THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE – A MIXTURE OF EMOTION, MOVEMENT AND SELF-CONTROL

Kristina Paytasheva

Enormous platforms, jumps in the air and too much adrenaline are the key words, characterizing the skate park maniacs. This is comparatively new for Bulgaria fashion, but it is not so new for the rest of the world. The skaters maybe already got tired to skate at level surface and they decided to climb upwards in the height, where the speed and the emotion are very strong.

THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE

Roots of the skate park subculture
The name of this type subculture comes from the words “skateboard” and “park” and these are young people that perfect their skills with the skateboard, making difficult pirouettes on big platforms, especially made for this kind of sport. In USA exist as public, as private skate parks, but in Bulgaria the situation isn’t the same. Not only that almost or quite there isn’t private, but the public are a few. Abroad the first parks appear in the 70s, but they become especially popular in the end of ХХ century. The platforms very often are a work of the skate park maniacs them selves that make all alone their frames, they skate on.

To become one worthy member of the skate park subculture man has to observe some simple rules of behavior, when he stands at the skate platform. Here are the steps...

The droppingin
Leaving aside the pleasant emotion of the skating, it has to bear in mind the fact that the dropping itself is not so easy. Skate park specialists affirm that learning to drop in is maybe one of the hardest things to master in skateboarding. Not because it takes so much to skill, but because it takes a lot of will and guts. However, if you are going to learn to ride at the skatepark or at a ramp, you will need to learn to get comfortable dropping in on your skateboard. If you are brand new at skateboarding, you'll first need to get comfortable with skateboarding around the park, along the ground, and over transition. This is because once you drop in, you will be riding very fast, and you'll need to feel comfortable with riding and guiding your skateboard.

 

THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE

Checking out of the ramp
When man gets for the first time at the ramp it is good to skate at the bottom of the ramp. After this it is necessary to be made one or two shakings to be realized the gradual transition between the low and high. It is very important for the skating person to be convinced that he is with helmet before the making of this exercise. The messing up while dropping is a „great” way to smack the brain case very cruelly, that will allow him do not skate never again. For this reason it is obligatory the use of helmet. If man isn’t used to skate on such kind of surface, it is very important at first to get used to it, before to start to drop in. The feel of concrete, wood and metal are all very different when skateboarding and for that reason it is very important to be mastered namely the habit to skate at different surfaces. The different wheels of the skateboards are destined to different surfaces. Because of this reason it is very important for the skater to know where he will skate to choose the suitable type wheels. Although if he has decided to skate at ramp and also in the streets, he won’t have problem, because in this way he will feel more sure at the skate, learning to skate at different surfaces. When he is feeling confident at the bottom of the ramp, he could raise at the top and to start to skate.

THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE

Setting of a line
In Bulgaria such kind of ramps is a rarity, but abroad they are big and presuppose at least three directions of motion. Standing at the top of the ramp it is very important for the skater to look down and to see where he will go to in the process of the dropping in. For the beginners it is good to be chosen such kind of direction that allows longer skating at the flat part of the ramp. This will help them to master the primary fear from the dropping and to mobilize for the ascent. Also very important rule is to do not focus on the rest of the skaters, but to relax and to look at the direction, where he goes to.

Setting of the tail
Put the tail of your skateboard on the coping. You want your back wheel hanging down over the edge of the ramp. Hold your skateboard there with your back foot, putting your foot straight across the tail of your skateboard.

Your front wheels will be out hanging in the air, and your board will be cocked up slightly. Your front foot can be on the ground next to you, while you wait for your turn to drop in on your skateboard.

THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE

The stomp
When the other foot is already on the skate, it starts the main part of the riding. During the dropping is possible the appearance of fear, but 80% from this fear comes from the irregular step on the skate. And it has to be really with the whole weight of the body. But for this aim the skater has to believe that it exist only he and his board and both of them will realize the dropping in the ramp. It has to exist a fusion between the skater and his board and he has to feel devoted to his wish to fly and to feel free. Man has to be convinced that every next dropping in will be more easy than the previous. Thinking in this direction, the dropping in becomes more amusing and intriguing and makes man to want more and more.

Here is the secret of the skate park maniacs – the ability of the dropping in is very important moment, but the most important is the confidence in him. The skater has to know that everything is in his head. Here is the principal distinguishing mark of the skate park maniacs from the rest sports maniacs. And this is that the strongest opponent is you. For that reason when man decides to practice such type of subculture mania, he decides to train his ability of self-control.

The ride away
Hopefully you have a good idea of where you are heading once you hit the bottom of the ramp. You'll have some speed, so keep relaxed, knees bent, and just ride it out. The higher the ramp or transition you rode down, the faster you should be going. Dropping in like this can be perfect for getting enough speed to ride around the park, or to skate up another ramp and do a trick. It's all up to you.

THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE

Troubleshooting
The largest problem skaters face when learning to drop in is not pushing that front foot down fast enough. The moment you put some of your weight forward, you will be rolling down the ramp. That means that until you get those front wheels down, you will be rolling only on the back two wheels. This can make you slip backwards and fall very easily. This is where you take one foot off of the board and catch yourself.

Equipment and styling accessories
The clothing of the admirers of this type subculture is very various and many-colored. The skate park maniacs are the new skaters that today skate at ramps and fly in the air. But their equipment almost doesn’t distinguish from this of the skaters. The difference is in the insurance of bigger safeguard of the skater in case of falling.

In Bulgaria the equipment for such kind of pleasure is comparatively expensive, but for the real maniacs boundaries don’t exist and they give their right arm for these accessories. Abroad the professional accessories and the equipment is an enormous industry that brings big money. All the elements from the styling of the skate maniac are articles of cult brands and they are an invariable part of his image - starting from the small things as wallet, key holder, hat, through the skateboard to the shoes, t-shirts, trousers, helmet etc. The shoes are maybe the most important element from the skate park subculture. The main motor – the feet – have to be in something comfortable and soft, as the skate shoes are. They are made of special stable materials. Here are the world famous brands of skate shoes - DC Shoes, Etinies, és, Converse, Buffalo, Globe, Gravis, Osiris, Rip Curl and others. Of course, these companies offer not only shoes, but also shirts, blouses, switchers, trousers, thongs etc. But these as a whole are the companies that are favorites to the skate park maniacs.

THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE

The skate park subculturewhy we have to be a part of it?
As every one subculture tendency the skate park maniacs have their own special features. One of the most important is the self-proof. The thrill of the experience is leading at the skate park mania. Namely this thrill powers the young people and practicing this kind of sport they express themselves. Of course, the skate park mania can be considered as kind using up of aggression and negative energy, but this is characteristic not only for this kind of sport. For the skate park maniacs this is not only a hobby, but also a way of life. Through the skateboard they declare themselves and they strengthen as characters and as way of thinking. And because the most of them are in the teenage age, the practicing of the skate park mania is welcome for the building of their habits of motion. Because today in the century of the new technologies, the young people the more and more immobilize themselves, and this leads to obesity and to a lot of healthy problems. Because of this fact, for the young generation the skate park is the ideal place for accumulating of positive emotions and of sport habits. And thanks to the skate park mania develop not only the habits of motion, but also the self-control, the self-confidence, the ability to concentrate and to achieve an aim. And what better could exist than such kind of combination...

THE SKATE PARK SUBCULTURE Dropping in

VIDEO:

  1. Skate Park
  2. Victoria Skate Park
  3. A Day At The Skate Park

Photos:
1. Skate park.
2. Different types skateboards.
3. Ramp.
4. – 7. Equipment for skate park maniacs.
8. Ramp – setting of a line.
9. Setting of the tail.
10. Stomp.
11. Ride away.
12. – 13. Dropping in.

Photo: www.shropshire.gov.uk, irocklabels.blogspot.com,
www.urbanramps.co.uk, www.sneakerobsession.com, www.a51.ca, blog.extremepie.com

Used sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateparks
2.http://bg.wikipedia.org/
3. http://www.gocolumbiamo.com
4. http://skateboard.about.com
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skate_shoes
6.http://www.allacademic.com


Read: 13695 times                                                  © Fashion Lifestyle Magazine, issue 14, September 2008

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   ISSUE 13: THE PIERCING SUBCULTURE – A RISKY OBSESSION OR AN OBSESSIVE RISK
   ISSUE 11: THE EMO SUBCULTURE – THE DANGEROUS SAVING LIFE EMOTION
   ISSUE 10: THE SUBCULTURE OF THE SHOCK ROCK – ONE SHOCKING THERAPY
   ISSUE 8: GRAFFITI SUBCULTURE – AN ART THAT DOESN’T HAVE AN ANALOGY
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