Opportunity on wheels now rolling

On a sunny afternoon earlier this month, young skaters performed tricks at Volcom Skate Park in Costa Mesa.

These skaters, from local intermediate and high schools, had always been doing their thing. But now they can be attached to a team.

Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley, with the help of Mike Ogas and local skateboarding legend Jim Gray, came up with the idea of starting junior high and high school skate club teams.

The teams are focused on competing against each other and learning to skate well, Foley said. But the clubs also introduce the youth to career opportunities in the skateboarding industry. They can get into the business not just by trying to become professional skateboarders.

The skateboarding field also features opportunities to become certified public accountants, graphic designers, chief financial officers, filmmakers, web designers, promoters, event planners and business owners, Foley said.

“Having so many opportunities, it’s a way to motivate them to stay in school and get a job in an industry they love,” Foley said. “There’s no reason Costa Mesa can’t pump out some competitive athletes.”

Foley figures the city is an ideal place to start such a group dedicated to skateboarding. After all, Costa Mesa is the home of Volcom Industries, RVCA and Hurley among other skateboarding manufacturers.

Skateboarding is not a crime; it’s an art, a sport and a growing business industry, Foley said.

Earlier this month, Foley kept those thoughts in mind as she formed the O.C. Skateboarding League, a nonprofit. The league set out to start skate teams in the junior high and high schools in Orange County. The league’s first teams are at Estancia High, Tewinkle Intermediate, Costa Mesa High and Costa Mesa Intermediate.

Foley received some help along the way. Monet Quick, Gray and Ogas, the Costa Mesa High coach, have been helping, as well as Seth Elson, who is in charge of events, and Armando de la Libertad, who deals with fund development and events. Greg Barazza (events), Joey Lopez (TeWinkle coach), Caleb Louer (Estancia coach), James Rooney (Mesa Intermediate coach) and Matt Sheridan (basics of skateboarding leader) have also aided in the development of the league.

Teams will have the chance to compete May 1 at Volcom Skate Park in the National Skateboard Assn. Future Amateur Series. The competition includes San Diego, Long Beach and San Bernardino. Winners head to the semifinals at the Sport Chalet headquarters in La Cañada. The finals will take place at Etnies Skate Park in Lake Forest. The top 10 riders will gain the opportunity to skate in the X Games in July.

The league has quickly attracted young skaters. Count in Ethan Mctague, 12, a seventh-grader at Costa Mesa, as well as eighth-graders Migue Rosas and Luis Castro.

“It’s fun to have a skate club and to be able to skateboard in private skate parks, and to be able to compete,” Mctague said.

Rosas is happy to be on the team, too.

“It feels good because it’s like the first one, the first skate team a school has ever made,” Rosas said. “Being able to be in a skate park and land a trick, you get this good feeling inside.”

Castro thinks skateboarding should become a team sport at schools. It could create competitive rivalries in Costa Mesa and Orange County.

Ogas, who starred in the movie, “Lords of Dogtown,” is happy to guide the kids, as he’s also the head coach of all the teams.

He’s been skating since he was 7, but he took skateboarding seriously when he was 14 and has been skating for about 20 years.

“I’m changing kids’ lives,” he said. “The parents love the fact there’s a clean-cut skateboarder who loves to teach kids.”

Louer always wanted to have a skate club team. He believes skateboarding opens up job and career opportunities.

“A lot of people don’t want to give it a chance,” Louer said. “Give credit to these kids for wanting to skate. I’m really excited to be part of it. When I was in high school, I wished there was skateboarding.”

Louer has been skating for 16 years and has been teaching skating lessons for five years. He works with young skaters frequently.

“As soon as I heard about the skate club team I jumped on board and was excited about it,” he said.

Elson is on board too. He’s conducting a local Battle of the Zones event June 27 at Volcom. The Skate Slam event takes place at the same time. The Battle of the Zones will officially launch the clubs to the general public. The event will have a skateboarding contest with judges. Vendor booths, a kid zone and a live stage for entertainment will also be on site.

The proceeds from the event will go to the league.

The teams welcome members. Those interested may call Ogas at (714) 336-7584.