MAX CHERARAK · OLD SKULLZ × RISE & GRIND
The terrain.
The mindset.
The pleasure of progress.
I am Max Cherarak, skateboarding coach and mental performance coach. I help you understand your movements, build your confidence and move forward with guidance that suits you.
I founded Old Skullz Skateboard in 2008 and Rise and Grind Coaching. I bring sporting experience, teaching and mental preparation to your practice, from your first attempt to high-level ambitions.
Children, teenagers, adults, competitors · In person or remotely, depending on your project.
Skateboard
in coaching
through sport and coaching
which feed the method
01 / AN EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY
Max Cherarak:
from hardship to passing on experience.
My story also begins where everything could have ended. Injuries, rebuilding and competition have profoundly changed the way I support people.
The shock, then the search for meaning
As a young adult, a serious accident brought me face to face with the possibility of losing my life. After leaving hospital, simply returning to my routine was no longer enough. I needed to understand what mattered, what I wanted to build and what place I wanted sport to have in my life.
Reconstruction through the movement
I found answers in effort, consistency and learning. Serious injuries also forced me to give up some sporting goals. Sport helped me rebuild my life, find direction again and turn those ordeals into a strength in my work as a coach.
Swimming took me to the French championships. Skateboarding taught me creativity and perseverance. In Tahiti, my experience at Teahupo’o challenged me in terms of commitment, preparation and adaptability.
What I take from it is that fitness and technique don’t tell the whole story. Confidence, attention and how you handle difficulties matter too.
Sharing as a common thread
I founded Old Skullz Skateboard to pass on what I know. Since 2008, the school has brought together children, teenagers, adults and experienced skaters, giving the same attention to everyone's technical and personal progress.
From professional sportsman to entrepreneur
My career as a professional athlete and entrepreneur has taught me rigour, discipline and responsibility. I've supported more than ten champions: that experience at the highest level informs the guidance I adapt to each person, whatever their goal.
"Learning a trick is good.
Max Cherarak · The spirit of Old Skullz and Rise and Grind
Learning to believe in yourself and to get up,
it’s a strength you carry everywhere.”
02 / EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
Max Cherarak, qualified skateboarding coach.
A practice that continues to evolve.
My background includes more than seven diplomas and qualifications. I keep studying to build on practical experience gained across several disciplines.
Coach and share knowledge
- Skateboard · French state diploma in sports instruction, obtained in 2008.
- Swimming · French state diploma for swimming instructors (BEESAN).
- Surfing · Surf Coach & Instructor, International Surfing Association.
- Diving · Level 4.
- Complementary course · Bachelor’s degree in applied foreign languages.
Get more in-depth support
- 2024Optimization of movement
Better observe movement preferences and adjust instructions.
- 2025Organization and strategy
Structure your goals, steps and practice habits.
- 2026Mental preparation
Léon Marchand & Thomas Sammut training course, featured in my Rise and Grind background.
Continuing education complements my coaching experience. The references to Léon Marchand and Thomas Sammut describe that training journey.
03 / FOUR DISCIPLINES, ONE PERSON
A comprehensive approach to sport coaching
applied to skateboarding.
Each discipline has taught me something I can pass on in a different way, whether on a skateboard or through mental coaching.
Swimming
I grew up in the water: the kilometers, repetition, breathing and discipline of the pool. It taught me consistency and the importance of structured preparation.
Surfing
The wave forces you to observe, choose and adapt. Teahupo’o shaped my relationship with commitment. Qualifying as a coach allowed me to pass on that experience.
Skateboard
Freedom and creativity drew me in. Seeing someone achieve a movement they thought was beyond them still motivates me. I qualified in 2008 and have never stopped teaching.
Diving
After the surface, I discovered the depths. Silence, pressure and self-control taught me another way of being present. I hold a level 4 qualification.
04 / MENTAL PREPARATION AND SKATEBOARD
Mental preparation with Max Cherarak.
For an enriched skateboarding experience.
For me, an enhanced approach to practice combines technical learning, mental readiness and listening to your body. You also train the cues that help you use your technique at the right moment.
When fear takes over
We identify what’s holding you back: speed, height, a past fall or what others might think. Then we build manageable steps and confidence cues suited to your level.
When you think about too many things
We choose a clear intention, one focus point and a simple routine. The aim is to make your action easier to understand without piling on instructions just as you set off.
When the stakes rise
Mental imagery, breathing and preparing a routine can support you in a competition, at a new spot or with a movement you already know. You develop these tools through practice.
When an attempt goes wrong
We take time to separate facts from judgments: what worked, what still needs to be understood and the next adjustment to make. You leave with a clear direction for what comes next.
Prepare the movement and how you approach it.
- ObserveYour line, speed, control of the approach and what's causing the hesitation.
- PrepareA low, suitable obstacle, a useful cue and, if it helps, mentally rehearsing a familiar movement.
- TryProgressive attempts, filmed if necessary, with breaks and only one adjustment at a time.
- Review your sessionControl of the approach, the quality of your cues and what can be reinforced.
Mental preparation complements technical learning here. The difficulty stays suited to your skills and how you feel that day.
05 / MY HANDS-ON EXPERTISE
Max Cherarak: three pillars
to support your progress.
If life is a film, you're the hero of the story. My role as a coach is to help you prepare for the action: observe, adapt, support and advise.
Understand your skating
Learn, progress and master your movements with tailored exercises, useful video analysis and instructions you can put into practice.
Build your reference points
Build confidence, understand your fears and learn to direct your attention. Mental preparation tools connected to situations you actually face.
Prepare to last
Take your movement, fitness and recovery into account. Adjust workload and difficulty to support sustainable practice.
Mindset · Technique · Body · Health. Four dimensions considered in personalised coaching, with suggestions adapted to your situation.
In concrete terms, how do we work together?
- 01Take stock
Your experience, your goal, what's holding you back and your availability.
- 02Build a plan
Technical, mental and physical steps consistent with your project.
- 03Experiment
Exercises, video feedback and pointers to use between sessions.
- 04Adjust
Observe progress, adapt the difficulty and develop your autonomy.
06 / BEYOND SKATEBOARDING
Rise and Grind Coaching.
The same high standards,
in other settings.
I created Rise and Grind Coaching to extend this support into mental preparation: confidence, attention, handling pressure, clear goals and useful habits.
Sport has shaped my experience. Today, I also adapt that experience to the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, teams, teenagers, parents and creative people.
Old Skullz Skateboard remains your place to learn and improve at skateboarding. Rise and Grind lets you take your mental training further and apply it to other important moments in your life.
Explore Rise and Grind Coaching ↗“High performance
through well-being.
Never the other way around."
Clear direction, practical tools and support that takes your circumstances into account.
Discover my mental preparation method ↗Read about my approach to training in mental preparation ↗07 / THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY
Max Cherarak in pictures.
Sport, adventure and passing on knowledge.
Travel, challenges and creating images are part of my story. They shape the way I observe and share what sport can teach us.
08 / WELCOME TO OLD SKULLZ
A committed community.
A human experience.
For me, skateboarding is a place to build confidence, self-esteem and personal growth. It teaches you to persevere, make decisions and appreciate the progress that matters to you.
Old Skullz brings together a close-knit community, a space for self-expression and a structured setting. Respect, listening, good humour and the joy of learning all have their place, whatever your age or level.
If you are looking for more than a camp, you will find an experience led by a professional, passionate and caring coach.
Explore courses and Skate Camps ↗09 / WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING YOUR COACH
Your questions about Max Cherarak
and his support.
Who is Max Cherarak and what is his background?
Maxime “Max” Cherarak is the founder of Old Skullz Skateboard and Rise and Grind Coaching. A qualified skateboard coach since 2008, he combines more than twenty years of coaching experience with mental preparation and practice across several sports.
How does mental preparation complement skateboarding?
It helps develop confidence, focus, ways of handling apprehension and preparation routines. These tools connect to real situations: approaching a suitable obstacle, preparing for a competition or keeping a cue after an attempt. They complement technical and physical training.
Is it suitable for adults who are starting or returning to skating?
Yes. The coaching starts with your experience, ability and fitness. A child discovering their board, an adult returning to skating and a competitor have different needs. The steps and instructions are chosen accordingly.
What is the difference between Old Skullz and Rise and Grind Coaching?
Old Skullz focuses on skateboard teaching and coaching: lessons, courses, camps and video analysis. Rise and Grind goes further into mental preparation and support for sporting, professional or personal goals. Max Cherarak founded both approaches.
Can I get coaching remotely?
Yes. Remote skateboard coaching is based on your videos and practice feedback. With Rise and Grind, mental preparation sessions can take place in video conferencing. The pace, exercises and follow-up procedures are defined according to your project.
10 / YOUR NEXT MILESTONE
Let's talk about your project.
Let's build your next step.
Lessons, camps, coaching, video analysis, ongoing support and mentoring: finding the right format starts with a conversation about your needs.
Develop your skating
Support to learn, return to skating, work on a trick or structure your progress. Online or in person, depending on your chosen format.
- Courses for children, adolescents and adults.
- Courses and Skate Camps for a group experience.
- Personal coaching, video analysis, follow-up and mentoring.
Deepening mental work
Confidence, pressure, concentration or direction for a project: an initial conversation to understand your situation and identify the next steps.
Support tailored to athletes, entrepreneurs, teams, teenagers, parents and creatives.
Request your free 45-minute session ↗Explore Rise and Grind coaching options ↗
Avignon, Provence, Hossegor / Capbreton area · Remote support depending on your project.
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