For some professional skateboarders, retirement can ironically be the scariest part of their career. How do you live without your name on a board? How do you translate a kickflip back lip into real-world skills? Shit, how do you explain the 20-year resume gap?
With no clear answer to many of these questions, oftentimes pro skaters are left white-knuckling, trying to stretch a career to the max in fear of getting lost in the beyond. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Moving on can be empowering.
Take it from Joey Brezinski, who recently posted about his transition from skating full-time to a simpler life as a USPS mailman.
In more ways than one, it’s motivating, and to celebrate Joey’s new lease on life, we followed him on his paper route, hitting some curbs along the way and appreciating that moving on from pro skateboarding isn’t something you should be ashamed of, it’s a start to something new.
The Shop
Related Posts
-
HUNTING FOR MUSHROOMS WITH RYAN REYES
Ryan shares his thoughts on psilocybin as we go hunting to find some nice Lobster Mushrooms to eat for dinner.
-
A SHORT FILM ABOUT TRYING TO GO PRO IN CANADA
Follow flow skater Skylar Kehr’s travels on that treacherous path of trying to “make it” in skating as a Canadian.
-
“PARTS” WITH BRIGHTON ZEUNER
We took a shot in the dark and asked a 16-year-old contest skater what parts she's watching.
-
EC MELODI IS LEADING THE PACK FOR SKATING’S NEXT GENERATION
EC Melodi's video output has been consistently strong, and this new one is no exception.
-
MIND FIELD, JAKE JOHNSON AND MUSIC WITH ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
A quick conversation with Animal Collective about their music in skate videos.
-
WHO ARE THE SKATERS RESURRECTING ROCK CLIMBING IN UPPER MANHATTAN?
We met up with Joel Popoteur, an employee at Supreme and long-time skater to learn about his outdoor movement.
-
JENK TV: JIRO PLAYS HOOKY
A 13 year-old took us to binge on chili cheese dogs and dumpster dive for a plank of wood to skate.
-
PREMIERE: LEO VALLS IN “BORDEAUX EXPOSURE 3”
After helping make Bordeaux a skate-friendly city, Leo took a victory lap and filmed his whole part at the iconic Terrasse Koenig plaza.
Comments
Popular
-
FROM PRO SKATER TO POSTAL WORKER: LIFE AFTER SKATEBOARDING
We met up with Joey Brezinski to see how the second chapter of his career is coming along.
-
KEITH HUFNAGEL ON THE FUTURE OF HUF
We heard a rumor that HUF was going out of business, so we talked with boss man himself to find out.
-
HANGING OUT WITH ANDREW HUBERMAN, SKATEBOARDER TURNED NEUROSCIENTIST
Curious what it would be like to hang with this guy outside of a stuffy podcast studio? Us too.
-
50 THINGS TO DO IN SKATEBOARDING BEFORE YOU QUIT
From dropping in on vert to packing 12 deep in a minivan and going on a road trip, this list covers the essentials.
-
SKATERS RECOMMEND THEIR FAVORITE SKATE PANTS
We hit up some pro skaters and Jenkem contributors known for their 'fits to offer recommendations.
April 6, 2026 8:58 pm
Not Everyone Becomes Tony Hawk…But We Definately Need Great USPS Employees…This Man Can Deliver Mail…With A Kick Flip..Any Time At My Home…
April 6, 2026 11:26 pm
I wouldn’t mind a job I understand I could make it just waiting is not cool I guess, just keep skating is all I hear in my career
April 7, 2026 8:06 am
Joey brizinski Daniel Espinoza both got done dirty by the industry. The skate board industry is a garbage ass corporate machine. Everything we hate skateboarding has become. Skate shops lined with rows of Nike and what ever brand is hip at the time, no small upcoming brands. Then skateboarders don’t go to mom
And pop shops instead it’s zumiez. I hope skateboarding collapses in on its self. More pro models for lil Wayne.
April 7, 2026 9:00 am
As we age we must evolve to pay the bills and in my case change careers several times . And like me return to something I learned in my early teens so I could be my own boss. C K