A Balanced Lifestyle: Questioning the Status Quo | James Kelly | TEDxSonomaCounty

For the last decade James devoted his life to his passion, downhill skateboarding. During this time, he traveled the world, accomplished his dream of becoming a world champion, made unforgettable friends and memories, all while having his perspective of life, community, and empathy changed forever. Unbalanced dedication gave him his balanced perspective and ability to influence our world. When James Kelly graduated high school in 2008, he was well on his way to reaching his dream of being a professional longboard skateboard racer. He spent the next decade traveling the world competing in races on every continent. He was the 2012 International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) World Champion of longboard racing. A superb athlete and ambassador to the sport, James traveled to Lebanon in 2015 with UNICEF and a philanthropic group called Right to Play. He visited refugee camps and introduced children to skateboards. He returned to Europe and started Skate United - a US nonprofit that holds skateboard sessions in refugee camps in Europe to promote assimilation of refugee children into their new culture and to promote acceptance and equality. James has retired from longboard skateboard racing but remains active in the longboarding community. He is currently designing a limited line of signature boards and new adventures on the horizon, James Kelly style! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@Landyachtz]

Right on James! 👏👏👏

[@vinicioquiros7275]

Keep on You too, Landyachtz boys. The best lonhboard brand. Cheers from Costa Rica! 👊👊

[@donclaudiobranzuelabsin]

Skated with him at the VLT trilogy 2015 in the Philippines among with other pro downhill skaters around the world that I looked up to during that time, namely Patrick Switzer, Liam Morgan, Byron Essert, Roger Jones and our very own Dandoy Tongco and others. It was my best skate trip experience. Lots of good memories. Special thanks to Harry Clarke now one of the Kings of DH skateboarding for giving me my dream board a loaded tesseract. With that experience I have reached my highest potential in DH skateboarding, the sacrifices I have made just to follow my passion was all worth it. So thank you for this awesome community (that still continues) of skaters for the camaraderie. GOD BLESS Y'ALL!

[@SkateEveryThing]

James IS the MLK of Downhill!! Love the message, finding balance takes pushing to the extremities of one's self.

[@davidbubier7733]

Someone save Rick.

[@hugofernandez2633]

You are totally right James! Damos gracias! hermano! Greetings from Valle Hermoso-Lima-Perú.

[@amuriamaral]

Inspirador de mais essa mensagem. Afinal onde estará o real equilíbrio quando todos nós somos cegos em relação ao todo? Pode ser que uma vida intensa e "desequilibrada" em busca de sonhos faça parte de um arranjo maior na harmonia do universo.

[@MrDanielHawes]

Well done James!

[@yancolroyce6884]

wow esto es muy importante k buenas inspiraciones james kelly te amamos saludos desde peru

[@DHSkate]

Killin it James!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@gerdrums1]

I know that guy in Bogotá, I'm from Bogotá, I know even he's struggling, he'd been able to travel and do a lot of things, on the other hand, I've never, I feel so frustrated because of what you said, my family, it's my anchor to not dive into my passions, I hope to take some strength and do it

[@subhodeeppal4054]

Its sad when people feel suffocated because of this. I hope you get to live your dreams someday buddy.

[@fireballs1000]

Shakas brah, 🔥

[@TriumphAventura]

nice one James

[@bmazzuia]

Life is not fair and for those able to clearly visualize it, that’s terribly painful.

[@KABOBkabob]

someone get this man a teleprompter

[@guidoarena8924]

Be balanced. Be humble. 🛹⚖️

[@alexanderbmjones]

Smelly Kelly keeping it real.

[@Googoo123450]

I was really hoping he'd discuss his pet peeves.