THE DROP
Seasoned skaters share tips on how to get started.
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BY GRACE MILLER | PHOTOS BY CADEN FINLEY | DESIGN BY MATTHIAS AGGANIS
n Jan. 30, legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk visited Ohio University to talk about his skating career and how it changed his life. The event at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium held residents and students sharing a common sentiment: a love for skating. Hawk’s visit to Athens highlighted the skate scene that exists in the community. Organizations like SkateJam, spots like the Athens Skate Park and students on campus all emphasize the skating culture, connecting people of all ages who enjoy the sport. SkateJam, a non-profit organization based in Athens, hosts a day-long community fest dedicated to skating. It started in October 2021, making this year the fourth SkateJam that has taken place at the Athens Skate Park. This year, the event is scheduled to be hosted on Sept. 21, with contests, local music and food trucks. All of the
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backdrop | Fall 2024
proceeds made from the event go to Sojourners Resilience Center, an organization suited to empower young people, and to the skate park itself. SkateJam also hosts a nonprofit resource fair that focuses on “artisanal vendors” that are in the Athens community. SkateJam organizer, Emmett Mascha, says, “For people who may not fit into team sports, skating might be the perfect artistic outlet for them.” People of all different ages can get started easily by going to the local skating instructor Leif Wakefield, who provides skating lessons for people ages 14 to 21. Students can join OU’s skate club, to meet and learn from others at all different levels of skating. Skaters can find boards in Athens at The Flipside Skateboard Shop, located on 14 W Stimson Ave. Alicia Szczesniak is a senior studying journalism. She was 7 years old when she started skating, picking up the sport quickly to look like the “cool teenagers” that lived in her neighborhood.