Greetings Skate friends,

I need some help in deciding if I should put any effort into putting together a skateboard team in a park down my block?

I go skating in the basketball court, and there are other kids that hang there also. Now not all the kids have skateboards. Some do, and some of them don't they just borrow the other friends.

I am a firm believer that if I can contribute something to my community, I am helping these kids stay out of trouble.
Most of these kids can not afford a skateboard. So out of my pocket I am willing to purchase at least three generic skateboards. They are blank and have no name wheels or trucks. Now I could upgrade for $30 more and get them some nice SMA boards, $20 more, and get them Speed Demons.

Some folks are telling me not to bother with this, and just do my own thing. I go to the park and sit to let the kids ride my two boards (now three that I have my Zflex PIG).

I would like some feedback as some of the kids want a skate team for that park, and then go against other teams around the area. I feel that if they want this, I should offer some support for them. I also want to contact the neighborhood "Chamber of Commerce" to see if they will lend a hand too.

Thanks folks

~L~

If you know that they are gonna be commited to skating you should go ahead and do it but if they look like they are gonna quit within the next couple of months then you shouldnt bother wasting your hard earned money.

I think it would be a great ide.
first of all, it would give them self confidence that they are good enough, second you could get someone to paint YOUR graffic of the decks, and third, it is just plain nice.

The whole idea of having a skate team isn't like going against other teams, because I'm not sure how you'd go about that anyways, but I like the idea and I like how you're willing to do all of that for them, shows what kind of person you are.

I'd say go for it, but like the earlier post said, make sure they'd be committed to the team so they wouldn't quit after a month. Worse comes to worse, I guess you tried and you got yourself a few new spares haha.

are the kids any good?

I would first ask the chamber of commerce to lend a hand and make sure to stress that they would be helping these kids stay out of trouble. THEN with their help i would fund some of my own money toward it. overall i think its a very inspirational idea. i hope it works.

if they really like it and wont just give up on it. go for it and itll be a great nice thing to do

go ahead if you want to. sounds like a pretty good idea.
skate teams dont always work out that well though. im saying this from experience.

Make a skateshop first. Then team.

I like the idea. A skateshop first sounds good though. Make sure the kdis don't take advantage of you by always coming to you for boards and jsut not caring or respecting you for what your doing.

Just get a sponser and your good to go I wouldn't make a team I would just single your own little video and send it in to your local skate company.

I think it would be a great ide.
first of all, it would give them self confidence that they are good enough, second you could get someone to paint YOUR graffic of the decks, and third, it is just plain nice.

Derrick,

That is a GREAT idea. The bottom of the boards are going to be blank.

Can you let me know if there is anyone here on the cafe I can talk with that is in the NYC area that I can work with?

On the skate shop issue, I will not have time to open a skate shop. The Decks and hardware are coming from a supplier that I am very good friends with. The prices I am getting are the prices he sells to the skate shops.

Some of the kids are pretty good. Some are not that hot, but they they have strong hearts and are dedicated to wanting to be part of this. I figure if they practice alot, then they will be okay.

The three decks are going to be a community group pool for kids who can not afford a skateboard. If the kids can afford it, then I will talk with the parents to pay me back some how, as I would be willing to front the money for them.

Like I say, if I can keep 10 kids out of trouble, then I have saved 10 kids from going down the wrong path. Skateboarding is the best sport to get out that aggression and release any energy built up in the kids.

~L~

If you think it will work do it.

i think its a good idea, skating is the way to go, some of them could end up becoming pro. and theyd have you to thank.

i think it's an awesome idea, and i bet if your team successful, skating will become more popular in your area. other kids will see the fun they are having, and being able to join a team would give skaters more incentive to stick with it. rock on!

This is great, really. It's awesome to see someone care enough to take their time and money to help out. I hope you see this through, because it definitely sounds like a worthwhile pursuit.

if your good, the others are good, and you have the time and effort to put into it, go for it

Cafe members,

I just wanted to thank you all for the positive feedback and the ideas you have given me.

I am fully aware not to be taken advantage of (story of my life). I have sucker written on my forehead sometimes I think LOL!

Well here is the basic story of what is happening.

Most kids do not have a skateboard, Those who do not, borrow skateboards and take turns.

Here is my plans

(1) Find out how many kids are really interested in getting into a group. Forget a team, that will come later. I just want to see who wants to get into a group and skate. The group will be known as the "69th Ave. Pirhanas"

(2) For those who can afford a skateboard, I will give them options of a blank board, or a SMA or Speed Demon for extra money. We can upgrade the bushings, bearings, and wheels later.

(3) For those who CAN NOT afford a board, then I will purchase between 3 and 5 skateboards that I will use as 'loaners'. The kids can use them, but at some point they will have to give me the boards back.

(4) I will watch how they skate, and then get a list of the basic, and work with each kid on mastering a trick (Ollie, Kick Flip, Manual, etc). I will see who are the best on the team and decide on Captains, and Asst. Capt.

(5) Most kids are from broken homes, they go away on weekends to stay with the fathers. So this makes it harder to have any REAL skating on the weekends. Any type of group meeting will have to be on the week, and with the summer here, I think it will be easier, rather than if it was school week.

(6) I have also told the kids any member of the team has to abide by rules. No cursing (well at least no in my presence), No Racial comments, Grades have to be maintained at at least a "C" average. These kids are mainly in grade school in around 6th Grade. They will be attending Middle School/Junior High School soon.

(7) I would like to have some parents involved to assist me in taking a subway to Brooklyn, Staten Island, or Long Island for them to skate in a skate park. I told them before I unleash them in a skate park they need to practice first so they don't tumble all over the place. Problem is there is no ramp or invert here for them to practice.

I mean this is the basics I am working with. A few kids are REALLY excited, and because I can skate, and I never tried to make them come to my house, they know I am not a pedophile. They also know I live next door to one of the girls who hangs in the park.

I have moved to Queens to help my mother, as my dad got put into a nursing home with his Alheimer condition worsened. So I left nice suburbs of Rutherford, NJ to come to the city.

So again thanks for your support and keep the suggestions and comments coming in. I appreciate everything you folks say. I would like to see this project to work out.

You have no idea how many people are telling me "don't bother with these kids", and "don't get involved". My mother had her car stolen several years ago. The car was not stolen for parts, it was taken for a joy ride. I said "well maybe if those kids had done something with their time like SKATE BOARDING, you would not had that car stolen". She didn't have anything to come back with. :)

You folks rock man!

~L~

dude they're your friends, not dogs. since when does skateboarding have teams with captains an such. and a "c" average to skate. if i wanted c's i'd spend my time at school, not on a skateboard
Merging doublepost
ooooo sorry i thought you were like thirteen or something nevermind, thats a good idea to get kids into it.

skate teams are a good thing, they keep you together and stuff.
me and my friend created a team about 6 years ago, and we're still together, some left, some came, but it's still kind of the same thing as in the beginning.
and if you have a website or some tshirts and other stuff, it keeps you motivated.
do it!

I just wanted to say that this is a very nice thing you're thinking about doing; that you've got a good heart, man. Your community is lucky to have you, even if this doesn't work out.

dude they're your friends, not dogs. since when does skateboarding have teams with captains an such. and a "c" average to skate. if i wanted c's i'd spend my time at school, not on a skateboard
Merging doublepost
ooooo sorry i thought you were like thirteen or something nevermind, thats a good idea to get kids into it.

LMFAO!! {rf)

Oh dude that is too funny. Thanks for the good laugh. I doubt half of those kids could even get a "C" average. Just trying to give them goals in life to reach.

you are one amazing dude
i wish my dad was as cool as you when it comes to skating.

but yeah man, if u were to do that, you would be one of my heroes, cuz that is just awesome that you care that much about your community.

good luck, i hope the kids really want to commit. good luck with your team and let me know how it goes!

you are one amazing dude
i wish my dad was as cool as you when it comes to skating.

but yeah man, if u were to do that, you would be one of my heroes, cuz that is just awesome that you care that much about your community.

good luck, i hope the kids really want to commit. good luck with your team and let me know how it goes!

Zeroordie, thanks for kudos man. :)

I am sure your dad is alright, but I use to skateboard when I was 14, and that fire never really went out. Here I am 46 years old, and I still ride like it was 1975 again!

So when Lords of Dogtown came out, and my son Gavin took an immediate love to the sport, I SUPPORTED HIM. I bought him almost any skateboard he wanted. I am divorced, so his mother *****ed and complained about it, but I did fight her. I let her know that the kid had talent, and I was not going to let that fire die out, like I nearly let mine.

Alot of you members are teenagers, and you get a bad rap. I approached a friend who is a member of the Chamber of Commerce about the idea of the skate team. He told me the other members would oppose assisting because "skateboarding leads to mischief"

Well, I took a good look at him, and said "do I look like I got into mischief and I am a thug?" He said no, that he knew I was a good nature fellow. I told him that just because skateboarders look gritty and hardcore, doesn't mean that they are. You are judging a book by the cover, and so are all the members of this Chamber of Commerce.

Making a hard discussion to him, I gave him the pro's of having kids involved in skating. I told him "Give them a park, and they will come off the street if that is what all the business are worried about."

Skateboarders LOVE A CHALLENGE and if you have a GNARLY skate park, you will be sure to have them off the street and in a park doing SOMETHING POSTITIVE.

I am happy to say that my friend, who is a VP in a bank is now on our side, and will work with me and the Chamber of Commerce to support me in getting something done for the kids of Middle Village.

Right now this park near me has a Handball Court and a Basketball Court. So if I can convince the Department of Parks in NYC to knock down the Handball court, move the Basketball court there, and turn the Basketball court into a SKATE PARK, then I foresee alot of kids coming to the 69th Avenue Skatepark and having a ton of fun. I would love to see an invert ramp or better, a concave concrete bowl and one or two grind rails, it would be a skateboarders paradise (and mine too!)

If not, then let them donate the money for me to purchase the skateboards for the kids, and I will take them to places in NYC that have skate parks. They have MORE of them in Upstate NY & Long Island then in NYC. Heck if I could have one of the Auto Dealers donate some old van, that would help knock down my issue with transporting the kids.

You folks keep giving me your good vibes, and I will fight till I have no breath in me to make this happen :icon_peac

~L~

not to sound rude or anything but... how good are YOU actually lol?

not to sound rude or anything but... how good are YOU actually lol?


Ndib

How do I put this.....

I was never big on doing tricks (ollies, kick flips, etc).

My love is riding in bowls, that is my domain {sk8)

~L~

tou can try what ever your little heart desires its not up to us

o ok dude i ride vert too cause i suck at tricks lol

o ok dude i ride vert too cause i suck at tricks lol

Yeah, tricks never did anything for me either.

I find the speed to be more fun. Love that feeling of the air passing all around your body and face.

~L~