Santa Maria Sun / Biz Brief

Spotlight on: One Way Skatepark

BY JASON BANANIA

Skaters who get hassled for skating outside of the Santa Maria Town Center now have two options: leave the premises and search for another place to skate, or take it inside.

Try, try again: After waiting for his turn, beginning skater Jacob Harrison, 8, figured out the best way to go down the mini-ramp at One Way's indoor skate park. PHOTO BY JASON BANANIA

One Way’s indoor skatepark is a 5,000-square-foot course filled with an assortment of ramps to launch from and rails to grind on. Three simple things are required to skate at the park: A waiver (if the participant is younger than 18), a helmet, and $3.

According to Dan Pankratz, the current skatepark is only temporary—which is good news for skaters. One Way plans to double its current size and improve the park by teaming up with the same course designers responsible for designing the 2012 X-Games skate course.

“The goal is to create a skatepark with good flow,” One Way employee Nick Axline said. “Good flow is basically a skate term to describe a park where a skater can keep riding through without having to stop. That’s the ultimate goal.”

One Way also offers a summer camp for kids to learn the tricks of the trade, under the eye and instruction of veteran skaters like Derek Andersen. Every camp begins with a free skate session; Andersen observes as kids skate around the park and takes notes on their skill level. He later divides the group into beginners and intermediates. Intermediate skaters “can pretty much ask us to teach them whatever they want,” Andersen said. Beginners go through a class that puts an emphasis on skateboarding basics. 

Campers are first taught how to put a skateboard together from all the different parts: a wooden deck, grip tape, metal trunks, and wheels. During the camp, skate campers are taught the importance of safety equipment such as helmets and pads; safety techniques such as “rolling out of a fall”; and skate etiquette, which revolves around the consideration of other skaters in the park and taking turns using ramps.

“I’m really amazed at how kids become so patient when they’re waiting their turn,” Andersen said. “A mom came in one time and told us how happy she was after her kid seemed more patient and understanding after learning how to skate.”

During the camp, a videographer documents the weeklong session, putting it all on DVD so kids can remember their humble beginnings. Summer skate camp is halfway through, but it isn’t too late to sign up. Each camp session is five days long, and the last two sessions left this summer will run July 23 to 27 and July 30 to Aug. 3.

Owner Dan Pankratz also offers bible study, followed by a free skate session and free food on Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. He said the skatepark isn’t just centered on skateboarding, but is also a place to foster a sense of community.

“Encouraging younger kids about community awareness and being a positive part of the community is also a big part of all this,” Pankratz said. “Our skate park is much more than another skate park—it is here for kids to skate, but it’s also a place of positive encouragement.”

Highlights

• In its August issue, Consumer Reports magazine recognized Marian Regional Medical Center as one of the top hospitals in the state for patient safety.

The ratings are based on six key areas: infections, readmissions, CT scanning, communication, complications, and mortality. Marian earned a composite safety rating of 61 out of a high score of 72, making it the highest-ranked hospital in Santa Barbara County and the 12th safest hospital in California.

In all, Consumer Reports rated 1,159 hospitals in 44 states.

To access the ratings in detail, visit consumer reports.org.

Intern Jason Banania wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Highlights are written and compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.