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7.21.99 Our World An old woman leaves the supermarket, groceries in one hand cane in the other. She staggers toward a blackened curb and gingerly steps off. She takes a few more steps, then suddenly hears the most horrific sound come from behind. She spins around to see a teenage hooligan skateboarding in the very place she had just vacated. Fearing for her life, the old woman quickens her pace and makes a B-line for her car. This scenario I'm sure plays out across America as we skateboarders seek to coexist with society. The problem is that society cannot coexist with us, because they don't understand why we flock to curbs, stairs, and concrete. For us it's easy. Concrete = Terrain Terrain = Fun The more one searches for new terrain, the more one will develop the "skaters eye syndrome". The main symptom which accompanies this condition is the inability to see common infrastructure's intended purpose. Sound confusing? It's really not. As we drive through a given neighborhood our eyes scan the surroundings for anything that might be skatable. The sight of handrails, curbs, stairs, gaps, ledges, planters, parking blocks, embankments, and drainage ditches triggers a pleasure center in our brains. Our blood pressure rises, the hearts beat faster, and our bodies tense. If we are driving with other skaters action must be taken. "DUDE!" Fingers point towards potential terrain. "Pull the @&%#!%* car over! We have got to skate that!" We can also tell if the spot is quality or not without even leaving the car. Lots of black wax is a sure sign the spot has seen a lot of traffic. Colorful handrails are key indicators as to whether or not a given handrail has been slid. Black Wax and chopped up curbs tell us the spot has probably been around longer that we've been skating. And insane terrain with little wax means the spot must have tight security. Of course it you are not with other skaters depression can set in as you drool over the passing terrain, or cry as you run your hand down a battle scarred handrail. You may make note of the spot for a future rendezvous. If this is done the spot will be on your mind, chewing on your unconscience. You may never return, but the spot will stick in your head for quite awhile. Even if one quits skating, he/she will still view the world inconsistently with the rest of society. Curbs are not dirty. No, that's wax for the purpose of sliding and grinding. That handrail is wobbly because some crazies thought slapping a crooked grind on it would be fun. And those are skate stickers grazing that no parking sign. These things which mean so much to skaters don't even get noticed by everyday people. They live their lives oblivious to urban infrastructure recreation. So, when you get strange looks from passerbys you will better understand why they feel that way. You are disrupting their view of the world. A curb should only have one use, and you are endangering their well being by misusing that curb. Just nod and whisper something like, "man I hope I never end up like that." It's our world, let's keep it that way. |