Who doesn’t love a parade? Parades are fun and bring joy. I was excited to be part of the Reds Opening Day Parade with Skate Downtown Cincy. While it wouldn’t be our first parade (my husband and I were in the BLINK parade two years ago), the Opening Day Parade would be our first time skating in one! Though excited, as someone still new to street skating, I was on the fence about skating in a parade.
My first street skating experience was during the “Go Skate Day” event last June, which I wrote about in A Year of Firsts. Having only gone out a handful of times, I felt a little more prepared yet still nervous about skating in front of 130,000 spectators.
What Helped Me Prepare
Watching YouTube videos on outdoor skating helped me get ready and be more comfortable. What I learned last year started to come back to me. The day before the parade (and for the first time since last summer), I went outside to skate. I practiced with my husband in an empty parking lot with cracks and rough parts that I navigated over and around. This practice session helped, but I still had to get over my fear and negative self-talk.
Wanting to skate yet still on the fence the morning of the parade, I prayed and talked myself up. I told myself I could do it and felt reassured I would be in protective gear.
During orientation, we were briefed on the route and what to expect, got a cool custom t-shirt, stretched and warmed up, and chatted with the other skaters before heading to the staging area. The high energy and positive vibes of the Skate Downtown Cincy family (skaters of all skill levels) and other parade participants hyped me up.
Following a long wait at the staging area, I was just happy to get going, and by the time we started skating, any fear was gone. All padded up, helmet and all, and with some help from my husband, I skated the 1.4-mile route from Findlay Market to the Taft Theatre. I didn’t do fancy tricks or skate dance like many other skaters. With staggered feet and bent knees, I avoided debris and successfully skated over cracks, streetcar tracks, and rough roads while giving countless high-fives to the kids along the route.
To say that I’m happy I decided to skate is an understatement. Not only was it an accomplishment and personal victory, but being part of something that brought so much joy is an experience I will never forget.
