' Allen Schabcn/ Daily Nebraskan
Dave Wupper, an undeclared sophomore, spends Monday afternoon In front of Precision Skateboard, 19th & O streets.
By Bryan Peterson
Staff Reporter
Lip slides, grinds, ollies, eat
ing it, hand plants, stroking and
catching air - these are all part of
the world of skateboarding.
What used to be a neighbor
hood pastime using boards
barely bigger than roller skates
has evolved into a nationwide
craze with its own language,
style and rules.
Every slope, wall, curb, drain
age ditch and empty pool is po
tential skating territory. Skaters
now weave in and out among
packs of business people roam
ing downtown streets, despite
new regulations prohibiting
skateboarding in almost every
city with paved streets.
Skateboard parks are making
a comeback after a decade of de
cline. Just last year, two skate
board parks opened in Omaha --
"... skateboarding is a special kind of
madness. It's a combination of balance, tech
nique, power, knowledge, love, hate, respect
and fear — instinctive perception gained only
through repeated contact."
~ David Hackett in Thrasher magazine
F.at Concrete and Shredder.
In Lincoln, the Clyde Malone
Community Center will be host
ing a new skate park with three
ramps or half-pipes. Numerous
smaller ramps can be found in
several back yards throughout
Lincoln and Omaha, much to the
chagrin of some neighbors.
The popularity of skating has
grown tremendously over the
past three years, and it appears
that this is only the beginning.
♦ ♦ ♦
The store is small, with barely
enough room for the eight cus
tomers to view the merchandise.
Outside, topless skaters practice
hand plants, ollies and other
feats which defy gravity and
sanity.
Inside, dozens of brilliantly
painted skateboard decks line
the walls, competing for space
with posters of skaters arcing
through the air, seemingly
oblivious to gravity.
Phil Hurdler and Scott
Bouwens have owned Precision
Skateboard Sales at 19th and O
streets for almost three years.
Burcher refers to the store as
“the only real skateboard shop
in Lincoln.”
Several other stores in Lincoln
sell skateboard equipment, but
only Precision specializes in
such products, including decks,
bearings, rails, clothing and
pads.
Burcher said he and
Bouwens have already out
fjrown the store and are looking
or a new, bigger location. Lim
ited display area has been the
biggest constraint on the store’s
sales.
If the store is moved, Preci
sion will carry more skating
equipment and much more
clothing. Burcher said the store
may also start selling used .
equipment in the new location.
I'he store now sells a number
of skateboard-oriented maga
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