Skater youth "rip" at Teen Center

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin High
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  From free spirits and mohawks to grunge and graffiti, skateboarding has evolved through the years. It has not always had a positive name and is still prohibited in many areas, but this non-traditional sport still remains as popular as it was 50 years ago.

Skateboarding was developed to recreate the feeling of surfing. It originated in California and was known as sidewalk surfing in the early days, but is now common all over the world.

Not even cold weather has managed to stop the trend from growing. Due to the development of indoor skate parks, even a place as cold as Alaska has a skater subculture.

Professional skateboarders, like Tony Hawk and Rob Dyrdek, made the culture trendy by performing in skateboarding demonstrations like the one hosted at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Feb. 12.

The event was hosted by the Teen Center, located in the Arctic Oasis, for JBER youth.

"I wanted to put on a skate demonstration for the teens and the smaller kids as well to see what actually is possible with hard work and dedication," said A.J. Brooks, JBER Teen Center teen coordinator.

"These tricks don't come easy. It comes with being a positive influence and working hard in the skate park. You don't have time to go out and be a negative person if you're putting in a lot of work. The kids see that it's definitely a positive influence for the smaller generation to see what's possible also."

Parents and friends showed up to support almost 30 participants who dared to try the tricks and flying stunts.

"I love it. It's fun to see him growing up doing something I loved as well, like passing the torch," said Air Force Master Sergeant Sean Nelms, 773d Civil Engineering Squadron, as he watched his son Matthew compete.

"Of course as a parent I worry, but I'm pretty confident in his abilities and his discretion."

The participants ranged in age and experience. Donovan Campbell, age 12, has been skateboarding for a little more than a year and is already considering a career in the sport. He hasn't been skateboarding as long as most of the contestants, but his dedication drove him to win in the beginners group.

"I just felt like I could show what I could do and felt like I was good enough to win," Campbell said.

Not everyone agrees that skateboarding is a positive sport for youth, but aspiring professional skater Christian Sallee, age 17, say he thinks: "If kids take it in a positive way, it's not all about being a rebel and out doing bad things. It can be influential."