“In what I hope is the first of many guest blogs on the website here is Ross. When I approached Ross about writing a blog I didn’t discuss subject matter or context in particular. Really want to thank him for sharing something honest, positive and engaging. I think you’ll get something from reading this. Thanks again - you can find Ross on Instagram here ,his website for lessons is here and once you’ve read his blog you’ll find his YouTube link there too” Gary.
Hi
I’m Ross “Fox” Salitura - Gary asked me to write a guest blog for the Doric Website and I jumped at the opportunity, however, I then got nervous and I have re-written this multiple times, through fear, anxiety, nerves and countless other reasons.
Eventually I decided to write from a place of honesty and talk about my time skateboarding in Scotland in the hope that someone will take something away from my ramblings.
I have been on and off a skateboard since I was 12/13 and I am now a “young” 31. I moved to Scotland in 2015 and fully re started skateboarding around 2018/2019 after having taken a break for a few years. I came back with an open mindedness and desire to push and progress as much as I could before I got “too old”.
I was bought a 5 foot mini ramp by my ex wife and built this in my garden which gave me a space to practice away from people as I had nerves around how “good” I would be after not skating. Unfortunately, one neighbour who was not skateboard friendly, reported this ramp to the council which resulted in me taking a dispute with the council all the way to the government. Unfortunately I lost the dispute with the government which led to me taking the ramp down in December 2019.
Through this battle, I learnt a lot about building and planning regulations and discovered, that If I put wheels onto ramps and built in my garage, I could still have ramps. Therefore, I moved my ramp into the garage and continued skateboarding while considering expanding with “portable” ramps at a later date. While going through this dispute, the story was picked up my local and national newspapers and the support of local skateboarders was simply amazing and led me to be confident enough to go out and meet some of them and start interacting with the skateboard community around me.
LOCKDOWN! - This slowed skating down as I couldn’t go to the skatepark, however, I was fortunate and had a ramp in my garage and discovered a website selling portable ramps, so I purchased a few and I continued.
I enjoyed the idea of me supporting a Scottish Skate Company and It was around this lockdown time, that I bought my first Doric Deck. I had followed Doric on Instagram and I knew a couple guys had used their boards and they seemed to hold up well. Once the sunburst orange board arrived and I started using it, I was hooked and continued to use Doric boards regularly.
I loved the website, content and all the amazing artwork and collaborations with local artists that Doric does. There is just a genuine feel to the company and which is simply inspiring. A very wholesome local company.
Unfortunately although I was re-discovering skateboarding, during this time in lockdown, my marriage fell apart, my mental health suffered and my addictions took over. I continued to skateboard, and also started filming tricks, clips, blogs and other fun videos. However, I was battling demons I was not used to or understood. I swear that without the skateboard, community and outlet it provided, I don’t know where I would be right now.
Skateboarding was the only constant. No matter how bad things got, I could go out on the board and ride down the street and feel a small moment of peace or freedom. I cannot quite put a finger on the emotion or feeling, however, its something I treasure and am thankful for.
I don’t write this for sympathy, but to show that having something you are passionate about, care about, and can do when things are not going well, you will still be able to find a reason to continue, to feel peace, to enjoy a small moment in time.
In August 2021, I broke my toes, damaged ligaments and just messed up my whole leg while trying to do an air in Newport Bowl in Fife. I waited over 3 hours for an Ambulance to come which it did not and had to be dragged out of the bowl in agonising pain. This was near to the lowest point in my life and in my twisted state, I felt like skateboarding and everything it involved had betrayed me. (This was not true). I flew down to England to stay at a house my friend had. I don’t like recalling this time, however, I chose to isolate myself from everything good in my life that friends, family and skateboarding had bought me. Instead I dove into self pity, despair and depression. I reached a breaking point and knew I had to do something.
After roughly a month, I phoned a skateboarder who had put out his phone number on Instagram for anyone struggling and I cried down the phone to this guy in the USA. He just listened without judgement and a sentence he said stuck with me. He told me “were warriors dude, were, fu!@ing warriors” THIS, from a skateboarder I had never met, but admired was enough to remind me that skateboarding and its community are amazing. I realised, my skate community was in Scotland. So I returned to Scotland, determined to stop the addictions in my life and to recover.
I won’t go into the full depths of my issues here, however, rest assured, today, I am here, sober, stronger and more sound and peaceful than I have ever been. When I returned to Scotland in September 2021 I sought help and reached out to mental health charities, doctors and addiction support groups. All of these I cannot thank enough. Please if anyone is struggling with anything, REACH OUT! There is always support and people out there who will listen and support you.
When I was back in Scotland, I noticed that skateboarding, although injuring me now and then, was still a thing I loved. The people around me who are involved in skateboarding, all cared about me and wanted me to be well. Skateboarding had created a community around me of people who were friends. True friends. I had overlooked and isolated myself from this and could not believe how unaware I was of what I had gained from skateboarding in Scotland. I was overwhelmed with support and started to investigate into how I could give back to skateboarding. This was when I found and undertook the Skateboard GB course to become and Accredited skateboard coach.
This course took place in Glasgow in October 2021, which was an amazing time in my life. I met lots of skateboarders who I had followed on social media and made new friends while on the course. This course honed my skills and helped me understand how best to help and support new and experienced skateboarders in lessons.
I finished the course fully qualified and grateful. I started looking into how to set myself up as a freelance coach, and Don’t Comply Films, who have a small private skatepark in Kirkcaldy offered me their space for lessons. This group of young men who own the skatepark, had been there not only for the good times, but also through all the bad times, supporting me and helping me through my journey. By offering me this space for lessons when I could find nowhere else to do them, showed me, again more support than I can ever thank them for.
I took this opportunity and set up a website from scratch, lesson plans, schedules and all of the craziness that goes into starting up a small business. I knew that I would need spare skateboards for lessons, and Doric had recently started selling a full set up, which I jumped at the chance to get one. I use this set up for lessons to this day for anyone who wants a lesson but does not have a skateboard.
All in all, my life is peaceful now. A massive reason for this is due to skateboarding, the people involved, and the overall support within the skateboarding community. To you all, I am thankful.
I would like to end my ramblings by saying It takes courage to start a company and pursue a dream, and seeing someone do this, is nothing short of inspiring for people such as myself. I am now pursuing a career which I love and have friends within the skateboarding community all across Scotland and the UK. I contribute a lot of my inspiration to small companies such as Doric and people like Gary who show that it is worth taking a chance on something you enjoy.
Ross “Fox” Salitura
Skateboard Coach