Valley Stream skate park on the horizon?

Feeling weightless, you are frozen in mid-air. There is nothing but the wind underneath your feet and your outstretched arms feel as if they could touch the sky. Exhilaration is pumping through your body, following the rhythms of your racing heartbeat.

That is how many skateboarders describe their ride — a moment of adventure. Standing in the trendy Mass Transit skate shop on Rockaway Avenue, a group of local teenagers explained the sacred artform. South High School junior Anthony Savillo summed it up as a feeling of freedom. “You can do whatever you want and there are no rules,” he said.

His passion is memorable, proving that the once underground subculture has gained much popularity. Boarders are creative, transitioning from amateur aerobatics to trained tricks. Mastering those stunts is almost like a rite of passage, which comes with a sense of belonging. The teens bond in their love of it and for another cause, a local skate park.

“You would not have to drive all the way to a spot and get kicked out,” said 18-year-old John Armand, who travels to Valley Stream. He stumbled into skateboarding after finding a board five years ago. “It relieves stress,” he added.

Armand has found a familiar connection. He is willing to travel just to skate, like several others. But many execute tricks like the Ollie right near their backyards — outside of Holy Name of Mary Church, the Concord Diner and Central High School. But sometimes, they are chased away.

They believe a skate park would be a perfect solution. Brainstorming locations, Tyler Moran, a South High junior, suggested Hendrickson Park because of its large space. Savillo wants a skate plaza near the Long Island Rail Road station. “It has lots of spots when it rains,” he said.