The Modern Skateboarder

When I was growing up, the kids who were skating were the social outcasts and badasses of the area. They were doing something wicked difficult and dangerous that the rest of the population was completely against. Authorities and preps and squares around the nation shook their fists unanimously at the punk bastards who tore up the area on their boards. It was the ultimate rebellion.

Things are different today. Cities are building little skate parks and communities almost seem to endorse the sport. It's a sport now, for crying out loud. Remember the preps and squares I mentioned? They are skating.

Skating is no longer about rebelion, no longer about a dangerous and thrilling expression of yourself. It's cool now. Parents and authories are not only in favor of this outlet, but encourage it through purchasing pads and building little local skate parks.

Dave Carney has said for years that the art of boarding is dying, and the evidence is blatantly there today, staring us all in the face.

I find myself stopping the car when I see a group of kids skating. I roll down the window (unless it is already down) and I shout out of it. "Get a job, you filthy bums!", "Learn a real sport, asshole!", and "Skateboarding is for pussies!"

I like to think that they get all pissed off and are like "fuck that guy!" and start shredding the fuck out of the park in an effort to prove how wrong I am. I'm just trying to do my part to return the "sport" to its roots.