Sunday, August 5, 2001
[LIKE TRY?]
Practice, patience are
keys to skateboardingBy C.R. Dudley
cdudley@starbulletin.comSkimming along a smooth, open run of clean pavement or jacking up big air on a half-pipe, skateboarders reach for an individuality in their moves and lifestyles.
The bumper sticker says, "skateboarding is not a crime," which is true, unless the skater is where he's not supposed to be. There are a lot of places skaters are not supposed to be.
But at the ramp park next to the H1 freeway in Makiki, skaters are free to flip, kick and fly at their leisure. There are many parks and ramps on Oahu specifically built for skateboarding.
Driving to a park and stepping on a skateboard is the easy part. Staying on a skateboard takes practice.
"Just like surfing, skateboarding is something you have to do on a regular basis," Waimanalo skateboarder Sam Clemens said. "It's not going to happen overnight."Clemens, 28, has been skateboarding since before second grade.
He rides for Natural Concepts, a local skateboard and accessory manufacturer, and 808 Skate, a retail skateboard store in Kailua.
The individuality starts early. Skaters are forced to stumble, fall and roll along in the early stages by themselves. Few people look as uncomfortable and awkward as a beginning skater and few sports take more skin and lead to more stitches and broken bones than skating.
"I would suggest that a new skater get a helmet and pads," Clemens said. "It's great for a beginner. Some of the skate parks also require them. "
Clemens works at Beach Services for the Outrigger Canoe Club and also takes children canoe paddling for the City and County's Ocean Recreation Department. But skateboarding is his main love.
"I've always had a skateboard around me. My uncle was a surfer when I was a kid in San Diego, so I've always been influenced by the whole surf and skate thing," he said.
But skating doesn't require a family history or even an interested friend.
"You're talking around 100 bucks (to buy a skateboard), maybe a couple dollars more," he said. "And then we would send them on to the skate parks. When you get better, you can get some higher quality equipment."
First, figure out which foot to put forward. The best way to do that is to simply step onto the board without thinking too much about it. Your body instinctively places itself in the most comfortable stance.
Getting started
What: Skateboarding
Where: Skate parks throughout Oahu
When: Hours vary
Information: Association of Skateboarders in Hawaii, 263-5603
In addition to the Makiki park, there are public ramps in Hawaii Kai, Waianae and Ewa.
"There's a good skate park on Hickam Air Force Base if you can find someone to get you on," Clemens said. "And the Aala Park ramp is in construction right now. It's going to be a good one.
"Then there's the whole street skating thing. A kid can skate into downtown and find spots everywhere -- ledges, handrails, curbs. But for a kid who is just starting, I'd suggest the parks. You're not being hassled by cops or people telling you you're on private property."
Once the skater has achieved a certain level of competence, he or she can enter one of the many contests that are held around the islands.
The Association of Skateboarders in Hawaii (ASH) was started by 808 Skate owners Chuck Mitsui and Suzan Kanzic. ASH sponsors several contests held on portable half-pipes and street-like obstacle courses.
The contests are held as a series. Points are awarded at each event, and at the end of the year, champions are crowned in several divisions.The contests and skate parks supply a legal venue for the sport. Clemens said skateboarders get an undeserved bad rap.
"Skateboarders are looked at as people who are loud and always banging stuff up. We're not really liked by the community," he said. "We're trying to show people it's a family sport. We've been lobbying to get skate parks built because there's nowhere to skate. They don't tell us where we can skate. They just tell us where we can't skate."
Clemens acknowledges that skateboarders look like they're into something bad, with the baggy clothes and funny haircuts.
"But skating teaches you discipline," he said. "To get good on a skateboard, you have to be patient. You also stay in shape. It's a full-body work out."
Clemens asks anyone getting started to be conscientious.
"Don't just go out and destroy property," he said. "I think that if more people realized that skating is the kind of activity that requires the kids to stay off of drugs and keeps them out of being in gangs or doing graffiti, then they would support skating more."