I think most people who know me on a personal level know that I ride skateboards. I don't ride them as often as I did. But I still ride them when I have the time. I started back when I was in the sixth grade. I remember my first board was a Sims with blue Bullet wheels. One thing I quickly learned in riding skateboards is that there was a respect with each other. Most of the skaters I skated with (I won't say all, because there were some definite a-holes. As there is with everything) would look at and help others that weren't as good as you. I will admit, there were tricks I could only do back in the day because a fellow skater would take the time and show me. And vice versa. I remember one time back in the day I had never skated a bowl before (well properly). Jeff Phillips Skatepark had just opened up. At the time, I didn't know Jeff personally. But during one lock in ( for those that don't know, a lock in was where kids would stay the night at the skatepark. Essentially being locked in) Jeff saw me struggling with the bowl. I couldn't quite get carving the corners. But after his advice, I was carving with the best of them. Would even rail slide the entire end of the bowl.
But like I said there was the occasional a-hole that would pop up. Someone who would get frustrated at a kid that was maybe just starting out. That didn't know ramp etiquette. Maybe taking too long getting off the ramp or snaking someone, or even being on the ramp at the same time and running into someone. Now I will admit, back then, some of the anger was warranted. Now there wasn't any violence or anything. Just a lot of yelling. Especially when their inexperience could cause harm to someone else. It would start with just telling them to wait or don't do this or that. But they didn't listen and someone would end up getting hurt. I will be lying if I say that I didn't get upset from time to time. But I would also try to help as much as I could. Sometimes they have to figure it out themselves. Sometimes (like everything), proper guidance goes a long way. But the ones that would actually listen would gain the most. I know it did for me.
A few years later Jeff started allowing roller blades and bikers into the park. Now that's an entire other can of worms. I remember one time at Jeff's a biker was on the spine and he didn't land the trick. Bike went flying in the air almost taking out everyone on the deck. Then it falls down the transition and the pedal just shreds the Masonite up. Back in the day from what I can remember, bikers, bladers, and skaters rarely mixed well. At least from my perspective it seemed that way. But like I said, that's a different story. I've seemed to get off topic.
Most skaters were always supportive of each other. Which is the way I think it should be. Why shouldn't you be? You like the same thing. Every skater learns from each other. In my opinion, you should always try and help those who aren't as good as you. It reminds me of a time many many years later. Actually ten years ago, my son and I were skating a free city skatepark in Dallas. It was made from that weather proof material. To be honest I don't know the name of it.
But anyway, my son and I were skating that day. When we got there, my main spot was the mini ramp. I go and get on the deck and wait my turn. There was a little kid there, maybe eight/ten years old. He would put it board up on the coping and then take it off. Put it on, take it off. He looked scared shitless, but he really wanted to do it. We were like just go for it little dude. If you fall, get up and do it again. That's how you learn. It won't hurt forever. You got it. He backed off, stood back, and said you can go.
So I started talking to him and walking him through the process. Put this foot here, put this one here and lean forward. But not too much, just kind of balance yourself out. So I said just like this. I dropped in fast, grinded almost the entire mini came back the other side and grinded the entire thing as well. As I was coming back down the transition, my board fish tailed and I flew the entire length of the flat drilling my elbow into the other transition. I jumped up immediately, hopped on my board and dropped in again. I got through and waited on the deck. Elbow hurting like a mofo ( I didn't tell him that).
I'm talking to my son and we notice that he puts his board back up on the coping, thinks for literally a second and drops in. The look on that kids face. Absolutely priceless. And it made it all worth it. Afterwards, I got to looking on the coping where I fishtailed out. Apparently some kids that were there before us sprayed something on the coping and it dripped down the ramp. I thought my elbow was just bruised so I didn't go to the doctor straight away. It was a bout a week later, when the bruising started spreading. Long story short, I broke it.
But even though it hurt like hell. It gave that little kid the confidence to accomplish something he was scared to do. Which IMO is awesome. Does he still skate? Who knows. Will he remember that moment? No idea. I know I will. But long story short, always try to help those who need it. In any capacity. Will this one thing change the world? Hell no. But we all need that boost of confidence once in a while. Now get out there and skate.
