Slomo: The Man Who Skated Right Off the Grid | Op-Docs | The New York Times
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 มี.ค. 2014
- Dr. John Kitchin quit a medical career to pursue his passion: skating along the boardwalk of San Diego's Pacific Beach. He calls himself "Slomo."
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Slomo: The Man Who Skated Right Off the Grid | Op-Docs | The New York Times
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I never thought a man on roller blades could make me question what I'm doing with my life
As a Rollerblader I know what he means, maybe you Rollerblade too....
Why didn't you?)
He’s the man! Love the dude! I skate on the boardwalk all the time and we would talk! He’s really a nice guy doing what he loves! That’s the meaning of life man, do what you love, but work hard for it too.
I've been asking that question for 30 or more years.. I just got the answer..
Why? He's rich enough to do it. Most people aren't. Thus the 40 or more hour grind.
"cheering for one person that got away, that escaped, and got the real freedom where he skates all day.... he's simply doing what he wants to." - Slomo
Amen brother, much love.
I'd do this too, with a skateboard, if I had the cash.
Ditto
@The Beezer You missed my point.
The camerawork is amazing. Asside from the fact that it's about an awesome dude. Anybody realize that? The shots they use are like. Daaaang
The photography is on point..
The
end roll out is the best...
Dolly shots, cool angles and lighting
Yeah I agree 100% massive camera skills such a artist
Michael Oxner yes, the way the hi 5s match the music 👋
I passed this guy rollerblading on Mission beach once. I was also rollerblading. I didn't know who he was at the time, but he struck me as either insane or high. I was envious.
You're envious of somebody you perceived to be insane or high?
@@saldivarmr look at his smile hahaha if we’re not as happy as him and he’s functioning... who’s crazier
@@saldivarmr Smooth brain
@@saldivarmr 😂
@@saldivarmr he was high with feeling of godliness, not of intoxicants, and this was attracting ..this light in him
I get him 100%. I love this cat and his attitude, but make no mistake; he has the financial means to be able to live like this. Most of us simply don't. Good for him, though.
Yup. He had the means to retire into this lifestyle. Living in Pacific Beach is not cheap and most people would have to work full time just to afford the studio apartment and still be able to eat
@@aaronartale Yeah, the fact that he was an MD lets him do it in PB. But most people could do this *somewhere* if they were determined.
Dear Matt, I think you should see this, and not think so much about material things ... th-cam.com/video/LSlz7gc1LNU/w-d-xo.html
Fernando Damian like...food?
@@fernandodamian5887 Even the subtitles didn't work. I understood nothing. I stand by my original comment.
every couple months I come back to this Slomo video to keep me in the right frame of mind
very good idea. this is my first visit. i will be coming back often. is slomo still skating?
Same XX
I was just telling my wife about this Op-Doc last week on our way to vacation in Pacific Beach, and then Slomo skated by right as we got to the boardwalk. Still going strong. He's clearly on to something.
I love the part where he goes into the science of being in the zone, being part of Earth, and that feeling… this is real talk if you skate, bike, surf, race cars, or whatever. And I even cried near the end. WTF! Gotta respect someone who saw that he was part of the matrix and reinvented it to make a life of his own.
I cried too... I felt so VALIDATED.
Me too - I'm going to skate now!
🤙🏼🙏🏼🤙🏼🌻
Everytime I ride my bike and motorcycle I think about this video so I come rewatch every few years!
Love ur comment
My family and I had the privilege of talking to him on the San Diego boardwalk. He was a very kind man and incredibly intelligent man and a wonderful soul. He actually remembered us from past visits, and took time aside from his day just to talk with us. It was amazing to hear his views on life and a pleasure to talk with him.
Dear Algorithm, thank you for sending me here. This is exactly what I needed to see at this exact moment.
I lived in Pacific Beach for two years and saw Slomo from day one. I thought he was a lunatic but I was surfing and biking and he was always skating. He always shined, pure happiness. I think what he says is that whatever you do you can reach that special feeling where you know you are home.
This man has lived, seen it all, had it all, and learned what true happiness is. That is something beyond respectable.
If you tube only had one video…this is the only one it would need.
Long live Slo mo!!!
OMG, I first saw Slomo 5 years ago. He gave me a peace sign. I saw him again a few days ago and I gave him a peace sign, which he reciprocated. What goes around comes around. I can only hope that I have that much peace and clarity in my life at his age. XO
Great to hear that he is still around and skating!
What the world needs: more people doing things to be happy/contended, and fewer a-holes.
He didn't lose his vision, he found it!
amen
Equivalent exchange.
Beautifully put!!
th-cam.com/video/7gUh8j5ui0o/w-d-xo.html
Bingo!! We all need to get this back🙏🙏🙏
2 summers ago I made a trip from Massachusetts to San Diego to find him. I show this video to my students every year and talk about what happiness is. I gave him a shout out as he skated by me. Told him that my students loved him.... he turned back and pointed at me. I may go find him again this summer
That is so awesome for you to share this perspective with our future leaders. It's so important they see this. 🤗🤗🤗
“Gentlemen, we are ready to skate.”
Amen.
Goosebumps. Tears.
Very similar to my story... I had it all; a three-level luxury townhouse, brand new Boxster off the showroom floor, a ski house, my own lucrative business, working whenever I felt like it, taking three month holidays every year. Then I had a revelation and a direct connection with the Divine and gradually I gave it all away for the spiritual life and pure freedom. I will never go back to that life. I am a completely different person... transformed on every level.
I cant tell if this is a joke or not...
The only joke is being fooled into thinking life is about work, consume and die
Slomo: Crazy, over-friendly skating guy
Also Slomo: Highly educated, insightful gentleman
DOES NOT COMPUTE
The inner child in us all patiently awaits and seizes every opportunity to be the kid we were in our younger years, i.e. to have fun, be happy, and enjoy our lives.
@@tmb2226 why do we try so hard to silence them!
@@girabbit I think we squash our inner child unintentionally as we conform to the expectations and norms of society, and then we forget how to play like a child plays. Work and responsibilities take over our lives and further silence our inner child. The man in the video set his inner child free.
If anyone is wondering. He is still out there doing great. 8/30/22
10 years later and this video still lives rent free in my head. Watching this 10 years ago shaped a lot about how I think about life, what I value, what I want from it, and what I place emphasis on. Thanks Dr John "Slomo" Kitchin.
Proud to say Slomo was my homie he did one of his portraits of me, was in one of my videos and we must've slo-mo low fived a hundred plus times. One time he described my character and was spot on. He told me that Slomo was the spirit that took over his life and that everything he did was to stay in the "Zone". I told him "the zone takes care of its own" and he really liked that. I'm glad more people can see this amazing man!
Every day I walk down the boardwalk and high five Slomo is a good day
Wow..... I cried at the end of this video. I skate everyday too, I feel you man. “Do whatever you want to do, follow your passion”. that’s exactly what I need.
Love this guy! He’s out on the boardwalk everyday and just gives everyone high fives! Always smiling!
Bailey Ann Freeman where at
Watched this back when it first was uploaded and after all those years he had it right.
"In all due modesty, I believe I'm flying."
Skating is awesome. The story is awesome. But the videography got me the most inspired. What a piece of work, loved the time lapse at the airport!
this man speaks what's in my heart. i want to break free as well!!!
Always wondered who he was. Now every single time I will be seeing him, I will watch him differently. Great guy.
I like to come back and watch this... It makes me smile. Go on slomo
Alternate title: Guy has enough money to retire
Wondered if I was the only one thinking that. Doctor had enough money to retire early
newsflash: rich dude opts out of "the daily grind"
That's a heck of an assumption. It's quite possible he spent all his money on his expensive lifestyle and is retired on social security.
@@MsMsmak it's not unfounded as that is the narrative in the story as told. I wouldn't say it's an unreasonable assumption considering he's living in a million dollar beachfront condo in PB
@@nottheone582 I thought they said he was in a studio apartment.
I feel so lucky to have watched this video. Thanks to all the creators involved
I'm also cheering for the one who got away. That was a beautiful story, thank you for that. Godspeed Slom!
I have been smalltalking to John for years and I never knew his story. I just saw him yesterday. When I heard they did a documentary on him , my jaw dropped. I never knew he was a DR !
that was bloody beautiful. His face shows the pure ecstasy felt when gliding on blades.
Love that this video was in my recommendations just after I bought my 1st pair of inline skates this month at the age of 42. I’m just learning how now, but already it’s bringing me back to the joy I had as a boy quad skating all day & night long. I’ve also begun thinking it’s soon time to return to Cali after nearly 20 years in Brooklyn. This video put things into a whole new perspective & feeling inspired to imagine for myself the kind of life I desire. Bravo 👏🏾 😌
I was stationed in San Diego in the Navy from 2011 to 2016. Greatest time of my life. I remember Slomo! Everyone loved him and everyone would shout "Slomo!" When he rolled by. He was always a mainstay on Ocean Front Walk when I was there.
So grateful to have seen this video and to those who produced it. And Slomo for even sharing his story. Just do what you love, you never know when life can be taken from you
This is one of the best videos on the internet.
definitely the best skate video ...
This is the best TH-cam video I have ever seen. So well edited, so perfectly presented, such an inspiring story. Many thanks to everyone involved. I've watched it ten times since it came out; please never remove it. Thank you.
th-cam.com/video/7gUh8j5ui0o/w-d-xo.html
It's the New York Times, brother. Pros, they are.
@@ciarraibuzz #NYTimes Professional liberal propaganda media. The credit goes to the filmmaker
how can you give this a thumbs down.... the guy who broke away! love it!
ha, I've seen this guy tons of times and even got a high five or two from him. Glad to know he's not homeless...
Cool name bruv
It's amazing that he was in the fortunate position to follow his passion without having to worry about finance. Unfortunately that isn't possible for 90% of people. I wish it was though.
I saw him yesterday for the first time. Put a big smile on my face!! God bless him :)
Ileana Olmos in san diego
ive live in PB for two years now and never knew who Slo Mo was I would always see him when I would go to the beach and I would think that's a man who is doing what he loves and if I can do that when I'm his age I will be set
This is so inspiring. Thank you for a beautiful and important message. I've watched it 5 times already and sent it to some friends too. I'm figuring out what I want to do now - I hope to not have a bland, undirected, middle part of life. I hope to find something other than my job to live for. Thank you Slomo!
I always see slomo...he’s so slow 😂 I always pass him on my roller blades and say hii 😊
Can he stop very well? I also inline skate 🙂
He can stop well since he goes slow
@@norma1pers0n31 Maybe he goes slow, because he can't stop well 😅😅
I rollerblade also and I can definitely move along when I want to but I'm sure there are people who are faster than I am. Just as you are faster than he is. But who cares really? I think that was one of the points he was trying to make. All this competition stuff is part of being an "American a******." 😂 By the way, how long can you skate long distances on one leg like he does and steer around people the way like he does? 😂
Beyond inspirational. This man is a legend and the videography is perfect.
This man encapsulates perfectly what I have been espousing for years now... and my friends and family think that I am "Quirky"... oh well, but happiness is my constant companion.
Slomo is amazing!! Everyone in SD has seen him down at the Boardwalk! This is great work!
Brilliant! My husband and I rented a condo in Toronto for 2 years so we could inline skate every evening after work. Totally understand his bliss!
Dude got some serious skating skills.
Like seriously, that balance.
i literally see this guy every time i step foot on the boardwalk skating. just saw him this past weekend.
this guy speaks, my mind, whenever i put on my skates, i feel i'm in a different world, and there's happiness i can't describe or explain, it's really feels like the skates complete me and make me whole again
Just amazing, thank you for reminding us about real life. Stay happy Slomo you’re doing it right 🙏🏻
This guy is a true inspiration to all life enthusiasts
I learned so much from Slomo's story. You don't need to have everything in life to be happy. Narrow it down to the most essential things and life is simpler and better. Thank you for sharing his story.
Wow! This man is amazing.
I remember seeing him skate every time I visited Pacific Beach. I used to live in Tijuana, B.C. and visiting the beaches from CA to all La Baja is what I loved the most.
That feeling he projects from his mindset is what the beach causes me, the sensation of meditation and peacefulness.
Now that I live all the way to the South of Mexico, in Chiapas, I miss that feeling the beach provokes me. I live in the middle of the green jungle mountains in a small town, but the mindset of meditation happens a lot more often to me when I sit in my yard with my two dogs and just feel that cool breeze, hear the increíble amount of vegetation sing around and all the animals that live within the environment. I thank that, that and the beautiful blue rivers and lagoons.
I don’t know why didn’t I come around to look up for information about Slomo, always intrigued me. Thank you for sharing his life experience and helping me get a little bit closer to what I used to see and feel on the west coast ❤️ Love it! And I hope I can go back in the future.
13:28 killed me. "HELLO PURPLE. You're wearing purple." Classic.
I chuckled at that too. I guess because he can't recognise faces, he perhaps recognises some people by the colour of their clothing.
Beautiful to see a man who's truly woken up. I just came out of what feels like a lifelong depression, the feeling was overwhelmingly spiritual when I had this breakthrough moment. This huge weight came off me in an instant and I can say that I am a truly different person, the false me died in an instant. For anyone who feels like they don't really know who they are or what they want, do what you can to either see a therapist, or if you can't afford that, there's lots of great videos right here on TH-cam
Do you have specific video suggestions? TIA brother!!!
Amazing! Was there something specific that triggered the shift/breakthrough? Did you have any "spiritual" practice before?
I knew there was something about Slowmo, My eyes got watery when he said “they’re cheering for the one who got away”
🥺
What a powerful message. It sure is a good wake up call.
Absolutely brilliant. Was smiling from start to finish. There's a lesson we can all learn from this gentleman.
I often see Slomo skating & I always figured there is a guy that is enjoying life. God Bless.
Just another San Diegan
Skate on my friend
I keep sending fellow skaters to this video, and end up watching it again 2 or 3 times. Than you for making this, hoping to make it down to Southern California and skate with this wonderful man soon!
th-cam.com/video/7gUh8j5ui0o/w-d-xo.html
Lived in SD from early 90's. Skated and biked by the guy all the time! Awesome doc! Dude is 100% soul..
OMG ... This speaks to me on so many levels!
cheering for the one that got away...as a 46 year old man I feel that deeply
This right here is arguably one of the sweetest things I have seen on youtube and trust me I have seen a great many things. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you to the editor and all those involved with the realization and of this superb story. Bravo!
If someone runs into him on the street. Please tell him even though the family farm has been developed, they named a street after him. Slomo court.
oh my gosh! I cant believe someone else feels the same joy and zen like flying feeling that i do when i skate! This is why I skate and am so addicted to it. And it was interesting to find there is a biologic reason for it too. I just found a new inspiration. :)
Same with Onewheeling and unicycling here! 😋🙏🏼🤙🏼🤓
I get it on my motorcycle
I watch this video a few times a year. It makes me happy and in some way inspires me too.
Seeing a co-worker retire and then die within 6 months was enough for me to see the light. I left it all behind after 26 years and haven't looked back.
Freedom can be a scary place for those who have never been there, but in my opinion, it's worth the price of admission.
The number of "views" may be skewed a little...I've watched it 37,412 times...😍
It's videos like these that make you realize TH-cam doesn't have to be a waste of time
I don't usually buy into the whole "you don't have to work hard, just do whatever makes you happy" thing because the people who spread that message are almost always secretly angry, resentful, and unhappy with limited ability, and zero motivation...on the other hand, this guy was a doctor, and he's clearly a very capable person.
Just about brought a tear to my eye, I'm happy for him.
More people need to know slomo. He always puts a smile on everyones face ❤
I love this video! Makes me smile every time I watch it! Yes, this man made a lot of money and was able to leave his job and do what he wanted to, but a lot of us could do the same if we are willing to stop over consuming!
Holy Super Wonderful!!! What an excellent life example. Thanks John / Slo Mo & the NY Times 🙏
I love this video so much. I come back to it at least once a year to remind me of what's important
Just saw him the other day. What an inspiration :)
Ha I see this guy skating out on that boardwalk nearly every time I ride it, and now this randomly pops up in my yt feed.
He continues to wear that grin as he enjoys his time at the beach :]
Scientific Explanation of getting in the zone.
I loved watching this ... what he teaches makes so much sense to me. You can really feel his happiness.
Wonderful. I’m a hard core rollerblader. And I totally get this. And I truly understand what he’s saying about the feeling of skating in the zone of euphoria. What an amazing piece. Great job NYT!
"Hello Purple...you're wearing purple." The simple joy of seeing others, and saying I see you.
A great short documentary. So beautifully shot and edited. Thanks Slomo, you inspire me to get aligned.
I'm crying tears of joy ---- GO SLO MO !!!!
you made my day. You have lifted my spirit and you have given me energy to move on. My you live forever.
When I grow up I want to be like Slomo. Meanwhile, I keep roller-blading on weekends
How fortunate he was that he built a foundation for himself that he could just drop everything and start doing whatever he wanted. Unfortunately this isn't possible for most of us, unless we want to be homeless. I should have taken heed: If I could go back in time, I might have started off differently to give myself this kind of freedom in my later years. I also find it amusing that people view a man rollerblading in a blissful state and automatically assume he is crazy, high, homeless, or all of the above. Pretty telling of our society if you ask me.
Who is truly wrong wrong? the faster gazelle, the slower gazelle, or the cheetah? None of them. Capitalism is based off those natural system on the micro and meso level. Of course you need macro to be Keynesian to keep the filter fair. Although, throwing the entire structure out is like saying you’re smarter than natural evolution. I don’t think that’s the case friend.
@@lsheppard8996 Humans are not animals, we can change these things and not just throw our hands in the air in deference to the 'natural Law'. That's a fallacy and it's plain because we both are reasoning about it.
I used to see Slomo all the time in Pacific Beach and didn't know his backstory until now. Awesome.
Wow! What a moving short doco. At first I thought this guy was simple, but of course, things are not that simple, and it turns out that this is a simple person. I wish him to enjoy the longest glide ever.
I would see him all the time when I used to go to PB for a run, he was always there...Never bothered to stop him and ask him who he is, sometimes I would wave at him at him and he would wave back always with a smile on his face...
Brilliant man. Brilliant production. Congratulations to all involved. This really made my day/month/year/life.
This dudes been at it forever, I was in PB in 1999 and he was there on the blading groove then.
That’s awesome. Glad someone is living life to their maximum. Hoping I can find something that makes me that content.