“Skateboarding gives me something to do with the feeling of accomplishment when I do a new trick,” said Salinas native John Richard Ramos.

Picking up a skateboard and heading out to the cement terrain of the skate parks is gaining speed.

Skateboarding is not a typical mainstream sport that is widely celebrated. In fact, it is somewhat of a rebel sport that is unconventional and ever-changing. Skaters are typically chased out of public settings and forced to build ramps and rails at home or convince their cities to build and expand on existing parks. Throughout Monterey County and Santa Cruz County, 11 skate parks offer a variety of obstacles, from rails to bowls.

The parks are somewhat scattered throughout the counties and to pick up a little variety, some travel is warranted. Most local skaters don’t seem to mind the ride all that much, if it means they can nail a few tricks and hang out with some friends. “The park near Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the best, though,” said Hartnell college student Will Livingston. “It’s a sexy park.”

Kids from Marina seem to like to skate Los Arboles Sports Complex. They seem to like this skate park for its nice bowl with plenty of grindable obstacles.

“It gets addicting, and I am pretty good at it,” said 11-year-old Shelcon Harris. “I like to go on the weekends and after school sometimes.”

Many of the kids like to gather at the park. They are into challenging one another to try something new, and nail it.

“My favorite trick is the kick flip, and I am working on the heel flip too,” said 14-year-old Andre Heath.

“I like the ollie,” said 11-year-old Dominic Fernandez.

Skateboarding also is a mode of transportation.

At CSU-Monterey Bay, students can hop on their boards and skate from class to class.

The campus does not allow tricks or offer a park, so students are opting to grab their long boards, to arrive on time.

“I like long-boarding around the school,” said CSUMB student Adam Pinterits. “There are so many hills and curves to ride around on.”

Beyond the main campus, there are many paved roads near Fort Ord State Beach that have some nice hills to really pick up the speed. The dunes are steep enough and offer a fast-paced rush for the avid long-boarder.

By all appearances, skateboarding is contagious.

“I go skating mostly every day when I am done with school work,” said Orlando Garcia who is 16 years old. “The impossible is my favorite trick, which is a wicked kick flip-like trick.”

It’s more than just the obstacles that draw the kids in; it is the culture created on the cement tops of the skate parks. There is a sense of sportsmanship and competition within the parks.

“It is fun just to skate some and get together and hang out,” said Hartnell college student Anthony Rivera.

Many times, it is watching other skaters that inspires the daring to pick up a deck and give it a try.

“Learning to skate feels good. It makes me want to learn more tricks,” said Isaac Raboport, who was once a spectator. “I am learning the basic kick flips, ollie and heel flips. The vibe is contagious; I was lured into skating after watching one good session with my friends in middle school.”

Choices are to be made when grabbing a deck to go hit the skater’s playground. The Patriot Skate Park is in Greenfield; King City, has the San Antonio Park. Monterey has El Estero Park Complex; Los Arboles Sports Complex is in Marina. Salinas has two parks — the Natividad Creek Park and Salinas Skate Park. Farther afield is the Hollister Skate Park. The Santa Cruz Skate Park, Derby Park and Watsonville Skate Park are all relatively close to one another.

Kristen Leal, a student at CSU-Monterey Bay, in The Herald’s outdoors columnist. She can be reached at kristin.leal@yahoo.com.

[ Monterey County Herald ]