Jared: I knew what it had done for me. I had a background in
playing sports, but I now had something that tapped into individual
expression. There are no rules. There’s no right or wrong way to do
it. I don’t have to have a coach. That freedom drew me to it. I knew
from a young age that I wasn’t a bad kid - I just wanted to practice
my expression. I knew Waynesville needed a skatepark. I knew if we
did it right, there was no way it could fail.
I also knew it would solve the problem of skateboarders being kicked
out of places. You can’t tell youth “no” and not provide them with
another option. Especially to a kid who’s using skateboarding to
stay out of trouble and to stay off of drugs. For males, there’s a lot of
built up energy and they need to put that someplace positive, or it
overflows in other areas. It was a need.
Moxxie: Yes. It (skateboarding) channels all things into one place
that is going to serve a person well moving forward. Skateboarding
is physical and it’s technical. It teaches you that you’re not just going
to get it on the first try. It’s going to teach you to take criticism or
coaching from other people who are watching. You’re always expanding.
I feel these things are often overlooked.
Jared: Completely. It teaches you a lot - especially about failing. If
you watch skateboarding, you’ll watch a kid fail 50 times to succeed
once. We live in a society now where it is scary to fail. But failing is
okay and skateboarding really teaches you that right out of the gate.
Moxxie: What are your hopes for the skatepark moving forward?
Jared: It’s been here six years and I feel like we have really only
tapped into what it could become. Let’s build on it! Skateboarding is
in the Olympics next year, which means that no matter what, it will
grow. Waynesville’s mission statement is ‘Progress with Vision.’ Why
would Waynesville not invest in this skatepark to be ahead of that
game? Why not offer parents a skate camp for their kids to get into
or an intro class? Most parents I’ve talked to out there have said, “I
can teach my kid to dribble a basketball, I don’t know how to stand
on a skateboard…” It’s intimidating and if you don’t know what
you’re doing, it can put a really bad taste in your mouth real quick,
making you want to quit. There’s nobody educating parents or kids
about this sport.
17
“...that simple toy is a
community, and when
you have a community,
anything’s possible.”
I really feel like we need to be having events, too. We have a fantastic
facility. Local kids and people from all over love coming to it. Why
not have events to showcase their hard work? I can’t imagine that
kids would maintain an interest in AYSO soccer if they only got
to practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays and never played games on
Saturdays.
Moxxie: Well, it sounds like after the Olympics, the potential for
more athletes in our community is there. I think it’s wonderful when
you see an older, more experienced skater working with a younger
one. Those interactions can lead to having that friendship and mentorship
to support you through the awkward and pivotal years.
PHOTO: LUKE SUTTON
Jared: Hopefully we all keep working together and the ripple effect
will happen. Waynesville could be a pillar to the rest of Western
North Carolina. I had older skate mentors who kept me on a good
path. It’s nuts that a simple toy can do all that. But that simple
toy is a community, and when you have a community, anything’s
possible. Even though skateboarding is a solo thing, it’s truly a
community.
Moxxie: Community is made up of so many different groups. I
think it’s great that they have given you a space in our community.
I hope that as Waynesville grows, we can grow all aspects of the
community (including your park) so that everyone feels they have a
place and are welcome.
Jared: We have to stick together to make the needle move forward.
And what a better thing for society than being accepting? It’s a great
place for the outcast and the weirdos.
Moxxie: (laughing) We will run the world at some point.
Jared: It’s up to us to make it become what it is going to be.
Continued on page 18