WORDS Rachel “Bagels” Bruskoff ILLUSTRATION Kris Haro
The name is Rachel “Bagels” and I’m here to dive deep into the world of skateboarding. Through my new monthly column here on Wheelbase I will be offering my insights on the skating scene as a female, a racer, a speed demon, a noob, a learner, a spectator, a traveler, an artist, and much more. Your mind will be opened up to learning the must know things of the skating world today. I shall provide emphasis on the need to know topics within the scene as well as content stirring up today within the world of women’s skating and just my general insights. So keep your eyes peeled for “That’s What She Said” and be ready for some stellar content!
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PASSION: an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. As skaters, we are enthralled by it. Our lives are fueled by love from the very first time stepping on a board to the aftermath of endless encounters on four wheels. We look at the world differently and experience life with a broader mindset, taking in all that we can and being open to any possibilities. All this is possible thanks to a wonderful piece of wood, hunks of metal, some urethane, and an open mind.
Nowadays, there are few things in life that are solely fueled by passion. We live in a world provoked by money, power, and success. We are raised within education to find our ‘nitch’, our ‘something’ we can eventually utilize to make a living off of. Unfortunately, through this way of life, most people do not get the chance to find their passion; their ‘something’ that makes their heart race or causes the sheer sensation of pure, raw happiness. We, as skaters, are extremely fortunate to have something else; an escape, a hobby, a passion that is our own.
Skating opens up worlds and mindsets to unlimited potentials. It is an incredible hobby, career, commute, etc. whatever you enjoy it as. It opens up the world of possibilities for the user to discover their own passion; whatever that may be. Whatever you want to do with a board, you can do it.
Anything is possible if you are passionate enough. If you truly love something, do it; it is all about you. Whether you skate bowls, shred mountains, dance in the streets, master tricks, carve around, throw slides, whatever, it all comes down to your passion. And I want you to do what makes you happy, what makes your heart race. My favorite thing to witness is a big smile: one that comes from that glow inside, that click in your brain, that ah ha! situation where anything bad and difficult doesn’t seem to matter; all that is important is the raw enjoyment of the moment. I hope that everyone may experience many of these instances, on and off a board. I hope that your individual love for skating fuels you to keep going at it however you want. Because that is what skating is; fun on a board through your own personal expression.
My love for skating drives me to do it as much as I can. My world shifted a full 180 once a skateboard enveloped my desires. It was never something that I thought would take over my life, but once I got the itch, I couldn’t stop scratching. I started slow, sidewalk surfing around on a Tan Tien at the beach, learning the basics and taking it easy. Once I experienced the thrill of mobbing fast down a mountain, I was hooked. So I kept at it, driving myself out to the mountains 3-5 days a week to get that taste of the good life. My passion kept spreading and eventually brought me out of LA, out of California, and into the rest of the world. Four years after first stepping on a board, I have experienced so much. I have traveled and met some of the greatest people in the world, I have conquered so many fears, and I live with a constant smile on my face; all thanks to my passion. All my other passions are falling into place and I love what I do. It is my life and I f***ing love it! My world experienced a grand shift thanks to my awakening through skating and I couldn’t be happier. I hope that can be said for absolutely everyone on a board. Whether skateboarding is an escape, a distraction, a way to get around, a hobby, or a profession, I hope that if you are on a board, that you are having a good time.
And that’s the point, right? I mean, that’s why we get into it. In my eyes, if you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. Come on, it’s skateboarding! It shouldn’t be taken too seriously. It is not about being better than someone else or being sponsored, it is not about doing things you don’t want or like to do. I don’t know a single soul who jumped on a board with the thought of it being serious. Yes, it can become more serious through competitions, races, sponsorships, etc. but it is important to realize one thing: you are still just skateboarding! Have fun with it! I jumped on a board out of curiosity and have stayed with it from love, so I keep loving it and just having fun!
Remember; we are the lucky ones. In today’s world, everyone is undergoing their own journey, on their way to discover life and who they are. Some figure it out early, others never grasp it. We may be on a greater journey as well, but as skaters we have found some magic along the way. Our lives are filled with excitement, experimenting, and fun thanks to this world we dove face-first into. Whether other things get hard, whether life bites you on the butt, I hope that you find happiness through skating. We embrace this incredible world of shredding with open arms and we are all the better for it. Keep doing what makes your heart shine and your life will be brighter.
I hope that you are always inspired to do what you love and that my words can provide more oomph! to keep you doing what you already have passion for. I thank you for reading my spiel and hope that you get excited for more content to come! As each month progresses, I will be digging deep into our skate culture to provide some epic content focusing on the gnarly shredding ladies of today, insights and discussions of our scene in general, as well as the must know topics to get you up to speed with the skating world. So, keep peeled and stay stoked for many more “That’s What She Said!” columns.
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