Transportation around campus usually means walking or cycling from class to class or class to home. But skateboarding is also a popular way to get around Ball State.
This trend may not be new to men around campus, but more women are picking it up and trying their hand at skateboarding.
Junior telecommunications major Alison Mercado is one of these women. She's a transfer student and a member of the Ball State softball team. She said riding is something she's gotten into since she's been in college.
"I went to school in Arizona for two years and it would be like a high of 125 [degrees]. Here it's a high of like 80 [degrees]," Mercado said. "I'm just taking advantage of the time I have left [with this weather]."
Mercado doesn't have a car in Muncie so she relies solely on her skateboard and the MITS bus. When skateboarding season is over, Mercado also snowboards. Snowboarding is more common in northern California, where Mercado is from.
Sometimes Mercado feels out of place skating on campus. People have expectations for skateboarders, but Mercado is used to looking different on the board.
"[In Arizona], skating wasn't common," she said. "I do feel out of place. I get a lot of looks. I feel like I should be walking or on a bike."
Mercado said sometimes people expect her to do tricks on the board because that's what boarders do. She said she just uses it for transportation.
"I was going to get a bike but I didn't know how to get it on the bus," she said.
Mercado didn't find a "girly" board, so she made her own design on the bottom with markers and finished over it with a gloss spray.
Skating on campus can prove as a hassle though. Sometimes it's not as efficient as walking, she said.
"Most of the time when I skate it's not like I'm running into people," Mercado said. "It's not productive to scoot-scoot along with everyone. Walking takes a long time. You get a one up when you're flying past someone walking. It's kind of a cool feeling."
Sometimes riding can be dangerous. Mercado has to constantly look ahead and can't risk getting hurt.
"Of course you eat it sometimes in big cracks. A twig can throw you off your board," she said. "You have to jump off your board or put your foot down. Always look ahead."
As a second baseman on the softball team, Mercado has to be able to run and hit to fulfill those duties. Softball coach Craig Nicholson said he doesn't really worry about Mercado's skateboarding, though.
"I don't worry about [her skateboarding] that much," he said. "Anything could happen to anybody. I think she's putting herself at a little more of a risk, but I figure she's been doing this her whole life and if she uses good judgment then we'll be fine."
Longboards are also another form to skate on. A longboard has bigger and wider wheels than a skateboard. They are not typically used for tricks. Sophomore psychology major Natalie Sachs rides to school on a longboard.
Longboarding is also uncommon for women. Sachs knows of herself and one other female who ride.
Sachs said she enjoys riding because it's a good thing to do outdoors.
"It's really relaxing and I like being outside while doing it," she said.
Sachs initially learned how to skate on a skateboard and switched to longboard about four months ago. She said she loves its portability.
"It's small, so I can bring it to class with me and put it under my desk," Sachs said.
The crowds may pose a problem for bicycles but with a skateboard or longboard it is easier to hop off quicker if you need to stop. Both Sachs and Mercado have been hurt on their boards before but not severely.
"I have never gotten really hurt but I did fall a few weeks ago and I hurt my wrist," Sachs said. "I know a lot of people that have severely hurt themselves longboarding."
Although the ratio of male-to-female skateboarders is large, these girls still enjoy what they're doing. They view it as a way to get around campus easier and it's smaller than having to deal with a bike whether in class or traveling by bus.
"I do like coming down on McKinley when no one's on the sidewalk and you carve, feel the wind in your face," Mercado said. "It's kind of rebellious. You just go."
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