Whether we like it or not, skateboarding culture has its fingerprints just about everywhere these days.
Influential celebrities such as Lil Wayne have taken notice, starting their own companies (such as Trukfit) and planting roots in the scene to draw up some success. Skater fashion has moved its wares from the skate shops and mags to Dillard’s and Nordstrom, among others. The Internet has made it incredibly easy for anyone with a great video part to get a ton of attention, and plenty of these videos have gone viral around the world. Tony Hawk was able to turn one idea for a video game into a multi-million dollar franchise. After athletic apparel giant Nike got into the skating scene and gave out some shoe deals, Adidas and New Balance jumped right in. And, the X Games draw in worldwide talent for a competition that can only be compared to the Olympic Games.
So, why doesn’t skating get the respect it deserves?
Probably because too many people outside of the scene tend to frown upon it. It’s not seen so much as a sport as it is a nuisance, with trouble-making kids, vandalism and trespassing firmly entrenched in public opinion. Some cities, such as Lakeland, are skater-friendly, but others haven’t exactly been embracing it.
That confuses me. It’s hugely popular and, when the right tools and rules are in place, can generate money. I wanted to know about Plant City’s scene, of which I’m not too familiar, so I sat down with the Second 2 None Barbershop and Skate Supply crew to talk about it.
“The skate scene, I’ve heard it’s popular here but kind of an underground thing,” Jairus Rutherford says. “A lot of the people here actually go to Skate Park of Tampa to skate the courses over there.”
That park, commonly called SPOT, is one of the most well-known in the country. It’s even been featured in the video game “Tony Hawk’s Underground,” as part of a fictionalized Tampa level. It’s not always convenient for East Hillsborough skaters to travel there frequently, though, and Plant City’s park — located next to the basketball courts at Mike E. Sansone Community Park — is apparently not what local skaters want.
“I know, from the past, that the skate scene has definitely died down a lot,” Jay Zengotita says. “I guess it’s from the fact that the park isn’t being marketed as it should be, and that it’s a little outdated. A lot of things prohibit the kids here from having as many skate areas, like a Skate Street, things like that.”
According to Zengotita, the park doesn’t conform to modern skateboarding like Lakeland Skate Park.
“It’s very minimal — there’s not much you can do,” he says. “And, it’s not too good for a beginner — everything’s real big, and it’s tough for someone new to get comfortable riding. Very intimidating.”
The ideal skate park, he says, would feature some smaller ramps and a much more street-friendly design.
“There’s a lot of things that have changed as skating has evolved,” he says. “Like, pool riding — Lakeland has the bowls and things like that, the pool there, where kids can skate. The layout is a little old-school — things have definitely changed the way people skate, and the layouts.”
There’s more that a lot of places could do to foster the culture and reap the benefits. One of the only differences between skateboarding and other sports is the fact that football, basketball and other sports have plenty of quality places to play, and plenty of community support — if skating got that kind of encouragement, then I believe it could really help a community.
As a former skater, I’d love to see Plant City strike up a better relationship with its skaters and encourage kids to go out there and shred safely.