Ep. 38 - Why Falling Might Be the Most Important Skill to Learn with Hippie Mike

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What if one of the best environments for developing resilient athletes… had no structured practices, no yelling coaches, and no guaranteed success?

In this episode, we sit down with Hippie Mike to explore what decades in skateboarding culture can teach us about athlete development, mindset, and long-term growth.

Having taught thousands of athletes and helped shape some of today’s top pros, Mike shares why skateboarding creates a unique environment where failure isn’t feared but expected.

And more importantly… embraced.

We dive into:

• Why falling is one of the most important skills young athletes can learn
• How unstructured environments build creativity, resilience, and confidence
• The role of mentorship vs. traditional coaching
• Why too much structure can actually limit development
• How athletes build self-belief by figuring things out on their own

The best athletes are the ones who learned how to adapt, persist, and grow through failure.

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will shift how you think about development, confidence, and what it really takes to improve.

👤 About Hippie Mike

Hippie Mike has been immersed in the world of skateboarding since 1986 and has spent decades developing and mentoring athletes at all levels. Over the years, he has coached and influenced thousands of skateboarders, including several who have gone on to become top professionals in the sport.

He is the owner of multiple small businesses, including HMI Skate Park in Hope, BC, where he continues to mentor and support the next generation of athletes in a positive, community-driven environment.

Hippie Mike has also played a significant role in growing the skateboarding community through event leadership, having organized and run more than 350 skateboard events over the past 20 years. Among these is the long-running Hippie Mike’s Tour de Surrey, a decade-long series that became a staple in the local skateboarding scene.

Through his work, he has remained committed to creating opportunities for young athletes to develop not only their skills, but also confidence, resilience, and a lifelong passion for the sport.

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