Historical May 1991 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Warm weather and sunny skies bring out spring flowers and people from their winter hibernations. Blooming and green shoots are all around and, in almost any empty, level space, you may find another of spring’s exuberant phenomenon.
The skateboarders are back! Freed from winter’s indoor activities, they are outside again. Flourishing in the sunshine they are stretching their muscles, honing their performances, showing off. You may see a lone young boy earnestly perfecting his skills. Over and over again he performs the same amazing jump, scaling some obstacle you think he’ll never get over.
With an admirable perseverance he works, sometimes succeeding, sometimes falling. You can feel the tension in the muscles, the striving for rhythm, for timing. You feel the triumph when it all comes together.
A group comes zooming down the street, ascending the curbs at the last possible moment.
The soaring, leaping, twisting put your heart in your mouth. You wish more of them wore helmets and knee pads.
They remind you of young stallions galloping across their landscape for the sheer joy of it.
Another time you may see a group, master of their art, showing the apprentices their tricks. You imagine for a moment how wonderful it must feel to master such feats. Straight ahead you glide, straight towards some hurdle. At the last possible minute, just the right moves put you over, still speeding away.
Another flexing of muscles, a twist of your body and you’re zooming back again, leaping in midair just for the fun of it.
A ballet of motion and young exuberance is taking place on streets and empty gas stations all over town. It’s right there to see, if we keep our eyes open. Stop and watch sometime.
We can share a little of their enthusiasm and admire the grace and energy, the hopes and high spirits unfolding before us.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May 1991.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1991_05.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
