Lena Salmi isn’t just famous for being one of the oldest skateboarders in Finland, but for her fun-loving embrace of new hobbies such as acrobatics (some of which she does on her skateboard) as well as graffiti art.
The 65-year-old has been the subject of many television programs and documentaries and her infectious lust for life is a big part of the reason why.
Now that she’s taken up these adventurous new hobbies, she feels better than ever:
“It is just good to be in better condition than I was as a 40-year-old,” Salmi told BBC Three’s Amazing Humans.
It all began at age 57 when she took up longboarding (a longboard is a longer, thinner version of a skateboard) because she was afraid of getting her bike stolen. She told HypeBae:
“…I used to bike to the Olympic Swimming Stadium in Helsinki. But I had a tuned and beautiful bike and thought that it would be stolen outside the swimming stadium.”
Bike theft is one of the most common crimes in Europe, with Finland making the top 5 of countries where it most frequently happens.
Then, at age 61 she decided to take up skateboarding. Now she spends her days learning tricks at the skate park where she gets a great reception.
Kids who have seen her on television or in documentaries often come up to her and tell her how cool it is to meet her. And young boys love to show her their tricks.
“I have learned to be a more social person,” she told BBC Three of her new hobbies.
Salmi even traveled to Uganda to help open a skate park there and intends to return.
In fact, her latest piece of graffiti art (as of the time of taping of her Amazing Humans segment) was a piece called “No Fear,” dedicated to the Ugandan people who taught her not to be afraid of snakes.
While some graffiti is considered malicious damage under Finland’s laws, the country does encourage the art form in certain places. It’s a legitimate artistic hobby around the country and people find that it makes public places more interesting.
Salmi’s new hobbies have allowed her to see her city in a whole new way – and she’s encouraging others to do the same.
Now, she’s even teaching beginner “Early Skate Bird” classes that are attended by people of all ages.
Some of her younger students acknowledge just how scary it can be to hop on a skateboard for the first time, but Salmi stresses the importance of recognizing that fear and conquering one small step at a time.
She also encourages students to learn in groups to they can encourage one another.
But she acknowledges that danger in her hobby, saying “you have to take your life in your hands.”
She realizes that eventually, a day will come when she’s no longer able to do the things she loves – when a doctor will tell her to take up a nice serene hobby like Nordic walking.
“Then my life is over” she said.
“We ride till we die. That’s my motto.”
Salmi insists that her death-defying hobbies are what help keep her young.
“If I think that I’m getting afraid to be old then I can’t live,” she said matter-of-factly.
Salmi also uses social media to share encouragement and get out the message that you’re never too old to take up skateboarding. She’s an admin on the Very Old Skateboarders and Longboarders Group on Facebook where you can find lots of amazing inspiration from people who took up the hobby long after middle age.
But when asked by HypeBae what advantages she feels she has as an “old” skateboarder, she exclaimed “None!” It’s precisely because it’s so challenging that it’s worth doing.
In the beginning, her unconventional 4-wheeled travel was “just cruising,” but now that she’s well beyond doing it as a means of transport. Skateboarding is “pure fun” these days.
She said reactions to her skating in public are 95% positive, with teenage girls being the only group that routinely snickers at the sight of her.
But Salmi couldn’t care less. In fact, she wishes she could help the doubters gain the same self-esteem she has.
Be sure to scroll down to see her in action!
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