| For recreational, for transportation, or for career purposes, skateboarding has grown to become one of the most popular activities. During the '60s, surfing had been a grand sensation. In an attempt to find a passing time hobby between surfing, people began experimenting with scooters without any handles. After several tries to design a usable board, Roller Derby Company manufactured the first skateboard in 1959. This hobby soon caught on to the surfing community as it was a great imitation of surfing movements. But skateboarding is more than a simple hobby, it is a culture. It does not matter what type of person one is or what age one is, skating unifies everyone under one category, skateboarder. Skateboarding is a form of self-expression that can be expressed through your tricks, absence of tricks, or your skateboard design. Despite the fact that the Venice Skatepark with the bowls and ramps was closed for filming, the skaters still found a way to gather together at the smaller and flatter area near it. Regardless of skatepark, everyone there seems to know each because they visit the park daily. Many skaters, too, listen to music while they skater. Their music taste vary from punk to hip hop.  |
| Similar to catching a wave while surfing, skating displays like movement as seen here, a skater catching a concrete wave at Venice beach during the day. |
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| Skaters of all ages can be seen at Venice beach. By looking a a skaters board, one can see a glimpse of their personality. Here this young skater's board is rugged and torn showing his dedication to skating. |
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| La Fayette Skatepark is home to what they called the Carl's Jr Star ramp. This ramp is shaped like a star and is vertical on the ground with a slight bent. |
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| Despite all the failed attempts, this skater continued to slide off the same ramp from the time I got there and even until I left at Venice beach. Right here he quickly jumped off the board to avoid a brutal fall. When trying tricks, it is always important, I have noted, that you must act quickly and think fast to avoid situations that can leave a bad effect or hurt. |
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| For the less experienced skaters, they made sure to wear protective gear while skating at Venice beach. |
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| Whether it is part of the park or not, skaters would find new obstacles to try at La Fayette Skatepark. |
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| This skater was the most active on the park. While some of the skaters were sitting down, he was on his board trying to perfect his tricks at Venice beach. |
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| Since school was out, most of the skaters were meeting up with their friends at La Fayette Skatepark. Though they are young, these kids displayed some adult characteristics such as independence. |
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| While some were skating, others were observing and learning at Venice beach. |
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| Many of these skaters do not go to the same school or live relatively close to the park. yet after of daily visits, they become familiar with each other. When someone would try the largest ramp at La Fayette Skatepark, they would be respectful and watch, giving approval of the trick being made. |
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| Skating is more than the simple foot movement made, but a living. Style has played a big role in the skate culture. Through the days I have observed at the skate parks such as here at Venice beach, I have seen many skater's style being influenced by music. For example, some wear clothing displaying their favorite band, while others wear clothing similar to that being worn by hip hop artists and rappers like the bucket hat. |
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| Here the skater is attempting the star ramp at La Fayette Skatepark. |
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| Despite the fact that he is very young, this young skater was trying the same tricks as older skaters were. It was very fascinating to see how whenever he tried a trick and even if he landed or fell, the other skaters would cheer him on at Venice beach. As a kid, one's family has a lot of influence on them and here his father was also skating. |
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| After the boy on the top had fallen, he did not let that phase him. He got right back up and tried the trick a few more times at La Fayette Skatepark. The reason I chose this image rather than an image of him skating is because there is a certain quality in seeing the moment right before one is about to fall and how our body reacts. |
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| It is quite interesting to see how when skating , one does not pay much attention to what their hands are doing since most focus is done on their feet. Right here and in most of these images, you can see the different hand waving gestures the skaters position their arms in. Venice beach |
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| At La Fayette Skatepark, most of the skaters were attempting to jump and slide on this ramp. Only a few landed it and the skater pictured here was one of them. |
