Last Sunday I had the opportunity to go to the Street League finals on it’s first stop in Seattle. It was a full day of activity. Mother’s Day, Street League and the Cinco De Margo fundraiser for the Marginal Way DIY skatepark happening all in the same day. I was torn about which event to go to so I did them both.

The Street League, for me, was a strange experience. My friend Mike got tickets for free and so Mike, Mikhel and I went to check it out. The Key Arena was about half full for the final day (they did a good job on TV making it look full) and all the trappings of one of the big ball sporting events were in full swing. Programs, overpriced t-shirts, posters, larger than life-sized cutouts of Rob Dyrdek to pose for a photo with, and lowest common denominator ad slogans like “Lighter shoes weigh less” were on display everywhere. Kids were being asked to guess which weighed more, a gallon of water or a shoe. Meatheads decked out in puffy shoes and DC logos from head to foot were everywhere.

Let’s get to the skating part. I will have to say that the pros of Street League are amazing skaters and deserve to grab all the money they can before they blow out their knees. Rob Dydek has certainly put a money maker together and the TV money is probably big. I recorded the show and watched it later on my DVR and the 10 minutes between “heats” were well used for earning money from sponsors. Oh right… I was talking about skating. Mad skills were on display and the pro skaters killed it. Even though the skating was good, me and my old skater pals got bored and left before the last and final obstacle was played out.

My final thoughts on street league? It’s plain weird. I just can’t seem to get used to being told to “make some noise Seattle” when nothing is going on, people banging balloon cylinders together and people trying to sell me crap I don’t need in the name of skateboarding. It just doesn’t make sense. But hey; maybe the average ESPN sports zombie can relate and I think that’s probably what Street League is all about. I also want to give Rob some props for donating money to skateparks in Seattle and getting some media attention in town thrown towards the importance of skateboarding in the city.

The second part of my day was filled with taco’s, beer, bands, raffles, and skating. Skating that I could actually enjoy myself as well as some fun to watch skating done by others. This was all part of the Cinco De Margo fundraiser for and at Marginal Way DIY Skatepark. This event to me was more what skateboarding is all about. Getting together with your friends and having fun skating and in the case of Marginal Way, building what you want to skate. The only money involved paid for food, prizes and more importantly, went towards more concrete.

Everyone from kids to old guys were skating and having a good time. I got hyped on skating by being involved in the whole DIY skateboard process and just the act of skating. Pretty much the reason I still skateboard after more than 30 years of doing it is that I enjoy DOING it. I enjoy watching skilled skaters also but the best way to watch them is when you get to take your turn and skate with them. That by far is the best.

So while Street League brings skateboarding to the mass TV audience I’ll take my skating the way I enjoy it most. Actually skateboarding.

Go skate people!