About Benji S

Levels taught: First-timers, Beginners, Intermediates

Teaches: Toddlers, Children, Teenagers, Adults, Seniors

I started when I was 8 and skated the first plastic banana board until the bearings fell out. At 15 I got my first "real" skateboard, A Powell RIPPER. I skated 4-8 hours a day until I began my career in teaching, got married, and had a child. In October 2021 I restarted skating again. I sold my ballroom studio in February 2022, and I skate 4-6 days a week now, splitting time between the 3 outdoor parks, and my backyard mini. I started a nonprofit, LaterSkaters Memphis, in October 2022, and raised enough funds to purchase 100 completes for local low-income kids. I continue to be a driving force with LaterSkaters Memphis; we have given away over 200 skateboards and held our first contest. I hope to be helping Tyre Nichols's family fulfill their wish to have a skatepark with his name on it; as well as getting skate spots built by the city, around the city. Experience: I taught kids & adults ballroom private lessons for 34 years. I have multiple teaching certifications, equal to a Masters's Degree. I dropped out of college, working towards teaching high school English, to teach ballroom. I have taught thousands of people to dance a little, and a few to be national champions. I understand the theory of teaching, as well as the need to follow a process.