Skater Dad Kicks Son Down A Skateboard Ramp Because ‘He Needs To Learn’

A video of a heartless skater dad kicking his 6-year-old son off a skating ramp is going viral right now and its not for the faint of heart. The “father” (and I use that term loosely) is Marcus Crossland, from where else but Florida, and the video was uploaded to Instagram by another skater. Apparently the son, nicknamed Dino, is well-known in the area and has numerous popular skating videos on YouTube and Vine.

According to Martin Ramos, the park’s operator, the father and son are regulars there and he’s never seen Crossland act this way in the past. Ramos did speak to Crossland, however:

“He said he was just caught up in the moment. He seemed very remorseful. He certainly understands the gravity of the situation and it seems like he is going to be answering to this thing for quite some time to come. Unfortunately parents get so enthusiastic about their kids and their abilities in skateboarding, or baseball, or football or whatever and sometimes they take it a little too far.”

I think this goes beyond enthusiasm or competitiveness. Crossland kicked his tiny little son down a huge skate ramp and then reportedly turned his back as the kid cried in pain. This is something a sociopath would do, not a loving father. Ramos went on to say that Crossland is now barred from Kona State Park, and that Dino wasn’t hurt in the fall.

The skater who posted the video, Ryan Stephens, who is only 13-years-old, claims that he spoke to Crossland and asked him why he kicked his son. According to Stephens:

“He said “because he needs to learn”. I was like “pushing him down is not teaching him how to drop in”. And then he said “Do you think you can raise him better than me?” and I said yes.”

Normally I wouldn’t think that a 13-year-old would be a better father than a grown ass man, but in this case I think Stephens is right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXLdSL2fXrE

(Photos: YouTube)