As with most endeavors when a person tries to develop new skills, learning the hard way is often the only way because there are just no shortcuts. Trial and error, pain and injuries, disappointments, and failure occur while eventually for those who are dedicated, pick themselves off the ground and try again and again until they nail a jump, perfecting a move while defying gravity and shredding the 15 foot deep walls in the bowls for an exhilarating and satisfying ride.

I admire the grittiness, culture, and the repeated attempts by these mostly young men and boys with a handful of young women using skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, and BMX bicycles to attain their goals, admiration, and respect from their fellow athletes while trying to accomplish awesome moves and tricks.

Here's a small list of tricks skateboarders are attempting: fakie, nollie, hospital flip, Jesus flip, backside flip, Ollie north, 540 flip, plasma spin, camel flip, heelflip, barley grind, nail slide, crooked grind, tailslide, hurricane, darkslide, slash grind, madonna, nose grab, cannonball, frigid air, superman grab, airwalk, rocket air, backflip, acid drop, invert, Texas plant, Miller flip, sweeper, primo, roll in, tic-tac, hilly jump, flamingo, caveman, powerslide, daffy, hippy jump, tail stall, nose pick, ho-ho, among many others.