A School for Skateboarders and the Next Generation...

Since moving to Arizona I have been blessed to fall into a passionate community of skateboarders. Kids That Rip Skateboard School is located in Mesa, AZ. Currently I am doing videography work and maintaining a blog for them. Click here to find out more about it. I have added the blog to our Link section as well, so you can visit anytime.

Top Things to Expect When you say "Yes!" to a Skater by Profession.

Part of a journal entry, this article was written back in March. I was inspired to write this piece when my fiancé e-mailed me -on yet another jobless morning- (after having moved halfway across the country to Phoenix), about possible summer work. Dug is a graphic designer/ ramp builder for California Ramp Works, and this company needed a girl skater for the summer. I could leave for 4 months, skate 5 times a week, 3 times a day for 150.00/ day. Not bad pay, but when you’ve literally just gotten out of a cast from a broken ankle, marathon skateboarding is not the exactly top on the list. At anyrate, it made me laugh to think about all the things I am signing myself up for come November, when we’ll actually be married. Here’s the list I came up with.

1. Expect a season or 2 of Community Living. In the past 9 months, since the time we’ve been engaged, I’ve lived with over 5 different people. Even when we moved halfway across the country, from FL to AZ, the spare bedroom was renovated to a Florida friend shortly after.

2. Your house resembles a Retail Store. I just removed a pair of Steve Caballero's used shoes left over from his runs at the Mega Ramp, this past ASR show. They were on display a top the television set- crossed and pointed toe. For now, I have given into the fact that there is no room for a designated space for the two multi-leveled skate racks, which hold boards of old-school and new, to dog pullin and the skate park go-to.

3. You’re along for a ride. Basically, if you enjoy kissing ass, then the sk8 industry isn’t for you. Until you’ve learned enough, met enough people, and payed your dues with the shade-buckets of the industry, this leaves you with one option- a long, unglamorous journey. Fortunately, I got the tail end of his journey… I think.

4. Life is untraditional as a skater, and because of this, society is typically against you from the get-go; equipped with mental and physical stoppers. Hopefully, you learn you’ve got nothing to lose by trying...but everything if you don’t. When Dug told my parents he wanted to marry me, my dad refuted him with nostrils flared, and continued to tell him he was sure I’d say no. Dug responded, “I’m a very patient guy, and will wait a little bit, and ask her again if she says no.” I said Yes.

5. He'll make butter out of cream. Skaters are hard workers, and resourceful by nature… just look what they turn skateable. When Dug got laid off, he still managed to uncover a perfect job for himself in the middle of this lame economy. He did this by looking at what he had available, and making the most of it. On the flipside, now it is my turn.. dang it, I hate when tables turn:)

6. He’s had a go-ahead of a business. I think this is a necessary on the humbling journey of work experience, for life to get you where you need to be. But you will long live with the t-shirts and stickers from the glory days.

7. You better enjoy being a masseuse or physical therapist on the side.
Probably the truest of the list…skaters are always injured. Your nights become
accustomed to “ooh!” and “aaw!” as you accidentally hit your partners new shin
abrasion, swollen ankle, or scab. Backs are usually an issue as well. If they are
builders, even truer. For us though, it means they love our soft touch even more!
So if a dude with softer hands and prettier skin than you comes your way, proceed
with caution, because it means he’s never worked a day in his life, and probably is
going to be a bit of a baby.

8. Life is fun and full of love. I know that this guy has more love for me than anything because he kisses me mad, stays up late to listen to my concerns, and never fails to answer my phone calls. These past 4 months have been a test of our strength and have found that Dug is a master at keeping his head on straight in uncertain times (much better than me), won’t give up in hard times, and most importantly won’t give up on me (of course this works both ways). Because hey, hasn’t every skater met the bottom, in their pursuit to live out their heart. And with that being said, maybe that’s why we get along, because, shit, “This is the only lifestyle we've known.”

Hmm… sort of a weird number to end on, but that’s what I had written in my trusty notebook.

Skateboarders: Entertainers of Not?_ Red Bull Demo at Art Insitute

For all the future builders of skateparks out there, here is a behind the scene look at what it takes to set up a demo-course. Even the small events come with hard work.

What was important to the CA Ramp Works Team (Dug, Rueben, and Travis) on this day, was that the Red Bull skate demo was to start around 2pm at the Art Institute in Costa Mesa, CA. What this translates into is hauling a skate course by trailer from Mesa, Arizona, the previous day and making one stop in LA at their sister warehouse for an additional piece- a gigantic quarter-pipe. Despite the awkwardness, Reuben and Dug man handled the ramp up onto the trailor. Next stop- La Quinta Inn and Suites.

6am- wake up call. Assembly begins. The course was up before noon. Red Bull's Event Manager, though pleased with the course, showed some concern over her main rider Jeremy Rogers. I guess he was "on his way".




















Dug and I decided to "test-skate" the course, as it is hard to just look at a skateable piece. The crowd thinks Dug is the show and starts taking pictures. He ollies over me, as I sit on the edge of the fun box (speaking of- I need to find that photographer).

3pm- the first Red Bull rider shows up. Though instead of skating he lingers around, timid to skate on an injured ankle, and unmotivated without his teammate.

4pm- Jeremy finally shows. No sign of skateboard. He asks for food and drink, and proceeds to walk around the course. His teammate has found a few lines without him. Complaints and excuses begin to spill from his mouth as if he had this planned even before he showed... something about the course being sketchy and a waste of his time, besides that he had a rap career he was trying pursue, and the Art Institute event seemed to offer no aide to his current or future career. Interestingly enough, he didn't seem to mind talking to the camera crew there:)

5pm- demo is over, and we head to the VIP bar. After we return, the course has turned into seating for the coming fashion show.
9pm- people start to clear out. The ramps start to come down.
11pm- stop at Hooters for some grub.

Next day- we return the quarter pipe and drive home.

Needless to say, Jeremy Rogers was not the only one who seemed to be inconvenienced that day. As much as I'd like to say that fame has gotten to his head, making him self-seemingly above skating something that is absent of national coverage (hate to tell ya Jeremy- you may have been on his show, but you aren't Sheckler- and I don't think anyone in that audience would have known who you were anyway). On the otherhand, it would also be easy to say that how Jeremy reacted was really just the true skater at heart- unconsciously saying to himself- can't I just skate without an audience anymore? But, the reality is, when he signed that contract, he signed up for the entertainment industry. So, on that note, I'm sure we've all had a case of the pre-madonnas, and even the once humble, unnoticed skateboarder isn't immune to it anymore.
To hear more about the art event click here, or go to dirtcityzine.blogspot.com.