After years of abusing their bodies, most skaters eventually ask
themselves, "Is it really worth it?" My answer is a loud, "Oh
yeah!" And below I've compiled a list of abilities skateboarders
acquire over time. Give it a once over, and I'm sure you'll agree
they all come in handy at one time or another....
1. Ability To Cope With Pain
Part of the learning process of skateboarding is falling on your ass.
Remember the very first time you stepped on a skateboard? If you
stuck with it for long enough, and/or get reasonably good at riding,
you're going to be paying dues. Most skaters I know have at least
one broken bone to their name, not to mention the numerous less
injuries that plague our kind. Whether it's a persistant swellbow, a
broken toe, a knee blowout, or a head bongo, if you can't take the
pain, you won't stick with it for long (and consequently won't be
reading this...)
2. Ability To Make Friends In Other Places
If you've ever taken a road trip for any length of time, you realize
what a valuable skill it can be to be able to show up at some
dumskee town's pitiful excuse for a skatepark, exchange a few
words with the locals, and wind up with floorspace. This also
works the other way around. You should always be willing to help
out skaters in transit because you never know when the roles will
be reversed. If you ever have too much trouble finding
somewhere to stay, you'd better face the fact that you're probably
just a squid.
3. Ability To Deal With Cops
Being able to size up a "situation" before it turns into a "problem"
is key, but when the law appears, you'd better know what to do or
say. A 300-lb porko will never catch an agile skater, but if
surrounded by Rambo look-a-likes, with no outs, you'd better
figure out that a bit of politeness might get you out of a
ticket/fine/jail. Security guards, however, are usually wannabe
cops that have failed and therefore have a chip on their shoulder.
They deserve no respect at all and should be abused accordingly.
4. Ability To Detect Prime Architecture At A
Distance From A Fast Moving Vehicle
It doesn't matter if you're going down to the hardware store with
Pops or going to the drive-in with your date, Suzy, skaters are
always scanning the region for new or overlooked architecture.
5. Ability to Rage Harder Than Most
Who's always up latest having fun, or, as others see it, causing
problems? Who can drink more beer than a roomful of armchair
quaterbacks on Superbowl Sunday? The answer is obvious and
may have something to do with the fear of severly getting screwed
with if you pass out...
6. Determination, Gumption, Wherewithal,
and Ability To Find What You're Looking For
Whether you're the Screaming Lord, himself, going up in a
helicopter to find the latest batch of pools, or a random rat
crisscrossing side streets and back alleys in search of the bank that
a friend of a friend's brother's girlfried thought she saw, innovation
and determination are key charactoristics.
7. Ability to Appreciate Style
Whether it be laughing at a Steve Schneer frontsize air or gasping
in awe at Chris Miller or one of Rune Glifberg's tailgrabs,
skateboarders know style. Finesse will always be a style subject,
but will so many others like pool playing, cigarette smoking, and, I
swear, I even heard someone talking about style after watching a
traffic accident.
8. Ability To Go Higher, Bigger, Farther
Never satasfied with merely adequate, there's always another
level. Progression is a staple, and life is boring without it. Even
mudane things like jumping off the diving board at the local
swimming spot become events unparalleled. (see #1)
9. Ability To Laugh In The Face Of Danger
Faced with at Bronto-gap, or a 15 foot pool, someone's gonna do
it. All it takes is overcoming that fear, taking the extra push, and
going for it. This may also explain why I've seen some of the
scrawniest skaters get the better of gorilla-neced jocks during
altercations. Take it as a blessing.
10. Ability To Bear Inhuman Circumstances
Try taking a road trip for longer than a week, packing up a car
with skaters, and skating continuously for days, often without a
shower, proper diet, too much beer, and not enough sleep.
Situations that would make a green beret wet his pants are easily
overcome by the hardy breed of skaters.
-wez clemore
I hope you enjoyed that genious essay from the SkaPunkSkate page.
