Latest news with #skateboarding
CBC
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Skateboarding - Jackalope - Virginia Beach: Day 1
Watch the opening day of high-tier skateboarding action at Neptune's Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia presented by Jackalope.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Birmingham skateboarders hope to inspire future Olympians
A group of skateboarding enthusiasts are hoping a festival this weekend could uncover the Olympic skateboarders of the from Birmingham Skate Spaces (BSS), a community interest community (CIC), are taking part in the tenth B-Side Hip-Hop Festival on is the group's first appearance at the festival - but director Berni Good says it makes perfect sense."Skateboarding, and graffiti, and hip-hop, all kind of sit side by side with each other," she explained. Organised by the Birmingham Hippodrome and other creative groups, the festival includes graffiti classes, dance battles, basketball and music. The centrepiece of BSS' stand is a mini ramp, which has been built specially for the is modular, meaning it can be taken apart and set up elsewhere for future construction was funded by a grant from the governement's Shared Prosperity Fund and used as an opportunity to mentor 10 young people, who helped build it."So these young people who weren't necessarily in employment, education or training came along... and we equipped them with skills that they could then [use to] go out and seek employment," said Ms Good. BSS says on its website it aims to improve "the wellbeing, cultural prosperity and health of Birmingham by building outdoor and indoor skateparks".Ms Good said skateboarding was also effective at allowing young people to feel part of a community and giving them a safe space in which to skate part at Bournbrook - which two years ago was saved from closure - was built entirely by volunteers."When you put your blood, sweat and tears into something, you have more of a sense of ownership of it," said Ms Good. "You're learning the skill, but you are also owning and being part of a community." On Saturday, the mini ramp will be set up outside the Hippodrome, where coaches from Skateboard GB will be giving free lessons - with all equipment provided - before professional skateboarders put on a Good cites Bombette Martin - the first skateboarder to compete in the Olympics, and who grew up partly in Birmingham - as an example of what can be achieved by young people."It's all about inspiring people to get on the board, show them how to do it and give them the ability to participate in this wonderful sport - that is now in the Olympics," she said."There's no reason why we can't have some Brummies rocking up at the Olympics in the future." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Skateboarder riding from Brighton to Morocco for charity has all his belongings stolen
A man who is skateboarding from Brighton to Africa for charity was had to bring his adventure to an end when all his possessions were stolen – including his passport. Sam Allison, who is taking on the challenge of skateboarding 1,500 miles (1,400km) from Brighton to Tangier in Morocco, said his belongings were stolen while camping in France. The 21-year-old from East Sussex said he felt 'defeated' when he realised everything he had had been taken, apart from his phone and wallet. But he refused to let the theft of his possessions stop him from continuing his 55-day journey. Instead, he took a detour to Bordeaux in France to get an emergency travel document and buy a new bag, tent, torch, clothes and a sleeping bag. "It is what it is. Life happens. There is nothing I can do about it," he said in a video posted on Instagram. "It's just sad. I am trying to do a good thing and I have had that taken from me." However, there was one advantage: without his bulky rucksack he found skating much easier and joked that he was 'kind of grateful'. Some of the stolen items did have sentimental value to Mr Allison, who explained the T-shirt he was wearing when he set off was stolen and that he would struggle to afford to replace a lot of the items. Mr Allison is taking on the challenge to raise money for the Ben Raemers foundation, a mental health charity which was set up in memory of the professional skateboarder who died age 28 by suicide in May 2019. 'I have seen and experienced what poor mental health can do for myself, friends and family and it can get dark feeling like there is no way out. So, I'm thankful for the foundation making the whole skate community and beyond more open to discussion of mental health as it's so important,' Mr Allison wrote on a gofundme page for the trip which has raised more than £3,700. He added: 'They are also giving accessibility to skaters within the industry to focus on improving mental health and easier access to services for mental health which is truly incredible as it can feel like an uncertainty of where to turn for help in hard times.' Mr Allison is now halfway through his skateboarding journey to Morocco, which will see him travel from Brighton through France and Spain and down to North Africa. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
National Post
a day ago
- General
- National Post
Tony Hawk, Mark McMorris help open skateboard park expansion in Smithers, B.C.
Tony Hawk and Mark McMorris wanted their presence at the Smithers Skate Park expansion unveiling to amplify skateboarding's importance in the remote, northern B.C. community. Article content Article content Skateboarding icon Hawk and Canadian snowboarding star McMorris travelled to the town of 5,000 people for Thursday's opening. They lauded the community's pluck in raising $1.8 million to increase the size of the street park and build a bowl for skateboarders next to the Yellowhead Highway that runs from Winnipeg to the West Coast. Article content 'I don't go to many grand openings, to be honest, but this seemed like a really unique situation,' Hawk said. 'I don't want to say it's the most remote area, but in remote areas, skateboarding is still a valid option for kids to choose, and they want to do it. We need to provide facilities for them.' Article content McMorris, a three-time Olympic slopestyle bronze medallist whose 24 X Games medals is the most among snowboarders, has a special place in his heart for skateboarding. Article content 'The first board I ever got on was a skateboard,' McMorris said. 'It's been so important in my life. That's how I made a lot of friends. It's where I spent a lot of time at the skate park in Regina. Article content 'I can just only imagine what it would be like if Tony Hawk came to Regina to open a skate park when I was a kid. Some kids' minds are going to be blown, and some new skateboarders are going to be born from this event.' Article content Article content The expanded street park cost $1.2 million and the bowl another $600,000 to build, said Smithers Skate Park Society vice-chair Christy Sawchuck, who is also known around town as 'Rad-Mom' because of her love of skateboarding. Article content Article content 'We don't have the municipalities that can fund something like this. We're doing it all on our own,' Sawchuck said. Article content 'We had local non-profits and foundations that got us started with large donations. We had many local companies that gave us discounted materials and services.' Article content The Power To Give Foundation contacted McMorris, who in turn reached out to Hawk. The two men have crossed paths in the action sport community and in Encinitas, Calif., where both have homes. Article content 'He is an extremely large figure. Larger than life, larger than the sport itself, so for him to agree to do this is very special,' McMorris said. Article content Hawk's Skateboard Project in the United States helps build parks for underserved communities, so what Smithers has done aligns with his beliefs.
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Tony Hawk, Mark McMorris help open skateboard park expansion in Smithers, B.C.
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk high-fives young fans during the grand opening of the expanded Smithers Skate Park in Smithers, B.C., in this Thursday, May 29, 2025 handout photo. (Erica Chan) Tony Hawk and Mark McMorris wanted their presence at the Smithers Skate Park expansion unveiling to amplify skateboarding's importance in the remote, northern B.C. community. Skateboarding icon Hawk and Canadian snowboarding star McMorris travelled to the town of 5,000 people for Thursday's opening. They lauded the community's pluck in raising $1.8 million to increase the size of the street park and build a bowl for skateboarders next to the Yellowhead Highway that runs from Winnipeg to the West Coast. 'I don't go to many grand openings, to be honest, but this seemed like a really unique situation,' Hawk said. 'I don't want to say it's the most remote area, but in remote areas, skateboarding is still a valid option for kids to choose, and they want to do it. We need to provide facilities for them.' McMorris, a three-time Olympic slopestyle bronze medallist whose 24 X Games medals is the most among snowboarders, has a special place in his heart for skateboarding. 'The first board I ever got on was a skateboard,' McMorris said. 'It's been so important in my life. That's how I made a lot of friends. It's where I spent a lot of time at the skate park in Regina. 'I can just only imagine what it would be like if Tony Hawk came to Regina to open a skate park when I was a kid. Some kids' minds are going to be blown, and some new skateboarders are going to be born from this event.' The expanded street park cost $1.2 million and the bowl another $600,000 to build, said Smithers Skate Park Society vice-chair Christy Sawchuck, who is also known around town as 'Rad-Mom' because of her love of skateboarding. 'We don't have the municipalities that can fund something like this. We're doing it all on our own,' Sawchuck said. 'We had local non-profits and foundations that got us started with large donations. We had many local companies that gave us discounted materials and services.' The Power To Give Foundation contacted McMorris, who in turn reached out to Hawk. The two men have crossed paths in the action sport community and in Encinitas, Calif., where both have homes. 'He is an extremely large figure. Larger than life, larger than the sport itself, so for him to agree to do this is very special,' McMorris said. Hawk's Skateboard Project in the United States helps build parks for underserved communities, so what Smithers has done aligns with his beliefs. 'To see this in Canada makes me feel inspired. I hope that the city takes pride in a project like this,' Hawk said. 'A lot of times facilities like these are uphill battles and there are tired stigmas that are associated with our sport, skateboarding especially. 'I feel like skate parks can save lives and they can enhance a community beyond anything that they might imagine. I feel like Smithers will be an example of that.' More improvements are in the works for the Smithers' park including a pump track that's easier for beginners, lighting and accessible washrooms. Admission to the skate park is free. 'For free unstructured play that reaches everybody and every demographic, I think it's imperative to have,' Sawkchuck said. 'Not everybody can afford to do huge recreational sports and have parents that can travel.' Sawchuck also believes travelling families will see the park from the highway and make it a stop for rest and recreation. 'It runs right along Highway 16. We have a lot of people that travel the North, anywhere from the Lower Mainland, from the United States, travelling up to Alaska,' she said. 'It ends up being like a rest-stop station and a central hub for people to let their dogs out, grab something to eat, go to the skate park, chill out for a little bit and carry on on their travels.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
