CHAPTER 7
CRASH AND BURN

The other Oakdale skaters liked Avani’s video idea too. After all, they wanted a skate park in their hometown. They agreed to help.

Krish filmed his friend Colin first. Colin ollied up onto the manny pad. Then he went right into a nice nose manual. He rolled across the surface on his front wheels.

Avani shouted a question. “Why do you skateboard?”

“It makes me happy!” Colin yelled back.

Maddy was next. “I’m new to skating,” she said into Krish’s phone. “But I love it because I can challenge myself.”

Then, she dropped into the bowl. Fwooosh! She rolled smoothly. Everyone cheered.

Maddy skated to Avani and Krish. She pointed to a mom with two kids on scooters. “I’ve seen them at the bowling alley before,” she said. “I think they’re from Oakdale.”

And they were. Krish filmed the kids pump up and down on the ramp. They were pumping hard, laughing, and having fun.

“They love the skate park,” the mom said into the camera. “I wish we had a place in Oakdale like this. Longmont is a long drive, and gas is expensive!”

Krish was next, so Avani took over filming. Krish built up speed and then… CLACK! He jumped the Euro gap.

Krish glided by and said, “Skating helps me reduce stress and focus when I’m at school.”

That made Avani laugh, so she stopped recording.

“What?” said Krish. “It’s true. Plus, adults like to hear that kind of stuff.”

They filmed a few more of Krish’s friends. They recorded Kira doing a clean rail grind.

Finally, it was Avani’s turn. She knew exactly what trick she wanted to do. No time like the present! she thought.

Avani blazed toward the rail.

“You got it, Avani!” Maddy yelled.

Avani popped the board up on the rail. RRRSSSH! She slid about a foot. Then she bailed. She tumbled onto the ground.

Krish ran to get Avani’s runaway board while Maddy helped her up.

“That was good!” said Maddy. “You went farther than last time.”

“I’m going to try again,” said Avani, brushing off her kneepads. “I think I’ve got the feel of it. And I want it to look perfect for the video.”

Krish handed Avani her board. “You got this!” he said.

Avani took a deep breath. Then she pushed forward hard, building speed. She was almost at the rail, when—

TUNK!

Her wheel got stuck on a pebble. Her board stopped dead in its tracks.

Avani went flying forward. She stepped to catch herself. But she was moving so fast. She rolled her ankle on the concrete.

Krish and Maddy came running over.

“Krish?” Avani said, holding back tears as she gently touched her ankle. “This isn’t good. Call Dad.”