Eric Shestalo wants to bring the fun back to the sport of skateboarding in Squamish.
The 40-year-old former DC National Championship skateboarder has done it all on his board and now he wants to help kids experience the pure joy he gets from riding.
"Back in the '60s and the '70s everyone was having fun and just skating," he said. "I remember pictures of a dad holding his kid and just riding around and having fun. We didn't have rules back then, but somewhere down the line, skateboarding developed a sense of elitism."
Shestalo says skateboarding can be for everyone and the heart of the sport is creativity and originality.
"Kids look through skate mags and see the pictures and think you have to be Superman and do all these crazy tricks," he said. "The finished product in magazines and on YouTube is an illusion - it's pure tomfoolery. Skateboarding is a simple pleasure and I want to bring out the skater in everyone."
In that spirit, Shestalo recently constructed a mini-halfpipe inside Sequence Board Supply. The halfpipe will serve as a training ground for young skaters to take part in lessons, which Shestalo will lead. The project took three days and Shestalo was pleased with how it turned out.
"With all of the rain we have here, having an indoor place to skate is a treat," he said.
Shestalo promises to help kids learn at least one trick per lesson but he stressed the need for a basic understanding of skateboarding.
"You've got to have the fundamentals down first," he said. "I just want to let kids know it's cool to do something solo as a skateboarder. A lot of times, kids jump on the board, try a few things out and get confused or frustrated. Skateboarding is for everyone to enjoy and the great thing about it is that everyone can have their own style."
Aside from the championship in 2003, Shestalo placed third in provincial competitions in 2006 and 2007. He also appeared in several commercials for Nintendo and Heineken. On top of that, he's been teaching skateboarding for more than six years and says he just wants kids to express themselves and have fun.
"There's no right or wrong in skateboarding," he said. "If you think you need to start doing impossible flips and technicalities to have fun, you're setting yourself up for disaster."
Above all, Shestalo said skateboarding is a time for kids to hop on the board and not worry about emulating what they see on TV. He said creativity is key to the sport.
"My main goals with my classes are to have fun, be creative and be original. Those are the keys to excelling and having a good time on your board."
Shestalo offers lessons either at the shop or a location of the client's choosing. For more information, visit www.skatecoachbc.com or call (778) 994-6969.
