In its fifth year of hosting Go Skateboarding Day (also shortened to Go Skate Day), organisers HolyStoked Collective are getting slightly rebellious, taking over the huge Freedom Park on June 25 to let over a 100 skater boys and girls have a freewheeling time. Of course, while Freedom Park doesn’t normally permit skateboarding, HolyStoked’s co-founder Poornabodh Nadavatt says they’ve taken all the necessary measures. He notes, “We had to pay them to rent out the place, just like people do if they have to shoot movies there.”
It is not easily affordable, despite HolyStoked’s continued growth and success in introducing skateboarding culture to Bengaluru ever since they came together in 2011. Poornabodh says it has cost them Rs. 45,000 to rent the venue for a few hours, something they are being helped by Vans. Taking a break from building ramps at Freedom Park, Poornabodh tells us there will be three workshops, competitions and musical performances. “We had over 130 skaters registered last year, when it was held at the Play Arena. About 500 people showed up.”
Go Skateboarding Day, which is usually marked on June 21 each year and was set up by the International Association of Skateboard Companies, takes place across the world. Poornabodh has had the chance to go to everywhere from Copenhagen to Bolivian cities to gain inspiration to set alive skateboarding in Bengaluru. So far, Bengaluru is considered one of the most skate-friendly cities, and has a growing number of skaters.
This year, there will be a few competitions with a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 – from skaters testing how high and long and they can do an ollie (a jump, with the skateboard) and the somewhat dangerous hippy jump, which involves landing a perfect jump over an object and back on to your skateboard.
Poornabodh says, “Every year, there is an increase in the number of participants and the competition gets tough.”
In addition to skating, Go Skateboarding Day features a performance by Pune punk rock band Doctor Zebra. Frontman Jay Kinra, who also recently put together Go Skate Day in Pune with his own skateboarding company Active8 Sports, says he’s looking forward to checking out the scene here. He says, “Growing up, I took part in Skate Days in California and Boston. Bengaluru is the Mecca of the skate scene right now.” Kinra will be a part of the event in every way – from an entrepreneur selling skating merchandise, to a skater and a music performer. With Doctor Zebra – who mix everything from skate punk to surf punk and straight-up pop punk – Kinra will play about 12 songs and throw in covers of bands such as The Ramones and Sublime. He adds, “To perform at a skating event is like a dream come true for me. I feel punk music is still catching on in India, much like skateboarding. This is a great space for both.”
