La Crisis is making simple things hard and transportation is a crucial part in anyones life. Whether we get around in cars, the public limo or even bicycles, finding alternative modes or transportation can be difficult. So some of us have no choice and can’t go to work without driving there. Some of us however do have the luxury of riding the bus, bicycles or my favorite, a skateboard. Like a bicycle, a skateboard is a cheap, inexpensive mode of transportation that relies on you, the rider. I of course can vouch because I get around town on a skate board. I have been using one for the last two years and man let me tell you, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Riding a skateboard is a lot of fun. If your mad or need to clear your head, grabbing your board and going out for a ride always helps. Anyone can ride a skateboard no matter who your are. All it takes is discipline and commitment like just like anything else. Fair warning though, YOU WILL FALL ON YOUR NALGAS, SCRATCH UP YOUR KNEES, ELBOWS AND HANDS. I have never met anyone who started out riding and never fell their first time cause I know I did, a couple of times actually. By the time i got the hang of it I didn’t wanna use it because I was sore from falling soo much. After that, it’s all down hill, literally. Having been riding around soo much I know how to get around town by riding the fastest and easiest streets and by choosing nice, level sidewalk that are going downhill or are even. The less work I have to do the better. I have built a decent amount of stamina riding around town from BH to Downtown L.A. or from East L.A. College all the way home, it’s a three mile ride but most of it is downhill. A skateboard is portable and can be carried on the bus and taken practically anywhere. After a while it becomes a part of who you are and you feel naked and slow without it. A skateboard can run you anywhere from $20 to $100, depending on what kind of deck you get and the accessories that come along with it. Your basic blank board, wheels, bearings and trucks will set you back around $80 to $100 depending on where you go. A top of the line skateboard tricked out with name brands can run you anywhere between $150 and up. Course if you have that much money to spend on a skateboard your better off buying a bike or saving up for a car. I on the other hand live everyday like it’s La Crisis.
I’m a full time student and only work weekends so I have to be extremely tight and creative with my dinero. That’s why having a skateboard will help both financially and physically in the long run. If taken care and properly maintained, a skateboard can last you a long time, with the exception of maybe having to replace bearings, bushings (little rubber spacers that allow you to turn) or wheels. I’ve had my board for an extensive amount of time, considering my last one was stolen. There’s also no pressure to learn any kind of tricks of any kind, specially if your like me and can’t afford to get hurt. I ride around for simple transportation, if you want to go around pretending your in the x-games fine by me, but don’t say I didn’t tell you so when you fall on your hand in such and awkward position what you’ll be double jointed from that moment on. I have been able to take a lot of great pictures and find hidden spots while riding around on my board. Skateboarding may not be for everyone, but if you have the ganas to learn, then by all means do. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be riding your board all over the place and sometimes it literally feels like your street surfing. Getting around town on a skateboard is a unique and great experience that I recommend anyone interested in it try it out.You’ll be riding the waves of the streets in no time.
Always good for a quick run to the tienda.