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Wipe out:  Spills part of the thrill at Rye Airfield
Posted:  July 12, 2006

MULTIMEDIA
PHOTO
Video:  Rye Airfield

Where its at:
Rye Airfield
170 Lafayette Road, Rye, New Hampshire
www.ryeairfield.com
964-2800

Only the young and fearless will make it here. Those who are willing to roll across the ground (or even fly through the air) at dangerous speeds, slide down steep hills, across railings, and jump over stairs. Those who are not affected by the pain that could be caused by a tough fall or a hard collision. These are the skateboarders, inline bladers, and BMX bike riders who visit the popular summer hangout Rye Airfield.

They come to the 50,000 square foot indoor skate park to practice the skills they already have and to fearlessly try new and more dangerous stunts. They say this park has tons for them to take advantage of and that it is also a great place to practice and have fun since it is often frowned upon — if not illegal — when they do so in the streets. “The best things we do, we can do here,” says skateboarder Kyle Loffredo.

And they can do quite a lot. The park offers wooden and concrete bowls, a wall ride, and even a halfpipe, all of which they can use for stunts with boards, blades, or bikes.

But there’s no doubt these skills require lots of work — and some accidents. Mark O’Malley, who is 10 and has been inline skating since he was 3, knows that falling and getting hurt can always happen, but he says “that’s the price you pay to skate.”

Johnny O’Neal, who says he will be the next Tony Hawk, came into the park with a bruised knee and added a bruised purple hip after a fall not too long later. He said no one can be afraid of falling, landing hard, or hurting oneself, in fact, he considers all those things part of the fun of the sport.

O’Neal displayed his fearlessness when he masterfully showed his abilities on the frightfully high halfpipe. “That was a thrill, man,” he said when he finished.

Just being in the Rye Airfield and watching these amazing kids practicing is a thrill itself. To see what I mean, take a look at the video, and keep the faces in mind because I’m sure you will see some of them up on ESPN some day.

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