Lots of activities can be difficult or frightening to try for several reasons ranging from expenses,
to physical risk. Skateboarding is one of those hobbies that can be difficult to get into, but those who take the jump get to experience an exhilarating activity that allows for creativity, action and plain fun.
“My half-brother has been a skater for a long time,” sophomore Liam Richmann said. “He’s been that guy I go to for everything for a long time and he got me into it.”
Besides physical risk, pricing is another thing that can sway people away from trying skateboarding as a hobby. There are many shops around St. Charles that specialize in selling skateboards and these shops can recommend specific boards
that fit a person’s needs. When buying a skateboard, a board length must be chosen, as well as trucks, wheels and bearings. A person getting into skateboarding for the first time can expect to spend between $100 and $200 for a skateboard and safety equipment such as a helmet and pads.
Another barrier to getting into this hobby is finding a setting. Those who enjoy hobbies like bike riding, scooter riding, roller skating and skateboarding often are forced out of public spaces with open concrete such as parking lots. To avoid this, many skaters make a point to go to skateparks where they won’t be at risk of getting in trouble.
“Skate parks are a great part of skating,” Richmann said. “They allow you to meet up with friends and have fun. There’s a lot of places where you’re not allowed to skate and there’s a lot of people that will get mad at you for it and those are just those places where you can go and not have to worry about that.”
