Skating on the Edge

Standing between Cameron Chan and the bottom of the hill is a mixture of pride and redemption.

Chan, 20, is a long board skater and is currently at the top of Fox Hollow Road on the south side of Eugene, Or.

Most people wouldn’t dare do what Chan is about to do but with one large push, he’s off.

With an elevation of 1,427 feet, Fox Hollow stands more like a mountain than a hill, so it doesn’t take much for him to reach a maximum speed of forty miles per hour.

With such speeds, the repercussions are serious, but the adrenaline rush outweighs the risk for Chan.

This time he reaches the bottom of the mountain successfully, without having a scratch on his body.

One would think Chan has been doing this for his entire life, but his desire for skateboarding started just a few years ago.

Originally from the island of Hawaii, Chan found skate boarding as his passion when he was a senior in high school. He brought that passion with him to Eugene, where he is a student at the University of Oregon.

When Chan got his first board, he simply just wanted to get to places faster. But after just a few rides and meeting other fellow skateboarders, skateboarding became something Chan likes to do everyday.

“At first, I just wanted to get around town,” Chan said. “But after awhile, I started learning tricks and stuff and I was just hooked.”

Pretty soon Chan will be landing new tricks at Eugene’s very own Washington-Jefferson Skatepark.

The WJ skatepark is set to open in June, and advocates claim it will be the largest covered lighted skate park in the nation.

And as Chan says, “It’s going to be the sickest thing ever.”

Located underneath the Interstate-105 Bridge, the skatepark is replacing an abandoned and dangerous park and bringing a safe and fun environment for skateboarders of all different skill sets.

However, the issue is the poor reputation skateboarders have with the general public as a whole.

Skateboarding is typically stereotyped with terms such as punks, tattoos, skinny jeans, and graffiti.

In addition, illegal skateboarding in areas such as downtown and on the UO campus doesn’t help the reputation for skateboarders.

However, Chan believes the new WJ skatepark will solve this issue to some extent.

“I wouldn’t say for sure that it will clear the problem of skaters skating in illegal places,” Chan said. “People are still going to skate those spots, but it will definitely help (reduce it).”

“We’re generally good people. There are always exceptions, but we’re not trying to be a burden or disrespectful.”

While skateboarding isn’t a mainstream sports such as football, basketball, or baseball, the WJ skatepark plans to increase the popularity of the sport and allow for more people to get into skateboarding.

It’s sports like skateboarding that offer an alternative lifestyle for kids who are looking to get exercise and find their passions in life.

“We just want to have fun, get exercise, and do what we like to do. If it could all work out for everyone that’d be great but that’s never the case.”

In spite of the great exercise, safety is a major concern for the sport. Statistically, skateboarding is one of the most injury causing sports around.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, skateboard-related injuries accounted for more than 78,000 emergency room visits among children and adolescents in 2011.

While those numbers may alarm parents of children who skate, one thing to note is that most injuries occur because skaters typically refuse to wear safety gear.

James Stilson, a friend of Chan and a fellow long board rider himself, recalls an instance of safety when Chan lost his board from underneath him.

“He was probably going around 35 miles per hour when he lost the board from under him and he slid mostly on his right side on the road and then ending in the gravel,” Stilson said.

“He had a hard time walking at first and had to pick gravel out of his right leg.”

Stilson added: “He was wearing his helmet or else it could have been a lot worse.”

Chan notes that he is always cautious when long boarding downhill.

“I always where a helmet and sliding gloves when I’m skating down hills,” Chan said.

While he may not be a professional skater, Chan enjoys long boarding down hills for exercise.

In the end, skating has proven to be a beneficial part of Chan’s life by opening new doors for him.

“It’s had its ups and downs, but it really depends on the person,” Chan said. “It really has helped me make new friends and meet a lot of different people.”

Let’s Get Tactical
Eugene’s Famous Skateboard Shop is Full Force Behind Future Skatepark

It was 13 years ago when Tactics was selling snowboard gear out of a garage.

Tactics is now the leader in selling action sports supplies and gear in the city of Eugene, Or.

And since the news broke out about the construction of the Washington-Jefferson Skatepark, the shop’s atmosphere has been eccentric.

Tactics marketing consultant Jeremy C. explains the amount of excitement that the WJ Skatepark will bring to the area.

“There has been a lot of enthusiasm among the skateboard community,” Jeremy said.

But it’s enthusiasm that’s not only from the skateboard community, but from the rest of the city as well.

“The city has been pretty excited. Before the park was under utilized but now the park will add a little more flavor to the Whitaker District.”

Not only will the skatepark bring a new place to skate for the community but as Jeremy says, “There will be tourism strategies and large events” that will be involved with the park.

Several local professional skateboarders are sponsored by Tactics and thus will most likely compete in competitions held at the skatepark once it opens.

But Jeremy also believes the WJ Skatepark will help grow the sport of skateboarding for beginners too.

“People are going to get better at skating because the park is covered, lit, and will be available to everyone 24 hours of the day, 7 days of the week,” Jeremy said.

Jeremy continued: “The nice thing about it being so large is that if you’re a skateboarder just getting to learn the sport, there is space at the park with all different skills. Anybody will be able to use it, it is truly a community park.”

It’s safe to say Tactics will be involved with the WJ skatepark and with a proximity so close to the park, business will be plentiful.

As Jeremy recalls, Tactics and the city have been working hand in hand with the project to get it where it is today.

Tactics plans to host events at the park with at least one event a year and possibly more.

As Jeremy concluded, “Tactics will be an active proponent of the park.”