BOISE, Idaho — Elliot Saxton of Boise has been skateboarding Rhodes Skate Park since he was two-years-old and now he's competing in the Road to the X Games competition this weekend.
The 16-year-old has lived and breathed nothing but skateboarding since he was a toddler and has become a skate park disciple with a monk-like devotion to dropping in on his board. That devotion is helping him ensure that he's having fun under the spotlight.
"I'm pretty sure it's gonna be live broadcasted to the world and there's gonna be, I think last year there's probably like 500 or more people that showed up, just surrounding the bowl," Saxton said. "So that's a little nerve-racking but I'm gonna go out and have fun."
The Rhodes Skate Park, tucked in under the Connector overpass, was built in the 1990s but has been a home away from home for Saxton. His father, Richard Saxton, was surprised by his son's singular focus of skateboarding and never tried to distract it.
"You know, he just got his driver's license not too long ago and so, you know, like last summer and summer before that I would drop him off in the morning," he said. " He'd be here ten-twelve hours every single day, seven days a week."
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Those blue-collar hours have not only earned Elliot Saxton sponsorships but has also inspired the next surge of skaters. His commitment has also got him into competitions in several states across the west.
Skateboarding is a cornerstone of Elliot Saxton's character and is evolving into a lifestyle for him.
"Sometimes skating just feels easier than walking," he said. "Since I've been doing since I was two, just feels so natural to me, it just feels kind of like riding a bike, just like get on and start peddling and you're good."
To chase a childhood goal of X Games glory will test his skills. His mentality of just having fun during the competition got him so far, so even if the familiar footing should fail him, Elliot Saxton is just gonna keep skating.
"Cause everybody's got their own thing and you gotta find that thing that you're into so, skateboarding's my thing, that's my love," he said.
