The growing skateboarding culture in Glasgow

Whilst being a beautiful city filled with fantastic culture, music and art. Glasgow also has one of the largest skateboarding cultures in Scotland. I am grateful to be a part of this community and culture and think more people should know about it and get involved!

Skateboarding isn’t something new to Glasgow or anywhere in the world for that matter. Having first been considered a sport in 1963, the popularity and lifestyle of this new sport grew like no other. We all have heard the infamous name, Tony Hawk, whether you skate or don’t I’m almost completely sure you know who that is.

Besides my obvious love for this community, Go Skate Day just occurred on the 21st of June and I think this is the perfect opportunity to try and showcase what skateboarding in Glasgow is, the community, the culture that surrounds it, and my own experience.

Community

Community is something on which skateboarding is built. It allows for confidence to be built and friendships developed. For me, it helped me to gain life-long friends. I always remembered being very intimidated by the skatepark back in my hometown because of how good everyone there was at skating and rollerblading. It took me until 2020 to work up enough confidence to go over and interact with these people I thought were super cool. And now, three years later I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t.

In Glasgow, the skateboarding community is large and still growing. With more competitions and skate jams being held in skateparks in Glasgow like Loadingbay and Kelvingrove.

A lot of people are intimidated by skateboarders and are afraid to try and get into skateboarding in case they are made fun of or aren’t able to progress as quickly as others. Trust me when I say this is a very small population of the community that is like this. I admit that I felt this and received some negative responses to trying to get into skateboarding, and this made me not want to learn. But more than anything else I received so much encouragement and support from people, some just starting, and others who have been skating for longer than I had been alive.

Just because there are a few negative people that don’t want to see others improve, does not mean that the whole community is like that. Some of the most creative and kindest people I know are a part of this community.

Culture

Skateboarding culture in Glasgow thrives through its unique blend of creativity, individuality and inclusivity. The urban landscape of Glasgow provides a vibrant playground for the sport’s growth. From the famous Kelvingrove to the Loadingbay, skateboarders come together to push the boundaries of their craft.

These scenes allow skaters to express themselves individually through their style and tricks. I can truly say that every skateboarder has a unique skating style, which is influenced by the culture and community around them. Local skate shops like Route One, Clan Skates and other local shops are not only vital in the upkeep of the sport and its growth but also for the advice and community they provide. 

Whether it is local events, renowned skate competitions, or the countless amounts of street spots which are patiently waiting to be skated. Glasgow’s skateboarding culture radiates contiguous energy, inspiring both newcomers and seasoned skaters alike.

My experience

Credit: @Artofthevalleyboy

Finally, I want to share my experience and how it has become a significant part of my life. I started skating in March 2021 during the pandemic. Throughout my childhood, I was surrounded by skateboarding whether that was my family members or youtube videos. So it is safe to say it has always been a part of my life. During the pandemic, I felt very isolated and hated sitting at home, like all of us. When the guidelines became more flexible and we were allowed to socialise, the first thing I did was grab my skateboard and head for the park.

At first, I was very intimidated by all of the other skaters at the park, even though I knew some of them from school. My hands were sweaty and I couldn’t make eye contact with anything but the floor, but then the most amazing thing happened. One of the skaters, who to this day is a very close friend of mine, smiled at me and introduced me to everyone there. From then on I skated every chance I could with all of these new people who wanted nothing but to see me improve and enjoy the sport as much as they did.

This seemed to be the same with almost all other skateboarders I met. During the first year, I made a lot of great connections and amazing friendships which without skateboarding I wouldn’t have made. Progression was everything within the first year, it all became muscle memory and I’d never felt as accomplished as I did then. Taking part in loads of competitions and placing top 3 in some and even first in one in Dundee. It helped to build my confidence as well as my people skills, and I am very thankful for that.

Lorn doing a kickflip down a 3-stair next to Glasgow School of Art

As much as I hate to admit it, skateboarding did take a backseat in my life during my last year of high school. Exams got in the way, as well as the stress of applying to universities. But recently I have gotten back into it and made time as it is something I am very passionate about.

As a result of Go skate day, I hope this article finds people who want to try something new or have fallen off the skateboarding groove. As well as people who are just curious about Glasgow’s skateboarding culture. I would recommend checking out Strathclyde Universities’ skateboarding club, Strathskate.

Are you ready to put on your knee pads, and helmets and enter the creative community with endless possibilities?

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