Default Sidebar

[Rio Ohki]

Scott Learns to Skateboard: 5

Does anyone remember the second ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film? Can you even remember the title, off the top of your head?

Didn’t think so. We all loved ‘Curse of the Black Pearl’, and ‘World’s End’ was amazing, but the second one? It was a lull, it was filler, it was a drawn out plot progression with few treasured moments. Nobody got married in the middle of a swordfight, nobody turned into a zombie. Not a line of dialogue was spoken that could be quoted in the pub. This is what is happening to my skating, and it’s making it bloody hard to write about.

In truth, I’ve not had much time skate this week. Given the long hours I work, I only get a chance to skate on my days off. This week, they were eaten by a funeral and a job interview. While I do like the image of a suited skateboarder, the aforementioned events are not ones that you can skateboard to. Also, I only have one suit, and I’m in no position financially to buy another if I ruin it.

In the limited time I’ve been able to visit the skate-park, usually after work if it’s still dry, I’ve found that, like that second Pirates’ film, it’s been a slow and steady progression. Every failed trick is getting inches closer to completion. The complex mechanics of throwing my weight forward, backwards, up and down, are slowly starting to break past the barriers placed there by Higher Physics. I might not be looking good yet, but at least I’m starting to stop looking so out of place.

I wish I could say the same for the guy who was practicing his ‘free running’ in the skate-park. While this is in no way a bad idea, I would politely ask that the guy wear underwear next time, or wax, his choice obviously.

This aside, the only other observation of note is the way in which the skate-park differs depending on the day you visit. Most days, it’s people old enough to skip high school. Try a Sunday, and you’ll see 4 year olds in the bowl on scooters. This brings up a moral dilemma. Yes, it’s their skate-park too. Yes everyone has to learn sometime. Yes it must be difficult to co-ordinate at that age oh for GOD’S SAKE WILL YOU JUST GET OUT OF THE FUCKING BOWL!

Ahem. Yes. It can be quite a sight to see a line of pissed off skaters who want to use the park, but can’t as there’s someone’s child in the way. I wouldn’t say the child itself can be blamed (and I say this as someone who despises children). It would be quite unreasonable to expect someone barely in primary school to be entirely aware of the fact they’re in the potential path (or line if you want to use the proper terminology) of other skaters, but it’s a pain in the arse, or more in the back of your mind, as you can’t help but feel guilty for it.

Happy Skating.
Scott.