Skateboarding saved my youngest son. He had been a victim of molestation by an older student at his elementary school and became suicidal as a result. When spring came and the snow melted off of the skateboard parks I bought him and his older brother cheap skateboards that today they wouldn't be caught dead with and we headed over to the skate parks. They quickly adapted to the environment and before long they were grinding and doing flip tricks and pop-shovits. We spent most of our Summer and Fall in and out of various skateboard shops and parks upgrading and buying new decks and bearings and skateboarding clothes. Our conversations revolved around Bam Margera, Tony Hawk, Ryan Sheckler, and Bob Burnquest, the Xgames and the Dew Tour. Our world had evolved.

The excitement in skateboarding comes from a pure rush of adrenaline as you atempt to drop in for the first time or when you can master a kick flip over a three set of stairs. It's being able to conquer and master skills and overcome your fears.

Skateboarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world right now and new concrete parks are springing up all over the globe. You can skate in Bondi Beach, Australia, Moscow, Russia and even in South Africa!

The identity of my children changed. They became skaters and that's who they are now. It's a lifestyle that they love. The adrenaline that pumped through them as they mastered drop-ins off of the eight footer and as they made new friends around the state at the various skate parks changed them for the better. My youngest was able to work through his trauma by skateboarding and he is now in a healthy place again.

Learn more about this author, Penny Rielly.
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