Me first.I used to want to be somebody in the world of skateboarding. Then one day I was listening to some of the typical mindless conversation your group of average skaters participates in: "Oh, that guy sucks in real life ... That dude has totally funky style ... Isn't that the same hubba Eddie nollie nosed? ... Muska is so lame ... That kind of skating is weak ... So-and-so already did that on a bigger rail." I listened for several more minutes as these quiescent quiescent at rest; latent; the G0 stage of the cell cycle. little teens delivered their snobby snob n. 1. One who tends to patronize, rebuff, or ignore people regarded as social inferiors and imitate, admire, or seek association with people regarded as social superiors. 2. judgements on other skaters and types of skating with finality. Talk about disgusting. Talk about revealing. These sentiments reveal the fact that skateboarding as a haven for the free-thinking intellectual has long since passed, giving way to a lame middle school playground mentality. Listening to these annoying kids got me thinking. And now I implore im·plore v. im·plored, im·plor·ing, im·plores v.tr. 1. To appeal to in supplication; beseech: implored the tribunal to have mercy. 2. that you, too, must do some thinking here. Do you actually want to be somebody in the world of skateboarding today? Every single trick that you do has a motive. What are those motives? Impressing the camera? Or others? Dropping the ever-coveted "hammer?" And why is that? What's the point of doing it? It doesn't matter who you are, because everybody from Joe Poser to Muska will have people saying crop about them. Do you really want to break yourself and work so hard only to become the object of judgement by a room full of kids who can't do half the tricks you can, and whom contribute next to nothing to the body of skateboarding? If you seek anything other than fun, fulfillment, progression and new spots with friends--you are diluted. You have become an impure im·pure adj. im·pur·er, im·pur·est 1. Not pure or clean; contaminated. 2. Not purified by religious rite; unclean. 3. Immoral or sinful: impure thoughts. person. Early this morning (7:30 am) I skated with a guy named Neil at the local skatepark A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment for skateboarders, bmxers and aggressive skaters to ride and develop their sport and technique. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, handrails, trick boxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, stairs, . Neil inspired me more than any pro, magazine interview or video part ever has in my life. The reason why is because he was playing on his skateboard. We seem to have forgotten that skateboarding is play, AKA fun. Neil was completely free from the pressure to conform. He could care less about what kids today call "busting out." As for all of the 12-stair video rat race, he was a non-contender; therefore, his skating was so pure and unadultered. Animalistic an·i·mal·ism n. 1. Enjoyment of vigorous health and physical drives. 2. Indifference to all but the physical appetites. 3. The doctrine that humans are merely animals with no spiritual nature. would describe it perfectly. All animals play. Displaying his own homegrown home·grown adj. 1. Raised or grown at home. 2. Originating in or characteristic of a locality: "Rock is homegrown music in the United States, evolved from blues and country and Tin Pan Alley" moves while wearing regular clothes and a helmet, Neil completely violated every unwritten law Unwritten rules, principles, and norms that have the effect and force of law though they have not been formally enacted by the government. Most laws in America are written. The U.S. of coolness that skateboarders impose upon themselves and each other; yet, paradoxically, by doing so he was truly being a cool person, in my view. Cruising along the park with a SMILE on his face, he was an individual, something most skaters used to be and something that skaters of today pretend to be. It's not in the bought fashion, kids! He did moves, not tricks, and they were selected for no other reason than that he felt them. He cruised fakie Fakie is, in skateboarding, a synonym for riding backwards on a skateboard. When used in conjunction with a trick name, like "fakie ollie", it means that the trick was performed while with your normal back foot as the front foot on the nose of the board, rather than the back of the manuals keep-on-trucking style for days. He caught some airs out of the quarter pipes. He ollied off the bumps and tried flipping his board. He manhandled loud powerslides and took a few slams. He caveman 50-50'd the park handrail that is over 10-feet long. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Neil was older than my dad was; my dad just turned 60. While conversing later with Neil, I realized that he didn't follow skateboarding much. Upon futher reflection I realized why. Skateboarding should follow him: Rudy Barzorda Ventura, CA There is nobody older than 60 who can ollie. Period T-ed |
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