Grand County Living Magazine - Dropping In and Busting Big Air with Skateboarder Nik Seemann

DROPPING IN AND BUSTING BIG AIR WITH NIK SEEMANN
By Cindy Kleh / Photos by Cindy Kleh

Skater

ABOVE: Nik prepares to drop into the halfpipe at Granby’s skatepark. MIDDLE RIGHT: Nik Seemann launches out of the larger bowl at the Winter Park Skatepark. No matter what sport he’s doing, he loves getting air more than anything. BOTTOM: Nik Seemann grabs the nose of his skateboard while launching from bowl to bowl at the skatepark.

You can usually find “Speedy” in the Winter Park or Granby skateparks anytime school is out, the snow has melted, and it’s not pouring rain. He’s the kid with blonde hair flopping in the breeze as he pumps the concrete bowls, getting horizontal as he cuts his skateboard high up on the transition.

Nik Seemann has always had energy to spare when it comes to skateboarding and skiing. He was learning to ski as soon as he could walk, which only seemed natural for the middle son of US Olympic Freestyle Skiing Coach, Chris Seemann.

Nik had his own skateboard at the age of five, but it wasn’t until the town of Winter Park decided to build a first-class skatepark that he and his friends really started to develop their skateboarding skills. “Building the skatepark was everything!” says Nik. “I wouldn’t have used my board much and none of my friends would be that into skateboarding if we didn’t get the park.”

The placement of Winter Park’s skatepark in the middle of town was genius, adding more tween and teen appeal to Hideaway Park, an already popular center of activity. On summer nights, skaters can be seen pumping the concrete bowls to the beat of live music in the cool hours of sunset. The $250,000 price tag was covered mostly by grants, and the park will last for decades with little maintenance.

Although Nik’s dad has been his “biggest coach” when it comes to aerial moves on the trampoline and freestyle skiing, peer pressure and his older brother, Parker, have pushed him to progress in skateboarding, mastering tricks like kick flips, pop shove-its and front and backside airs out of the bowl.

Nik Seemann launches out of the larger bowl at the Winter Park Skatepark Nik always wears a helmet and kneepads while skateboarding, and dons extra padding (elbow and wrist guards) when attempting new tricks. But despite the protection, injuries come with the territory. Although he has been pretty lucky in avoiding broken bones and concussions, he has had more than his share of cuts and bruises. “I’d look like Frankenstein if I shaved my head.”

Solidly landing aerial maneuvers is another key safety strategy, as concrete can be unforgiving. “When I’m doing a trick, I try to focus everything on landing that trick and try not to think about anything else,” says the 12-year-old, who hopes one day to skate in the Summer X Games and/or compete as an Olympic skiing aerialist.

So, how does Sue Seemann handle raising three boys that love to push their sports to the limits and often end up crashing? “Well, she got ready for us boys by being married to my dad first,” Nik says with a grin that only hints at how much he digs being the son of a skateboarder and freestyle skiing coach.

Nik Seemann grabs the nose of his skateboard while launching from bowl to bowl at the skatepark You can catch Speedy on summer weekends competing in local skateboarding contests and Concrete Rodeos at Hideaway Park. In the winter, you can find him on his skis doing 360s in the nearest terrain park or at home in Winter Park, playing his guitar.

Resources:
Although Nik has learned most of his skate tricks from older kids and the staff at Powder Tools, the Fraser Valley Rec District offers summer skateboarding clinics for younger kids.

• Fraser Valley Rec District, 970.726.8968, www.fraservalleyrec.org
• Granby Rec District, 970.887.3961, www.townofgranby.com

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