learn to skateboard

Well, after more research I’m kind of eying something called a Xootr scooter . One of the big draws is that it has bigger wheels than a skateboard, so theoretically it would be better able to handle whatever terrain I should run into. I looked at a bunch of scooters at the suggestion of my lovely friend Jodie, and the Xootr got lots of good reviews.

I’m not sure. On the one hand, skateboarding has that sort of cool factor, and would keep my hands free. On the other, the Xootr would probably be way easier for me to learn to use, and the bigger wheels might handle Alaska for farther into the fall. I’ll have to keep thinking about it.

I did get brave last night and go walk the skate park while it was raining and nobody was there. I went to get dinner and originally intended just to sit and sort of give it a closer look from outside the gate while I talked to a friend, but then my cell phone died and I decided to walk it while there was nobody there to intimidate me. It really is a pretty cool park; smallish for as many people as I see there sometimes, but still very cool. Not all of the ramps and things are huge and scary; some of them I wouldn’t be too nervous to try, which is yay. I could only see the big ones from where I’d been looking before.

While I was researching skateboarding last night, I ran across an article that said they were going to be having a skateboarding exhibition at the state fair this year – I definitely want to go to that.

I’m not supposed to drive because of medical stuff, but it is a pain to try to walk everywhere (takes too long), or have to rely on the bus (requires planning ahead, and fitting into the bus schedule) so I’ve been trying to think of other ways of getting around. I use a service dog, and my balance occasionally goes awry on its own, so those are both concerns in my getting around. I’m a little leery of using a bicycle, as if I start to fall/crash into something, it’s difficult to get clear of the bike, and I’d be worried about hurting Radar (my dog) in the process. I’ve thought about roller skates, too, but it’s the same problem – if I start to tip over or head toward something I shouldn’t be, I can’t jump out of them; I just have to fall.

I was watching a movie with my sister the other day in which a girl skateboards in one scene, and it occurred to me that a skateboard would be fairly easy to get off of quickly if I needed to. I’m a little wary, because frankly I can be pretty clumsy, particularly when you add wheels to the equation, but I’m not looking to do tons of tricks or anything, just get around town. The more I think about it, the more I think I’d really like to try it.

One problem is that I live in Alaska, and the sidewalks wouldn’t be clear for skating for a large portion of the year, but I figure it wouldn’t be any loss because I’m already having a hard time getting around in the winter, and having a skateboard as an option would at least help in the season that I could use it.

Another is that I don’t know the laws/ordinances/etc in my town regarding skateboarding. We have a skate park, and I don’t see kids people skating around on the sidewalks much. But I emailed the city to ask, and I looked it up as well as I could on the net, too, and it looks like as long as I am courteous, and am careful not to skate where there are signs posted to the contrary, it’s alright. We’ll see what the city clerk emails me back with.

Buying a board will have to wait a little bit; I don’t have any spare money right now, but hopefully in the next few weeks I will, so I can use this time to research. There’s a board shop across the street from the skate park… I actually went by it today but I was too intimidated to go in. Silly, I know, but when I’ve researched a bit more and know what questions to ask, I’ll feel a little more confident. I’m a 25 year old girl with a service dog… definitely not the average for what I’ve seen from afar at the skate park.

Speaking of the skate park, I kind of want to go watch people skate, but I keep being too intimidated for that, too. It’s really silly… one of these days when I’m hanging out with my sister, maybe I’ll con her into going and watching with me for a little while. It’s much easier to be okay with feeling like a dork when you’re not the only one.