photo by Walter Gore
photo by Steve Randazzo
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My StoryMy name is Jared Wheeler. I'm a 20 year old sophomore at Marquette University majoring in Digital Media and in Marketing. I've always been fascinated in skateboarding as a whole. I was fascinated in a skateboard as a kid before I knew how to ride a bike. I would play Tony Hawk video games and look at many skaters at parks when I would go with my parents as a kid. I first saw a longboard when I was 12 years when I saw it in my friend Danny's garage. I made fun of it because it looked like a weird long skateboard at first glance. Danny called it a banana board. Since I found it weird looking compared to a normal skateboard, I never thought much about it.
I transferred to a private high school called Wheaton Academy where I was introduced to many things that I never really paid much attention to in public high school. The first week I was there I saw one of my class mates riding a "Loaded" type longboards. This got my attention because it was closer to the size of an actual skateboard except it was a little longer, tan, and it looked a lot more flexible. When I asked him to ride it I was just amazed on how fast and flimsy it was. He told me this was called a " Longboard" and from then on I had a big interest in them. Anytime I would see somebody riding one I would always try theirs for a cruise. It wasn't until the end of sophomore year when this random kid on the street decided to freely give me his old one since he had gotten a new one. The one he gave me was a Sector 9 board, and this type of board has been my favorite ever since . Many reasons why its my favorite was because it was the first one I ever owned, and it was the one where I improved my skills on the most. I rode the board he gave me everywhere that entire summer. Then finally since I knew it was worth an investment, I decided to buy a brand new sector 9 board. Since then I continue to ride that sector 9 around my neighborhood and Marquette campus either alone or with friends. I occasionally do tricks on other boards I have like my Loaded Board. My love for the hobby grows every time I set foot on a board. If you ever want to go for a cruise or simply have a nice conversation about longboarding in general just shoot me your email and a nice comment, and I'll definitely cruise with you! |