January 3, 2005

'Skating's ...about letting things out'

By Kristin Walp
Ashland Daily Tidings

August 9, 1997 - Many of them have 3.0 and higher grade-point averages. They aspire to be drafters, musicians and writers

They are the teenagers who hang out near Talent City Hall, and who are collectively referred to as "the skaters."

"We're not all the same," Talent Middle School student and amateur skater Mike Goldman said. "I'm not as bad as people think I am."

The group consists of various, and varied, individuals. Although most ot the teenagers gave similar reasons for skating - exercise, fun, social connections - their backgrounds and other interests are diverse.

Phoenix High School student and Talent Park and Recreation Commission advisory member Hayley Young does not skate much because she is involved in so many other things.

"I'm really just learning … but my boyfriend skates and a lot of my friends do. I'm a spokesperson for skateboarders," the soccer and volleyball player with a 3.5 grade-point average said. "(Skateboarding) is about doing something that you really like to do. It's a new sport."

Fellow Phoenix High School student Tanner Ellison said skating is physically challenging.

"It's about … good physical exercise, and the rush of pulling a phatty (cool) trick," he said.

Ellison and others resent the bad rap that skaters have."We wear baggy pants and chains, so people think we're getting high on pot or doing heroin and going out and beating up old ladies," he said.

Ellison's relationship with school has been different from Young's, although he too has a high GPA. Revered by other kids for his skill on the board, Ellison said he used to experiment with drugs and cause enough trouble at the high school to get "thrown out" (he burned a poster). But he said he is ready to go back to school now."I'm straight-edge (drug-free) now. I quit and got focused on my skating. When you're buzzed, you can't do tricks," Ellison said.

He will need to focus to achieve his short-term goal of getting a corporate sponsor.

It was clear that some of the younger kids look up to Young and Ellison as they talked about the rush of skating and why you don't need drugs to enjoy it.

Rheanna "Spike" Vote is a younger high school student who wears a black leather studded collar. She carries around a five-week-old kitten named "Columbia" that she recently rescued from neglect.

"Skating's really about letting things out … like how some people run," Spike said.

Her younger brother, Chris Vote, added, "It's not like basketball, where you're just aiming at a hoop. It takes skill to do the tricks."

The kids were all gathered at City Hall on Tuesday for their weekly planning meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission