Skaters in Greece are becoming more and more every day, but you can count on your finger tips the places with ramps and where they can skate. You can hear only echoes of the sound of skateboards in the underground parking of the Politehnupoli university campus in Athens on Sunday morning. There two skaters downhill the rounded cemented floor. They leap into the air, catch the skateboard for part of the second and land with ease. Аanother skater next to them puts sandpaper on the board not to slip, preparing to follow the others. This is one of the favorite places of the skaters in Athens.
“I started to skate still in Larissa when I was in ninth grade,” says 21-year-old Pantelis, who is a student. “I drew graffiti before and skateboarding came naturally. We went to the central square and gathered ten boys little by little. We fell like pears at the beginning but the elder boys showed us a few basic things. Some of the best skaters of Greece were born in my city. We watched many films so we get used to skating. It became my greatest passion very soon. Even when I was preparing for the college entrance exams I was thinking about the afternoon, when I would take my skateboard and get out on the streets.”
The number of skaters in Greece has increased very fast in recent years. Even younger children are watching the elder boys with interest and making their first attempts to skate. “I can not understand why they do not make more skateboard parks. There is one in Larissa, but the best and oldest one is in Chalkis. There is nothing similar in Athens, although municipalities have placed ramps on some squares. But the city as a whole is suitable for skating, because there are many marble surfaces. Many foreign professionals come here because of the conditions. However, it would be better if there are special skate parks where younger children can train and go on the streets later. I have been traveling across Greece for skateboard competitions and if you are more open-minded you can make really good friendships.”
Skaters in Athens gather in Egaleo, Galati, and Aspropyrgos and, of course, the marble stairs of Syntagma Square. “Skating has become fashionable in recent years,” said Giannis, who is a student in English philology. “There is constant talk in magazines and on television about it. But few are those who really do it. There are the so called “summer skaters”, but those who deal seriously go out in winter too. It happened to skate in zero temperatures dressed with two jackets.”
A group of skaters downhill a mini skate park in Voula, which the municipality has built. Panos, who is a pupil in the eighth grade is trying to make a dangerous leap. “I've been skating for about two years. I was very happy when I got the first skate. Initially, I chose a skate for the drawing on the board. But I have changed so many boards and the only thing I care now is the comfort of the board.” Andreas added that many skaters buy boards just to carry them. “These are “posers”. There are two types of skaters: gangsters who wear loose trousers and listen to rap and punk; skaters listening to rock bands dress in tight clothes. Skateboarding, in general, is inexpensive sport but you have to spend some money for it. Each board costs about 200 euros and when you think that it breaks very easy and you should replace it almost every month, the price rises a lot.”
17-year-old Johnny is the star of skateboarding in the neighborhood. “I started to skate when I was 13 years old. I have participated in many competitions and in one ad on MTV” said he, while showing a 7-year-old boy. “Skating is not easy, because you can get hurt. You must know your limits and not to try things that you can not do. Personally, I tore my tendons and I had several minor injuries. But I will never give up. Like the men at the age of 40 who play soccer once a week with their friends because they did so when they were small I will make a mini-ramp at home to skate when I’m 50. The feeling of skating can not be described ”
Short from Vima Newspaper
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