Back on Board

By Matthew Becerra

Photo courtesy of Sam McKenna

For two years, Amir Denis didn't skate, at a time when many skaters would have doubled down, chasing sponsors and trying to keep up with everyone around them, Denis did the opposite. 

He became a father and learned how to be present for the people depending on him.

Denis' return to skating was based on a new perspective for it, treating it like a release. 

"I want to take it more seriously, but I feel like the more serious I took it, it kind of drew me away from it.” Denis said, “So, now I'm kind of back in love with it because it's so, like, I treat it like it's for fun."

Skateboarding had always been part of his life, his father and uncle skated. Skating surrounded him growing up, by the time he moved back to New York at 18 after spending time in Florida, he wanted to see how far he could take it.

However, Denis found himself measuring his success against everyone else's. Seeing other skaters accomplish things he hadn't done yet became discouraging.

"I remember the time when I stopped skating," Denis said. "I had seen Bro do kick flip front, blunt Hollywood 16, that shit was unmotivating."

After this shift in his mindset, fear replaced his confidence, and every trick required my effort and convincing. Eventually, he put the board down altogether.

During those two years away, Denis' priorities shifted, he had two children and fatherhood gave him a perspective skateboarding couldn't. He worried about getting home and his children helped him realize how much pressure he had been putting on himself.

The break also reminded him why he started skating in the first place, a way to get away and have fun.

His return happened on impulse, one day randomly picking the board back up out of boredom and not wanting to be the 36 year old guy who claims “he used to skate.”  

When he finally stepped back on and taking it seriously he completely lost the sense of unmotivation and fear that lead him to quitting.

"Now, I don't give a fuck about anything," Denis said. "I'm willing to fall, I love going fast now."

That mindset has fueled a productive return. Denis has regained support from Nike SB and 5BORO, started filming for a part with Naquan Rollings and found himself skating with a level of freedom he hadn't felt at any point in his career.

For a long time, Denis felt like he was trying to prove something to everyone else, now he's skating to prove something to himself. After two years away, that's been enough reason to come back.