Stolen Candles
Obtained a fish formed NASH board in 1990 after I was 5.
The board was simply as flat because the South Florida streets I skated. No concave. I assume my dad purchased it for me as a result of we each surfed, and he thought it might assist with my stability. I surfed with my dad at the least twice every week, however he by no means put a foot on a skateboard.
I had no one to show me, I rode alone.
I by no means noticed anybody else skateboarding. We had a TV with bunny ears on it, however even when we had cable skateboarding wasn’t on TV on the time. The X-Video games have been practically a decade away. No native skate retailers, so no magazines or skate movies accessible.
I didn’t know Thrasher was a factor. So I skated alone, in a vacuum, till I used to be in fifth grade in ‘95. The elementary college I attended (which my mother additionally work at as a instructor) was inside shut strolling distance from our home. Sooner or later I skated there and probably the most superb factor occurred. I noticed different individuals skateboarding.
Not solely that, however they’d these humorous wanting concave boards & have been grinding curbs and doing flip methods. Shit that I by no means even imagined was doable.
I discovered my individuals.
After introducing myself and skating a bit we went to one in all my new good friend’s home and watched skate movies on VHS. My head nearly exploded. In order that was it. That was the second. After that, I had my mother drive me an hour north to Melbourne to get a legit Anti-Hero board, and began skating on a regular basis on the college.
Like every week in, properly earlier than I ever tried a grind, the fellows have been like: fuck, these ledges want extra wax. Popping right into a skate store & shopping for skate wax wasn’t an choice… however fortunately since my household was extraordinarily low-cost (cuz we didn’t have a lot) we by no means threw candles away. My mother would preserve used birthday cake candles within the fridge for future use. I do not know why the fridge, until perhaps the south Florida warmth may need melted them?
…However anyway, I snagged the used candles we had for the appearance wreath (which had been used for at the least 2 seasons) & waxed the fuck out of the ledges on the college. That shit elevated my standing within the skate crew… when introduction season rolled round later that yr & my Mother couldn’t discover the candles I simply shrug my shoulders and mentioned I dunno.
I’m sorry momma, I stole the candles… however kinda additionally not sorry…
It’s from these humble roots Skater Claus was born.
I rode alone, I discovered my tribe, I used to be and can at all times be a weirdo outsider skate rat. By some means it simply kinda labored out although. Now I’ve found out how you can take a skateboard and stab it into the center of injustice.
I used to be a lonely child, however I had a skateboard, and that made all of the distinction. I’ve given out soo many skateboards to children in want that I’ve misplaced rely. I don’t actually have a particular aim or endgame, however I hope some child I gave a board to steals his mother’s candles. Makes use of them to wax a curb, & that it makes a constructive affect on their life.
Cuz stealing these candles was in some way one of the vital necessary issues I’ve executed in my life.
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