Skateboarding has become bigger than it ever was, and nowadays we have skateboarders that are concerned with a lot more than getting lit, skating cellar doors, or hanging out at hip skater bars. Skaters are starting to tackle more thought-provoking subject matter.
Pushing Boarders, skateboarding’s first academic conference, was, in my eyes, an event where skate nerds like myself could gather and discuss the really important topics, and how they relate to this thing we’re obsessed with. Aside from other skateboarding gatherings like contests, video premieres, and trade shows—which involve a lot of partying and conversations that consist of,”That’s sick man! Fuck yeah G! Did you see that? Shiiiiiit!”—Pushing Boarders addressed questions that some of us never though of. Or intentionally ignored, even. Questions about race, identity, sexuality, homophobia, diversity, charity, skate academia, and the real owners of the skateboarding industry.
It was amazing to be a part of, and I want to thank the organizers—Long Live South Bank, Re-Verb, and SkatePal—for making it possible. It was a truly unique experience to meet so many amazing people and see so much good energy in skating in one weekend. To read more about the programs, check out Iain Borden’s excellent write-up, or Tobias Coughlin-Bogue’s recap in Vice. This video is my best attempt to capture it all.
Words by Edvard Gaba
Huge Thanks to Tobias Coughlin-Bogue for editing the text