Interview with William George Tricks
William explains how he started skateboarding because it a free way of getting around and his first skateboard was a blue plastic flyer. The first place William skateboarded was at ‘The Hide’ which was local to him as he lived in Netherfield. He then became part of a small group who would skate together. He and his group skated at ’The Beige’ (centre of the business district) and the Bus Station. They also skateboarded at the shopping centre until they started to lock the doors.
William was aware that there was nowhere like Milton Keynes, with its redways and smooth surfaces. His bought his ‘proper’ skateboard, an Originator, from a shop called ’Taylor and McKenna’ in the shopping centre. William began to do tricks with his skateboard in 1984. His first injury was when he went to Rom Skate in Romford in 1985/6, where he landed on his back and injured his spine. William explains how the fashion and music that came with skateboarding was linked to the punk style. William believes that the punk style and skateboarding were interlinked because they both promoted the idea of being ‘rebellious’. He mentions that he has been in trouble due to skateboarding. William is of the opinion that people are going to skate where they want, but if it is a place dedicated to skating than thats even better.
William refers to ’skate brain’-the times when he is thinking of skating and possible places to skate. Now William has a family and finds buying new skateboards when they break is expensive. Nevertheless, William expresses his gratitude, stating that skateboarding has given him friends and has encouraged him to go places he would not have gone to otherwise.
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