Phenomenological Reports from the SkatePark


On 10/18/96, Justin Hardin wrote the following (and gave permission to post):

DROPPING IN is when a skateboarder gets on his skateboard, puts his back truck & wheels just in front of the rail, puts his tail _over_ the rail, his foot on the tail, ... then he/she leans forward (w/ other foot on "nose"), and stays forward until he feels impact under his wheels ... then he evens his balance & proceeds w/ his set (or tricks).

Report solicited and transcribed by: wmm


On 10/18/96, Trevor Nore wrote the following (and gave permission to post):

Surfing and skating are somewhat alike in that ballance is the same thing; because if you get off ballance, you fall, you get back up and do it agan.

Dropping in on a steep ramp is weird because you have to get the guts to do it/the vert is the best thing because the adrenaline is good.

Report solicited and transcribed by: wmm


On 10/18/96, after dropping in for the first time on the "expert" ramp, Jack Jones wrote the following (and gave permission to post):

All my thoughts were gone in my head. It was a great [?] experience. I love it. It probably changes my life for the time to be.

Report solicited and transcribed by: wmm

On 10/18/96, Mollie O'Hagan wrote the following (and gave permission to post):

As teacher aide for Skate P.E. I pass out pads, write memos and supervise. Those are basically my duties. If anyone gets injured then I help them, but fortunetly that hasn't happened.

Report solicited and transcribed by: wmm


Although some changes have been made for clarity, the integrity of the reports have been maintained.
Prof. Martin's class may observe further (restricted) data here.