Every summer when I was little, my family would take a summer vacation to a different city on the West Coast. Sometimes we would visit a buzzing metropolis like Los Angeles or Portland, but more often than not, we would end up in a quaint town that rarely experienced tourism. Odd as it may seem, it was these remote locations that I often enjoyed the most.
Instead of fighting our way through long lines or shuttling around the city to take in a few of the main attractions, each day we would explore some aspect of the city, which was usually a lake, forest or park. Not only did this give us an opportunity to meet local people and enjoy the exquisite nature and scenery of the Pacific Coast, but it was also cost-effective. Taking a jaunt on my skate buds around a city park is certainly less expensive than a day at Disneyland or Six Flags.
My best friend in high school was always looking for ways to set himself apart from the crowd. It started by reforming his image; adding multiple piercings and being the first kid in school to get a tattoo. He was always looking for ways to stand out socially as well, erupting in class and constantly performing over-the-top antics.
One of his more subdued attempts to garner attention came in the form of his footwear. I was alarmed when he came to school one day wearing big, bulky black shoes; a total departure from his usual style. As we were walking down the hall, he suddenly started to glide away from me and I realized that he was wearing a kid skate shoe.
“Adrenaline junkie” is an understatement, and “daredevil” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Someone might need to come up with an even stronger way to describe Dirk Auer, the German man who made history in July by skating down a rollercoaster track. Auer rode the rails of a coaster in Stuttgart, traveling 2,821 feet in a minute flat. That’s more than half a mile of track.
While few of us mere mortals could hope to compete with Auer’s feats of derring-do, just donning a pair of roller skate shoes provides a thrill on a more manageable scale. Skate shoes are great for getting in shape and exercising without realizing that you’re actually engaged in a workout. Why not save the roller coasters for the pros and the crazies.