OCCUPATIONA
HAZARDS
Here's a few quick on some skaters who have
managed to weaveir skate style into the realities
of their lifestyle.
PED
KING
UNION IRONWORKERS
Building America
Since 1896
STREET SCOTT
Skater/Ironworker
One of the more visible skaters on
the San Francisco skate scene, Street Scott
started skating in the twin cities of Minneapo-
lis/St. Paul. Just about the time he decided to
follow the sunout west to ply his trade in SF.
had seen skateboarding and always
wanted to skate, but never really had the
chance until I decided to come to Cal. There
was juno scene in my area," relates Scott.
I had three choices: San Diego, L.A. and SF. I decided to come to San Francisco 'cause I liked
the skyline." It's a skyline that Street has managed to alter on the job as well as master on his
skate. "I've always lived on a hill since I've been here so I learned to pitch it sideways pretty fast,"
said Scott of his skating.
Many skaters get into building trades such as carpentry, and painting because it allows them
to work outdoors, with their hands. The everchanging job site soothes the restless, roving in-
stinct of the typical skater, (brings to mind the time Street called the Thrasher editorials from a
portable phone high atop one of the tallest scrapers in the city, to see if an evening skate session
was in order).
Scott sums it up well. "My work coincides with my skating a lot in the concentration level it
takes and the balance. Skating and working the iron are the two most radical things I could come
up. They're both dangerous, that's the way I like it." As SS would say at the end of the day, "Hey,
dog it off and let's go skate."
SCOTT BOUWater/Shop Owner
Many skatera find helves being drawn to the business end of the skate spectrum be-
cause of their talents on and off the board. Owned and operated by Scott Bouwens, Precision
Skates is run alongside overal other businesses owned by the Bouwens family. Located in the
showroom of Bouwens Buggies, Precision Skates is Lincoln Nebraska's first real skateshop.
Employed by Bouwens Buggies also, Scott an usually be found underneath a van when he's
not out selling skates. The receptionist who deubles as Scott's mother doesn't seem to mind at
all that skateboards are lying all over the showroom.Scott-hopes to soon get a showcase or
move the skates into another room, they just can't stay on the floor forever. "Precision Skates is
Just getting started now, and some changes will be made in the future," said Scott. Glad that he
did it, Scott started Precision Skates for fun and to provide a skate shop in Lincoln. "It wasn't
hard to start, it just took a lot of time and some money, too.
Besides the skateshop, Scott also has a ramp located in his yard. Being one of the top local
skaters and the owner of the enly skateshop is put Scott into a unique position. Precision
Skates will be holding local contests as wolfas many skate parties on Scott's ramp throughout
the year.
All of this is somewhat of a change from the underground skate scene found in Lincoln just a
year ago. Local talent is really improving and the number of people showing up to skate is grow
Ing fast. With skaters like Scott on the scene it seems that skating in Lincoln can only improve.