Ellington

Flamingo Skateshop and the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation’s Chattown Skatepark will join forces in teaching youths how to skateboard during four clinics this October.

“We’ve done four or five clinics before,” said 19-year-old Flamingo Skateshop co-owner Chris Neyman. “We teach everything from how to stand on the board, travel, tic-tac, drop in on ramps, kick flips — really anything you want to learn basically we will teach you.”

Neyman’s free skateboarding clinics are open to all ages and will be held Oct. 3, 10, 24 and 31 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Neyman said he will have around 14 instructors available during the events to help. Visitors should bring their own board and helmet. Pads are also recommended.

However, Neyman said there may be a few extra boards and equipment available for those without them.

Thanks to influences such as the X Games and Dew Tour, Neyman said skateboarding is an ever growing sport.

He is often asked to give private lessons, which he holds behind his East Ridge shop.

Neyman said Chattown Skatepark is a big asset for the skating youth in the area.

“It’s a lot better than a lot of cities have,” Neyman said. “At least we have something with ramps. It helps the community by keeping kids off the streets so they can skate without getting into trouble.”

Lindsay Blaha, who has managed the skate park for nearly three years, said it is the only one she knows of between Knoxville and Atlanta. During the clinics there is an average of 30 to 50 participants, but on any given Saturday the skate park is visited by as many as 150 boarders.

Blaha said more than half of those skaters are from out of town, coming from Georgia or Soddy-Daisy or stopping in for a few hours of exercise on their way through town.

“A lot of people don’t understand that skateboarding has always been here and is getting bigger and bigger every year,” Blaha said. “There are just as many kids skateboarding as are playing baseball.”

Blaha said the rules for the park are straightforward. Everyone must wear a helmet, be respectful to their fellow skaters, watch their language and there are no drugs or alcohol allowed near the park.

Flamingo Skateshop is located at 5084 South Terrace, Suite 8 next to the Rave Theatre. For more information visit www.flamingosk8shop.com.

Winter Hours at Chattown Skatepark are Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon for skaters ages 12 and under and noon to 10 p.m. for all ages. Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. Daily passes to the park cost $8 for nonmembers and $2 for members.

Membership costs $50 per year.