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Ryans Enlightenment…
The last conversation I had with a teenager, was with Ryan (approx 14, from Andover).
He'd traveled up to Devizes to stay with his mate. They met me on the top of a half-pipe skate ramp, to watch the session that me and my mates were having. He's tall, probably the same as me (5' 10") short brown hair, a light blue hooded top and jeans, he quite confidently strides up and asks if I'm 'a pro'. I state 'nah, I just ride for me'… he then looks surprised and asks if I'm sponsored, another negative answer is returned. They both agree that I should be. I thank them, but explain that pro sponsorship in the UK doesn't pay enough to cover my mortgage and living expenses. That statement drifts over their heads and a bemused fact that I can get boards for free and travel loads flows verbally in my direction.
Now I'm thinking that they clearly see stardom and 'fame' above paying the bills and actually being able to live to a comfortable level. Whilst I think that's naivety on one level, it's also common sense on another. They see that a skill should be utilised first and financed second. It's a nice idea… I try to explain myself, but it's just bouncing off of them.
I then get informed that I should make a promotion tape and send it in. 'In?' I'm asking—apparently I just have to make a video of me, send it in to the magazines and then I get sponsored, easy hey?
I replied with 'nah'… and tried to explain that I don't want to be sponsored, I just wanna have fun, again that doesn't compute with them. Surely being paid to skate and not being paid to skate equals the same level of fun? Ahh, Mark sighs—I feel a catch 22 situation going on here. I either sit and explain the complexities of life, or…
'Yeah, I think you're right, maybe I should?' I say. They both beam back at me, like they've just passed their driving tests. They feel great and I feel great that they've shut up asking lots of stupid questions on my direction.
I gave them both some stickers, from my bag, and they grinned loads, thanked me and started sticking them on their boards. I got back on my board and started riding the ramp again.
This type of conversation happens a lot. Too frequently to post up here. It's that sort of conversation that I love having though. Life is simple, when there's no priorities in our lives. I thought for a bit how they probably both don't have any priorities other than finding Fridays school tie needed for a Monday morning. Naivety is fantastic, and its burst so easily. I remember the day my dad told me the musicians on Top of the Pops weren't actually to playing because 'if I looked closely', and unfortunately I did. 'you can see there's no cables plugged into the instruments'. He was right. But I didn't want to hear that. I would rather have kept believing what I was seeing and figured it out for myself in my own time.
So that day on the ramp, I didn't feel like bursting Ryan's bubble. He knew life was easy, he just had to tell me how to do it. I'm not sure if he should grow up or I should simplify my life, either way, I'm glad I listened.
Contributed by Mark (inc. image source).
Filed by DK on February 9 2006
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