Kyle Pasley remembers the feeling of freedom the first time that he stepped on a skateboard. The thrill, he says, is in learning what it’s like to fail—and then recover.
“Skateboarding is one of those things where it’s completely normal to get it wrong a thousand times before you get it right once–and then, once you get it right, it’s completely normal to mess up 500 more times before you get it a second time,” he says.
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Making the decision to get back on the board time and again is a process of growth that Pasley has been instilling in students at Skate School since 2022. Since its founding, the school has experienced dramatic expansion, far beyond what Pasley anticipated when it was initially a temporary career pivot between jobs. Due to popular demand, the business recently added roller-blading and -skating classes taught by Katie Lawson for the first time.
A West Coast native, Pasley says such classes were part of the culture of his childhood, but he saw a gap in the St. Louis market. Pasley describes skateboarding as therapy of sorts while he was growing up, and he hopes the classes can help kids in the same way.
“The feeling of learning something new, the perseverance—it always made me feel absolutely amazing as a kid,” he recalls. “All humans go through their emotional ups and downs… Personally, if it wouldn’t have been for skateboarding, I’m not sure if I would’ve gone through some of my challenges as effectively as I did.”
The benefits of skateboarding extend beyond the physical and mental, Pasley explains. The social element of skateboarding can also make an important difference in an adolescent’s life. “The barrier of entry for this sport is very low—you don’t have to try out or qualify. Everyone is welcome, and the kids treat it that way,” he says. “I see a lot of kids who don’t have class together but cross paths as one class is ending and another is beginning. Even though they didn’t have the hour to skate together, they’ll slap a high-five and say, ‘Good job’ on the way in and the way out. Little scenarios like that create friendships. They know they’re on similar paths; they know they’re both participating in the same craft, and you can just see friendships forming.”
That’s not to mention some of the life skills that skateboarding teaches: “The importance of seeing things through, even when they’re tough. That it’s OK to take a little breather if you have to, but not to quit, to keep going. I believe failure cannot actually occur until you decide to quit.”
Pasley instills that fortitude in his students through positivity and a small-steps approach. “We’re identifying progress as we go,” he says. “They’re seeing themselves get better and better. That mentality of keep going, keep swimming. If they can take that with them into adulthood and apply it, I think they’ll probably be OK.”
Beyond classes, Pasley uses Skate School’s Facebook page to support area students, from motivational videos to personal milestones to faith-based and civic leader-inspired affirmations.
Pasley recommends participants be at least 4 or 5 years old to begin classes, as that’s the age that he typically sees kids able to follow instruction in a structured setting. “If you’re at home with a skateboard, get your 3-year-old on the skateboard all day,” he says. “I think it’s great. But as far as an instructional class goes, it might be a little tough at 3.” (He speaks from personal experience, after his now-9-year-old daughter first stepped on a skateboard at age 3.)
Pasley groups classes based on skillset, rather than age range, as everyone’s familiarity starts in a different place, from pushing on a scooter to participating in board sports to ramp-readiness. Illinois class locations include Edwardsville, Maryville, Collinsville, Granite City, Troy, and Pontoon Beach. Safety at all classes takes priority, with signed waivers and bring-your-own helmets and knee and elbow pads required; wrist guards are also recommended.
For caregivers who are intimidated at the prospect of their children getting on a board, Pasley shares this advice: “There is no reason to go to the skate park immediately. Find a flat spot at your house, a basement, a garage. Even a safe area in the street, if there’s no traffic and Mom and Dad are there. Play around on the flat ground, and then apply your judgment after a day or two of doing that before you completely rule it out.”
Courses are $100 per month, with a one-time, $25 enrollment fee that covers community events and get-togethers, from pizza parties to Nerf fights. It’s important to Pasley that his school is parent-friendly as well, which is why he is flexible with schedules.
“There is no way that I could charge somebody for time that their child never receives,” he says. “A lot of people live busy lives, and a lot of people have a lot of unexpected life occurrences. If for any reason there’s ever a time where somebody cannot make it to class, all remaining classes will always be there waiting on the student.”
Pasley sees his Skate School as a community, one where he hopes to offer bigger opportunities this year, such as a potential skate camp, a Six Flags day, and more.
“Skateboarding was always one of those things that welcomed and helped me, and I just want to feed into it as much as I can,” he says. “I’m absolutely baffled, flattered, and mind-boggled that the community has grown to the degree that it has. I’m an extremely grateful person.”
