Narrative Essay Example about Skateboarding

Everyone frantically turns their heads to the sound of squeaking bearings as they roll down a sidewalk at twenty miles per hour, a mere plank of wood hitting the ground allowing for a flightless human to soar across an entire flight of stairs. It's a skateboard, of course. People wonder why someone would voluntarily bolt down a hill at the speed of a car or jump down 6 feet off a ledge with the speculation of shattering every bone in their body when they land. For me, it's the feeling of my heart pounding, the adrenaline shooting up my veins, and the beauty of seeing everything on the horizon fly past me. This mere plank of wood gave my life a new perspective that let me feel free.

After a forty-minute train ride, I walk out of Grand Central Terminal and skate through the boundless city to the 6 line subway entrance. Once I get to my stop, I’m welcomed by the culture that encompasses the heart of this illustrious city, where all the acclaimed skate parks reside. The history behind those parks is evident as you walk up the cracked sidewalks and see the concrete wearing away. I skate the broken gravel, recalling the memories of the skaters from the early 90s, unveiling a new layer of desire to learn how to ride the walls of the park just like they did.

Without a doubt, the most crucial part of surfing a scrap of wood is plummeting onto the bitter cold concrete and asphalt. Let me be clear, it hurts, but the gratification of realizing that I’m improving drives me to keep trying. The universal etiquette for skating is that once you fall, it's expected that you get back up as fast as possible in case your board hurls at someone’s shin. Nevertheless, I’ve slammed my entire body against the ground, rails, and a fair share of pedestrians. The incessant headaches from hurling myself against the pavement and having my skin peel away from my living vessel are worth more than just a band-aid or an ice pack, they’re a reminder. They’re a reminder that I didn’t land that kickflip the first time. They’re a reminder that I didn’t have the fortitude to drop into the deep end of the bowl. They’re a reminder that I can try again.

Growing up, no one told me that skateboarding was an acceptable sport for girls; I had only heard that skateboarders were all-male “delinquents.” Whether it be in my hometown or the streets of New York City, there is always someone to judge my appearance based on my ethnicity, tomboy sense of style, or the fact that I hold a skateboard. My parents told me that skateboarding was too hazardous and they wouldn’t support me going to skate parks at times when I didn’t have any “girls around.” However, my tenacity when it comes to skateboarding has changed their minds. I continue to skateboard despite the looks and glances, as a way to show younger generations and adults walking down the street that skateboarding isn’t just for males or troubled kids. I believe that there's femininity in skateboarding through its creative, exhilarating, and empowering aspects, which everyone, regardless of their gender, should be able to experience. I attended innumerable female skateboarding events all over the city and even taught my friends along with other girls how to skate during the Coronavirus quarantine so that they could receive an equal opportunity to experience the confidence and exhilaration that comes from surfing a mere plank of wood. In all, a mere plank of wood became the greatest test of endurance, resilience, and free will.