For skateboarders, the walls, rails, sidewalks and steps on campus and downtown are a veritable obstacle course to test their skills. But using them for skateboarding, however, is illegal.

According to Penn State Police Services, the use of skateboards on campus is prohibited and no acrobatics of any kind are allowed.

If a person is caught skateboarding anywhere on campus, he is issued a warning and advised not to repeat the infraction, said Penn State Police Services Supervisor Clifford Lutz. After that, the penalties become a bit harsher. A student cited for skateboarding after being warned is referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs.

"If they are not a student, we cite them for trespassing," Lutz said. The State College Police Department also has a skateboarding ordinance identical to Penn State's.

Citations issued for skateboarding are no longer common in the borough, said Sgt. John Wilson, State College police spokesman. According to Wilson there was a time when the police handed out a number of citations, but that number has since greatly decreased.

Skateboarders have never been able to use the sidewalks and streets, Wilson said. And while skateboarding infractions are not as abundant as they used to be, the ordinance is still enforced.

Wilson also said he knows of no areas of town that are frequented by a lot of skaters.

"I'm speaking out of turn, but I think one of the schools sealed off a parking lot for them to skate in occasionally," Wilson said.

Matthew Gerdes (junior-English), a skateboarder of three years, said police and staff on campus are more stringent with the enforcement of anti-skateboarding rules than the borough.

"Campus is a super bust," Gerdes said. "They are pretty clear they don't want anyone skating there. Janitors or the most random people give you trouble."

The farther away from campus skaters get, the fewer hassles they receive from the police, Gerdes added.

Despite these problems, Gerdes and a few of his friends are trying to organize the university's first skateboarding club. Fliers are posted around campus now, he said, but the club's success hinges on getting enough people interested.

With the weather getting nicer, Gerdes guaranteed a number of busts on campus.

Gerdes and a few other skateboarders frequent the corner of South Allen Street and West Prospect Avenue. The sidewalk there, about one foot off the ground, is an ideal place to "grind."

Privately owned properties in the borough can set up their own policies regarding skateboarding and trespassing.

The Towers, an office building at 403 S. Allen St., has various walls and rails on its property.

These things make it look like a miniature skate park, but posted there is a sign warning skateboarding and rollerblading are not allowed and violators may faced a $100 fine.

The facility's property manager was unable to be reached for comment regarding the facility's no skateboarding policy.

With few places to skate downtown and on campus, the Tussey Mountain Fun Center plans to open the Centre Community Skate Park, which would give skaters an opportunity to skateboard legally. The park is slated to open before Memorial Day this year.

Gerdes is curious about the new park, but said skate parks are generally a hit-or-miss situation. "The wrong people might be designing them," Gerdes said. "I'll probably go. It will give me another option to skate without getting arrested."