MIDLAND, Texas — The sport of skateboarding is simple.
"You see a skater. They are a bloody, sweaty skateboarder, but if they could look past that and see resilience. They are conquering something in their mind, in their fears, and to rise above that, that's American life," RTD Skatepark's Robert Bremerman said.
A wooden board, wheels and an open space, but something deeper lies underneath this slice of "American life."
"This is where I made all my friends. This is where I learned. This park is where I feel like I learned the most, where I progressed the most. It's just one of my favorite places out here," Midland skateboarder Gabriel Tavarez said.
RTD Skatepark has been the home for many skaters in the Permian Basin since 2014.
"Rock the Desert has always been cool for the last 10 years to let us show up, and it's always been free to hang out. Really my heart is to be a parent. Create a safe space," Bremerman said. "Whether you skate, bike, scoot, or you just want to hang out, know you're safe here."
The skatepark has also become a place for the athletes to feel comfortable falling and getting back up even when it's hard or after an injury.
"I've had thought in my head like, 'Should I even keep skateboarding?' I'm in so deep. It's where my people are. It's where my heart is at. It's really apart of me," Tavarez said.
This summer these athletes will get to see a part of themselves on the world stage with professional skateboarding returning to the Olympics, this time in Paris, France.
"It was kind of shunned up by people who were like mature and like grown up, but now, it's being recognized as a sport and something that is actually like difficult, and it actually takes effort. Not something that just bums do," Tavarez said.
The games may inspire some folks to try the sport for themselves. Bremerman offered some advice.
"I always say, 'Fear makes you a poser.' The wall of fear is two inches high. Step over it. There's always someone around to help you. So just start. Just start. Find a board and just start," Bremerman said.