About two weeks ago my friend Phillip who's nephew is a good buddy and skate's regularly with the boys told us that there was an upcoming skate contest in Alabama. It was a park located just past the Tennessee/Alabama line and was rougly an hour and half away from our cozy little homestead.
He also said that he thought the park itself was a pretty cool park. He also told me they would not be able to attend. This is usually a deal breaker for me in that most of the time I alone am the one who is driving and hanging out at skateparks and skate contests with the boys and unless we have friends traveling along for extra companionship and support we usually don't make the trip. It's just how I roll.
Skateparks can make me a little skeerd sometimes is all I'm saying. Actually I get skeerd at skateparks regularly. Do you ever get skeerd at skateparks? If so you feel my pain. Skateparks can just make you skeerd, skeerd skeerd! Something about boys doing crazy stunts at mega speed over and over again. I need support and someone to tell me they will be okay out there. But for some strange reason this particular weekend I decided that we might as well go despite the lack of traveling companions and myself being totally skeerd. Sorry.
For the entire drive down I kept telling the boys that since we really didn't know the area and since we were alone and since we also did not really know what to expect and above all since our S.Carolina Gamecocks just ended Alabama's ninteen game and three year winning streak that we should just be our friendly selves, skate our best and keep our big mouths shut as much as possible. If you know us you know how utterly impossible it is for us to do just that. But we were gonna try.
Once there we discovered that the park was indeed lovely. Lovely?
It was in a nice area, the park had a great layout and the people were warm and friendly and the large majority of them were wearing Alabama shirts, jerseys or ball caps. True story.
Once this startling observation was made I again leaned in close to the boys and whispered "hey guys, I say lets just not mention that Daddy is USC alum and that we beat the snookers out of Bama last weekend okay?"
They agreed and hit the course to warm up. Mo went strait to the mini-ramp. His favorite place on earth.
Austin checked out the bowl.
Once registered we waited for the judges to tell us when to roll.
In each of the catagory's that the boys competed in they gave it their absolute best. I know for sure. I watched. Like totally.
The judges watched, scored and tallied up the numbers as the day went along.
The boys watched and waited while being quiet and polite. I hoped.
They finished the mini-ramp and street course runs.
Then they hit the bowl for the last of the contest.
Both Morgan and Austin skated very well but again it was the little dude who came away with the wins.
A first place prize for the mini-ramp.
Another first place for the bowl.
And a second place for the street.
Most of the contestants were in good spirits and happy with the outcome.
We made many a new friend that day. Nary a word was mentioned about football. (thankfully) Which I am sure added to the success of our visit to Insanity skatepark in Alabama this sunny Saturday.
I was happy for both of the boys and their efforts and attitudes.
Austin is still working on improving and each week and I am working on how to comfort an older child who watches his brother come home with a win nearly every time he competes. I am learing quickly how difficult this is to do.
Overall a fun time was had and we we will return to the Insanity skate park in Alabama soon. It's areally great place to skate. They also have a great pro shop.
And last but indeed not least they have a vert ramp someone needs to conquer. We will indeed go back.
I'll let you know how that one goes.
Over and out.
The SLM
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