Athletes Show Their Respect

ATHLETES SHOW THEIR RESPECT for a sport by learning its history. And today’s pro skateboarders can be grateful for a group of restless surfers known as the Z-Boys.

This group of young surfers hung out in the mid-1970s. They longed for a sport they could have fun with even when the California waves weren’t too great. They turned to “sidewalk surfing”—known today, of course, as skateboarding.

Skateboarding originated in the 1930s when kids attached wooden boards to their metal roller skates. But it didn’t gain widespread popularity because many people felt it was too dangerous. The Z-Boys brought it back to life as they invented new tricks that no one had ever seen before. Tony Alva, one of the leaders of the pack, almost single-handedly invented vertical skating when he started riding in empty swimming pools.

The Z-Boys got their name from the Zephyr Surf Shop, which provided custom-made surfboards for them to ride. eBay wasn’t around back then, so skateboards were hard to find. But that didn’t hinder the Z-Boys. They were creative and made their own, even sawing off roller skates for wheels. Little did they know that skateboarding would soon become one of the country’s favorite alternative sports.

EXTRA < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

POINT The Z-Boys loved to surf so much that they couldn’t live without it. They were determined to surf even without water. What a revolutionary idea!

The Z-Boys took advantage of their passion to surf and came up with something totally new. In the same way, God wants us to take advantage of the opportunities that he gives us. Every day God gives us chances to witness to friends, to serve someone in need, or simply to glorify him by making good decisions. As we follow God and take advantage of the opportunities he gives us, we will see that he will do new things in our life and in the life of those around us.

GOAL! What motivated the Z-Boys to reinvent skateboarding? How can you be motivated to serve God? Ask him today to help you find creative ways to serve him and to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.