Skateboarding
How many of you enjoyed watching the skateboarding at the Olympics? How many then asked for a skateboard for Christmas or were inspired to skate more?
Skateboard GB has some exciting news to share with you whether you're new to the sport or already an experienced skateboarder.
Habito National Championships 2022
The Skateboarding National Championships will be held at The XC Skatepark, Hemel Hempstead, on the 9th and 10th April and at BaySixty6 Skatepark, London, on 23rd and 24th April 2022.
This year there's a new format for the championships, with the disciplines being split into two separate events : Park discipline (in Hemel Hempstead) and Street discipline (in London), with qualifying events and finals being held over two different weekends.
The 2019 event was restricted to 32 competitors but this year’s competition will be first National Championships which will allow public applications since 2019 (due to the cancellation of the 2020 event).
Since the Olympic Games and the incredible bronze medal from Sky Brown, Skateboard GB have launched a pilot talent pathway in the UK at four skatepark hubs across the country. It is expected that skateboarders in the pilot will compete at the event, in addition to an increased number of other skaters.
Talent Pathway
Skateboard GB launched the ‘Pipeline Pilot Project’ in September 2021 which focuses on working with four trial skateparks (Hubs) to identify talented skaters and gain knowledge and understanding of what they need to help support them to progress.
Each Hub will have its own identity and work with invited local talented skateboarders to offer skateboard sessions, jams and competitions. Skaters will come together and learn with one another, as well as be provided with a support network to develop their skills. The Hubs in the initial scheme are BaySixty6 in London, Graystone Action Sports in Manchester, Flo Skatepark in Nottingham and Mount Hawke in Truro.
The project is being led by Lucy Adams, a professional skateboarder and advocate for GB skateboarding. More hubs will hopefully follow in more locations across the country.
Beginners Awards
Skateboard GB are happy to announce the launch of their ‘Cruiser Award’ programme; which teaches first-time skateboarders how to master the skills needed to get the skateboarding buzz.
What will you learn?
Participants will learn the basic ‘Nuts & Bolts’ of skateboarding, focusing on
Stance - Balance- Pushing- Turning- Stopping- Safety
Who is this Award for?
This is aimed at beginner skateboarders who want to learn how to skateboard,
The Core Functions (‘Nuts & Bolts’) of the award are designed to:
- Be easy to follow and learn during taught sessions, with no independent practice required outside sessions.
- To be delivered in any appropriate indoor or outdoor space, including spaces without skatepark facilities or movable skate obstacles (for example, Multi Use Games Areas, school or leisure centre sports halls, etc).
This is the first stage of their wider Progression Awards programme which will be developed over the next 12 months. Subsequent stages will enable learners to choose different progression routes based on their favourite types of skateboarding and the facilities available to them, including flat ground and street, skatepark obstacles, mini-ramp and bowls.
