Workshop helps visually impaired youth learn to skateboard

Skateboarding might be the last thing you'd expect a visually impaired person to want to learn.

But there's a first time for everything, and Nikita Smith can hardly wait to try.

"I never thought i would have the chance to do something like this," said Smith, 17, as she prepared to step on a board. "We're all in a group, all learning together, it's just amazing actually."

Smith — who was born legally blind — was part of a group of visually impaired youth who attended the workshop at The Compound YYC indoor skatepark.

The group learned the basics of skateboarding from someone who they can relate to.

"It's just getting past that mental block," said Dan Mancina, who arrived from Detroit to run the workshop. "It's very mental in the beginning, and not so much physical and you know any skateboarder has to go through that."

Mancina, 31, learned to skateboard as a sighted teen, but has now lost 98 per cent of his vision.

He says it comes down to finding confidence to step on the board.

"Yeah, you're going to be nervous," he said. "I'm nervous and scared when I first get on my board everyday."

Stephanee Gee, a vision specialist with the Calgary Board of Education, says they jumped at the chance to take part in the workshop.

"Having the opportunity to have skateboarding academy collective bring Dan out, working together to rally the kids to come try a sport," she said "That is not something that would pop up everyday."

The students might not be doing huge tricks, but for Smith, learning from Mancina has been more of a life lesson than anything else. The teen says she's had to put up with adults thinking various activities will be too dangerous for her.

"Just because I can't see doesn't mean I can't do some of the things that you guys can do," she said. "It really shows that no matter what happens, you shouldn't be giving up on something you have a passion for."

Will Cambell, 11, was ready to try something new, but feeling "sort of anxious."

"It's exciting, he said. "If I like it I'll obviously do it more."

As far as Mancina is concerned, he got just as much out of it.

"It's satisfying, and knowing like man I hope I made a difference in those kids' live," he said. "And even if you make one more skateboarder for life, it's worth it."

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