Why I Switched Sports as an Adult (And Left the Roller Rink for the Trails)

There is an unspoken rule when you reach a certain age: you pick your adult rec league sport, and you stick with it. Whether it is softball, basketball, or soccer, we tend to lock ourselves into one specific hobby simply because it is "all we know."

For a long time, my sport was roller hockey. But over the last year, I made a massive pivot, trading in my hockey stick for a set of handlebars. It wasn't an easy transition, but it was the best decision I could have made for my mental sanity and my family.

If you are an adult who secretly dreads driving to your late-night league games, this one is for you.

Back in my roller days.

The Breakup: Wednesday Night Brawls and Burnout

If you grew up in Southern California in the 90s, you probably remember the roller hockey boom. It was huge, but since then, the sport has struggled to grow. Not to say it isn't actively growing, but even with today's social media presence, it's still not a well-known sport.

For years, I was completely immersed in it. As a media specialist, I spent my weekends buckling down, shooting photos and videos at massive roller hockey tournaments. That's how my small business began. But those long weekends started burning me out. I loved the sport because I was always around it, but when I was "working" the tournaments, all I actually wanted to do was play in them. I even wrote and illustrated a roller hockey book—the first of its kind since the Matt Christopher era—and while I don't regret it, I was definitely bummed that it didn't leave much of a lasting impact.

Eventually, my interest just evaporated. After my daughter was born, my priorities completely shifted, and I didn't play much longer after that. My body wasn't physically breaking down, but mentally? I was completely exhausted by the "win at all costs" mentality.

I missed the days of just playing for the pure joy of the sport—a vibe you could really only find at a few struggling outdoor rinks. Instead, I was dealing with the high-stakes, hyper-competitive attitudes of weeknight rec leagues. There is nothing quite like watching grown men get heated and try to fight like children over a plastic puck on a Wednesday night. Like, come on, guys. We all have to go to work tomorrow. (I mention this in this video).

My last tournament and final skate.

The Void: Escaping the 9 PM Freeway Drive

When I officially stepped away, it felt a little weird not having a rink to turn to. A small part of me missed it, but mostly, it was a massive relief. I no longer had to venture out onto the 57 or 91 freeways at 9:00 PM or later. I got to stay home and actually spend the evenings with my family.

A year or so went by, and without the exercise, I had put on some weight. I had this realization that meal times would roll around, and even though I wasn't actually hungry, I was still stuffing my face with a full meal out of habit. I decided to challenge myself to eat less, but I also knew I needed to get moving again.

In April 2025, I texted my dad: "Hey Dad, let’s go mountain biking again."

We started hitting the dirt. Shortly after, we signed up for the Over the Hump mountain bike race. As I talk about in the aforementioned video, that race was a massive wake-up call. I had made the mistake of trying to introduce competition back into my life, and it just didn't sit right with me. I didn't want to race. I wanted adventure.

Circa 2018. The kind of adventure I was missing.

The Revelation: Why Two Wheels Beat a Hockey Stick

Pivoting to cycling completely changed my life.

First of all, I am no longer out and about at 11:00 PM. I can ride to and from work during reasonable hours, and I’m home with my family for dinner. I can ride as fast or as slow as I want. There is no organizing rink time, no stressing over traffic to get to a specific facility, and no freeways involved. I can just roll out of my apartment and explore my own town without being trapped inside a car bubble.

Cycling is pure freedom. You can hear the sounds, smell the air, and feel the wind. Contrast that with roller hockey, where all you see are angry middle-aged men trying to kill you while wearing atrocious-smelling gear. (Seriously, bro. Wash your equipment.)

But the absolute best part? Getting to hang out and ride bikes with my dad. Taking our time on the trails, without worrying about breaking records or scoring goals, makes me feel like a kid again.

About to hit Oaks!

The Takeaway: We Pay to Play, So Make it Fun

It has been almost a year since I made the switch. Dad and I have been incredibly consistent (with a totally valid brief hiatus recently when my son was born).

I am writing this because I know so many adults who play sports, yet treat them like a chore. I cannot count how many times I used to hear guys in the locker room say, "Ugh, I almost didn't show up tonight because the game is so late," or, "I don't even want to go, but I paid for the league so I should."

No! We are not paid professionals. In fact, we pay to play these sports. If you are going to spend your hard-earned money and your limited free time on a hobby, it should bring you joy.

For me, I found that joy in the low-stakes freedom of two wheels. I know plenty of people who still absolutely love playing roller hockey, and that is awesome for them! I am just glad I figured out what actually makes me happy, and I highly encourage you to do the same. If your current sport is burning you out, it is okay to quit. Go find your next adventure.