The Skate Gym Owner John Miller has been skateboarding since he was eight-years-old. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
As a longtime skater for over 40 years, John Miller opened his own school and shop to make training accessible for everyone interested in the sport. At The Skate Gym in Leander, he’s blended the controlled environment of a gym with the natural creativity of skateboarding.
“People [ask] ‘Is skateboarding an art or a sport?’ Miller said. “It's both. It's creative, but it's also a discipline—just like a sport. Skateboarding is like a perfect marriage between the two.”
What they offer
Miller officially opened The Skate Gym at its permanent location last February, offering youth, teen and adult classes, private lessons and limited open skate hours.
Beginner classes focus on four core skills: dropping in, learning to pump the ramp 10 times without slowing down, little ollies and rock to fakie. The level two classes are invite only, based on if the student has learned the four required skills.
In order to eliminate barriers to entry, The Skate Gym distributes used boards and equipment to people if their board breaks or if they have equipment issues. The Skate Gym also offers workshops, collaborating previously with the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center and visually impaired students within Round Rock ISD.
The Skate Gym has become a place where anyone interested in the sport can participate. Miller said he especially wants girls to learn how to take up space and feel good about it. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Respecting the craft
One of the coolest aspects of The Skate Gym is that it has become a multi-generational practice for families, Miller said. Many times parents or siblings will watch their children during class and then want to learn how to skate.
“Then they're going to the skate park together,” Miller said. “They're getting outside, they're getting physical activity off their screens and they're doing something that's basically free after they buy a board.”
How it works
As an instructor Miller breaks down each step of the skating process, using a PVC pipe to spot students as they learn.
“I've broken all the moves, like how to push, how to be on your board, how to drop in, into basic steps,” Miller said. “Just like if you were doing a dead lift or doing any type of weight maneuver.”
The context
It took Miller 22 months to officially open the gym to skaters, whereas he only budgeted for 6 months. Through the delays, Miller started working at Elevate Fitness where he earned his personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist certifications.
He took inspiration from other training gyms to create an accessible environment for beginners, as skateparks are notoriously intimidating for people, Miller said.
“I got the idea from a CrossFit gym style,” Miller said. “I was like, ‘You could just put the same model on skateboarding, and create a spot where people could train.”
The skate shop offers a range of apparel and brands, with a focus on uplifting local companies. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Learn more
The Skate Gym also offers classic and local skating brands, selling boards, wheels and apparel. Local companies offered include Day One, Beware, Cherries and Bone Crue, according to its website.
Miller also uplifts local talent through a zine, where skaters in the community can collaborate through writing and collages. He fosters a creative cohort through additional events at the gym, including paint and skate nights.
“What some of you might see as a parking block or a ditch, we see like a paradise— something that can be molded and shaped,” Miller said. “And so it's the same with this community.”
