Skatepark Trip

We recently headed down to the Houston area to visit relatives for a weekend. We had thrown around some ideas for places we’d like to checkout but there were no set plans. Normally, not having some type of schedule kind of freaks me out. But, I’ve learned that when it comes to having a day out with the kids, things constantly change. So, it’s better to just ride it out. That Saturday morning was no different. As we drank our coffee we threw around some ideas of what we wanted to do and get accomplished. It was decided that we’d all go grab some breakfast, and then do a little shopping before anything else. Then once that was wrapped up we’d make a trip to a nearby skatepark. 

Now, I'm not sure if I’ve ever talked about it on here before but I’m a firm believer that alternative sports are just as important as regular sports. I’ve tried to encourage my daughter to try different things, and I’ve never said that it has to be a team sport. Back when she was about seven I actually brought up skateboarding but she totally shut me down. So, imagine my surprise this summer when she asked if she could have a skateboard. Not wanting to spend a huge amount of money for something that I wasn’t sure she'd stick with, we made her deal. We’d get her a beginner board, and if she stuck with it for at least a year then we’d get her a skateboard of her choosing. With her previous lack of interest, I honestly thought that this was just something she’d do occasionally. Or the minute she took a hard fall she’d call it. But as soon as we had her board assembled she was outside under the carport practicing. It's been four months now and she still hasn't lost interest.

Well, it wasn’t long after she started that the other kids decided to take up skateboarding as well. So, I figured this would be a great place for them to get in some practice. Our local skatepark is tiny and really run down so they don’t have a lot of options. As we made our way to breakfast that morning it was mentioned that this park was the largest in Texas. Y’all, they weren’t lying. It’s actually the “largest free skate park in the nation”. If you look at the planning firm's website it states that the park features, "a Texas-shaped bowl with a 20-foot full pipe, a 12’ foot vertical ramp, a 10-foot-deep bowl, and a “snake run” pathway." But you don’t really get the whole picture unless you can see it from above. As we entered through the gates I could hear the kid’s “oohs” and “ahhs”. Their comments were pretty entertaining as they took in all of the other kids, and watched the advanced skaters drop in on the larger bowls. After the awe faded a bit they put on their helmets and off they went! 

I’m happy to report that the kids had a blast! Even the big kids too. We spent just under two hours there and it was actually fun for us non-skaters too. I was able to walk around and watch the more advanced skaters which was pretty cool. The kids were able to learn a few new tricks and even made some friends in the process. There were a few falls but nothing major. And it was so great to see these kids helping each other out. Whether it was switching boards to try a different one, or giving encouragement when they were trying something new. It was a pretty awesome thing to witness. As we finished up the session it still took us a good thirty minutes to get the kids ready to leave. We even resorted to bribes and promises of returning again the next time we came to visit. 

I highly *recommend giving the North Houston Skatepark a visit if you ever find yourself in that area. Even if it’s just to watch the talented skaters. Did I mention that it’s free? Also, if you’re in need of some gear like we were -the kids needed helmets- then stop by Geometrics Skate shop. They’re located right across the street from the park. And the guys there were super helpful and really nice. 

  

*I wasn’t compensated for any of this. We just really had a great time so I thought I’d share. Plus, it’s a way to get the family out for a little while. And I know with all of the financial issues going on right now, free is always nice.