The Skaters at the Rink

I walked through the park and saw the skateboarding rink. There, a group of young men were gathered to perform tricks and stunts, to engage in he sport that was to them their passion, and to engage in a sense of camaraderie. Grabbing their skateboards, they went through the ramps and the twists and turns which predominated through the skating rink and skated through them.

A wide range of people were there. Several of them skated upon one end of the rink while others skated on the other end. A couple stayed on a corner, standing or sitting, chatting about numerous things. While I could not hear the words they spoke, I did assume that they must have felt a certain sense of joy in expressing their passion, their work, in a language that could be understood.

Skateboarding, however, is unique among many sports in that the element of rebellion plays a major role in the sport. There exists a culture among skaters that emphasizes individuality and a desire to break away from the confining bonds imposed by societal figures. Skaters as a group tend to be fiercely individualistic, and highly committed to fighting against any threat that may arise to their sport.  Within this spirit of rebellion, many different groups of people make their home.

As I walked, I saw two skaters sitting in one corner. One wore a shirt, while the other did not. At that moment, they chatted, and it seemed as though they had not a care in the world. They did not fear getting hit by other fellow skaters, they did not care for the attention of passers-by, they did not care for glances, they only cared about the conversation with which they engaged in.

Throughout the skateboarding area, many of the skaters present there were shirtless. As they skated in the summer heat, sweat glistened off their backs. Even among the skaters, there were different types of people. Some of the skaters were bearded, others were not. Some had long hair, while others had short hair. Some had tattoos, while others did not. Some wore shirts, and others did not. In spite of these differences, they were united in their love of skating.

In that passion, little else mattered to them.

As I left the park, I stared at the group of skaters one last time. At that moment, I knew that there was something in those skaters greater than the mere act of skating.

For them, the joy comes from the feelings that result from skateboarding- the adrenaline, the high, the rush of energy that soars through them each and every time that they skate. It is that rush of energy that makes them willing to sacrifice a great deal- the dislike of non-skating friends, family members, and members of the community as a whole- in order to enjoy that high. At that very moment that the high occurs, nothing else matters.