Williston Publishimg - Index

Williston Publishimg - Teen Vermont - Index

most in middle school, rode the
ramps, pipes and other features at
Talent. They moved with controlled
chaos, somehow avoiding collisions
as they weaved past each other,
popping tricks and spinning on ramps
while Guns ‘N Roses and Snoop
blared over speakers.
“This is a good place to skate
because people support you and
cheer you on,” said Chikomborero
Jeso, 12, of Burlington.
The skaters, like 13-year-old
Brendon Ly of Williston, 12-yearold
Joe Goodrow of Williston and
instructor Matt Townsend, a 15-yearold
from Bolton, demonstrated that
comaradery.
Townsend pulled over Ly’s brother,
Cody, a diminutive 11-year-old who
had been riding fl uidly, bouncing to
the music as he launched off the
various features.
“This little midget is the best
skater here. He skates every day,”
Townsend said, as the younger Ly
beamed.
“He’s really good,” confi rmed Cody’s
brother.
Talent charges for its park, but
skaters looking for free opportunities
can fi nd public parks. Burlington,
Bristol, Rutland and Williston, for
instance, all have skate parks, and
Heroux said Essex is also building
another.
On the afternoon the dozen or
so skaters were riding at Talent,
Williston residents Brendan
Campney, 18, and Zander Goulette,
17, were cruising on their boards
at the skate park behind Williston
Central School, which was
constructed by David Wood, the
co-owner of Talent. The two rolled
between the quarter pipe and bank
ramp set up on each end of the park,
hitting jumps and boxes on each lap.
“Before we had to commute to (the
park in) Burlington,” Campney said.
Goulette said the Williston park
could use more equipment — he
suggested a half pipe — but agreed
with Campney that Williston has
better materials than Burlington.
5boro
Campney also goes street riding to
fi nd more diverse features.
“You just gotta make the best of what
you got,” said Campney.
If Campney happens to meet Steve
Rodriguez when 5boro comes to
TeenFest, he’d probably fi nd they
share similar attitudes.
“Skateboarding is a very creative
activity, where you approach your
environment and adapt to it,”
Rodriguez said. “In baseball,
Usually how it works is, we do a demo, hang out with some locals, then
skate the local street spots. Or someone has a ramp. That’s what’s so
good about skating, people want to share.” - Steve Rodriguez
basketball, there’s nothing to adapt
to. You adapt to other players, things
like that. With skateboarding you’re
playing with yourself, in a way.”
Teen Vermont, Spring/Summer 2008 — 37