Now that you know what it is…do you think you can do it?

     Imagine walking down a sidewalk and suddenly hearing the clicking of wheels against rough pavement, while from the corner of your eye a glimpse is caught of someone sailing past you on the street. More than likely with this description, a skater has passed you by. You watch as they carefully keep their balance while carving around obstacles with ease and grace, making the sport look simple to understand and easy to mimic.

 The very next day you dig out that old skateboard you were given for Christmas 10 years ago, and think that although you may have been horrible at it then, times have changed and you’re an adult now which means you act with poise and could just as easily navigate a small plank of wood with wheels. You step on the wobbling board and decide that perhaps the motto of “Safety First,” (Unknown) never hurt anyone and strap on a helmet. After acquiring and suiting up with elbow and knee pads from your younger sister, you proceed to gingerly step upon the slowly increasing intimidating board. Realizing that standing on the board is not such a difficult balancing feat, your use your foot to push off and experience the feeling of flying. Except the flying sensation is not the gratified feeling expected from riding the skateboard but instead from free falling onto the pavement. After picking yourself up and brushing the dirt off from your jeans you eye the innocent looking skateboard and remember why it was put into storage. “Perhaps, I am just not ‘Skater-Material,’” you mumble under your breath as you proceed to put away everything…

 Well, what if I told you that you are “Skater-Material,”?

 What if I told you that the skater seen cruising down the street, with poise and skill, started out with just as many incidents on their board? (Probably also acquiring even more bruises than they thought were sanely possible!)

 Everyone needs a starting point even if it isn’t always easy or fun. There can be nasty falls which result in road rash like you wouldn’t believe. But did the skater you saw give up? No, they persevered on! And that is what you must do, if you truly want to succeed.

 Technically this could be advice for more than just skateboarding, because the key to becoming “Skater-Material,” is to have confidence in yourself.

 Instead of getting angry because you fell, again, pick yourself up and be proud that you haven’t fallen the same way twice!

 As I start going into more details about the aspects of skating, it’s important to understand that the sport is something that helps to encourage people be confident and builds perseverance. Skateboarding wouldn’t be what it is today unless these character traits were first understood.

 Although this post may not seem like much insight upon the skating scene or offer advice on how to successfully complete a 360, having the right attitude before plunging into a sport is just as much a key element to succeeding in it.  

 

*All events mentioned are of a fictional origin. If you feel there is any resemblance to the author, please keep your snide comments to yourself.*  

(All watermarked "ThatSkateFairy," photographs are taken by the author of this blog.)