Scoot
Youths enjoy new craze
It would be safe to say a popular Christmas gift last year for youngsters -- scooters -- aren't sitting in closets collecting dust.
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The number of youths riding scooters at the Lowell Elementary School playground Thursday afternoon doubled in less than a half hour.
At one time there were six youths cruising the playground, including one on a scooter that had in-line skate wheels and front-wheel suspension.
Third-grader Thomas Fairbanks, who received his scooter two years ago on his 9th birthday, can perform tricks, such as half-turns and hops.
Ariel Peterson performed a bunny hop stunt as Thomas Fairbanks (left) and Robert Sowad watched. The object of the bunny hop for a rider is to bring his or her knees as high as they can at the apex of the jump.
Other tricks of scooter enthusiasts include one-footers and the pogo. In the one-footer, a rider kicks his or her feet to the side of the scooter while moving. In the pogo, the rider stands on the back wheel with one foot and keeps the other foot on the board and jumps up and down.
But for some adults, the trick of turning without crashing looks difficult.
Not for second-grader Ariel Peterson. She said turning was as easy as just turning the front handlebars.
Fairbanks who cruises a little faster than Peterson, who just received her scooter last Christmas, said leaning your body into the turn also helps.
Thomas Fairbanks performed the pogo stunt on his scooter which has a front suspension and in-line skating wheels.
Others are just learning to ride their scooters.
Sixth-grader Gary Johnson, who received his scooter last Christmas commented, "I just started riding."