Surf City skater

Mike Sciacca

For someone who says he skated randomly as a youngster, amazingly,

Geoff Rowley has made the sport his living.

The 25-year-old resident of Huntington Beach has earned the title of

professional skateboarder because he likes to “come out and play.” Rowley

is reserved when it comes to stepping into the spotlight but

straightforward and daring with his craft.

“I started [skating] because I had some friends -- some lunatics, mind

you, who skated. I just figured I’d give it a shot, be part of the group”

he explained. “I never knew it would lead to this but here I am.”

Rowley began skating 12 years ago in his native Liverpool, England and

began competing three years later. He has traveled the world but not for

the sake of competition -- he skates because he loves what he’s doing.

“They do not define me,” he said of skating competitions. schedule. “I

am fortunate in that I have a job that allows me to travel everywhere, to

places that I normally don’t get to see.”

Since arriving in Huntington Beach seven years ago, Rowley’s

aggressive skating style quickly gained notoriety. In addition to

speeding around the streets his skating includes a smooth style on both

handrails and staircases. He competes, he says, in just three or four

contests per year -- including last weekend’s Vans Triple Crown of

Skating in Oceanside. He’s featured in several video games, has appeared

in magazine ads, has five major sponsors he skates for and is part owner

of Flip skateboarding company.

What’s more, this past summer Rowley collaborated with one of his main

sponsors, Vans, and released a skate shoe called “The Rowley XLT.” It is

a traditional shoe, he said, that features the latest technology and

provides superior comfort.

It is the third shoe -- and the first by Vans -- to bear Rowley’s

name.

For all that he’s involved with, however, Rowley says that he doesn’t

want to be famous. His goal is to remain true to his skating.

Rowley came to Huntington Beach in 1994 when Flip moved from England

to the west coast. He skated in front of Huntington Beach High and Mesa

View Middle School for a while and even tried the two local skate parks,

but didn’t care for either.

He speaks with a passionate conviction when discussing the city’s

venues for skating.

“They are like being in a hamster cage,” he said of the skate parks.

“I’m not going to ride around in a circle like an animal. These places

are so tiny that they are not worthy of being called skate parks. I

understand the concern of damages that skateboarding can cause, but the

city needs to build bigger [skate] parks.”

Rowley admits to receiving a couple of tickets for skating around the

city, and each cost him “about $100.”

The pitfalls of the job actually are falls -- he has broken both

ankles and his collarbone.

“At least I don’t have any metal in me,” he said. “I do like them

painkillers, though, and a nice cup of tea and a bath always helps get

through a rough day at the office.”

Rowley confesses to missing his family, who still resides in

Liverpool. He also confesses to having no set game plan when it comes to

skating.

“It happens as it comes,” he said. “Skateboarding has turned out to be

very good to me. It’s the best job in the world. Other than getting an

inheritance or winning the lottery, I can’t think of anything better.”