardships. end of the session youve figured out lines and tricks and things you never could have imagined youd be able to do. Every pool is different, and the If H Street influenced the world of skateboarding back then, Livingston was reality is that those 7-foot verticals certainly a part of that. H Street is known for its legendary skateboarding videos, and werent meant to be skated, so if you featured Livingston in his own series sold worldwide. After graduating high school accomplish something in one particular in 1989, H Street sent him on a tour through Europe to promote the videos. The one spot, youve done something no one month tour turned into a four month stay in Europe for the 18-year-old, as he made else has ever done. friends and stayed on, making the life-affirming decision to go professional. Livingston is never happier than When he returned, he moved to the H Street team house in San Diego, where when he is skating, and aside from the he immersed himself in a life of skateboarding and the camaraderie that is intrinsic reward and self-fulfillment exemplified by the sport. Its a huge global community, he explains. We have of skating, he thrives on the positive 07/10 Scottsdale HEALTH 31
  • 3. for life, to teach you perseverance and setting goals for yourself and sticking with it amidst hardships. Livingston works side by side with his students, explaining the mechan- ics of skateboarding in laymans terms and offering support. He points out, A little bit of support from someone they respect goes a long way. For Livingston, injuries are just a part of life. He describes skating as the barometer for his art and his dis- cipline. If you havent been skating We have a camaraderie because a lot its sketchy, its scarier, youre weve all shed blood together. going to fall a lot more, he admits. If youve been disciplined, been skat- ing and been doing your thing, then it gets easier and is more natural. energy that emanates from sessions with friends. Livingstons connections to the I skate with other people and even now I get pushed. Theyre pushing skateboarding world endure as he con- themselves, and even if its a different trick or a different level, you throw that tinues with his lifelong art. He looks energy into the pot and youve got to push yourself at your level. Its competi- to his longtime friends for inspiration, tive within ourselvesno one wins, no one loses. This mindset is the torch he explaining, I have friends in their 50s hopes to pass on to daughter Ella, age 6, and to the kids he teaches to skate- who skate, and they are all so healthy board. Lessons with this pro are one-on-one and tailored to the individual. and exuberant and engaged in life Livingstons goal is to build a solid foundation and confidence that will serve because they have an art that keeps his students throughout their lives. I like each kid to walk away from every lesson pushing them. He clearly sees skate- having made progress, but more importantly, having had fun and feeling empow- boarding as an essential and extremely ered. Even if they quit skateboarding, if they can take those principles into the positive force in his life, and plans to next thing thats a creative outlet for them, then its still working for them. be skating for a long time to come. He acknowledges that skateboarding involves calculated risk and encour- ages students to embrace taking the sport one step at a time, building up skills, Wendy Rubicam Evans is a freelance working hard, and being willing to fall. He says that even the greats like Tony writer and marketing consultant in Hawk fall repeatedly, and insists that youve got to be humble to be a skate- Scottsdale. For more information visit boarder. Everyone falls all the time, but thats life, too. Its a good metaphor www.rubicamwriting.com. 32 Scottsdale HEALTH 07/10
  • 4. AGE: 38 STATUS: Married TYPICAL DAY OF FOOD: A lot! 10-20 hours of skating a week burns a lot of calories. Can typically eat whatever he wants, with an eye toward nutrition and knowing what his body needs. I eat a little bit of everything, not too much of anything. Starts the day with oatmeal in cool weather, a fruit smoothie when its hot out. Eats organic whenever possible, and supplements with herbs and super-food natural supplements. I drink a lot of green teaanyone who knows me knows that. FOOD WEAKNESS: A couple of beers now and then, and dark chocolate. TYPICAL WORKOUT: Has developed a daily quick and dirty routine of what works for him, including a core workout and various Pilates and stretching moves, and basics like pushups. Hits the gym for full body workouts emphasiz- ing hips and legs once or twice a week. Skating is the best workout. Its so much fun that we dont count the min- utes. I can skate for about four to five hours and its like interval trainingskate for 20-30 seconds, then take a break for a minute and just keep repeating intervals. CURRENT SKATEBOARD: Skating on a Creature Board with Independent trucks and Bones wheels. Wears shoes from his longtime friends at Vans. WHERE HE SKATES: Had a hand in designing some of the Scottsdale skate parks, points to the Pacific Northwest as a hotbed of really creative skate parks, loves the challenge of an empty swimming pool, and has a ramp in his air-condi- tioned garage where he skates with his daughter Ella and friends. For information on skateboard lessons, email livi-lotus@cox.net. 07/10 Scottsdale HEALTH 33