All Risks Count: Taylor Poole Finds Passion In Skating
Fearlessness is all the skateboarder feels as he flies through the air and lands on the cold, hard cement in schoolyard. Nothing but his scuffed up tan vans hold him to his worn out board.
Junior Taylor Poole has an overwhelming passion that he executes when preparing for a tre-flip. He goes faster and faster and needs to get more air, not caring if he ends up with another bruise on his already beaten-up body or another rip on his brand new Levis.
Poole is a daredevil on wheels, and an adrenaline junkie. In Taylor’s world of skateboarding, gravity can be the only thing to hold him back.
“One day I was trying a new trick, the heel flip down a big gap, but as I was about to land back down on my board, my ankle completely cracked against the side of the board leaving me unable to skate or even walk for five weeks,” Poole said. “The first thing I thought about was that I couldn’t skate. I don’t care about walking.”
At the early age of ten, Poole began his hobby as a skateboarder when he watched the kids goofing off on their boards.
“When I saw my neighbors skate, I had to try it for myself,” Taylor said. “The first time I tried it, I was hooked. Now, all I can think about is skating.”
Poole has entered in skating competitions, where he impressed not only the judges, but himself.
“I have competed in three competitions so far,” Poole said. “I actually won a Lewisville competition, where I got a free board as a prize. I was excited. I had no idea that I was even going to place, let alone win.”
Taylor has been trying to take his skateboarding to the next level by posting his own trick videos on YouTube.
“I make videos to help other skaters with simple tips,” Poole said. “I’m skateboarding in them to get my name out to potential sponsors.
Poole said that his main goal is to get a sponsorship deal with Index Boards. He dreams to skate for them and reach for boarding fame.
For now, though, Poole is sponsored by Yum, a skating franchise in Texas.
“My friend Devon helped me get into Yum, and they put me on the street team,” Poole said. “Pretty much, I just promote the Alliance Skate Park and help get the company’s name out.”
Taylor said that skateboarding is his first love, and it will always be.
“I get excited when I see my board at home,” Poole said. “The first thing I do is jump on and just skate all day and night. When I do a kick flip off an eight staircase, I feel incredible. Nothing can compare to the rush you feel after a big trick like that.”