Por Luis Villa

Last month I asked Latino Outdoors volunteers to share the most unconventional form of outdoor recreation that they have been a part of or are aware of.  Some expressed that this was not an easy question to answer. Completely understandable. “Unconventional” after all, is subjective.  

And that is the point.  With Latino Outdoors, we are all part of an effort to redefine the notion of what is considered “mainstream” outdoor recreation or conversely, what is seen as out-of-the-ordinary.  Some LO volunteers shared that music festivals, dancing, spiritual ceremonies (e.g. summer solstice), nature drawing, and meditating are unconventional forms of outdoor recreation. Others pointed to slack-lining high above the ground, overlanding, or geocaching.  What’s interesting is that within the Latino Outdoors comunidad, there are some who may find a family carne asada outing to a local park to be outside-the-box, while others may consider it a quintessential manner of recreating outside.

In June, I had an experience that put into focus my own need to be more open-minded about what constitutes “outdoor recreation.”  I attended a “car-hopping” contest in Fresno, CA. A large crowd gathered outdoors to cheer on low-rider enthusiasts who had modified their vehicles, turning them into incredible jumping machines.  When the official measuring stick was rolled out, I laughed at how ridiculously gigantic it was, standing in at nine feet tall or so. It was unfathomable to me how a car’s front tires were going to lift that high off the ground.  Well, not only did several cars’ front tires reach that height, they surpassed it. The giant ruler on wheels was no match for the hopping cars.

“In June, I had an experience that put into focus my own need to be more open-minded about what constitutes “outdoor recreation.”

Luis Villa

I learned a lot that warm evening in California’s central valley, admiring the low riders and the people behind them.  I learned that local parks, beaches, and other outdoor places usually serve as the settings for low rider outings. I discovered that these events are often family affairs.  Marcus, a long time member of the low rider scene, talked with me about the common, but mistaken assumption that lowrider culture is synonymous with gang culture. An association that arose in some people’s minds because these car events during the 1980s sometimes attracted gang members.  Marcus explained that most participants back then were not actually gang members, and today, the atmosphere surrounding these lowrider shows is even more innocuous. Participants from the 1980s are older now and have families. In a way, they serve as today’s moderators, making sure the younger generation keeps it family-friendly.  Fathers and sons take part together. Women are also notable protagonists. In this short video, Marissa Rosales, a child advocate/social worker and low rider enthusiast, shares her story and discusses the cultural aspects of these events.  The parallels and connection to the Latinx outdoors story are evident.

Lowrider events are laid-back.  At the Fresno car hopping contest, we stood or sat around outdoors, ate food, chatted with one another, and enjoyed the show.  This is not so different from a carne asada gathering at a local park, another popular form of outdoor recreation for Latinx families and friends.  These more leisurely forms of being outside seem to be appealing to underrepresented/under-resourced communities.  Ruby Rodríguez, LO’s Outings Program Director, notes that these communities are often made up of people of color, many of whom perform physically demanding jobs in their everyday lives.  Thus, the appeal of more relaxing forms of recreation becomes understandable. Ruby further posits leisurely outdoor recreation as a sort of activism against a hyper-productive society, a peaceful protest actually.

The dominant narrative in our society around outdoor recreation influences our responses to the question about which forms of it are unconventional.  To a certain extent, this makes practical sense because a common point of initial understanding between people about a particular topic or concept is necessary for effective communication.  If that topic is outdoor recreation, everyone who is part of the conversation needs to agree that we are not referring to binge-watching on Netflix or a marathon game of Fortnite.  The conversation is about open-air (or underwater) activities of leisure. However, aside from achieving a consensus, basic definition of outdoor recreation, everything else should be more open-ended.  This is critical for a society made up of individuals with a multitude of interests, passions, and backgrounds. It is indispensable for a multicultural society. Practicing open-mindedness in this particular space will hopefully translate to other areas of our lives, helping us to be more tolerant and accepting in general.  And after all, isn’t open-mindedness and respect something we can all use more of these days?

“That was a memorable day for me, exemplifying the wide-ranging forms of Latinx outdoor engagement and recreation.”

Luis Villa

Hours before the car hopping contest, I was fortunate enough to also enjoy a morning hike at Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve in California’s Bay Area.  That was a memorable day for me, exemplifying the wide-ranging forms of Latinx outdoor engagement and recreation.

When no winner was announced at the conclusion of the car hopping contest, I asked Fred, another attendee, about that.  His reply was both simple and powerful, “It’s not about winning. It’s about having fun.”