Kickflips, Community, and Second Chances: Spokane’s Indoor Skate Haven
Fall and winter are a mixed bag of emotions for many Spokanites; many dread the cold, rain, and snow. Some look forward to the holiday or ski season but dread the long gray months of February and March. I have come to look forward to the cold and wet weather because it means the skate park will be full. YFC has the only indoor skatepark in Spokane.
Any weeknight from late November to March will be full of 11- to 19-year-olds doing kickflips on skateboards and tail whips on scooters. I do not skate or scooter, and if I am being honest, I could not tell if a pop shove it from a heel flip, but in the cold months, the skate park is my favorite place. The staff looks forward to the skatepark opening and students using the half pipe, kicker, boxes, and a-frame because it creates an incredibly positive shift in students’ demeanor across the youth center.
Stepping into the skate park, you’re immediately enveloped in the vibrant sounds of skateboards and scooters hitting the coping on the half-pipe. Students are focused on landing their newest trick, and you’ll witness the resilience of these young skaters as they fall and get back up. The older students take on a mentorship role, teaching younger ones how to do new tricks, like an ollie, for the first time. These students, who are regulars at the skatepark, are some of the most kind, respectful, and courteous individuals I’ve ever met. They respect our building, clean up after themselves, and warmly welcome new students who are just starting their skate or scooter journey.
As the only indoor skatepark in Spokane, we’re not just a local spot for Hillyard students; we attract youth from across the entire Spokane area. We have two students who regularly drive from Mead just to skate and hang out at the center. Many students take the bus or get rides from areas outside of Hillyard to have a chance to skate once the outdoor parks are no longer rideable. The skate park serves as a powerful platform for us to connect with these students, learn about their lives, build relationships, and introduce them to new hobbies. This year, we’ve seen a significant number of students who started with skating now engaging in our other programs, such as the music studio or basketball.
If I were to ask a random 50 adults at the mall today to give me two words to describe skaters, I’d likely hear several negative responses, including words like ‘disrespectful, vagrant, vulgar, etc.’ Skate culture has unfortunately been associated with a destructive and insubordinate image. Some of you reading this may hold similar opinions due to your own personal experiences with skating, skate parks, or skate culture. If this is the case, I urge you to visit the Hillyard 1010 Youth Center this winter on a rainy or snowy day to see our skate park in action. You might be surprised by what you find.