Justin's Journey | Skateboarding - Best of 2023
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- This video contains a collection of our favorite clips of JMAN in 2023.
Our son was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at the age of 3. At 5.5 years old, we got him on a skateboard.
Since that time, he has far exceeded the original goal of being able to ride the skateboard on the flat ground of a school playground by Middle School. We never thought that he would progress this far or would continue for this long.
In the last few years, skateboarding has become a form of expression, freedom and belonging for our son. He is able to connect with others in the skateboarding community and express himself through his skateboard.
Through the openness of the skateboarding community, they have accepted him and the way that he rides. As similarly or as differently from anyone else and that "It's ok to be different." The community celebrates his uniqueness.
Through this acceptance, it has given him a sense of belonging, purpose, identity, and confidence.
When we first started going to the skateparks, I think that people must have thought it odd that this strange duo; a crazy middle aged dad and a kid that never spoke a word to anyone suddenly started showing up at the various parks throughout Northern CA in 2013.
In 2023, he has continued with the expression sessions and progressed a bit with more board control and being able to learn a few tricks here and there. We have also been fortunate to be able to travel longer and farther in the car than in year's past and was able to visit a few new skateparks this year.
Over the last year, skateboarding has continued to bring him out of his shell and he is connecting more with people in the community. He is now conscientious of what parks he wants to ride on certain days because his friends will be there. Even more grateful is that we were able to not only experience skateboarding together, but also do things together outside of the skatepark.
On day one, we knew ZERO "0" people in the skate community. As skate parents, we are grateful for the family connection and friends we have made. This year, we are happy to be able to give back to the skateboarding/skatepark community in our own small ways...
Another inspiring video. Well done.
Bravo!!!
JMAN so good! He rips, so proud of him, and hope to be 1/4 as good as him someday🤙
Great year. The long run in that 3 bowl waterfall bowl was awesom. I would love to skate the pool with the stairs. Awesome that a park build that.
I was hyped on that noseslide attempt. That is my style of street skating. Hope he goes back for that.
Amazing pictures at the end. Community and family are really the best part of this. SFoTY (Skate Family of the Year) Stay Rad.
Super cool but no flip tricks
Nope...He has zero interest in that type of skating.