Skateboarding is full of some skinny little scrappers, and now some educators are starting to take notice. I've been tracking the Skate Pass story in the media since its beginning – the nonprofit program intergrates skateboarding into Physical Education programs in schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, Y.M.C.A. facilities, and U.S. Army bases across the country – but this story in today's Statesman Journal out of Oregon is the first I've seen to make the obesity point explicit: Skateboards latest weapon in fight with obesity

The story follows Independence Elementary School PE teacher Meg Greiner's efforts to get her students rolling in Independence, OR. Greiner even manages to get some teachers – and school Principal Steve Tillery – on board (literally) with the program.

Beyond activity, Greiner hopes the minimal skills acquired to skateboard help develop confidence, thereby increasing the chance her students will engage in activities — skateboarding or otherwise — on their own."The more different stuff I can get them into at this level," she said, with a hint of hope in her inflection, "the more active they will be when they leave here. It's confidence too, that's part of the stick-with-it-ness."

She raises an interesting question: Is skateboarding more than just an alternative way to gets kids involved in some physical activity, or is there something about skateboarding itself that makes it more effective than other activities at combatting obesity (and, as she mentions, lack of confidence)? Anyone who's ever skated from spot to spot, put in some hours in a bowl, spent forever trying to nail a trick, had trouble keeping their pants up, or walked out of a skate shop in some brand new skinny jeans knows the answer to that one.

I've got good more news for Ms. Greiner's students: If you get hooked on skateboarding and develop some serious confidence while you're at it, it just so happens that you live within very close proximity of dozens of the world's best concrete skateparks. Enjoy!

Photo above by Lori Cain, via Statesman Journal: Independence Elementary School teacher Meg Greiner talks to fourth-graders about safety gear for skateboarding during her physical education class.