22-year-old Emmanuel Bates is the founder of Get on Wheels Industries or G.O.W. Bates started his business after realizing his fast-food job wasn’t for him. He decided to combine his skills in business and his love for skateboarding to create Get on Wheels.
Bates says he wanted to be able to have a job he loved. He decided to turn a hobby into a business.
“There’s a lot of life lessons I have learned from skateboarding. I just want to share it, I love sharing it,” Bates said.
BYU-Idaho Radio Social Media Producer Maggie Macfarlane and I decided to take a lesson.
Neither Maggie nor I have ever stepped on a board so we were curious if we would be able to get the hang of it.
Bates met us at the parking lot of the Rexburg Skate Park with cold water bottles and the reassurance we were going to have a great time. Then we were off to shred.
In the first lesson, we learned how to get on and off the board, feel comfortable stopping and rolling down inclines. We even learned some easy tricks.
One of the tricks begins from a standing position with the board upside down on top of your feet. You jump up and land on your board ready to roll away.
“Okay, wait, I’m eating this up.” says Maggie as she pushes off down the park.
Don’t have any of the gear? Not to worry, Bates has boards, elbow and knee pads and helmets.
Bates offers a few packages, but his goal is the same.
“The overall goal is to have fun today, so that’s all of my lessons that's the main point,” Bates said.
Bates has lessons Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call bates at (208)-690-8287 for student and youth discounts and to schedule your lesson.