Skateboarding isn’t just a hobby for Junior Justin Hawley. It’s a huge part of his life. Hawley has been skating since middle school and has participated in everything from street-league skating to competitions hosted by major skateshops. To him, skateboarding is a passion that goes far beyond the skatepark.

Hawley, someone who skateboards almost every day, said that CHS doesn’t have a skateboarding club, but he and a group of friends from the school get together to share their passion for the sport.

“Me and four other kids who go to the school all go together. We’ve all been friends since eighth grade, and we all know each other. We always meet at the same skatepark and go out,” he said.

According to Hawley, one major misconception that people have about the sport is that there is only one type of skateboarding. Hawley said that this is not the case, and skateboarders predominantly focus on two main types of skateboarding in the area.

“There is street-league skateboarding, which is what we do. We go out into the streets and find places like stair sets, and we film it ourselves. Then there is vert-skating, which is stuff like poles and half-pipes,” Hawley said.

Hawley’s group of friends also goes far beyond the old stereotype that has presided over the sport. Hawley said he believes that, like skateboarding itself, the stereotype is changing.“Today, people have come to realize that, for the most part, skateboarders aren’t rebellious or juvenile. That profile has been thrown out,” he said.

Hawley said that this new reputation and respect has allowed the sport to grow over the last few years, especially within CHS.

“I think (the reputation)  definitely is (changing), and I think a lot of people are just now gaining interest in (skateboarding). Stuff like street-league, local competitions and national competitions are definitely bringing more people in the community to the Monon,” Hawley said.

Scott Cullumber, owner of the Rise Skateboard Shop, agrees with Hawley. He said via email, “Skateboarding is definitely being seen in a more positive way in recent years.”

Cullumber said that a large portion of this success is drawn from new skateboarding attractions around the Indianapolis area,especially the new Monon Center skatepark.

In recent years, the Monon, as have other skatekparks in a greater Indiana, has expanded its reach into the skateboarding community, the Monon has come to host several big tournaments, and these have attracted skateboarders from all around Carmel. These include students at CHS like Hawley.

“We have (tournaments) every year at the Monon Center, put on by Rise Skateshop, I’ve taken part in one, and they put them on for all different age groups. So, it’s pretty cool. They do them downtown” Hawley said.

He said these tournaments are unique; they may seem strange for kids who aren’t used to them. According to Hawley, they are pretty laid back.

“For the one at the Monon Center, they pick an age/difficulty group and then there are 30 kids all skating at once. It’s pretty crazy. It’s the best trick that’s done, and the judges pick that,” he said.

“The competitions have motivated local skateboarders to be more innovative, and kids think they are fun.” Cullumber said. “(The Monon Center skatepark)  influences progression, and you can meet people with similar interests, making it a good place to socialize.”

The Monon Center skatepark may be the center of the skating community for  students at CHS. It is also the place where Hawley has expanded his career with his group of friends. A few years ago, the group was at the Monon trying out new tricks. It was at this time that the group decided to compile tricks into a documentary-type film. This was no small production. It took a lot of hard work, determination, and three years to finish.

Hawley described the experience, saying, “When you go out to street-skate and you have a new trick that you’re trying for one, two or three hours, that’s what you want to film.” He continued, “There was way too much stuff to put in, but we took the best and put it in together. Everyone has their own separate part.”

Hawley said the film was a success, and it was all worth it in the end, stating, “We got to premier it at the skate shop, and that was really cool. It was awesome to see all of our hard work pay off.”

According to Hawley his group did not make any money off the project but other people have taken the opportunities skateboarding provides to make both a career and living.

A lot of businesses have been started in the community. Rise has been here forever, but a lot of board companies affiliated with Rise, have started their own companies. “It’s good to see people using their love to make a living,” he said.

Cullumber spoke about the business aspect of skateboarding. He said, “Since Rise first opened, it’s grown enough to support the construction of a number of skateparks around Indianapolis and the suburbs.”

Skateboarding is a sport that can truly consume one’s life. It is a sport whose reputation is changing with the times, and it’s growing larger and larger everyday.

Cullumber said opportunities around the area means, “Kids will start skateboarding at a younger age, and it will continue to be more accepted, leading to the development of more parks.”

The sport is changing for the better, and Hawley finished by saying, “There is no stereotype for a true ‘skater.’ The growth of the Indianapolis community itself shows that skating is for anyone to enjoy. Seeing people from ages four to 45 coming to the skatepark is a reminder that skaters are just having fun.”