In my year away from school I learned a lot about transportation. I conversed with motorcyclists for the first time. I bought my own truck. I learned to change air filters and give rides to people who couldn't afford a cab. One of the most fascinating to me, was being introduced to skateboarding.
I'd never had much interest in skateboards. That was, until I found out you could use them for distance and not just for tricks and show-offy things. A friend of mine had a house we all hung out at. His skateboard was always in the corner, although I'd never seen anyone ride it. It was oddly long and mysterious. One day I finally asked about it. My curiousity had gone mad wondering about this strange but familiar object. No sooner had I asked than the whole gang had organized a skateboarding trip to the nearby state park.
"It has a bad trail you can ride on. It's smooth and goes on for a good 4 miles."
The thought of riding a 4-mile trail on my first try scared me quite a bit, but my friends assured me I'd be fine and told me to wear old jeans so if I fell I wouldn't tear my knees up.
That scared me even more.
Needless to say, the next day a group of five of us drove up to the mountains and began our journey.
Rule number one of skateboarding is, sometimes you gotta bail.
Sometimes you gotta bail? I asked.
Yeah, there are going to be situations that happen and all you can do to get out is bail. Like...fall off. But don't worry, you may have a scrape or a bruise, but then you just gotta get back on.
Okay, so what's rule number two?
My "instructor" laughed and said that was all the rules he'd heard of for longboarding.
Longboarding is what made the board different, I found out. It was a special type of skateboard used for distance riding, not for tricks like I typical saw teenage boys do. I was told that longboarding was more relaxed, better for traveling and very popular in the beachy areas of the world.
Cool. I liked the sound of that, so I stood awkwardly at this long, black board with wheels.
What do I do now?
Hop on and go, girlfriend.
I was slightly confused. I had read no instruction manual and had been given one very vague rule to follow...how was I supposed to just "go?"
After the other four people assured me I'd be fine if I just went for it, I put one foot on the front of the board, facing it straight forward with the length of the board, then I hopped a bit and placed my back foot almost in the a like position.
One of the guys stopped me immediately and pointed out that my front foot needed to be at a 45 degree angle with the board and my back foot needed to be laid across the width of the board, to stabalize me.
I had snowboarded before so I somewhat understood this, however it still felt extremely awkward.
After gaining the proper stance I made a small kick and went a full two feet. Scared but excited, I looked around to hear everyone telling me to try it again but a little harder. So I did. I pushed a little harder and went a little further and caught a bit more adrenaline. The five of us pushed a little ways and I was thrilled!
Then we came to a curve in the road.
Ahh! What do I do? I hollered out in panic right as I jumped off my board and sent it sailing in front of me at full speed.
Needless to say I eventually got the hang out it, and before the end of the first two miles I was feeling pretty proud and confident of myself.
I guess one good trip was all it took. From then on I was hooked. I started skating here and there around my neighborhood and working areas. By the end of the summer I was heading back to school and I needed a good way to get around campus in a short period of time. I knew I was getting a skateboard.
So I saved up every cash tip I got for several months; carefully putting each dollar into my envelope labeled "Skateboard." Pretty soon I had a little over $100 and school was beginning soon so I began my search for the perfect beginner board. I asked friends and online chat rooms and the experts online at "TheLongBoardStore.com." After weeks of advice and contemplation I decided on a XX" pink and black Sector 9 board. The front had a small pink "9" on it and the back was pink wordage and simple. It was a shorter board in the longboard category, but this fit my needs and my budget so I ordered it and eagerly waited for the postman.2 weeks later I was walking through the apartment looking for a remote or something. My cousin walked in the door with some of our friends and the door had remained open for a second. I looked up in time to catch a glimpse of the UPS man with a long brown box. Instantly I jumped over the couch shouting words of excitement like I had been waiting for the package my entire life. The delivery guy chuckled and I asked if it was my skateboard in his hand. He said he had no idea but I could sign his electronic device and find out if I wanted to.
Within 5 minutes I had that sucker ripped out of the box and ready to hit the pavement. Our small group of friends gathered outside to watch and laugh as I showed off my very limited but exciting skills.
I rode my board every day for the entire semester, over 3 miles to school and back each day. Every time I rode I made a new friend or gained a different kind of respect in some weird way. I enjoyed the pace, the ease and the adventure.
There's something lovely about skateboarding. Something about it that you don't get from other types of transportation. A certain feeling of freedom fills my heart as I sail down the road. It's what I'd imagine flying to feel like. On a board you are constantly propelling forward with effortless power, not the powerless effort we so many times find ourselves in. It's a symbolic reminder that when we let go and quit trying so hard, life will take us where we need to go. We don't have to control and force and push and shove, just relax and ride, man.
Longboarding isn't about showing off and proving yourself. It's about embracing the spirit of independence with humility. One step up from walking, and a step behind a motorcycle. Longboarding captures the free spirit within each of us. Carefree posture and an offset stance allow rythyms of positive energy flow through the body without so much as blinking an eye. The slight waverings of the hips achieve balance on the board and a release of tension in the mind and spirit.
I love longboarding. It clears my head in ways that running and walking do not. I feel empowered and carefree all at the same time. It fits my style and connects me with a different group of individuals. And it is the physical symbol that life goes on, whether we want it to or not, and regardless of our actions, sometimes you just gotta bail. But always, always, get back on.
No comments:
Post a Comment