Just a Board With Some Wheels

I don't remember the first time that I ever played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but I do remember playing that game a lot. I was never influenced to actually get on a skateboard and try it out, but my mind was opened to new way of living. I am not a punk, skater, or rebel, but I do feel as though I have a kind of connection to them with how much I have invested into that culture of alternative sports and punk music.

When Tony Hawk's game was released, it was about the same time that the X-Games began. All of this kind of culture was slammed into my face, like a wave was washing over me and taking me out to sea. Everything about skateboarding, BMX, and all things extreme sports were just so cool. I wanted to be part of that world. Whatever I was doing with my life was nowhere near as cool as the people who were skating around town, and wearing cool clothes. This painted the image of what was cool to me. Sticking it to the man, and looking good while doing it. Everything about them, from their image to their attitude just exuded coolness, and I was nowhere near it, but I wanted it so bad.

The whole extreme sports movement received a lot of flak from the general public, as most new things do. Yet, skateboarding stuck around, because of course it would. This further reinforced that attitude of rebellion. Skateboarding was here to stay, and it wasn't going to take any guff. While the image of skateboarding has an intense, visceral image, the reason for skateboarding was a lot softer than most would think.



To many, skateboarding is an escape from the pressures of everyday life. It's their discipline. While most would tell them that is a waste of time, and that they are better off adhering to the ideals of society, they don't want to hear any of it. Simply, they don't fit in. Skateboarding is something to work at, and wash away the blues. Folks who skateboard seem angry because they don't like being told what to do, or that what they're doing is a waste of time. To tell someone working at their passion is a waste of time is wrong. Even if you don't understand it, that does not give you the right.

I've spent most of my life playing video games, and I constantly feel the pressures from society that I'm wasting my time with it. That what I'm doing won't take me anywhere. I've even had family members tell me this. How defeating is that? But, I've kept at it. I've evolved in the way that I play video games. I have learned so much from them, and I continue to write about them because it's what I love to do.

I have a few games that I call my "anytime games". These are the kind of games that I can just sit down and play no matter what mood I'm in. One of which is skate. which is where the video above comes from. The game just has the laid back feeling throughout. It has an easy going hip-hop, trip-hop soundtrack that is mellow and has a slow beat to jam out to. Playing skate. is like a jam session. I can find a bench or a box in the game and spend a few minutes working on a particular trick. Sometimes I just roll around the city.

Skateboarding has never really left my life, even though my lifestyle choices may not reflect it, but I've still kept it close to my heart. Long after the Tony Hawk games stopped, I would watch TV shows on Feul TV, and they too had the laid back feeling of people jamming out on their boards and bikes. It was cool, and it was beautiful. To see these people who have practiced so hard at their craft to do these amazing tricks. It wasn't to show off, but to have fun. That, to me, is what skateboarding is all about.