Raising three boys on his own in Ocean County, John Ricciardi was struck by the contradiction. His sons and all their friends loved skateboarding, but they had trouble finding places to ride without being hassled, let alone a place to test their skills in competition.

That's where the dream started.

Ricciardi, who has worked in landscaping and grounds maintenance, but is currently unemployed, learned there were competitive skateboard leagues in California and wondered why skateboarding and other action sports couldn't enjoy the same structure, popularity and acceptance as Little League baseball and Pop Warner football in New Jersey.

Seeking to promote the building of new facilities, Ricciardi teamed up with the Rutgers business school and has embarked on a bid to organize the sport and become the latest entrepreneur to carve out a niche in a $5 billion industry.

Ricciardi envisions a federation of school and community X-treme sports programs under the umbrella of the Action Sports Association, a nonprofit organization he has created to generate support for nontraditional athletic activities, such as skateboarding, BMX biking, inline skating, and rock climbing. Under Ricciardi's business plan, jobs would be created for park Builders & operators and action sports activities instructors.
Creating Jobs in Construction, Maintenance, and Teaching

“I'm trying to create an awakening in the citizenry of New Jersey to the upside of the industry of action sports,” the 46-year-old Point Pleasant resident said.
 

CATCHING A WAVE

Skateboarding had its origins in the 1950s, when surfers realized they could duplicate the feel of riding a wave on land by putting wheels on a wooden board. It experienced a slump in the 1960s when concerns were raised about its safety, but underwent a resurgence in the mid-1970s with the introduction of the urethane wheel.

The sport, as well as all other action sports, got a major boost in 1995 with the advent of ESPN's X-Games. Now in their 14th year, the X-Games will span two weeks in Los Angeles this August.

Through an organization called Skate Pass, skateboarding also has been introduced into the physical education programs at high schools in California and at least 10 other states.

There are some 2,000 skate parks across the country, including more than 50 in New Jersey, and Heidi Lemmon of the Skate Park Association of the United States estimated

But she is skeptical of Ricciardi's plan to parlay action sports into a thriving business venture.

“At the amateur level, there's no big money in action sports,” she said. “If his plan is to make money off of amateur sports, he'd better get into the clothing end of it.” 

Action Sports Association is a Non Profit Organization focused on the greater good of the community, not to make profits !

“Specifically, the organization's focus is to raise awareness among all government levels, education systems, corporate entities, local groups and individuals in hopes of generating funding for action sports-related infrastructure and events,” said Mr. Ricciardi.

Organized skateboarding has long existed on the West Coast, where the California Amateur Skateboard League is now in its 22nd year, offering competitions throughout the year in all age groups from eight and younger, to 16 and older.

A CHALLENGE

Last year a California man, Jeffrey Stern, started the first high school skateboarding league with seven schools in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. It has grown to 21 teams in its second year, and Stern said he has been besieged with inquiries about duplicating his effort.

“The exposure and the demand — it just got out of hand,” Stern said. “I was getting phone calls and e-mails from all over the country.”

Riccardi said his efforts to attract funding for skateboarding programs have been a tough slog.

“When I was talking to people, they were hearing 'skateboarding' and they were not even listening to me because skateboarders were perceived as troublesome,” he said.

Stern said he, too, at first met staunch resistance to organizing the sport from both schools and skateboarders.

“I've been through more trouble than you can imagine,” he said. “I've jumped through more hoops and hurdles.”

But he thinks Ricciardi can make his plan work. 

“It's more than possible because I'm doing it,” he said.

There's also a question whether skateboarders, with their reputation as rebellious daredevils, would embrace any effort to organize their pastime.

“To tell you the truth, a lot of the older guys are not going to be into that,” said John Cruz of Bloomfield, a 17-year-old who works at a skateboarding shop in Montclair. “It just doesn't work like that. You get into skateboarding because it's different.”

 There are many old pros, and current pros who are in favor of this plan

Rick Duardo, owner of the Unreal Skateshop in Somerville, thinks young skaters might accept organization more readily than older ones.

“For the younger kids who are picking it up — 8 to 12 years old — I don't think they would mind,” he said.

But he questioned the need for giving skateboarding any more of a boost than it already has.

“The industry is booming,” he said.

John Bernards, of the International Association of Skateboard Companies, is impressed by Ricciardi's plan. The hard part, he said, will be making it work.

“It's a very viable program — if he can pull it off,” Bernards said. “He's got a great plan and if he can pull it off, he'll do something to benefit the kids in New Jersey for sure.”

But Ricciardi is not deterred by the skepticism.

“I've seen the growth of these activities and I know I'm right,” he said. “At the same time, I'm frustrated, because I was ready to do this in 1999.”

Now, however, armed with a business blueprint for his Action Sports Association, Ricciardi is determined to succeed.

“I have an aggressive plan and I'm trying to get somebody to listen to me,” he said. “It's going to happen. I don't care if I'm out there another five years. I'm going to do this.

“I'm young at heart and I know I'm right and I'm never going to give up. I'm just waiting for an angel to come forward to make this dream happen.”