FULTON, NY – Having spent 20 years on a skateboard, Andy Macdonald, the world’s top ranked professional skateboarder, rolled his way into the lives of students at Fulton Junior High School Friday afternoon.
Through the Verizon Wireless “STR8 TLK†program, Fulton was one of six area schools Macdonald visited this past week. (See gallery below)
As students listened and watched, Macdonald explained what it was like growing up in Boston with dreams of California and a life in the pro-skateboarding circuit. He delivered messages of self motivation and self discipline to achieve any dream and explained how staying determined and drug-free helped him to reach where he is today.
An eight-time World Cup Skateboarding Champion and X-Games gold medalist, Macdonald is known around the country and the world both for his talents on a skateboard and for the way he conducts his business and his life.
Macdonald explained to the students that he decided he wanted to be a professional skateboarder when he was a junior in high school. From the time he made that decision, he said he worked for years and battled the obstacles to make it happen.
“I knew this was what I wanted,†he said.
Not putting his education on the back burner, Macdonald said he knew it was important not only to finish high school but also to have a back up college plan in the event his pro-boarding plans didn’t pan out.
“Education comes before everything,†Macdonald stressed. “It turned out to be one of my most important decisions. High school became a building block for what I consider to be the rest of my continued education.â€ÂÂ
After high school, Macdonald traveled to California in an effort to pursue his dream. Holding part-time jobs to live for two years and spending as much time as he could on a skateboard, Macdonald explained that it was not an easy task but eventually, he secured his first pro-contract.
Because of the nature of the sport, Macdonald explained that hard work and practice were key to standing out from the pack.
“Skateboarding is a lot about individualism and self expression,†Macdonald said. “It is more of an art form than a sport in a lot of ways.â€ÂÂ
He explained that his decision to stay away from drugs and alcohol has helped him maintain the clarity to remain focused on those efforts.
“Skateboarding saved my life,†Macdonald said, quoting a t-shirt he wears. “Luckily, skateboarding found me before drugs and alcohol did.â€ÂÂ
Stressing his “lead by example†mentality, Macdonald explained that he stays drug free as an adult, as well, recognizing there are others who others look up to him.
“There comes a time when you realize that your time isn’t just yours anymore,†he said. “There are kids looking up to you. You have to set an example.â€ÂÂ
Macdonald was the first athlete to be featured in a public service announcement for the Partnership for a Drug Free America. From that, he was invited to the White House to meet former president Bill Clinton. With a smile, he admitted to dropping his skateboard on the marble floor at the White House and taking a little ride.
Beyond skateboarding, Macdonald has written an autobiography, “Dropping In with Andy Mac, The Life of a Pro Skateboarder,†has launched andy mac™ products including footwear, skateboards, helmets and pads. He also appears in “MTV Skateboarding featuring Andy Macdonald†video game from THQ.
“If you can think it up, absolutely you can do it,†Macdonald said. “You’ve got to have a back up plan…. but most importantly, I learned you’ve just got to be stubborn.
“It takes long hours, hard work and dedication,†he added. “You can live your dreams.â€ÂÂ
Capping off his visit to Central New York, Macdonald spent time Saturday with students who were selected by the principal of each of the five area STR8 TLK program schools at Red Planet Skate Park in Oswego for a private skate lesson, followed by an open skate with him. During that time, Macdonald demonstrated the difficult maneuvers that have catapulted him as a world champion skateboarder.
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I must admit that I’ve been occassionally put off by certain skateboarders. I have also been occassionally put off by certain elected officials, other athletes and other random people in our society.
My point? My point is that skateboarding is a hobby, identity and passion for an increasing number of young people and you can’t apply a single attitude about all skateboarders.
I was recently asked if I was a skateboarder when I was younger when I said something that was deemed favorable about skateboarding.
I said, “No, but if I was a kid today I might have been because I like the free spirit and nonconformist attitude of many of today’s skateboarders.”
“It must be a real sense of freedom and an ultimate form of expression to skateboard.”
I also thought about riding my motor-cross bike all over town including Foster Park and Phillip Street Elementary School where I would I would use the parking lot grass hill as a ramp. (Yes, I created dirt where grass was suppose to grow.)
Again, what’s your point Matt? My point is that we all need to be respectful of one another and one another’s property. And, that we as adults need to embrace the hobbies and passions of the young especially considering the ever unending unproductive and unhealthy options.
It is a fact that not every young person is going to be in the band or chorus, on the football team or cheerleading squad, or on the Yearbook staff or Science Olympiad team. So, the question is: what types of other activities are we going to promote and/or allow? Skateboarding seems like as good an activity as any.