Before I had some of the best moments of my teenage years and my twenties in this skate park, I had never even heard bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, Flema, 2 Minutos, or The Ramones. This is where I learned to do and to feel many of the things that now define me as an adult. A good example is that I have never truly fit into any social group the way I did within skateboarding culture. They are just good people.
They value authenticity. They are not overly pretentious, but that does not mean they lack drive. And you know what really matters? The sense of community. That feeling where you belong to a moment, where you feel safe and at ease. Nostalgia really hits me when I think about it. Luckily, this skate park is still the right place for kids who practice this sport and just want to feel at peace and part of something.
People say extreme sports are not exactly advisable. It might sound strange, but there are still stigmas in society, that judgmental finger always ready to point and label something as wrong in people who follow alternative paths. I know a bit about that. Being a woman and loving skateboarding, graffiti, dirt, sweat, and punk rock is not exactly appealing to everyone. In places like Los Angeles or New York, maybe it is considered cool, but in my city and my country, not.
When I look at these photos, it is almost impossible not to remember those old days. Some of the wild things we painted on the walls are still there. Almost fifteen years later, they remain. They make me smile, and somehow they bring back songs, bands, and moments I thought were gone. There is something beautiful about growing older and knowing you were brave enough to be yourself. As a teenager, I used to question my own tastes a lot. Now, I truly value having kept and defended them.
Maybe you just see concrete structures made for skating, nothing more. But I cannot help but remember and smile. And I am sure you have places that do the same for you. I am not here to give advice or tell you how to feel, but for me, skateboarding was an underrated window my generation had to build real and lasting friendships. Like any subculture, the bond comes from honesty and shared experience. Those ideas are embedded in this skate park just as much as its ramps, rails, and graffiti. Coming back and remembering what I loved, and still love, has been something truly beautiful.
