As a mother of four sons, I have spent my share of time at San Clemente’s skate park. Three out of four of my children are skaters, and the only reason for that is because my youngest hasn’t taken up skating yet. Growing up a tomboy who loved working on cars, body boarding, and skateboarding it was a given my kids would do the same.
My oldest son is now nineteen and still as much of a skate enthusiast as he was when he started skating over ten years ago. The first time I took him to San Clemente Skate Park he was only twelve years old. I remember driving down Avenida La Pata, and the grin on his face made me wish we had taken him to the skate park so much sooner. If I knew at that very moment the simplicity of a boy’s happiness, I’d have saved a grip on Amusement Park tickets. When we pulled into the parking lot, I was pretty impressed. The park had a brick bathroom and not just an outhouse! I’m sorry, but any woman will agree this was a plus.
After some hesitation, from this child who has been skating since he was seven years old he finally bolted from the car with his two younger brothers and I was left in their dust. He went straight to the bleacher type benches and watched while his brothers strolled around on their board and scooter in another paved area of the park. It seemed like forever till my son would join the rest of the skaters that ranged from very young to, “Impressive that guy can still pull that off.” The motto, “Once a skater, always a skater,” is alive and well in the quiet town of San Clemente. When I was younger it was strictly street for me and the most I could pull off was a 360. So to watch some of these kids that looked like they were in first grade, drop in on a bowl is shocking at first. My son had finally made his way inside the gated area surrounding stairs, a steep rail, and combo bowls of different sizes. The park itself is very clean, and for first timers with parents tagging along there is a grassy area on the far side of the park and enough room for hesitant newbie’s to gain their confidence as they watch and learn, on the other side of the fence.
At first many, if not all, parents will stay and keep an eye on their skater until they are confident in the atmosphere of the park and the child’s ability to skate without damaging injury. A newbie does not stay a newbie for long in this crowd. The presence of the people who skate and hang at the park is welcoming and very friendly. The kids learn what being a skater is about in time which is a great financial relief for the parents. After a few years and almost having to break into the college fund, to keep your kid looking like a skater. They finally understand it’s a lifestyle and not just about a label; except for maybe the deck, trucks, bearings, and wheels. From what I have noticed is all these kids look out for each other and some form a tighter bond than they have with some classmates. San Clemente Skate Park is a place kids begin to call home after years of being part of its environment. They go to hang out and socialize, learn new tricks, and just have fun. It is not considered the best made skate park around, but it is more than just a Skate Park to these kids and for those to call it home makes it at the very least a second favorite.
