The Birth of NAU's Skate Club

Taylor McCormick Nov. 6, 2022

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — If you walk along the pedway outside The Wedge and Starbucks Union on central campus, you can hear NAU Skate Club’s cheers and groans from trying tricks.  

Ran by graduate Davis Ray, the club continues to receive upgrades this year as they get more serious about their goals. At their weekly meetings, they discuss the proposal of a skatepark inside the Health and Learning Center, fundraising, sponsorships, hosting events and community service opportunities. 

However, the average student views the club as an obstacle to their daily schedule as expressions of annoyance come from pedestrians telling skaters to move and get out of the way.  

NAU Skate Club president graduate student Davis Ray videos club member senior Ryan Murphy doing an "impossible" outside of the Wedge, Sept. 27. An "impossible" is a skateboarding trick that involves the board doing a full 360 while the skater's back foot sticks to it. (Photo by Taylor McCormick)

Ray emphasizes awareness of other students but refuses to stop skating because of the strong community created from sharing skills and self-expression. 

“We recognize that others use this space to get where they are going and try to be as mindful and safe as we can,” Ray said. “The best way for us to avoid any issues is to create a place on campus where we would rather be. This is the most peaceful way to decrease traffic at The Wedge and will also create a brand-new asset for NAU, which will serve its students for decades.”    

Oct. 21, Ray updates his members about the progress of the skatepark proposal because of their rising fundraising account. They plan to use 55 percent on obstacles, the skatepark and a bench replacement outside of The Wedge for both skaters and students to use. 

“As far as the skatepark development, progress has been greatly delayed due to a change in leadership at the HLC,” Ray said. “We will need to collaborate closely with the new leadership, but they have been ignoring my communications for some time.” 

From not being officially recognized as a club, having a meeting space or club funds, the club now hosts events, keeps a strong social media presence, continues to increase their member size and has NAU reserve a room for their meetings.  

The club’s members from last year, such as sophomore Jaiden Spear, speak highly of the changes and Ray’s decision to take on leadership. 

“I think Davis is an amazing president,” Spear said. “Before the skate club, Hesh was our group of skater friends and Davis was the primary organizer for meetings, events and talking to the higher-ups about the skatepark.” 

Because of the increase in skateboarders on campus, the club wants the skatepark to minimize pedestrian traffic congestion and infrastructure degradation, pleasing NAU faculty eager to implement anti-skating structures around skateboarding hotspots. 

NAU Skate Club members discuss tricks they are about to do outside of The Wedge, Nov. 11. (Photo by Taylor McCormick)

“Skateboarding also provides many of us with an outlet where we can hang out with friends and decompress from the other stresses of life,” Ray Said. “Supporting our club enables us to share these benefits with others.” 

So far, the club hosted a skate jam event in collaboration with the Grand Canyon University Skate Club Sept. 17. Their next event is a Halloween themed monster mash event at Foxglenn Park Oct. 29 sponsored by Aspen Sports and Globe Skateboarding where they will give out shirts, stickers, shoe coupons and skateboarding decks.