Celebration of skate
It's not "farewell" but "till we shred again" for Hive community

As most in the Durango area know by now, after two years, The Hive nonprofit youth center is unable to continue in its leased space at 1150 Main Ave. But before we begin reversing the screws on the Skatelite ramp, we summoned all riders for one last skate session Fri., May 3. And to skate it correctly, we tore down the house.

When I awoke Saturday morning, the first thought to come to mind was “everything hurts” followed by, “that was the best session ever.”

As I limped down the street to get coffee, it became apparent how much of a beating skateboarding exacts on the human body, especially when you are no longer a teenager. This is the painful glory of skating over 40. When you notice random clicks in your musculoskeletal frame days later, you know you have walked away a different person. It’s those kinds of sessions that can change you in permanent ways. And that story is for life.

Knowing that this was the last hurrah brought out the Four Corners’ most talented skaters for a no-holds-barred celebration of skate. Not only did we witness some of the best tricks to ever go down on ramps in La Plata County, in similar fashion, we witnessed bodies hit the floor like never before. It reminded me of a skate jam we used to host back in Boston called Slam-town, where bands like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones would show up.

Fueled by the beats and riddims of DJ Vale and sidekick Leo Stephenson, the crowd of onlookers crammed into The Hive and were treated to an extraordinary display of daringness in the Shrine of Shred. People of all ages and abilities were uniting in an expression session never seen before. Boards were flying, and sneakers were catching the boards as if they were hands. Before long, the wheels of fortune turned a friendly session into a pageant of punishment. It became a whirlwind tour of the tricktionary: rails were ground; copings were smacked; ramps were launched; boards were grabbed; airs were landed; noses were slid; walls were footplanted; transitions were tricked; pockets were carved; decks were flipped; and minds were blown as the crew kissed the park goodnight one final time.

To list all the highlights would require a forest of paper, but a few notables stood out: a dizzying 360 flip that was smoothly stomped; a massive frontside indy; a youngster holding what surely was the longest nosepick in Colorado history.

In the end, the event was so manic that we never stopped to honor the winners of the best trick contest. Nobody really cared, because in skating we celebrate individuality, and in that way every rider is a winner. Slam after slam, the session elevated to fever pitch. Not surprisingly, snaking was at a minimum as everyone politely traded turns in a feeding frenzy.

As skate instructors, we teach the kids that falling is inevitable. You will fall and you will fail, but you will progress. This maxim can also be applied in other areas of life. On the other side of pain is glory.

By 10 o’clock, most skaters had left, but one last rider would not give up without a make to complete his session. After what seemed like 50 grimacing slams, the trick was finally stomped, and what was left of the crowd went berserk. Fortunately for all, given the amplitude of the jam, no medical attention was necessary. 

The following day, upon serendipitously encountering another participant from the night before also limping down the street, my belief was confirmed. Apparently, I am not the only one who gives a slam about the Durango skate scene. The soreness that next morning had me wondering why I continue to do this. However, much like after a big day in the mountains, for several days, I experienced a mild euphoria in stark contrast to my body’s condition. 

After the pain subsided one truth arose: The Hive means a lot to this town. It means a lot to the kids, the parents, the adults, the adults who are still kids, the directors, the volunteers, the artists, the musicians and anybody else who has come in from the cold to seek shelter in this community. The Hive has been serving up a year-round, all-inclusive skatepark for two years. And that flame should not be extinguished. The siblinghood of the wheel will continue to roll into the future, wherever that may be. To all who attended, that night will remain unforgettable. On that night, a new click of thrashers was born. For that I am grateful.

The skate of the union in Durango is “a-Hive” and well.

If The Hive has brought positivity into the lives of people you know, please consider volunteering or donating at www.thehivedgo.org. To register for youth summer programming, call 970 508-0445.

Chadwick Dixon teaches skateboarding and Spanish at The Hive.