From surfing to skateboarding, ‘old-school’ is best for 100th CES Airman

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As a young Airman new to the Air Force, John Thurman didn't have much of a social life when he first arrived at RAF Mildenhall in January 2011.

After deciding he wanted to do more than just hang out at the club, the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Airman 1st Class took the initiative and rekindled a joy of something he started when he was 7 - skateboarding. His rekindled passion became a means for Thurman to reach out and make friends in the British community, and gave him the chance to visit new places.

Every Thursday evening he and his friend Airman 1st Class Alex Orr, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, gather their skateboards and safety gear, and head down to Romford, Essex, to the skate parks there.

"They have an indoor skate park; it's the closest one to the base that I know of, and we've made a whole bunch of friends there," Thurman said.

"Most of the others who go are British, and older than us. They've taught us so much," he said. "And they're so friendly - they just came up to us and started chatting, and now almost every time we go they take the time to take us around London and show us places we haven't seen before. You just wouldn't get that in the States," he said of the new friends he's made.

The young Airman said in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Va., there aren't many skate parks, and the people that do go to the few parks there usually tend to keep to themselves.

"Growing up in Virginia Beach, I did a lot of surfing as well," he said. "So when I started skateboarding again once I got to Mildenhall, I chose to do ramps and I like riding the wider pool-style boards, because it's the closest thing to surfing that I can do in England all year round."

Thurman said he usually uses the ramps one at a time, and everyone not skateboarding watches everyone else.

"When I'm riding and am the center of attention for that minute or so, I like going fast and feeling the air hit me in the face - for those few minutes, I feel unstoppable! If I'm trying a particular new trick or jump, all that's going through my head is an image of me doing it," he said. "Every trick I try has been done before, so I take what I see and concentrate on trying to make myself do the same thing."

The structural apprentice said each time he lands a new trick, he does it over and over and it gives him the confidence to try it on a bigger ramp or in a pool around pockets (corners).

As well as using the skate park at RAF Lakenheath when they get a chance, he and his friends sometimes participate in various competitions on the skateboarding circuit in Romford.

"The last competition I took part in recently was in an empty swimming pool in Romford," Thurman laughed. "The competition was called 'Ramjam 2012,' and about 60 people took part, just getting together to hang out, play music and skateboard. The pool had curved sides, like a bowl, and was a lot of fun.

"The British guys have taught me a lot; I've made a lot of friends from skateboarding with them, and have learned different moves that I didn't know before. They're a lot better than us at skateboarding, but it makes you get competitive and push yourself," he said.

Thurman said his hobby brings him a lot of enjoyment.

"My biggest skateboarding achievement in England is having learned crailslides (a tailslide where the skater grabs the nose of the board with the back hand while sliding) - for me, they're hard, and I've only done a few.

"The camaraderie you get with skateboarding is my favorite thing about it, and the culture of it."

He added that most of the guys he skates with use 10-inch-wide, old-school-style boards like Christian Hosoi and Jason Jessee (professional American skateboarders from the 1980s) rode, back in the day.

"I'm more into the old-school-style of skateboarding and music," Thurman said.

He also said he encourages people to get into skateboarding as a way of having fun and making new friends, especially single Airmen.

"Have fun and push yourself - but know your limits and what you're capable of," he said.

Anyone wishing to get together with Thurman to skateboard can contact him at johnthurmanmerman@gmail.com.

Editor's note: An approved helmet is required to be worn when skateboarding on base, and protective equipment (such as knee pads, wrist guards and elbow pads) is highly recommended, according to the 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety office. Skateboarding is prohibited on installation roadways, except for incidental road access associated with pedestrians and boarders must comply with all pedestrian-related traffic laws. While skateboarding is permitted on sidewalks, boarders can be ticketed for interfering with the safe movement of pedestrians and/or vehicles. The safety office also states that off base, local laws may apply and skateboarders should contact their local council for further information.