Then in the early ’80s, most of the skateparks closed because of liability lawsuits. Suddenly, the downhill and slalom races I’d been racing dried up. For about 20 years, I stopped competing. Worked as a graphic designer, got married, had kids.

When slalom racing started to get popular again in the early 2000s, a guy I knew from the old days encouraged me to race. Slalom is a downhill race on a closed road, where you weave between cones. It requires strength, dexterity and balance.

I never thought I’d still be skating today, not to mention improving. I’m going faster than I’ve gone in my whole career, in part because the equipment has gotten better. The hills we’re racing are faster and steeper, too.

I’ve turned 65 and I’m racing against teenagers. At the World Skate Games in Italy last year, I came in third among U.S. women overall. Maggie Harrison, a 14-year-old girl I’ve been mentoring, was just ahead of me.

Working out has been key to my longevity as an athlete. Barbell lifting is key for bone density and balance. I deadlift over 200 pounds. I’m helping motivate 40- and 50-year-olds. Mountain bikers and snowboarders send me messages that say, “Just saw your video. You made me realize I could keep going.”

My biggest fear is burdening my kids when I get older. My mother had dementia, and now my father has it. That has motivated me to stay active. I may race against kids now, but I still feel like a kid myself.

People ask me whether skateboarding isn’t too dangerous at my age, but I figure I could get hurt walking down the stairs. I’ve tripped over stuff and fallen on pavement. At least when I’m on my board, I have protective gear on. —As told to Gregg Segal

Graphic designer Judi Oyama, 65, of Aptos, California, has won two Slalom Skateboard World Championship titles.