Throughout a student’s high school career, it’s common for them to pursue new hobbies in their free time and possibly even have those hobbies stem into career paths. Whether it’s sports, performing arts, or learning to play a new instrument; the possibilities are endless. For Shorewood senior Hunter Alston, that hobby has been rollerskating.

Growing up, Alston always enjoyed roller skating but never really took it seriously until recently. “I always loved things on wheels, I was really into scootering. I spent a lot of money on that and I did skateboarding/skating, always riding penny boards. I enjoyed things that required balance,” said Alston. One day he went to the Lynnwood Bowl and Skate rink with his senior lifetime sports class where he fell in love with the atmosphere, which ultimately led to him applying to work there and pick up roller skating again.

Getting back into roller skating didn’t come without difficulties and fears as Alston explains. ”I was the only one doing it and my fear was nobody would do it with me.” Alston had decided to quit playing baseball this year and was worried that he would later regret that decision but Alston has not only enjoyed his time but he also got a couple of his friends to join him as well.

Alston has been striving to learn new tricks on the rink. “There is a specific move, not many people know about but it’s called a grapevine and it just looks like you’re floating and moonwalking almost,” explained Alston.

It’s not always easy trying something completely new. “The only way to get out of your comfort zone is to step out of it and there’s really nothing else you can say about that you just got to give it a try,” Alston said. He also encourages people to try these new things with their friends to have some support during the whole experience. “I just kinda did it abruptly because I had so much time on my hands and I was like why not for senior year just do everything I wanted to do but I was just too scared to do,” he added. 

Alston plans on taking a gap year after high school where he will continue to pursue his passion for roller skating. “I’m probably going to take a gap year and just work at Lynnwood Bowl and Skate and continue skating and having a good time and then i’ll pursue getting my associates degree at community college.” 

Roller Skating has become a new but strong passion for Alston that he will be continuing to pursue after high school. It has given him something to invest his time in and has also become a reliable source of income as well with his job at Lynnwood Bowl and Skate which will allow him to support himself after high school when he takes a gap year. Alston stepped out of his comfort zone and in the process has discovered a new hobby and encouraged other people to do the same.