Flipping good fun! Skateboarding has never been so popular in the Highlands since its inclusion in the Olympic games
Organisers at a Highland skate park have noticed an increase in interest in skateboarding since its inclusion in the Olympic games.
The Tokyo games saw 13-year-old Sky Brown become Team GB’s youngest ever medallist after she skated home with a bronze medal.
Alasdair Campbell, who has been the Highland Skate Parks Association’s vice chairman for the past three years, said he had skated in Inverness for 20 years and the sport was enjoying a surge in popularity.
He said: “Personally I’ve seen an increase in skaters at the park of all ages. I think the inclusion of skateboarding in the games was enough to generate a wave of interest.
“Sky qualifying and winning the bronze put skateboarding even more in the spotlight and has definitely encouraged more girls to get into skateboarding.
“Personally I feel skateboarding was a great addition to the Olympics, it really highlighted the camaraderie among the competitors.”
Mr Campbell said he hoped that the general perception of skateboarding would improve as people appreciated the skill and determination involved in the activity.
He said: “If you wish to try skateboarding for the first time I highly recommend a real skateboard rather than a short penny board. The larger surface area and wider wheelbase will drastically improve your first roll on a skateboard.”
The Highland Skate Parks Association (HSPA) is a sports organisation and registered charity focused on the BMX and skateboard communities in Inverness and the surrounding areas.
The association was established in July 2011 and raised £480,000 for a new skate park which was completed December 2014 near Bught Park in Inverness.
HSPA provides support for local organisations. Recently working closely with High Life Highland’s youth development officers and active schools co-ordinators.
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