Newport Heights students mobilize to skate

Paul Schmitt, founder and president of Create A Skate, came to Newport Heights Elementary School Thursday with a definite message to students: You will have to use math and science in the future.

If you want to be a world-class skateboarder, that is.

Schmitt, who lives in Newport Beach and operates his manufacturing company out of Costa Mesa, visited Newport Heights along with professional skateboarder Christian Hosoi to deliver board-making supplies to more than 100 students. Five classes at the school raised money to participate in the Create A Skate program, holding bake sales, doing chores at home and even writing to local businesses.

According to the Create A Skate website, students are encouraged to raise a $15 participation fee independently, that is, without relying on parents or relatives.

Principal Kurt Suhr, an avid skateboarder himself, said students would create their boards in class over the coming weeks. At Thursday's assembly, Schmitt presented Suhr and teachers Gabriel del Real and Marc Africano with certificates for having constructed boards on their own.

Hosoi, a professional athlete since the 1970s, praised the students not only for applying their interest in math and science, but also for organizing themselves to apply for Create A Skate.

"They do it for themselves, and I think that shows they can not only build a skateboard, but also raise the money to make things happen," he said.