Togetherness November 17, 2007

If you’ve read anything about women who skateboard, you’ll know that for each person skateboarding means a multitude of things.

For some it’s their meditation, or their chance to bond with friends, or an opportunity to push themselves or any combination of these and many other things. For me it really depends on the day as to what it is, but anytime I am at the park with my family it’s a good opportunity to bond with my children and share something we really love to do.

Being in a sport that really focuses on individualism, my kids and I certainly don’t skate hand in hand. My son is usually over at the big bowl dropping in the deep side trying to do something new and daring. My daughter is often zipping through the parts of the park she likes or challenging herself to go higher and higher in the vert ramp. I’m usually pushing myself to do just one new thing each time we are at the park even if it’s small. We do our own thing.

That being said we are there for one another to cheer on, sympathize through the falls and have a good laugh. There is nothing better than showing my children that I learned something new and having them cheer me on, and vice versa. Our time at the skate park is not just about what we do as individuals, but rather a time for us to share, bond and enjoy one another’s accomplishments.

As my children grow older and move into being teenagers, I can only hope that this time together is something we can share. Even when they want their distance the skatepark and the sport of skateboarding will allow for that. Skateboarding will always be what I need it to be personally whether that’s flow, challenge, or meditation. I can only hope it is also always a chance for me to spend time with my children.

—Smoooochie in CO

Just cruising November 9, 2007

Skateboarding has always been a touchstone for me. I got my first skateboard at age 10 (long, long ago) and spent much of my time with my best friend, Denice, cruising around our neighborhood, acting like we were surfing the waves of Waimea as we zoomed down freshly-paved asphalt streets on clay wheels and solid wood decks with no grip tape (that’s what the gummy soles of our Van’s were made for, ya know).

So even now, when I get on my board, the feeling of happy days return.

Maybe that’s why lately I’ve been far more interested in just…skating. When I got back into the sport in 2004, I caught the bug to learn new tricks, to drop in, etc. I hired seriously awesome pro Kim Petersen to coach me for a few sessions.

But somewhere along the line, I either got restless with the mechanics of it all, or too chicken to push myself, or…something. And suddenly the urge for a long strip of smooth asphalt crept back into my consciousness. I began hankering for pure, unadulterated F-L-O-W, the feeling of zooming, the essence of skateboarding, the touchstone of my happy childhood.

I salute and cheer for all who push their limits, learn new tricks, inspire us, amaze us, and are somehow not swayed by slams (or the fear thereof!). I’m thrilled that there is now a body of women to show the world what we can do on a skateboard. And I’m happy as hell that I can watch from the sidelines, applauding all of you for taking risks big and small, while I go back to an earlier time and just…zoom.

Later skaters!

–Barb, pictured above with skate mom Karen, enjoying our post-zooming buzz after skating the hills in Newport Beach, Calif. on a foggy November day.

Courage. November 5, 2007

 

 Skatemom Ji, rock to fakie, in California.

“Courage does not always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’ ”  — Mary Anne Radmacher

What will you do today? November 1, 2007

 

Skatemom Jean from Arizona, doing what she loves most in Mexico

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” — Eleanor Roosevelt