Marble Madness: A Skateboarding journey.
Four wheels and a refined plank of wood roll along even spaced tiles as I approach the birthplace of every skateboarder’s dream, MACBA, Barcelona.
My journey to this moment in time was long, full of bruised shins, scabs and broken bones. I started skateboarding at 14, after being convinced by my best friend that it was ten times cooler than scootering. That first skate shaped my life in ways I could never think to perceive.
Through years of skateboarding, I became closer with friends, made many new ones and I seemed to grow into the mindset of a young adult in my mere teenage years. Through hours at the skatepark or in the streets I learnt the simple art of conversation with people from all over the world, especially as the influence of travelling skateboarders has seeped in like water through sand.
I learnt an important lesson that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I hope by reading this it will resonate. It is nothing new, but it is the fact that anyone at all can be your friend, especially through skateboarding or any mutual interest that gets you outside, in the streets or in nature, as long as you are doing something. At the age of 15, I found my key influences to be middle aged skaters trying their luck on the board again, their bones cracking with each push, compared with young kids vigilantly falling down every 5 metres as light as leaves in the hope that one day they can skate like the older skaters tearing up the park.
This influence was profound, it inspired my friends and I to travel for a year straight out of high school, dotting and drifting around Europe spreading noise and Australian accents, seemingly listening more than speaking, learning about a world we were yet to experience. Our youthful energy revitalised people all throughout our travels and in turn we received wisdom that can only be learned from time on the streets of Europe. It wasn’t solely because of skateboarding, BUT, it did just keep us on the bare streets of a city, creating a love for life and simply being amongst the people, which is still thriving to this day.
I bring us back to Barcelona, which at the time felt like an important peak of my life and skateboarding journey, where the marble seeps into the sea and smiles are given out for free and a conversation with a stranger is as essential as a meal. The city seemed to breathe with life and lust for the dreams of every single mind. It enchanted me and we were going to stay no matter what. We found jobs as landscapers on a vineyard about an hour from Barcelona and vowed to spend each weekend in the city, penniless or not. Not even enough coin for train fares, we felt like true vagabond skaters, living off bread and beer. We ended up sleeping rough on the beach for our first weekend, resulting in 2 robberies without catastrophe, losing little but our pride and a phone. However, soon we were housed by likeminded Mallorcan’ skateboarders struggling with English but with hearts so full of gold they could’ve been found in the tombs of ancient kings. They became friends for life and the experiences over each of those weekends we bummed it down to Barcelona have been etched into my heart in the form of smiles and laughter through language barriers that disappeared like autumn leaves.
I roll into MACBA, and with a watchful eye place my bag amongst others and instantly I’m greeted by a skater wondering if I speak English, him already knowing the answer was yes (the blonde hair might’ve given it away). We skated the plaza of dreams and talked about videos we want to create and new places we want to skate, before waving goodbye forever in a sunset of freedom and laughter.
As I reflect on this past journey amongst a whirlwind of experience, the one thing that seems to tie them together is Skateboarding. It may seem cliché to say, but I believe I wouldn’t be half the man I am today without having stepped on a board that first time. In my dreams I now see cities of marble bordering broad breaks of surf with wide eyed persons of all nationalities and ages thriving in the bustling streets. It’s something all skateboarders chase and perhaps it comes down to a longing for connection to people, or perhaps it is all just a connection to concrete.
Though you may not fancy a skateboard, I hope this inspires at least one person to take a simply hobby, travel or not, turn it into a lifestyle that will push you socially, physically and emotionally. This way there is no regret, only memories of a time with pure minds and purposeful passion.
I roll away and the rhythm of the tiles on urethane brings a smile to my face and my journey continues. The connection to concrete is something that I can’t explain, but what it means and where it has led me is found on this page and in my weathered eyes.
