Students are trading in their bags for skateboards and pushing to the skatepark.
Kaiden Haas (12) has been skateboarding for five years, looking to turn every street rail or ramp into a moment for self-expression.
“I didn’t practice tricks very much for the first two to three years of skating,” Haas said. “I was just skating around town, plus the skate park.”
Haas says his goal for skateboarding is to keep getting better.
“I skate for myself mostly, but it’s also nice to hang out with my friends while skating,” Haas said. “Learning how to do tricks takes practice and patience, making you push past your limits.”
Haas says skateboarding can be expensive, and you usually spend over $150 on a decent complete skateboard.
“I just got a Zero board recently, but I used an Opera board in the past. They’re pretty good,” Haas said. “I don’t really care too much about wheels; they don’t affect riding at the skatepark much.”
Hass says typical challenges skaters face include falling and knowing a limited number of tricks.
“Skateboarding can be a workout, and I have lost weight while doing it,” Haas said. “It teaches you to keep getting up and trying.”
Haas enjoys landing new tricks and performing them for other skaters.
“One of my favorite tricks is doing an axle stall on a quarter pipe,” Haas said. “I love skateboarding because I get to do it with my friends.”
Gavin Timmerman (12), who has four years of skating experience, says skateboarding gets a bad reputation, but not all skaters are the same.
“I think back in the day, teenagers were more rebellious,” Timmerman said. “That stigma has kind of carried on to current days.”
Timmerman tries to skate as much as possible and learn new tricks.
“One of the worst parts of skating is slamming into the ground after failing a trick,” Timmerman said. “Little kids at the skatepark sometimes almost run into you or block obstacles while you’re skating.”
Timmerman goes to other skateparks around Iowa, going to Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.
“I enjoy exploring other parks with my friends because every park gives us new obstacles, ramps, and experiences to enjoy together.”
