Guess the Only Board This Kid Cares to Be Certified By

This week’s Whiz Kid of the Week is an eighth-grader at who will likely spend much if not most of Easter Sunday following his life’s passion—skateboarding—at the Yosemite Rec Center near his home.

Whiz Kid's Name/Age: Michael Martinez, 14.

Whiz Kid's School: Eagle Rock High School.

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Not necessarily his GPA but the fact that he excels at what is arguably one of the most challenging sports and pastimes around. Every Wednesday evening, Martinez joins a group of like-minded Eagle Rockers who meet at the Baptist Church on Colorado Boulevard to skateboard for the sheer fun of it as well as in preparation for skateboarding competitions. Martinez is just two years into the sport, which he learned from friends, but is already headed for what he’s confident will be some early successes.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Martinez has chosen skateboarding over any number of sports he might have easily mastered because, as he puts it, he wants to see “how far I can go with it.” A broken ankle last year didn’t discourage him the least bit—after hobbling around on his right foot in a cast for three months, he was back trying to skateboard down stairs like the pro he wants to be.

Bonus Whiz Kid Info: This might be a sign of Martinez’s sense of purpose or a mark of stubbornness he may yet live to regret, but he has no hobbies other than skateboarding. How many hours a day does he skateboard? “It’d be easier to say how many hours I don’t,” he quips.