My mom.

Have you ever thought how different our lives would be if someone didn't have the crazy idea to attach a 2-by-4 to rollerskates? I can't imagine what I'd be doing right now if I didn't skate. Some people think I'm crazy when I count a set of stairs or tell them how perfect their pool would be if it were drained. During school I think about skating. I even dream about skating. "One man's trash is another man's treasure;" that saying is true. A junkyard could be heaven to me because I could make a bunch of setups. I appreciate people that encourage my skating; whether it's a security guard, a shop owner, or my family and friends. Nothing ticks me off more than skating a mile to a spot hoping to film a trick and getting kicked out before you warm up. How much damage could I cause kickflipping a set of stairs? If a skater gets hurt at a spot, they won't sue the place where they are skating. Some people just do not understand that. Almost every time somebody sees a skater and they automatically assume they're a bad person, but I keep my grades up and make good decisions. The true skaters out there don't vandalize property. Concrete does not break when someone ollies off something six feet high. We really just want to skate around and have a good time. Skateboarding is and isn't a crime. True, it's illegal in most places, but inliners won't get in trouble for rollerblading in a no rollerblading area. That's one of the many things that will just stick with skating for a long time.

Chad Kwiatkowski

Scottsdale, AZ

Skateboarding will always be a crime.--T-ed