My Other Life is a new NDA column that steps outside the day job. In each column, we ask someone from across the digital media space about the hobby, passion project or side hustle they pursue when they’re not in the office. Because there’s usually more to people in this industry than their job title suggests.
What is your day job?
I lead Pinkstripe PR, Bluestripe’s little sister agency, where I work with start-ups and SMEs in the media, marketing, advertising and tech space to help raise their profiles among key audiences and publications.
What’s the “other life” you lead outside the industry?
I skateboard! The older I’ve got, the more I’m intrigued by high-adrenaline sports – I feel like for most people it’s the other way around – but I had a skateboard as a kid and never really used it. Now I can’t get off it.
How did you get into it, and how long have you been doing it?
It was something I wanted to try for a while, and I finally plucked up the courage to start lessons earlier this year. From the outset, I loved it! It terrifies me but I think it’s good to do stuff that scares you 👻 It can be super frustrating when I can’t get a trick right – kick-turns are my current nemesis. But I did nail a drop-in, so that’s something.
How much time does it take up in a typical week?
It’s a fair-weather sport – over summer there were weeks I skated every day, but now it’s more like 3 or 4 times. I have one-to-one lessons with an amazing tutor Zac, who also happens to do digital marketing as his day job (little plug here). Zac’s been fundamental in teaching me the basics (which I’d never have got to grips with myself) and also pushing me to try harder tricks, so I feel like I’ve progressed loads since I started but still have a looong way to go.
And I go to weekly group sessions at The Skate Club in Brighton, which have been great for meeting other adults silly enough to take up skateboarding, learning from people at different levels, and inspiring me to improve by seeing what others can do.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about it?
That it’s a kid’s sport. Not true! I see as many adults doing it as kids and not just young adults, loads of people in their 40s, 50s, 60s – even 70s. It’s such a cool thing to try whatever your age and the community is the best – people are so supportive of one another, which is something you don’t always get in other sports.
Has it taught you anything that’s actually useful in your day job?
Ha! Honestly, I’m not sure I can say that it has. It’s a great way to clear my mind before or after work though and it really focuses my attention. It’s a pretty mindful hobby in that sense, because you have to be constantly absorbed in what you’re doing – so I guess you could say it’s good brain training.
What’s the proudest moment you’ve had doing it?
Whenever I land a trick for the first time. Also maybe the first time I felt able to go to the skatepark by myself and cruise around. But I feel there’ll be many more prouder – and painful – moments to come.
Does anyone at work know about it — and what was their reaction when they found out?
The Bluestripe team are never surprised at the things I get up to. It’s kind of a running joke that I always seem to be into some weird new hobby – we’ve had breakdancing (that was short-lived), surfing (which I also love but there’s not great surf on the Sussex coast), and darts (I have been meaning to join a local darts team). But in seriousness, they’re a lovely, fun and supportive team and always championing whatever random pursuits I’m into 😊
