Woman, 63, skates way to cancer recovery
Print Edition
Cruising on an empty Bangkok highway, 63-year-old Nongluck Chairuettichai 鈥 the oldest member of Thailand鈥檚 longboard national team 鈥 says taking up the sport set her on the road to recovery from breast cancer.
Diagnosed a decade ago, Nongluck, who goes by the nickname Jeab, had surgery and chemotherapy, her body withering to skin and bones.
鈥淏ut when you skate every day, you can feel your body becoming stronger and healthier... it helped with recovery tremendously,鈥 Jeab said, as she straps on her knee and elbow pads.
鈥淢ost importantly, it鈥檚 fun.鈥
Jeab first picked up a board out of curiosity, after watching her son Soteera whirl around the park.
While most novices initially tremble on the wooden plank, Jeab鈥檚 good balance helped her push off with confidence.
鈥淪he鈥檚 always been the adventurous type, so I was not surprised at all that she wanted to longboard,鈥 her 37-year-old son said.
The mother of two says she became 鈥渁ddicted鈥 to the sport, which is typically dominated by teenage boys.
She quickly became known in the capital鈥檚 small longboarding community and was competing in tournaments within months.
Last year, Jaeb qualified for Thailand鈥檚 national longboard team 鈥 the oldest member ever to join the squad.
鈥淪he is an inspiration to a lot of people, especially girls,鈥 team director Apichat Rutnin said.
鈥淣ow you can see more girls, from youth to adults, have started to be involved in board sports.鈥
Every day Jaeb searches for new skate spots around Bangkok 鈥 a traffic-clogged metropolis with limited terrain for board sports. On a closed section between two freeways, she and her son stretch before strapping on safety gear.
She tucks into a half-crouch on her board, rendering her body more streamlined to whizz faster downhill.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 cruising, I feel free,鈥 she said, as she shows off a tattoo on her forearm that roughly translates as 鈥淟ongboard lover.鈥
鈥淚t feels like I am leaving everything behind, all the troubles and the conflicts in life,鈥 she added.
At first, many other skateboarders, and even her friends, tried to discourage her from pursuing the sport but she continued until she won acceptance.
Only her family was supportive.
Soteera says watching his mother battle cancer made him realize how strong she is.
鈥淚鈥檓 worried about her because she鈥檚 old, but being too worried until she cannot do anything is not a good way to care for someone,鈥 he said
鈥淪he has to live her life.鈥
Today, Jeab appears to follow the philosophy tattooed on her calf, which reads, 鈥淒on鈥檛 wait to be cool.鈥
Rocking trendy owlish frames, she hikes up the highway for another spin downhill.
At tournaments, she does not focus on breaking speed records 鈥 the goal is peace of mind.
鈥淚 skate for my happiness,鈥 Jeab said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 all and that鈥檚 enough.鈥
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
