SKATEBOARDERS RULE!

     Skateboarding has been around for a long, long time.  It has been through an interesting evolution over the years.  When my father (who is 80 years old) was growing up during the Depression years in South Bend, IN, he and his buddies would create various inventions out of items stolen from the dump.  They would attach wheels to pieces of wood and ride their devises around until it either failed or they fell one too many times.  My husband and I grew up with the metal skates that attached to your shoes, pogo sticks, and plastic skateboards that looked like mini surfboards on wheels.  Each generation - in pursuit of cheap thrills – while challenging the laws of gravity. 

     Now we have a generation of youth, who’s same pursuit for a cheap thrill from a piece of wood and some wheels, has evolved into it’s own culture.  Their love for skateboarding goes far beyond the physical experience – it is an avenue for personal expression, art, and spiritual freedom. 

     Most days of the week and every weekend, my home is a hang-out for skateboarders.  It starts with my son, Zach (Ritz Bitz), L-Duke, Benny Boyz, and the youth that have access to our street.  If you live on our culdesac, you have become accustomed to the rails, ramps, skateboards, cameras, props, kids, spotlights, etc., in the street as you work your way home.  If these kids are not skating, they are negotiating rides to the skate parks, or they are creating skate videos, designing logos and board designs, watching skate videos, or reading and talking about skateboarding. 

     Now, I am not immune to the “image” that many people have about skateboarders today.  I have heard the comments that skateboarders are trouble makers, law-breakers, rebels, long-haired punks, disrespectful potty-mouths – you name it, I’ve heard it.  I have even had people pre-judge my son, before ever meeting him or knowing him, based on the simple comment that he is a “skateboarder” or the fact that he has long hair.  I might be biased, because we are dealing with my own child here, but I see way beyond the maternal bond to a generation of youth who are finding themselves – just like my husband and I did, just like my own father did.  I have the blessings of being able to see beyond the stereo-types, and look into the lives of our youth for the unique individuals that they all are.  I see SERIOUS PASSION in their skateboarding, I see creativity, I see imagination, I see DRIVE and DREAMS.  And, I am blessed to be in the company of some really interesting young people!

     All I can say is – embrace and support our youth in their pursuit to experience things, find their passions, express their imaginations, and enjoy this gift of life!     SKATEBOARDERS RULE! 

      If you are a skateboarder, know a skateboarder, or are parent to a skateboarder - I buy used and broken skateboard decks!  A BUCK A BOARD!  I make unusual and unique furniture out of them as my way to express the PASSION of skateboarders and to represent them in a unique way.