Getting tricked out on a board

Standing on a skateboard in a Skatedogs T-shirt, helmet and pads, waiting her turn to learn a new trick, 8-year-old Zoey Berg stands out as the only girl in a group of boys learning to ride.

Despite her position as the odd man — or woman — out, Zoey said she doesn’t feel like skateboarding is for boys only.

“I think it’s pretty much for anybody who wants to,” Zoey said.

Being the only girl makes her a little nervous, Zoey said, but she has made a couple of friends at the Skatedogs skateboarding day camp. The weeklong camp teaches kids the basics of skating and helps them get familiar with launch ramps, quarter pipes and rails, Skatedogs founder and instructor Adam Cohen said.

Cohen said he also teaches the kids basic street tricks like an ollie and kickflips. Ultimately, he said, he wants the kids to have the confidence to skate on their own or at skate parks with more experienced riders.

“We’ll improve their skills at whatever level they are at,” Cohen said.

Zoey was part of the beginning skater group after starting the sport three months ago. She said she got into it after watching others do it.

“I’ve seen my brother and (friend) doing it and it looked fun, so I decided to do it,” Zoey said.

When she decided to try the predominantly male sport, Zoey said her parents were on board.

“They said it was a good way to get exercise and meet new people,” she said.

At the skateboarding camp, the day is broken down into three parts — lessons, free skate and a skills competition. For Nathan Parkin, the free skate is the best part of the day.

“You get to do whatever you want to learn,” Nathan said.

The 9-year-old said he has been skating for more than a year and would ultimately like to learn how to do a backflip. While the novice skater isn’t there yet, he, like many of the other kids, wants to be a professional skater someday like Tony Hawk.

Zoey too said she wants to turn professional someday like Hawk, and said she plans to practice a lot and learn new tricks. Her plan isn’t unattainable, Cohen said.

“All these kids, if they practice a lot and stick with it, it’s definitely a possibility,” Cohen said. “If they have the passion for it.”

For more information on Skatedogs or to join a class, go to www.skatedogs.com.

Learn the Lingo, Bro

Nose: The front end of the skateboard

Goofy-Foot: Riding with the right foot forward

Fakie: Skating backward

Grind: Scraping the board’s axles on a rail or curb

Half-pipe: A U-shaped ramp