Remember the skateboarders on your street when you were growing up? They were probably the first kind of stuntmen you ever saw outside of a TV screen, turning your block into an obstacle course and landing death-defying tricks until the sky got dark—and even then they didn’t stop. They may have also been the first people your mom told you to stay away from, as drinking, drugs, and tattoos tend to be a part of the lifestyle. But Neen Williams, a pro skater and entrepreneur, has been changing that “skater punk” stereotype ever since an ACL injury caused him to prioritize his health and career longevity.
Williams, 34, is now a bonafide fitness influencer as well as a boarder, getting as much attention online for posts on how he’s working out and what he’s eating for dinner as he is for his heel flip catches and handrail grinds. Williams visited Onnit to discuss how he changed his habits, and how he can help other aspiring skaters do the same, improve their tricks, and make a living doing what they love.
Life before skateboarding – 0:13
Advice to sk8er bois – 1:50
Breaking the skateboarder stereotype – 3:30
The skater party scene – 4:30
The pro skater lifestyle – 8:15
Tearing his ACL – 9:30
Leaving the party – 12:10
“Fitness is my new vice” – 13:55
How he started working out – 16:30
Getting known for fitness as much as skating – 20:45
Eating to help lower injury risk – 23:20
Life after skateboarding – 25:25
Why he doesn’t wear a helmet – 26: 20
What to look for in a skateboard – 29:25
Tips for safer falls – 31:00
His toughest trick – 32:30
The secret to a great heel flip catch – 35:40
Neen’s new shoe – 37:00
If he weren’t a skateboarder… – 39:00
The origin of “Not a damn chance” – 41:30
Follow Neen on Instagram, @neenwilliams
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