For a ‘wheely’ exciting day out with a difference, grab a board and head for a skateboard park, writes Susan Welsh
Skateboarding may once have been seen as a short-lived craze but it’s now a well established sport which is going from strength to strength.
Several new parks have opened in Scotland attracting skateboarders ranging in age from toddlers to pensioners, all of them having fun while getting fit at the same time.
Ali Menzies is chairman of Skateboard Scotland, a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to have skateboarding become a widely accepted, properly facilitated and managed mainstream sport throughout Scotland and for there to be world-class facilities here.
“I first got into skateboarding at the age of 12, inspired by watching older kids performing cool tricks on a small board with wheels,” said Ali.
“I grew up in Edinburgh and at the time only Livingston had a dedicated skatepark. I’d hang out on the local streets and get my fair share of bumps and bruises as I practised skate-boarding with like-minded kids.
“At school, I was forced to play sports like rugby and cricket. Organised, rule-based sports never sat comfortably with me yet I always wanted to be physically challenged and active. Skateboarding is not a competitive sport in the traditional ‘organised’ sense, but it’s definitely a sport with a very strong sense of community, where you can constantly push yourself to improve and safely learn new skills with friends.
“I guess that’s why skateboarding and other so called ‘urban sports’ appeal, for there’s no-one telling you what you can and cannot do. You can also do it anytime – just roll right out the front door with your skateboard. As a sport, for me, it hit all the right buttons.”
Skateboarding is often perceived as just for kids. Ali’s son started skateboarding aged three, while many others start when they are around eight or nine. Full marks to Skateboard Scotland board member Kenny Omond who is more than 70 and still active on his board.
“At 38, I still regularly skate among a group that are aged between 17 and 50 years old. As a sport, it definitely keeps me fit and after 40 minutes at my local skatepark I feel I’ve had a good cardiovascular work-out,” said Ali.
It’s easy to get started in skateboarding, a sport that evolved from surfing. All you need is a board (“deck”) that sits on the two sets of metal trucks (to enable you to turn) and a set of wheels and you are all set for exhilarating fun at one of the growing number of outdoor and indoor skate-parks across the country.
In fact, there’s never been a better time to get involved in skateboarding. The likes of sportscotland, the national agency for sport, and other organisations are increasingly receptive to help part-fund and support the construction of dedicated skateparks in local communities. This includes Carnoustie Skate Park which officially opened last month, while sportscotland, Big Lottery and Highland Skate Parks Association were among a host of organisations that helped create the Inverness Skate Park which opened at the end of last year.
Located next to the city’s Bught Park, it’s regarded as one of the best in Scotland. It has more than 10 interesting features including a nine-foot-deep bowl, a Nessie head that’s part of a 164ft jump section and an extensive street section. The park can be floodlit in the evenings and it has something for every level of skateboarder. Admission to it is free of charge, but users are asked to strictly adhere to the rules which will protect the park and reduce the possibility of accidents.
Oldmeldrum, Stonehaven, Buckie and Elgin also have outdoor skate parks with bowls and ramps while there’s plenty of ramps to be tackled at the Muir of Ord park. Sportscotland also helped fund indoor facilities like Transition Extreme in Aberdeen which offers lessons, while you can pick up a board at a skate shop for as little as £50.
“Total beginners need to practise pushing themselves along and standing up without falling off. Relatively quickly, he or she will get the knack of balancing and a feel for the movement of the board under the feet. After that, it’s all about progressing at your own pace to more technical skills like ‘ollies’ (jumps) off obstacles and ramps,” said Ali.
“A ‘kick flip’ is one typical trick whereby you flip the board over in the air before landing on it again and cruising off. The really good guys can even hit speeds of 40mph on steep descents. Whatever your ability, once smitten by skateboarding, every obstacle in the skate park becomes a challenge you will want to master.”
CONTACTS
www.skateboardscotland.com –
the official governing body for skateboarding in Scotland
www.highlandskateparks.co.uk
www.sportscotland.org.uk