ANANSI the SPIDER is a West African mythological figure dubbed the ‘Owner of all Stories’. Through resourcefulness and creativity, he overcomes many obstacles outsmarting the “superior” characters he encounters on his journeys. At ASL, we celebrate Anansi’s spirit of creativity and independence by empowering students to have faith in their abilities and courage to forge their own paths.
LEARN SKATEBOARDING
There’s only one activity we put above skateboarding and that is the process of learning. As instructors at ASL, we support not simply your growth as a skateboarder, but the development of your learning process. Failing and falling is celebrated as an essential component of elevating one’s skillset. We’re here to guide and encourage you on your path to success!
Fundamentals (getting on/off, balancing, board control, foot positioning, pushing, turning, stopping)
Flatground Skating (ollies, 180s, shuv its, kickflips, heelflips)
Navigating Skateparks (skatepark etiquette, skatepark terrain)
Beginner and Intermediate Transition Skating (banks, quarter pipes, mini ramps, bowls)
Beginner and Intermediate Street Skating (curbs, sidewalks, ledges, stairs, flat rails)
Your Instructor
Mame Fremah Bonsu
Founder & Instructor
When I was young, my mother would often say "play with Anansi" when I asked her to play a board game or card game with her and she was too busy. The point was to be creative and put myself in the shoes of an imaginary opponent. Of course, this opponent was none other than myself. In skateboarding, there's no such thing as outside competition, and it is all about self-growth. For me, Anansi represents the journey of self-discovery as well as the growth of wisdom and acquiring of skills.
In childhood, I was one of very few minorities in my hometown, and I spent significant energy distancing myself from my non-American roots. As I’ve grown up, I've learned to embrace my unique identify and celebrate it while sharing my love for skateboarding. That being said, you don’t have to be a first-generation American to feel out of place. You don’t have to acquire superhuman abilities to feel empowered. However, we can all access our excellence by recognizing our vulnerabilities. Skateboarding is an activity full of risk, reward, and self-discovery all at once. This is what ASL seeks to embody and share with the emerging generation.