Written by Noah Camacho
Surrounded by ramps, rails, ledges, and skateboards, families gather to spend a couple of hours learning how to skateboard. Alongside trained instructors, beginner skateboarders learn the basics of skateboarding at the Learn to Skate Clinic.
Outdoor Chattanooga hosts a learn-to-skateboard class at the Chatt Town skatepark in downtown Chattanooga. During this class, equipment is provided ranging from helmets to kneepads—and most importantly, skateboards.
The class was led by Gray Joyce and Patrick Sheel, local skateboarders who are highly skilled and have extensive skateboarding knowledge.
According to Joyce, beginners should start the class by having a group stretch, which is crucial in skateboarding as it mostly involves their legs. The skateboarders are then taught how to ride a board properly and how to find their center of gravity.
Learning to push and having good foot positioning during this sport is one of the most important things to learn as a beginner, and one must have a firm understanding of both of these before they can move onto bigger obstacles.
“It’s okay to fall, falling is a part of skateboarding,” Joyce said.
Skateboarding can be dangerous, so one must do it with caution and precision when getting off a skateboard. Skateboarders are taught to safely fall by sliding on their knee pads. When people in the class do fall the instructors reported they will cheer learners on as they get up. Then learners are reassured that falling is only making them better. According to the instructors, the outcome is a high five and some cheering whether that’s after going down a ramp successfully or falling off of one.
After the beginner skateboarders have learned the basics, they are able to skate freely within the skatepark to use their newfound knowledge.
“I learned to express myself, on a skateboard,” Joyce said.
Joyce believes skateboarding is a great thing for the community as it could broaden horizons. He mentioned he has skated and met people from all walks of life, which he cherishes.
The clinic ended with kids and families going home with an unforgettable experience and a new hobby.
Meet the Storyteller
Noah Camacho, a Junior communication major with a minor in marketing studying at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Serves as a staff photographer at the University Echo and is also a member of UTC’s Rising Rock program. He is passionate about capturing moments throughout the Chattanooga community and campus life through photojournalism. He aspires to one day pursue a career in journalism with hopes to travel to different countries and document people and their cultures. You can reach Noah by email at dkl677@mocs.utc.edu.