Tracy Lehr / KEYT
GOLETA, Calif. – Skateboarding s popularity grew long before its Olympic debut, but skate shops are benefiting from the global attention being paid to the sport in Japan.
Some parents buying skateboards for their children said they enjoyed seeing 13-year-olds competing with adults and winning gold.
Margot Heiligman of Santa Barbara said her son Elias Williams loves the sport. I think it is super exciting to see so many kids who have the same passion my son has, which we have always known, Heiligman said. This is a very popular sport, but it s incredible to see it legitimized in the Olympics.