Back to the Grind

Skateboarding's image has been partially rehabilitated in the past decade. The days of filthy punkers and long-haired surfers wreaking havoc in city streets are gone — to people who aren't law enforcement-types, at any rate — replaced by the fresh-faced young kids of the X Games and other made-for-TV-competitions. Maybe that's good, maybe it's not. The point is, Who cares? Who cares why you skate, how you dress, how technical your run is and who your sponsors are? Just skate and shut up about the rest. Go Skateboarding Day celebrates the spirit of the old days, when the only thing that mattered was that you were on your board. Whether you're one of those up-and-comers with an arsenal of flip tricks at your toe tips, or an old-timer with busted knees and a penchant for the long carve, this would be a good day to go skating. Plan Nine Skate shop celebrates GSD with free admission from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at its new park, Plan Nine Skatepark at St. Louis Mills Mall (5555 St. Louis Mills Boulevard, Hazelwood; www.plan-nine.net). There will be contests, demos, product tosses and live music throughout the day, but mostly there will be skating.
Sun., June 21, 2009