The tide of foreclosed homes is not all bad, certainly for American youth skaters.

Skaters in Fresno, California have taken to using pools in foreclosed homes as a skating ring. The curves of some American pools are a natural skate ring.

Despite the risk of trespassing charges, skaters from as far as Seattle have descended on California to try out the pools.

The skaters must first drain and then clean the pools themselves. They also follow an ethical guideline: no graffiti, no trash, no messing with property [beside the pool], and no going inside the home. If anything, by cleaning the drained previously mold-filled pool and by not engage in vandalism, the skaters are doing a public service.

The police and neighbors though might not see it like that. Thus skaters skate in short time periods during the week to avoid disturbing neighbors.

Skaters find the addresses of foreclosed homes through the Internet or friends in real estate.

I have always found skateboarding to be cool, or, more appropriately, gnarly. I have been on a board or two, but the closest I have come to doing some awesome moves is through Tony Hawk in Pro Skater for Playstation.