Why Pro Skater Neen Williams is Living Clean
Neen Williams once believed that being a professional skateboarder meant being able to do whatever he wanted.
But 3 years ago, after sustaining an injury, Williams realized that if he wanted to keep skating, he was going to have to make some changes. As a teenager, he would wake up late, eat fast food and drink beer for breakfast, skate for a few hours, and then spend the night partying.
These bad habits continued until 2014, when Williams tore a ligament in his knee and decided to abstain from alcohol for the entire 6 – 8 month recovery period. This decision proved to be a turning point in his life.
Now, at age 31, Williams sticks to a strict diet and works out daily.
Professional skateboarders are required to film themselves landing impressive tricks. Sponsors – like Nike and Adidas – expect their skaters to record 5 – 10 minutes’ worth of usable footage, which is then made into a film that promotes the brand and showcases the talent of its skaters.
While this sounds simple, getting a trick on film often takes hours and may only provide 5 seconds of usable footage. Each failed attempt means cuts, scrapes, bruises, and sometimes broken bones.
While most professional athletes have a network of coaches, fitness trainers, and diet experts to help them maintain their bodies, professional skateboarders have no such support.
Williams knows that the only way he can continue to do his job is by taking care of his body and his health.
While he is happy to talk about his lifestyle changes, William says that he is not trying to preach to young skaters. He has no regrets about his former lifestyle, and believes that it is better for young people to learn life lessons for themselves.
Williams’ passion is skateboarding, and while his professional career may only last a few more years, he hopes that his new lifestyle will allow him to continue skating for decades to come.
