WHY SKATEBOARDING?
The image above is from the Bath Skatepark in its founding location at the old YMCA in downtown Bath. In the early days of the 21st century, a group of young people clamored for a “third space” of their own. Skateboarding was banned downtown (still is), and they received support from some caring and open-minded adults to create a space. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good start. The Skatepark was relocated to the Armory in 2012 and operated by the City until MYC assumed ownership in 2020.
The following is a summary of an article by Skatboardgeek. Here at Midcoast Youth Center & Skatepark, we see the benefits of skateboarding and scootering all the time, and we love it. We also love to see our youth stopping to eat dinner or enjoy a Roblox session with the friends while still wearing their helmet!!
Social Benefits
• Extends Your Circle Friends — It is a great way of socializing and meeting new people to extend your relationship circle.
• Affordable Sport — Unlike most of the games where you need memberships of sports clubs and gyms, you can literally drag your skateboard in the streets.
• Enjoy Alone or With Friends — Skateboarding does not require teams or a group of players to play together.
• Creative Freedom — Unlike other sports, skateboarding does not have specific rules to follow. That means you are free to skate your way and bring new innovations to your style.
Health Benefits
• Fun Way to Workout — Skateboarding is an exciting way of exercise for us rather than doing tedious workouts like running and cycling.
• Good Cardio Exercise — Cardio workouts require you to move fast – that is what a skateboard makes you do.
• Promotes Physical Endurance — This fun activity enhances our stamina to play this sport every day throughout the week.
• Increases Flexibility — Skateboarding requires a full-body workout. As a result, your body gets more flexible which leads to fewer injuries and a more active body.
• Good Exercise for Core Building — This sport depends on balance and you balance your body by using the core.
Mental Benefits
• Teaches Resilience — There is no other sport that teaches us to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations better than skateboarding. Skating is 95% falling. However, you want to get up again and try the same trick over and over until you master it.
• Teaches Patience — Failing multiple times and trying back to learn the same trick teaches you patience and keeps your personality calm in hard situations.
• Increases Self-Esteem — Skateboarding is all about progressing in your abilities. It provides you courage, and builds confidence to come out from the cautious zone.
• Helps Deal with Anxiety — Skateboarding puts you in anxiety-inducing situations again and again and that develops a sense of facing it and fighting its fear.
• Helps Relieve Stress — Skateboarding acts as a good stress reliever because it makes you able to have control over your mind. It redirects your thoughts to excitement and achievements on performing tricks successfully.
• Builds Precision and Coordination — The coordination between your mind, feet, and arms has to be precise to master tricks.