Skateboarding is really good at showing people how to get up after they fall

Skateboarding was part of this summer’s Olympics. 

It is also part of the Bert Nash Center’s Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds youth program. 

The new group — for middle school and high school youth — started in August and will go into October. The group will start up again in the spring and go for eight weeks.  

The idea for the group came from Tony Seekie, a Bert Nash Center behavioral health specialist and avid skateboarder. 

“Last year I started skateboarding again after I stopped for a couple of years,” Tony said. “When I started skateboarding again, I realized how therapeutic it was for me.” 

The skateboarding group meets on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at Edgewood Park. Group members must receive Bert Nash Center services, but don’t have to have skateboarding experience. 

The group is in partnership with River Rat Print and Skate Shop in North Lawrence. 

“They were very kind in giving us a huge discount on getting boards, pads and helmets. A lot of our youth couldn’t afford to purchase those on their own,” said Rhonda Stubbs, Bert Nash Center’s behavioral health specialists program manager. “We’re also going to have the kids design a shirt for the group and tour the River Rat screen print shop. We want people to realize how kind they’ve been to us. This group wouldn’t have been possible without their help.” 

The name of the group is Coping Skills Skate Group. Coping is a skateboarding term, but the sport also helps with emotional coping skills, such as managing frustration by taking a break, deep breathing, or talking to a staff member.  

“I believe skateboarding is really good at showing people how to get up after they fall and to keep trying,” Tony said. “I’m really excited to help teach these skills to kids. The skate park can also be a great place to meet new friends and to further relationships outside of school.” 

Skateboarding can also be a good form of exercise. 

“Before I started skating again about eight months ago, I weighed about 300 pounds,” Tony said. “Since then, I’ve lost 80 pounds. The biggest struggle for me with weight was that exercising was never fun, and it felt like a chore. But once I found something that I enjoyed and that was also good for me, it wasn’t a chore.”  

Other Bert Nash Center behavioral health specialists and skateboarders will help with the group. 

In addition, River Rat offers skateboarding lessons through Lawrence Parks and Recreation.