8 minute read
Flyin’ High NEWNAN’S SKATEBOARDING SCENE
Written by JENNY ENDERLIN
Photographed by SARA MOORE
Because fall after fall occurs in skateboarding, athletes say there is no room for ego – only humility, hard work and comradery.
Seeking external acclaim is considered poor form in the sport of skateboarding, so when world-famous skaters like Eli Williams, Justin Brock and Brazilian Olympic medalist Kelvin Hoefler quietly slip into town to skate among the hundreds of other skaters at Newnan’s C. Jay Smith Park, there is never fanfare.
“I just love the community aspect of it, what it does for people. It gets you outside, but also, the bonds that form – I mean, they’re insane,” says Jesse Yates, firefighter and owner of Vinylyte Records and Skateshop, which began selling skateboarding gear in 2018.
“It’s probably the only sport that doesn’t matter what you look like, where you came from, how you dress, what you want to be called, what you identify as,” says Yates. “It’s open for everybody.”
Yates points out that because the initial startup cost is so low, anyone can afford to take up this daredevilish hobby, which is not always the case with other sports.
Before the local skatepark was completed in August 2021, Newnan skateboarding culture remained largely underground.
“Me and Zane [Hallman] would rip and run through the streets and skate anywhere and everywhere we could,” says Vinylyte-sponsored athlete Jahlil Buford, reminiscing over the numerous times his crew got into trouble growing up.
“There’s people that definitely judge it as ‘hoodlums running around,’” says Austin Gordon. “I view it as any other sport – people coming together, having fun, just skating!”
According to Yates, local skaters are grateful to have somewhere to finally skate without worrying about getting arrested. He feels that creation of the park sends a message of validation.
“You can see it in their faces how appreciative they are, and they’re talking to the mayor,” says Yates. “Skaters don’t get to talk to mayors. But on opening day, they walked up and thanked him.”
Newnan’s skate park, the largest in the state of Georgia, was built after years of lobbying. In the early 2000s, a group of skaters began petitioning the city for a skatepark.
“Once they got older, they kind of passed the torch down,” says Yates, who credits local skater Kurtis Kornacki for leading the campaign across the finish line.
“When this park opened up, I definitely leveled up on my skating times ten,” says Zane Hallman, local skater and creator of skate clothing line Glamour Georgia. “This place is beyond what I ever thought it would be.”
With a skatepark suited for national-level competitions, Yates says it’s close to producing homegrown skaters who go full-on pro.
In March, C. Jay Smith Park was headquarters for its first regional contest – the Red Bull Terminal Takeover Competition, which was originally envisioned for the Delta Museum in Atlanta but ultimately was moved to Newnan. The competition featured 10 crews from Charlotte to St. Petersburg, with Newnan’s Vinylyte-sponsored crew consisting of Hallman, Gordon, Cobe Harmer, Jaden Humble and Logan Hulsey proudly taking fourth place.
Ryan Clements, founder of The Boardr Skate Company, which produces competitions across the country, says several skaters were shocked to see The Boardr in Newnan.
“Dude, I can’t believe you guys are here!” he recalls skaters exclaiming, adding that while he’s skated in Atlanta many times, now that he’s seen what he calls Newnan’s “epic skatepark,” he’s a fan: “I would honestly prefer to stay in a hotel here and skate here.”
Clements says the municipality of Newnan may not have grasped the full impact that creating a world-class skatepark would have in terms of drawing people from all over to patronize local hotels and restaurants. “If you build it good enough, people will come from far away,” he states.
The up-and-coming Devin Flynn, who traveled from New Jersey for the Red Bull Competition, was excited by both the quality of the local park and talent of the skaters. “A lot of people here are really good,” he says.
Likewise, Hallman, who is looking forward to traveling to New York and L.A. for upcoming competitions, appreciated the opportunity to see new tricks.
“A lot of these people have never been to this skatepark before, and they were doing a lot of things I’ve never even seen done here,” Hallman says. “It was impressive.”
Skaters say the sport plays a vital role in their lives. Colin Mure explains it has taught him to wake up every morning and ask himself whether he is going to sulk all day or crush the day.
“This has been my mental release for the past 18 years plus,” he says. “This is where I come to release my everything.”
Buford says that while he works in film, nothing “puts that spark” in him like skating.
“Skateboarding culture influences everything in the fashion world, in the music world, in the entertainment world,” Buford adds. “It’s all drawn from skate culture. Skating is not just a hobby for some people. It’s a lifestyle. I know people who have put their kids on a board as soon as they can walk.”
To parents of children interested in taking up skateboarding, Yates advises: “Don’t be overprotective. Just let them do it. Yes, they’re going to fall. Put aside your copay for the ER and just keep that full because it’s going to happen –broken bones, lacerations, all that stuff.”
He recommends wearing protective gear. “There’s nothing wrong with wearing a helmet,” he says. “A lot of guys think it’s bad fashion, but it will save your life. Murphy’s Law is going to hurt you.”
The skaters of C. Jay Smith Park know this only too well.
“You have to focus because that’s how you land stuff. If you’re not focused when you try a trick, nine times out of 10, you’re going to hurt yourself,” says Buford. He recounts a “gnarly” time a friend knocked himself out and had a seizure, losing several teeth in the meantime.
Skaters say they embrace the risk inherent in the sport because it instills resilience and perseverance. Yates believes things like video games impart a false sense of accomplishment because the characters can never die.
“You can’t respawn in skateboarding. You go in and you try as hard as you can – and if you land it, you’ve really done something,” says Yates. “You know how hard you worked to build up to that point, and you actually pulled it off. You get a real, true sense of accomplishment for every trick you learn whether it’s the first one – which for most people is an ollie – to the tre-flips down stairsteps.” (An ollie is a skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap into the air due to the rider stomping the tail of the skateboard off the ground, then sliding his foot forward to level out the board at the jump’s peak.)
Sam Spier was initially hesitant when her daughter Clementine asked for a skateboard.
“Sometimes, there’s a lot of falls, but so far, she’s doing great. We’re up here all the time and I’m super glad she chose to get into this,” says Spier, who loves that her daughter has found a creative outlet that also happens to have a fitness aspect. “I think that it’s a great way for her to work hard at something and feel accomplished once she finally gets it.”
Clementine, 12, has been skating for a little more than a year and loves how quick people are to offer tips.
“It’s something active to do instead of just sitting around,” says Clementine. “And it’s a really supportive community.”
“I think skate culture is really inclusive,” says Spier. “Everyone is really kind to reach out and say ‘Hey, why don’t you try it this way?’ If Clementine is struggling with a trick or needs a skate tool, there’s always been some friendly person to help her out.”
Curious about skateboarding life? The athletes of C. Jay Smith Park say they have just one message: “Come out here and hang out. Meet a couple of us!” NCM
