>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR JOURNEY INDIANA IS PROVIDED BY: >> COMING UP, LEARN THE INS AND OUTS OF ONE OF INDIANA'S FASTEST GROWING SPORTS, PICKLE BALL.

>> GET ON THE WATER WITH INDIANA'S ONLY COMPETITIVE WATER SKI SHOW TEAM.

THE LAKE CITY SKIERS.

>> MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE WORLD CHAMPION INDY THUNDER BASEBALL TEAM.

AND MEET A MAN FROM MUNCIE WHO HAS TURNED HIS PASSION FOR SKATEBOARDING INTO A THRIVING BUSINESS.

THAT'S ALL ON THIS EPISODE OF "JOURNEY INDIANA."

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "JOURNEY INDIANA."

I'M BRANDON WENTZ.

>> AND I'M ASHLEY CHILLA.

SO BRANDON, ON OUR LAST EPISODE, WE FEATURED SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BASKETBALL STORIES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT AND INDIANA IS MORE THAN JUST BASKETBALL.

SO WE THOUGHT ON THIS EPISODE, WE WOULD FEATURE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SPORTS STORIES, NO HOOPS ALLOWED.

FIRST WE GO TO INDIANAPOLIS TO MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE PICKLE BALL CLUB.

WE HAVE THE STORY.

♪ >> I EXPLAIN IT ALL THE TIME.

EVERYBODY IS ASKING, WHAT IS PICKLEBALL?

>> PICKLE BALL IS THE BEST SPORT EVER!

>> PICKLE BALL IS AN AMAZING SPORT THAT IS A CROSS BETWEEN TENNIS, BADMINTON, PINGPONG.

>> PEOPLE ARE LIKE STOP TALKING ABOUT PICKLE BALL BECAUSE I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

ONCE SOMEBODY PLAYS, THERE'S NOT VERY OFTEN THAT THEY WON'T BE BACK OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

YOU PLAY IT ON EITHER TENNIS SURFACE OR GYM FLOOR, CONCRETE SOMETIMES.

A THIRD OF THE SIZE OF A TENNIS COURT.

THE BALL IS LIKE A WHIFFLE BALL AND THE PADDLE IS A COUPLE SIZES BIGGER THAN A PINGPONG BALL WITH A HONEYCOMB CORE INSIDE.

ONE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES FROM TENNIS, YOU ACTUALLY SERVE UNDERHAND AND REALLY FROM, THAT YOU ARE JUST KEEPING IT IN PLAY.

CAN'T GET IN UNLESS THE BALL BOUNCES IN, THERE BUT THEN YOU GOT TO GET RIGHT BACK OUT.

REMEMBERING HOW TO KEEP TRACK.

SCORE IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST OUT OF ALL OF IT.

MOST PEOPLE LIGHTNING START OUT AND THEY JUST BANG THE BALL.

THEY JUST WANT TO HIT IT HARD AND THEN THE BETTER THAT THEY GET, THEN THEY GET CLOSER TO THE KITCHEN LINE, AND IT WILL BE MORE STRATEGIC AND THEY WILL GET IT BACK AND FORTH AND WAIT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO MAKE A MISTAKE BEFORE THEY ATTACK.

PLACING THE BALL IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS BEING ABLE TO HIT IT HARD.

IT'S A BIG GAME OF PINGPONG FOR ME.

ANYBN PLAY.

>> FASCINATING GAME.

SLOWER.

ALLOWS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY GENRE TO PLAY, EVERY AGE LEVEL, EVERY GENDER.

>> YOU WILL SEE GUYS STARTING WITH 10 YEARS OLD, UP TO LATE 80s TO BE HONEST WITH YOU PLAYING ON THE SAME COURTS THAT I AM AND USUALLY BEATING ME.

>> GREAT SPORT TO KIND OF GET EXERCISE, BUT ALSO NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO PICK UP AND LEARN.

>> PICKLE BALL GOT ITS NAME BY THE FAMILY THAT INVENTED IT.

THEIR DOG'S NAME WAS PICKLES.

THEY WERE BORED ON A RAINY DAY,% THEY PLAYED BADMINTON AND THEY LOST THEIR BIRDIE.

THEY WENT DOWN TO THE WOODSHOP AND MADE SOME PADDLES AND LOWERED THE NET.

AND THAT'S HOW PICKLE BALL GOT STARTED.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO, MY SISTER COMES TO ME AND SAYS, DAN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET DAD TORE CHRISTMAS?

I WAS LIKE I HAVE NO IDEA.

SHE COMES BACK, I GOT HIM SOMETHING.

MY DAD OPENS UP A GIFT, AND IT'S A PICKLE BALL SET.

AFTER, THAT I WAS HOOKED.

>> I PLAYED VOLLEYBALL.

I NEVER GOT INTO LEAGUES AFTER COLLEGE OR ANYTHING.

I MISSED THE COMPETITIVE ATMOSPHERE.

AND THEN WHEN MY MOM GOT ME INTO PICKLE BALL, I MET A TON OF FRIENDS THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE.

>> I WENT OUT TO THE Y ONE SATURDAY MORNING AND I WAS HOOKED.

PLAYING PICKLE BALK I CAN PLAY, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, AND NOT BE TIRED.

IT'S NOT AS MUCH RUNNING AS TENNIS, BUT YOU CAN GET JUST AS MUCH WORKOUT.

PICKLE BALL, IT'S A LOT MORE CLOSE ACTION, AND IT'S REALLY NOT HARD ON YOUR JOINTS.

IT'S A GOOD EXERCISE.

>> YOU BURN SOME CALORIES OUT HERE.

IT'S PERFECT FOR ME.

>> PICKLE BALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA.

OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY AND THERE ARE COURTS POPPING UP EVERYWHERE.

>> FOR ME INS THE CAMARADERIE, THE FRIENDSHIPS.

I MET SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE PICKLE BALL COMMUNITY THAT I ENJOY HANGING OUT WITH AND HAVING DRINKS WITH.

>> I LOVE THE COMPETITIVENESS AND IT'S A GREAT EXERCISE.

>> THE PICKLE BALL CLUB STARRED A YEAR AND A -- STARTED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

WE WANTED TO GIVE PLACESLACES TO PLAY TO START LEAGUES TO HAVE TOURNAMENTS AROUND HERE SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CLOSE TO 200 PEOPLE AND JUST A YEAR AND A HALF.

>> WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE PLAYERS LOCALLY, AS WELL AS MORE TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND SURROUNDING STATES.

>> EVENTUALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DEDICATED INDOOR VENUE FOR PICKLE BALL.

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SCHOOLS COME IN AND LEARN PICKLE BALL AND GROW THE SPORT OF PICKLE BALL, NOT ONLY IN THE INDIANAPOLIS AREA, BUT SURROUNDING AREAS, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE BEST PLACE IN THE MIDWEST AND THE CLUB'S GOAL IS TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT HAS 40 INDOOR COURTS SO WE CAN HOST A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AND THEN HAVE 20 OUTDOOR COURTS.

ANYBODY THAT'S INTERESTED COME OUT AND PLAY WITHIN TEN MINUTES, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF PICKLE BALL.

IF YOU ARE A SOCIAL PERSON, IT'S -- IT'S A SPORT FOR YOU.

IF YOU ARE COMPETITIVE, IT'S A SPORT FOR YOU.

AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER YOUR AGE, YOUR SKILL LEVEL.

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND PLAY.

>> YOU KNOW WHEN THEY SAY PICKLE BALL IS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, THEY ARE NOT JOKING.

I HAVE A MOTHER, A FATHER, A BROTHER AND A NEPHEW WOULD HAVE FIRST PLACE TROPHIES IN PICKLE BALL TOURNAMENTS ALL AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE, MAYBE EVEN FIND A NEARBY GAME, AT INDYPICKLEBALLCLUB.COM.

ASHLEY?

>> THANKS, BRANDON.

UP NEXT, WE ARE HEADED TO HIDDEN LAKE IN WARSAW TO MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE ONLY COMPETITIVE WATER SKI SHOW TEAM IN INDIANA.

JASON PEAR HAS THE STORY OF THE LAKE CITY SKIERS.

>> WE INITIALLY STARTED THE TEAM IN 1989.

OUR ACTUAL FIRST SEASON OF SHOW SKIING AS A TEAM WASN'T UNTIL 1990.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT HERE IN WARSAW, RIGHT HERE AT HIDDEN LAKE.

♪ ♪ THERE USED TO BE A LOT OF SHOW TEAMS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA, ESPECIALLY IN THE ANGOLA AREA.

ALMOST EVERY LAKE HAD A SHOW SKI TEAM OF SOME SORT.

LAKE WEBSTER OVER HERE HAS A SHOW SKI TEAM.

THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1940 BUT NOBODY COMPETITIVE.

THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE.

♪ WELL, WE HAVE AN OVERALL MEMBERSHIP OF ABOUT 150 MEMBERS NOW.

AND WE STARTED OUT WITH ABOUT 25 MEMBERS BACK IN 1989.

SO THE TEAM HAS GROWN A GOOD BIT.

WE HAVE SKIERS FROM VALPARAISO, WE HAVE SKIERS FROM FORT WAYNE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SKIERS FROM THE OUTER LYING COMMUNITIES, AND AS LONG AS THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT TO THE SHOWS AND MAKE IT TO PRACTICES, THEY ARE IN.

>> IT'S REALLY CALMING.

I KNOW THAT SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE WITH ALL THE NOISE THAT GOES ON AND LIKE ALL THE ENGINES BEING SUPER LOUD, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON ONE SPECIFIC SKILL SET, AND THE FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES HERE ARE JUST SAWSOME.

>> WE GET TO DO THIS AS A FAMILY.

I HAVE FOUR KIDS AND MY WIFE IS ON THE TEAM AS WELL.

AND SO WE ALL GET IN THE CAR.

WE COME TO THE SHOW SITE TOGETHER.

MY KIDS SKI.

I'M ON STAGE AS AN ANNOUNCER.

MY WIFE IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND WE DO THIS AS A FAMILY.

♪ ♪ >> THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES IN SHOW SKIING.

YOU WILL SEE BAREFOOTING.

YOU WILL SEE JUMPING.

YOU WILL SEE PYRAMIDS BUILT.

YOU WILL SEE SWIVEL SKIS.

YOU WILL SEE TRICK SKIS AND SHOE SKIS AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY AMAZING WHEN YOU PUT ON A SHOW LIKE THIS IN FRONT OF A CROWD THAT HAS NEVER SEEN SKIING LIKE THIS ON THE WATER AND THEY SEE A FOUR-TIER PYRAMID COMING THROUGH.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS WAS BUILT OR HOW THAT HAPPENED AND SO IT'S FUN TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO PEOPLE BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY FUN TO SEE THEM EXPERIENCE IT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

SOMEONE TURNING AROUND ON A SWIVEL SKI LIKE WAKELAND SPINNING 360 DEGREES OR SOMEBODY GOING UPSIDE DOWN.

>> AND, OF COURSE THE GIRLS BALLET LINE IS A VERY BIG ACT WITH THE CROWD.

SHOWS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO, AGAIN, OUR SPONSORS AND THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP THAT UP.

WE DO TAKE A SHORT INTERMISSION DURING THE SHOWS AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO DONATE AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME THAT.

ANYBODY CAN COME OUT AND WATCH A SHOW.

IT'S GREAT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT.

♪ >> IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PUT THIS ON THE WATER.

YOU HAVE THE BOAT DRIVERSEN ATHE SOUND PERSONNEL.

AND I DO THE TOW BOAT COORDINATING FOR THE SHOW.

WE HAVE COSTUME PEOPLE.

WE HAVE CONCESSION STAND PEOPLE.

SO IT TAKES A LOT OF BACKGROUND SUPPORT.

AS A COMPETITIVE TEAM, WE NORMALLY SKI IN THREE TOURNAMENTS A YEAR.

AND NATIONALS IS THE BIG ONE FOR THE YEAR.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT WE HOSTED IT HERE LAST YEAR.

WE HAD ABOUT 13,000 PEOPLE, SPECTATORS.

THE TOP 14 TEAMS IN THE NATION.

>> BASICALLY ANYONE OF ANY AGE CAN BE A PART OF THE SPORT AND JOIN IT AND THERE'S -- I MEAN WE HAVE SKIERS THAT ARE 4 YEARS OLD TO 72 YEARS OLD AND SO THERE'S VERY FEW OTHER SPORTS LIKE THAT IN THE WORLD WHERE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT AGE YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE IN COLLEGE OR HIGH SCHOOL OR ON AND YOUR DAD CAN DRIVE A BOAT AND YOU CAN SKI.

THAT'S ONE THE THINGS I LOVE MOST ABOUT IT.

>> IT'S CENTERED AROUND SOMETHING THAT I LOVE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ME COMING OUT AND HANGING OUT WITH PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

IT'S ME PERFECTING WHAT I CAN WITH PEOPLE THAT I REALLY LOVE.

>> I AM SO ENAMORED WITH COMPETITIVE WATER SKIING AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A FAMILY SPORT.

MY SON IS ALMOST A YEAR OLD AND I FEEL LIKE HE WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THE TOP OF THE HUMAN PYRAMID!

YOU CAN GET MORE INFO, INCLUDING 2021 SHOW TIMES AT LAKECITYSKIERS.ORG.

UP NEXT, WE GO BACK TO THE CIRCLE CITY TO HEAR ABOUT BEEP BASEBALL.

JACOB LINDOWER HAS THE STORY.

♪ ♪ [ CHEERS ] ♪ BEEP BALL HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1975.

THE FIRST WORLD SERIES WAS IN 1976.

IT WAS FOUNDED IN MINNEAPOLIS St. PAUL MINNEAPOLIS, CHARLIE FAIRBANKS AND JOHN ROSS, THOSE TWO GUYS HAD A VISION ABOUT BEEP BASEBALL FOR THE BLIND AND THE VISUALLY IMMARED WITH THE BALL WITH MECHANISMS IN THEM WITH SOME OLD TELEPHONE PARTS AND EVERYTHING SO THE BALL MADE A NICE BEEP AND THEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE BASES MAKING A NICE BUZZ.

[ BUZZING ] >> THE GAME WAS PLAYED WITH BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ATHLETES, YOUTH AND ADULTS AND THERE'S SIX PLAYERS AT BAT, AND THERE'S SIX FIELDERS BUT THERE'S ALSO A DESIGNATED FIELDER AND A DESIGNATED HITTER.

THERE'S ONLY TWO BASES, FIRST AND THIRD.

THE BASES STAND 100 FEET FROM HOME PLATE, 10 FEET OFF THE FAIR LINE AND THE BASES ARE RANDOM.

THERE'S A BASE OPERATOR THAT DETERMINES WHAT BASE THE BATTER RUNS TO.

IT'S LIKE A RACE.

IF THE BATTER GETS TO THE BEEPING RANDOM BASE BEFORE THE FIELDER TRACKS THE BALL, HE SCORES A RUN FOR HIS TEAM.

IF THE FIELDERS TRACK THE BALL AND HOLD IT UP OFF THE GROUND, THE WATER IS OUT.

-- THE BATTER IS OUT.

>> THE THUNDER WAS BORN IN JANUARY OF 2000, WHEN WE DECIDED TO JOIN THE NATIONAL BEEP BASEBALL ASSOCIATION IN 2001, AND WE HAVEN'T MISSED A WORLD SERIES SINCE 2004.

OUR FORTUNES TURNED ONCE WE DECIDED TO GO REALLY YOUNG AND SPORTS FATHER TIME CATCHES UP WITH YOU.

SO W SO WE NEED TO GET YOUNGER AND MORE ATHLETIC.

WE WERE THE YOUNGEST TEAM TO START A WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT'S AWESOME WHEN INDIANAPOLIS HASN'T WON A WORLD SERIES.

I WAS AS A PLAYER AND NOW AS A COACH AND MANAGER AND OWNER AS THE TEAM.

♪ >> THUNDER ROLL!

COME ON, LET'S!

>> THUNDER, HIT.

LET'S HUNDREDER, HIT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BUT THE BALL RIGHT ON THE BAG.

LET'S ROLL, THUNDER, ROLL.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE SOCIALIZATION, THE FAMILY, LEADERSHIP AND JUST BEING ON A TEAM, YOU KNOW, BEING AROUND POSITIVE PEOPLE, HAVING THAT POSITIVE ATTITUDE, AND I THINK THAT CARRIES THEM A LONG WAY IN THEIR LIFE, AND THEIR SCHOOLING AND THEIR JOBS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> A LOT OF THE RUNNING SPORTS FOR THESE GUYS, THERE'S A GUIDEWIRE.

IT'S NOT LIKE TRACK WHERE YOU RUN AROUND AND YOU SEE THE LINES AND YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.

THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN ALL OUT.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO JUST CUT LOOSE AND RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN WHICH YOU GET THAT IN BEEP BASEBALL.

>> I WAS ALWAYS IN TROUBLE.

WHEN MY COUSINS WERE IN THE STREETS, THEN I CAME TO BEEP BALL AND FOUND SOMETHING I LIKE.

THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR OF PLAYING BEEP BALL AND IT'S JUST -- I LOVE IT SO MUCH I DON'T THINK I WANT TO STOP.

I GREW UP WITH THESE GUYS, EVERYBODY THAT I PLAY WITH, EVERYBODY THAT IS ON THE TEAM, THEY WERE HERE SINCE I WAS 14.

I CAN'T SAY THEY AE TEAMMATES.

THEY'RE LIKE ANOTHER FAMILY.

>> THEY ARE MY BROTHERS.

WE HANG OUT.

WE PLAY BASKETBALL, AND WE PLAY BEEP BALL OUTSIDE OF PRACTICE.

I MEAN, IT'S A FAMILY, ESPECIALLY THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS LATER, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ARE SO GOOD BECAUSE THE BOND IS JUST SO THERE.

WE HAVE A VERY YOUNG TEAM.

IT'S A LOT EASIER, I GUESS FOR US TO HAVE FUN TOGETHER AND DO A LOT OF ACTIVITIES TOGETHER.

I'M JUST HOPING I CAN STAY WITH THE TEAM AS LONG AS I CAN.

UNTIL I CAN'T PLAY NO MORE, BECAUSE THIS IS MY SPORT NOW.

THIS IS ALL I DO SPORTS-WISE.

>> FOR THE LEAGUE OVERALL, I HOPE IT GETS TO THE PARALYMPICS AT SOME POINT BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE THERE.

WE CAN SHOW OFF WHAT WE DO AND WE CAN TEACH PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SPORT.

I DEFINITELY THINK IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS A GREAT SPORT BECAUSE IT'S VERY ENTERTAINING.

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT AND IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GAME OF BEEP BALL TO BE ON OLYMPICS OR ON TV.

AND SHOWCASE THE SKILLS OF BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED BASEBALL PLAYERS.

THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO GET IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR WORLD SERIES BE ON TV.

>> MY GOAL, MY FUTURE FOR OUR TEAM IS THAT ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON OUR TEAM HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONS INTO BEING A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER TO SOCIETY, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH WORKING, HIGHER >> BRANDON.

>> THANKS, ASHLEY.

>> FINALLY HEADS LET TO MUNCIE TO MEET THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND LIFE SKATEBOARDS.

PRODUCER SADDAM ABAS HAS THE STORY.

>> WHILE I WAS USING DRUGS HEAVILY, I STOPPED SKATEBOARDING AND I STOPPED DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT I CARED ABOUT, BUT THEN ONCE MY WIFE AND I GOT CLEAN NOR DRUGS, THEN ALL THE OLD -- FROM DRUGS THEN ALL THE OLD PASSIONS CAME BACK.

I WANTED TO HAVE A SKATE SHOP WHEN I WAS A KID.

MY DAD HELPED ME TO OPEN THE SKATE SHOP.

AND THE REASON I CHOSE THAT NAME IS BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I WAS GIVEN BACK A GIFT OF LIFE AND THAT THE SHOP AND THE SKATEBOARDING AND ALL OF THESE THINGS AND MY FAMILY WERE KIND OF LIFE GIVEN BACK TO ME THAT I DOESN'T NECESSARILY DESERVE AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD.

BUT IT FELT GOOD.

THERE'S OTHER REASONS BUT I CAN'T ARTICULATE IT THAT WAY.

THAT'S THE GIST OF IT, LIFE SKATEBOARDS.

♪ >> SO I GOT INTO SKATEBOARDING -- NOW THIS IS WHY I GOT INTO SKATEBOARDING.

IS THAT WHAT THIS ONE IS?

AS A KID, I NEVER GOT INTO ORGANIZED SPORTS?

MAYBE I DIDN'T LIKE THE RULES.

MAYBE I WAS A REBEL.

I DON'T KNOW.

I KIND OF LIKED DOING MY OWN THING.

I HAVE BEEN SELF-EMPLOYED PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE.

I STARTED SKATEBOARDING LIKE IN THE MID-'80s.

MY OLDER BROTHER AND SISTER HAD DEPARTMENT STORE TOY SKATEBOARDS.

I USED TO SIT ON IT, RIDE DOWN THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY.

WE USED TO PLAY OUTSIDE ALL DAY BACK THEN IN THE FAE '80s.

I REMEMBER THE FEELING OF FREEDOM, JUST RIDING ON A SKATEBOARD, THE FREEDOM OF SELF-EXPRESSION.

STATE BOARDING FELT FREE TO ME.

THERE WERE NO RULES.

THERE WAS NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO DO IT.

YOU COULD ADAPT IT TO ANYTHING.

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE QUITE LIKE IT.

SO I KIND OF FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT FEELING AND JUST GOT MORE AND MORE INTO IT AND THEN I MET OTHER PEOPLE THAT DID IT AND I STILL HAVE FRIENDSHIPS 20, 30 YEARS BUILT AROUND SKATEBOARDING.

SO IT'S BEEN A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE.

AND I FORGOT THE REST OF THE QUESTION.

[ LAUGHTER ] THE PROCESS OF MAKING A SKATEBOARD.

[ MACHINERY SOUNDS ] >> I STARTED MAKING SKATEBOARDS IN LATE 2012.

A FRIEND OF MINE HAD A MOLD THAT HE BOUGHT ON CRAIGSLIST.

HE'S LIKE, HERE, TRY THIS.

I THINK IT SAT IN MY SHOP FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND ONE DAY I WAS JUST LIKE, OH, I WILL TRY THAT.I ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE A SKATEBOARD.

I DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WOULD GO ANYWHERE.

BUT I TRIED IT, AND WHAT CAME OUT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY AWESOME.

I HAD BEEN DOING WOOD WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

SO I KIND OF KNOW MY WAY AROUND WOOD AND TOOLS AND COULD KIND OF FIGURE IT OUT.

BASICALLY, YOU START WITH SEVEN PLIES OF 1/16th-INCH MAPLE VENEER.

I HAND ROLL THE GLUE, LIKE JUST WITH A PAINT ROLLER.

HAND ROLL ALL THE GLUE ON TO EACH VENEER, STACK THEM TOGETHER, PUT IT IN THE MOLD, WHICH IS IN A HYDRAULIC PRESS, SO I CRANK DOWN THE JACKS REALLY TIGHT.

ONCE IT'S IN THERE.

I LET IT CURE FOR FOUR HOURS MINIMUM, BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT ENDS UP BEING IN THERE OVERNIGHT.

ONCE I TAKE IT OUT, I LET ALL OF MY BOARDS CURE FOR FOUR DAYS MINIMUM BEFORE I DRILL WHICH I DO ALL THE DRILLING ON THE DRILL PRESS FOR THE TRUCK MOUNTING HOLDS.

FROM THAT POINT, I PUT THAT UNCUT BLANK ON TO ONE OF THE TEMPLATES OF THE SHAPES THAT I CREATED.

AND I CUT THOSE OUT WITH A ROUTER, A PIN ROUDER ROUTER AND A ROUTER TABLE AND THEN I EDGE SAND TO GET THE EDGES A LITTLE BIT CLEANER AND THEN I ROUT JUST WITH THE PALM ROUTER TO GET THE ROUNDOVER ON THE EDGES ALL THE WAY AROUND.

AND THEN FROM THAT POINT, I MOVE ON TO DIFFERENT STAGES OF SANDING.

ONCE I'M HAPPY WITH THAT, IT'S READY FOR GRAPHICS, BASALLY AND THEN I APPLY THE GRAPHICS WITH ONE OF THE BLOCK IT'S LIKE LINE CUTTING.

THAT'S HOW WE APPLY, ROLL INK, AND APPLY THEM TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOARDS.

AND THEN THE LAST STAGE IS A CLEAR COAT AND A SPRAY BOOT.

-- IN THE SPRAY BOOTH.

SO YOU ARE ROLLING, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

SKATEBOARDERS LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS.

WHEN YOU ARERE DRIVING AROUND, YOU SEE A PARKING CURB, YOU SEE A PARKING LOT, YOU SEE A BANKED ANYTHING, YOU SEE -- EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE A SKATE SPOT TO YOU.

SO YOU JUST KIND OF LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND YOU SEE HOW YOU MIGHT ADAPT TO THAT.

I THINK A LOT OF SKATEBOARDERS USED TO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS IN LIFE THROUGH THE SAME LENS.

MAYBE IT'S A CERTAIN PERSONALITY THAT IS DRAWN TO SKATEBOARDING, I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT JUST KIND OF THINKING OF THINGS YOUR OWN UNIQUE WAY.

I KEEP LOOKING AT THE CAMERA.

I'M SORRY.

>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFE SKATEBOARDS AT FACEBOOK.COM/HANDCRAFTLIFE.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US.

>> JUST HEAD OVER TO JOURNEYINDIANA.ORG.

THERE YOU CAN SEE FULL EPISODES, CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM AND SUGGEST STORIES FROM YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A MAP FEATURE THAT ALLOWS TO YOU SEE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND PLAN YOUR OWN INDIANA ADVENTURES BEFORE.

WE SAY GOOD-BYE, LET'S HEAD BACK T MY HOME TOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE LAKE CITY SKIERS.

♪ >> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "JOURNEY INDIANA" IS PROVIDED BY: