Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 7, 1991 TAG: 9103080548
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB McLELLAND CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The 20-year-old Southwest Roanoker said he's tried drugs and alcohol and found "they never did anything for me."
But, he said, when he's skateboarding with his soft music coming through his earphones, he feels good. He said he's proud of himself after mastering a difficult skateboard trick.
"Now that's a fix that lasts and is satisfying. I don't need any drugs or alcohol."
Mullen's skateboarding prowess has earned him several honors and awards. He's a Virginia champion; Anaheim (Calif.) Professional champion; East Coast champion in Raleigh, N.C., and Daytona Beach, Fla.; and placed fifth in the Reno, Nev., national championships.
He has a pro contract with the Walker Skateboard Co. of Satellite, Fla., and is believed by officials there to be the only professional skateboarder in Virginia.
"Ben is one of the fastest-rising freestyle skateboarders in the world," said Bruce Walker, the company's president, who signed him after Mullen won the Daytona Beach championship.
"When I first saw him in Daytona, I could see the raw talent in him. All he needed was more competition. I am extremely pleased with his progress and to have him with our company. He is good now, but I think his best days are still ahead."
Walker said his company supplies Mullen's equipment, pays some travel expenses and entry fees, and helps promote him for exhibitions and clinics.
Mullen said a good skateboard costs about $150. A good competitive one has seven layers of plywood with epoxy between each layer.
After Mullen had signed with Walker, he won his first pro event in Anaheim.
"He was the first skater to do that since 1980," said Walker. "And, oddly enough, the one who won in 1980 was another Mullen - Rodney."
Rodney Mullen is now recognized as the best in the world, Walker said.
Mullen, who wears radio headphones most of the time while skating, has been interested in skateboarding since he was 6 years old. He competed in other sports and once played soccer for Madison Junior High School. He said he still likes other sports, but the only one in which he now participates is ninjutsu, which is similar to karate.
Mullen said his size - 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds - is a big help in skateboarding.
"Skateboarding takes much more than balance and physical ability," he explained. "You have to have the physique to do the tricks and stunts that will win for you. You can't be too tall or too heavy. And you have to have the courage and determination to try the new tricks."
Mullen has had some experience building up courage and determination. He has been on his own since he was 16 and his father asked him to leave home. The same thing had happened to an older brother who was asked to leave when he was 13. Several other family members also left home as teens.
"I don't say my father and mother didn't love us," Mullen said. "But I will say they didn't know how to raise kids. We [children] could never talk to them or anything. Besides, they thought skateboarding was a nothing sport and I would never amount to anything."
Mullen stayed with friends and neighbors after he left home, but he also became street-smart to survive.
There were cold nights when he would sneak into churches and schools to get warm and then shower in the morning. He also would spend time at a swim club where he would climb the fence and take a dip, shower and find lodging.
After meeting Eddie Wheeler, president of Wheeler's Fast Service Laundry, Mullen's life turned around. He said Wheeler not only has been his protector but also a father image and role model.
"He has done so much for me. He gave me a job, gave me a purpose in life. But most of all, he took an interest in me and gave me some love and attention," Mullen said.
Mullen, who graduated from Patrick Henry High School last June, went to work part time for Wheeler while still in school. Now he works full time at the service desk and other tasks. He also lives with Wheeler.
"I admire him for what he has done with his life, and I want to continue to help him all I can," said Wheeler, adding he would like Mullen to go to college and begin thinking more about his future.
"[Mullen] is worried only about today," Wheeler said. "He thinks if he gets through today, tomorrow will take care of itself."
Mullen calls himself "a pretty good worker, sort of mellow, quiet and athletic. I like to get up and go.
"I like to think that I have come a long way," he added. "But I know I still have a long way to go. Skateboarding has brought me many thrills and some honors. But I realize that I can't skate forever. I would like to go to college and do something in the advertising field.
"I really want to become a good, solid citizen and to do something for the youth of Roanoke. My ambition is to have some youngsters look up to me with the same devotion and love that I have for Eddie and Mitch [Wheeler's son]."
He said he'd like to see a skateboard program established in Roanoke. He often goes to Lynchburg to skate with a group of teen-agers at Jordon Baptist Church. While skateboarding at the church's gym, participants listen to Christian messages and discuss religion and life in general.
"You know, skateboarders are an unusual group. They will rap with other skateboarders about some things they will never talk about with any other people."
by CNB