Tony Hawk gives painful update on future of skateboarding after breaking femur
Tony Hawk has shared a painful update after he broke his leg earlier this year.
The skating great snapped his femur in March when he attempted a McTwist (a front flip with a 540-degree rotation), but had 'very little speed and an unsteady grab' and ended up crashing down on the halfpipe.
Just nine days after the grim injury he was walking unaided - but he's now paying the price for being 'too cavalier' during his recovery.
Watch him skating (and falling) through pain here:
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The 54-year-old took to Instagram to share the regrettable news that he will have to have surgery on his leg, admitting he got back on the board too soon.
Hawk wrote: "I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray: last week I got confirmation of news that I have been dreading for while now: my femur never fully connected at the fracture site (non-union and varus angulation as they say in the biz) and has only grown further apart on one side of my leg.
"To all of the people saying I got back on my skateboard too soon and was pushing too hard with my early recovery, especially my dear wife: you were absolutely correct.
"I was too cavalier in my approach to skating shortly after my injury, ignoring all warning signs - pain, mostly - and ended up shifting the bone placement that never allowed it to fuse properly.
"I don't blame anybody but myself for this major setback, and I would turn back time if it was a viable option."
He continued: "So I go back in for surgery next week to have my bone repositioned in hopes that it will heal properly this time around.
"I am thankful to get a 'do-over' of sorts, and hopeful that I can make a fuller recovery this time by having more patience and less expectations. "The silver lining to this disappointing news is that I was able to do a lot of skating (and some advanced tricks) without a solid bone to stand on; I should be able to do a lot more with a fully formed femur.
"It's gonna be a slow, delicate process in the coming months but I plan to emerge stronger, wiser and more thankful than ever."
Speaking after the initial break, Hawk was determined to get back on the board ASAP - though he accepted that he may not be the same as he once was.
He said: "There is a strange irony that this happened on the eve of HBO releasing a trailer for Until The Wheels Fall Off, Sam Jones' documentary about my life & career, which has a strong focus on the philosophy of how I/we do this at our age.
"The answer is complicated, but ultimately it's because I have found my sense of purpose and shaped my identity through skating, and it nourishes my mental health immensely.
"I've said many times that I won't stop skating until I am physically unable. A broken leg - with plenty of hardware - will probably be the biggest test of that creed.
"I'll be back… maybe not at full capacity but I resigned to that notion years ago as I approached 'mid-life'.
"Thanks to my unyieldingly supportive, tolerant family - and all of you - for the love and support through the years; I wouldn't be here without you. See you on the other side."
Jake Massey