Japan Pretty Solid Skate School

Last year, we had the chance to visit Pretty Solid Skate School in Japan and got the lowdown on how they run things from chatting with Principal Hiroyuku Matsuo.
Recently, Pretty Solid also had their inaugural student graduation. They not only filmed videos for the young skaters but also held a graduation ceremony and premiere.
As the first graduating class, these four students nailed all the tricks and skill requirements outlined by the school curriculum and hit that "Black Class".

去年，我们有机会去拜访了日本 Pretty Solid 滑板学校，并通过和松尾校长的交谈，了解了这里的运营想法和状态。
前不久 Pretty Solid 也迎来了自己的首届学员毕业，他们不仅为小滑手们拍摄了影片，还举办了毕业活动和首映。
作为首届毕业生，这四个学生完成了学校规划里的所有招式和水平要求，并达到了“黑段（black level）”。

But meeting the school's requirements is just the beginning; skateboarding still comes down to hitting the streets for some real "practice" — after all, the teachers at Pretty Solid are all top-notch skaters who grew up shredding the streets.
不过完成了学校的要求并不算什么，滑板还是要回到街上“修行”——毕竟 Pretty Solid 的教师们都是在街头成长的优秀滑手们。

At this graduation ceremony, besides the Black Class skaters, Pretty Solid actually showcased films from students at different stages. Among them, the video from the Wednesday girls' class was particularly captivating.
These girls have been skate for less than four years, yet they're pulling off mind-blowing tricks at the skatepark, all with a certain flair we could call style.

在本次毕业典礼上，除了黑段滑手，其实 Pretty Solid 还展示了不同阶段的同学影片作品。其中，每周三的女生班的影片则非常吸引人。
这群小姑娘开始滑板都不到四年，却可以板场做着让人眼花缭乱的动作，而且带有一种可以称之为风格的东西。

Don't let the size of Pretty Solid fool you. This skatepark may be small, but it's packed with possibilities. Our amazing teachers and students have shown us how to maximize the potential of every ramp, rail, and box.
之前我们有介绍过，Pretty Solid 其实只是一个具有多种变化形态，面积 200 平米左右的板场。但优秀的滑手老师和同学们将想象无限延伸，把这里的道具发挥得淋漓尽致。

Skate school can be found worldwide, but the approaches and skill levels differ significantly. As a result, skateboarding often gets reduced to a mere 'teaching aid.' While prioritizing the safety and happiness of both parents and children is paramount, teaching basic maneuvers and generating revenue are also important considerations. Nevertheless, the true essence lies in fostering a genuine understanding of skateboarding and its transformative power on individuals.
滑板教学很多国家都有，但教学水平和想法参差不齐，滑板在这个层面仅仅成了“教学工具”。让家长，孩子都安全且开心是一方面，学会动作是最基本，赚钱也是重要需求。
但是如何在这个过程中，让人们真的理解滑板，又让滑板真的积极作用到人，才是更重要的东西。

We would rather skateboarding not exist than witness it being diminished to such a pretentious and artificial pursuit. This aligns with Principal Matsuo's constant reminder: 'We should teach everyone how to skateboard, and the 'feel' must be true.
我们宁愿没有，也不愿意看到如此多扭捏作态的滑板。这也是松尾校长一直说的，“我们应该教会大家滑板而且‘感觉’不能不对。”