Skateboarders give new meaning to "a day in the park"

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

These skateboarders, scooter and bike riders give new meaning to “a day in the park.”

Raised too often in broken homes, this culture of dare-devil riders gain therapy inside their concrete jungle, where it’s OK to fall several feet out of the air, break a few bones and keep rolling. According to Ormond local Markus Heilman, life’s principles are lived out in the skate park.

“With skateboarding, you overcome obstacles out here every day,” he said. “You can go out there and fall right off the bat, and it’s all about picking yourself back up. That goes into everyday life, whether it’s business, relationships or something else.”

Unlike most athletics, these high-flying action sports can be performed without an opponent, which makes its enjoyment more convenient.

“You can come out here anytime, get a board and start riding,” said local David Wallens, a lifetime BMX rider. “Sometimes, I’ll sneak out of my office for my lunch hour, head out here to ride for a little bit and then go back to work.”

Kids as young as 3 and 4 years old join their older peers to cruise ramps and try out new tricks. And no matter how severe an injury they may suffer, those who represent this extreme culture will return to conquer the jungle.

“Once you land a trick, it gets your adrenaline pumping and makes you ready for anything,” Tyler Rautenberg said.

If you go...The Ormond Beach Skate Park is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Saturday to Tuesday. It is open from 12-9 p.m. from Wednesday through Friday. The park is located at 440 N. Nova Road. Call 676-3237.

SAY WHAT? “Once you land a trick, it gets your adrenaline pumping and makes you ready for anything.”

TYLER RAUTENBERG