The first skateboarding holiday is growing slowly and spreading throughout the world. But, what is Go Skateboarding Day?
Could there be a holiday that doesn't require you to send flowers, buy a gift, or prepare an elaborate meal? Go Skateboarding Day, sponsored by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), may be just the holiday you are looking for. It is a world-wide celebration that requires nothing more from you than to grab your deck, head outdoors and have fun. Go Skateboarding Day 2007 is scheduled for June 21, 2007.
Go Skateboarding Day is touted as the official holiday of skateboarding. It began four years ago, in the summer of 2004. The celebration takes place on the first day of summer every year (which also happens to be the longest, so you have more time to ride). Go Skateboarding Day was conceived by Dan Brown, who was elected as an IASC board member before the concept was launched. What began as small industry get-togethers has been slowly growing into a wide spread celebration. Through the efforts of retailers, manufacturers and distributors, along with the grass roots initiatives of skateboarders everywhere, awareness of Go Skateboarding Day is spreading.
According to the Go Skateboarding Day website, this is a day when "skateboarders around the globe will celebrate the pure exhilaration, creativity, and spirit of one of the most influential activities in the world by blowing off all other obligations to go skateboarding." The goal of the day is to encourage beginners as well as seasoned skateboarders to get out and ride or learn to ride and to have fun doing it.
There are no centralized activities associated with Go Skateboarding Day. It is through the effort of local groups, shops, skate parks and riders that the activities occur. A variety of activities take place from local contests, backyard sessions, demonstrations and fundraisers. Some groups have even used the day as a time to protest the bans on skateboarding that have been imposed in numerous cities and towns.
Although it began as a small event, Go Skateboarding Day has slowly grown over the past four years and is spreading throughout the world. In 2006 there were 32 participating countries that held over 350 events. The Go Skateboarding Day website allows local groups and shops to post their activities on the site, making it easier for those who are interested to find out what is happening in their own area.
If you're interested in finding out more information about Go Skateboarding Day, finding an event or watching some video, visit the Go Skateboarding Day website.
