Wheeling across Texas: Skateboarder helps pioneer a trail across the Lone Star State

On March 10, Moondog Roop set out on a three-month thru-skate across Texas. Thru-skating refers to a hiker who chooses to travel a long-distance trail using a skateboard instead of hiking on foot.

When Roop arrived in Kerrville on Thursday, he had logged 500 miles. He has approximately 1,000 more to go before he’s finished with his project for xTexas.

The xTexas project is inspired by the crown jewels of long-distance hikes like the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Appalachian Trail. The idea is to create a long-distance trail across the state for those seeking adventure, and it’s a project that is currently being mapped out on country backroads, gravel tracks and some Jeep trails.

Roop is the pioneer for this new trail as he ground proofs and collects data on this initial venture.

“I’m looking at what’s wrong with the route, how we can correct it and make it accessible to the public,” he said. “I’m also collecting data points, like where people can find water, food and set up camp. I’m also looking at where the private properties are and how we can work with landowners to support individuals who want to take this trail.”

Currently in its infancy, xTexas is a combination of single-track, gravel and backroads meandering 1,500 miles from Orange to El Paso.

The trail starts on the Louisiana border at Orange and continues along bayous and through pine forest preserves in east Texas.

“Whenever you start on the Louisiana border, you’re basically in marshland, and then by the time you end, you’ll be in the desert, so as you go along, you can physically see the changes in the land,” Roop said. “You also get to experience the different types of people that live in the areas, so you get a really good feel of what a town is actually like and how friendly the people are.”

According to the Rails to Trails Conservancy in Washington, D.C., long-distance trails significantly benefit small towns and communities by attracting visitors, boosting local businesses and enhancing the overall quality of life, acting as a catalyst for economic growth and community revitalization.

Hailing from Madrid, New Mexico, Roop has been hiking since he was a young boy. His first thru-skate was along the Florida Trail in 2021.

“I’ve actually only been skateboarding for about five years now,” Roop said. “I picked it up because a buddy had a kid, and I thought it would be fun to learn with them together.”

Since then, Roop has skated the entire state of New Mexico and the Natchez Trace with a friend — setting the record as the first to skate a full National Scenic Trail. He then went on to skate the circumference of Puerto Rico, achieving another first.

He uses a longboard to skate, as the boards are built for distance and durability.

“Everything is built to go in a long, straight line, and they’re very durable,” Roop said. “I actually put this one together that I’m using right before I left on this trip.”

From Kerrville, he will head west to Big Bend, meeting some friends in Terlingua and ending his trek in El Paso.

“I really like the idea that you have such a limited amount of time in life, so if you’re thinking about doing something like this, you should just go for it,” Roop said. “I do this mental exercise of the old man at the bar, and I think about what he would complain about. While he might be complaining about his job or kids, he’s not complaining about skating 1,500 miles through Texas.”

While Roop has plans to rest for a while once his journey through Texas is complete, he also has future plans to thru-skate in the San Francisco Bay Area and Singapore.

Those interested in the rest of Roop’s journey can follow his YouTube channel, where he uploads videos weekly.

To learn more about xTexas and its mission to bring a long-distance trail to Texas, visit www.xtexas.org.

This article was originally published in the April 5, 2025 edition of the Kerrville Daily Times.