Go Skateboarding Day 2024 - The Wrap Up
Last Friday, we headed down to local skateparks near our nine stores with our staff and store riders for a day of skating to celebrate Go Skateboarding Day with the rest of the world. We were stoked to see so many people join us, so thank you to everyone who came down and for contributing to such an incredible day (even if yours truly was whisked off to A&E and missed half the day in Bath).
It was great to see some familiar faces shredding as usual, as well as getting a glimpse of the future with some up-and-coming skaters tearing the parks up. We loved seeing you all send it for the love of skateboarding (but also to get your hands on the prizes we took down with us!) We gave away tonnes of product from adidas, Nike, Doom Sayers, Ace Trucks and much more.
We witnessed some crazy stuff go down up and down the country throughout the day. Our store rider Kam Spencer brought the heat in Southampton with an impossible nosegrind on the ledge. Hype man Rob raised the energy in Bath, somehow encouraging people to ditch their footwear and skate barefooted over the hip.
Matty and Vince from our Bristol store set the standards, boosting over rubbish bins and getting techy on the ledge at Viccy Park, whilst the crew at Liverpool got everybody flying with a highest ollie competition.
Our Cardiff crew had a blast RTM Skatepark, and Brighton had an especially hectic session, bringing out everybody’s inner demon with chaotic death races to end the day.
Everyone was out in Edinburgh killing it, but Euan Lawson shut it down with some crazy tricks, sticking a BS boneless on top of some real awkward transition and a front 50 yank in on a high rail back into the quarter. Our pals in Glasgow got innovative at Kingston DIY and, as expected, some heavy hitters took on the Southbank stair set in London, with some impressive tricks (and slams) being put down in the process.
To end, a special shoutout is owed to our Southampton store and everyone involved at the GSD event at Freespace Skatepark for epitomising our values of making everybody feel welcome and included. One skater at the event took to Instagram to complement their efforts, saying:
“From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms. Skaters from all walks of life, both familiar faces and new friends, came together to share in the stoke.
“The guys at @route_one_southampton went above and beyond to make this day special. They showered us with free stickers, a fresh set of skateboard trucks, refreshing drinks, and so much more. Their generosity and spirit of giving were truly heartwarming.
“The real highlight of the day was the support and guidance we received from the shop's crew. As beginners, it can be intimidating to navigate the world of skateboarding. However, the Route One team made us feel right at home. They offered tips, encouragement, and a judgment-free environment for us to learn and grow.”
This is exactly the values we hold here at Route One and why we wanted to head down and get involved in the local skating communities on Friday, so thank you to those involved in Southampton’s GSD for embodying this spirit. We are sure our other stores carried this energy into their GSD efforts.
See you all next year!