Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2007, Page 33

Description:	y/yo Limits SkateboardingBy Paul BaechtoldWhile landing a new trick or filming your first skate film segment may have been the high-points of skating, it is the skating lifestyle that truly brought skaters together and drew people to thesport. The fact that there was always a new trick to learn or create was a good description of thelifestyle- there were no limits. Even with this no limits mentality, skaters at South didnt all fit thestereotypical, negative skater image. The skaters said they were still judged despite their passion forthe sport. I do feel judged everyday because of the typical skater stereotype. Basically youre not askater if you dont listen to rock and do drugs, freshman Aliedes Rodriguez said of the way he is oftenperceived.But other South skaters felt differently about the stereotyping. Rodriguez brother, freshmanOskar Rodriguez, also a skater, had a different opinion, I dont feel judged, and even if I were beingjudged it wouldnt be a big deal. I just do what I love.Not making a big deal out of something as serious as stereotyping was emblematic of the skatingattitude. Skaters never feared other peoples perceptions and lived the lifestyle because of it beingchill and laid back. Living this laid back lifestyle meant becoming really close to friends and bondingthrough respect towards other skaters. I feel like my group of friends is really tight, almost like werebrothers, sophomore Jonathan Barcus said. But all skaters were not this close. As a whole, all skatersarent that tight. I mean, just because we all skate doesnt mean we are friends. Problems that occur areusually just because of a lack of respect but I try not to let those things bother me, Barcus said.Despite being a stereotypically rogue sport, staying connected in skateboarding was all aboutrespect. Being a sport and lifestyle that is defined by its artistic and creative style, there is a hugespectrum of skaters in terms of not only skill, but also their passion. To truly be given respect for thisstyle, a skater must also give the same respect back to the sport.W$ Py* _Skateboarding Q**@$f&/J Student Life
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/7557
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

Further information on this record can be found at its source.