There’s still a chill in the air and students are trying to get in all their winter wear for the weeks before those four days of spring and eight months of summer appear. But when students start to mix modes of transportation with style, it gives a whole new meaning to the words “”skater chic.””

“”Skater chic,”” which seemed to gain popularity for students in middle school and late high school, is a fashion to be noted. These days, you can’t buy a pair of new brand-name skater kicks for less than $60. Brands like DC, etnies, Globe and Emerica come with a pretty penny to insure these skater dudes and dudettes don’t jingle when they board.

Political science freshman Micheal Hoffman,left, opts for another brand of shoe to ride the concrete waves – high top Converse.

“”Converse are durable. I can do anything in them,”” Hoffman said.

The back of Hoffman’s board displays the writing “”Red Jumpsuit Apparatus,”” a pop-punk band that performed at the Warped Tour where Hoffman got his board.

“”My girlfriend likes my skateboard. She got (a longboard) after I got mine,”” Hoffman said.

“”Nobody is going to steal my board,”” said Jessie Hirst, center, an education sophomore.

Hirst described a longboard as an easier way to get around campus.

“”You have to take extra time to lock (a bike),”” Hirst said.

Hirst is sporting black-with-white DC skate shoes from Industrial Ride Shop. Hirst also explained that she doesn’t see many girls riding around campus.

“”It’s like football, it’s male dominated,”” Hirst said.

The back of Hirst’s longboard shows a Human Rights Campaign sticker.

Philosophy junior Brandon Fryslie,m right, is not your typical skater. He wears Tommy Hilfiger and knows how to shop retail. Fryslie said he looks for “”sales”” when he shops for clothes.

Fryslie said the most important accessory for a boarder is sunglasses. He is showing off his black-tinted Realm sunglasses that he got on sale for $30, originally $90.

“”You gotta look cool while you’re skateboarding,”” Fryslie said.

Fryslie is also wearing DC shoes in brown that he purchased from Industrial for around $80, a black DC sweatshirt with brown detailing for about $40 and Lucky Brand Jeans for about $80 from Buckle.

After all the time and money invested into the skater look, it is important to note that skateboards don’t necessarily help in the romance department.

“”I have a girlfriend and it didn’t help pick her up,”” Fryslie said.

Fryslie said he uses a skateboard for convenience. “”It’s cheaper than a bike, it won’t get stolen, and it’s just as fast.””