Tips from a pro

In just its third month, Costa Mesa’s fledgling skateboard instruction program hasn’t yet drawn large crowds of children — a handful of kids carrying skateboards and wearing helmets showed up for the first day of April’s program Tuesday afternoon — but organizers are hoping to develop a following.

Unlike previous skateboarding programs the city has put on during the summers and school breaks, the one run by Mike Ogas and Matt Sheridan is more hands-on, they said.

“The city has a day-camp where they would basically baby-sit the kids, but this is actual instruction,” Sheridan said.

The two-week camps every month teach kids basic balance on a skateboard, tricks and safety at the Volcom Skate Park across from TeWinkle Park. Tuesday afternoon began with Ogas lining up the kids and having them jump off a ledge at the park and slide down a ramp on their knee pads.

One of the most important elements for kids to learn if they want to be competent and safe is how to fall and use their pads effectively, Ogas said.

Skating at a park frequented by people of all ages, some more polite and accommodating than others, can be a daunting task for someone who is just learning the ropes. Ogas tries to use his credibility as a professional skateboarder to teach kids etiquette and keep them out of the way of more experienced skaters while protecting them from the ire of such skaters.

“I make it so it’s not so overwhelming,” Ogas said.

The camps consist of four three-hour sessions from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $133 per participant.