Skateboarding sport promoted

April 23, 2023

Healthy activity:

As a healthy sport, skateboarding attracts younger children who are able to perform different kinds of moves.

Optimal use:

A total of five skateparks under the Leisure & Cultural Services Department are being used by the players of freestyle BMX, skateboarding, aggressive inline skating and freestyle scootering via a co-use arrangement.

Tricky moves:

Young children are seen performing a variety of skateboard tricks, such as an ollie or a flip, during a Lai Chi Kok Park Skatepark competition.

Future development:

Hong Kong Skateboarding Squad Team (Street) athlete Cheung Hang-tat (right) suggests that the indoor centre should include a foam pit which can reduce the chance of injuries, while his head coach Warren Stuart feels that every district should have skateboard grounds to boost the sport’s development.

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Hong Kong Skateboarding Squad Team (Street) athlete Cheung Hang-tat (Translation): 
There are many who skateboard nowadays, especially teenagers and children. 

The sport is cool and you feel a sense of accomplishment while trying to complete different moves. 

Voiceover:
This is the Leisure & Cultural Services Department’s Lai Chi Kok Park Skatepark. A competition is being held.

Although the skaters are young, they are able to perform different kinds of moves such as an ollie or a flip.

Hong Kong Skateboarding Squad Team (Street) athlete Cheung Hang-tat (Translation): 
At present in Hong Kong, skateboarding is getting more popular. 

Several years ago, the age of a rookie skater was usually 10 or above, but now, they start to learn from the age of five.

We are trying to promote it in primary and secondary schools to attract even more people to the sport.

Voiceover:
Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced in this year’s Budget that the Government is examining the conversion of some underutilised floors of the Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building into an urban sports centre, which will provide a suitable venue for activities such as skateboarding. The technical feasibility study of the transformation project is expected to be completed by this year.

Skaters and coaches all love the idea.

Mr Cheung said having an indoor sponge pool can reduce the chance of injuries when athletes are trying to perform difficult moves.  

Skateboarding Squad Team Head Coach Warren Stuart thinks Hong Kong still needs to invest more in the sport.

Hong Kong Skateboarding Squad Team Head Coach Warren Stuart:
We have quite a few good skateparks in Hong Kong, (but) it can be better. 

All the new skateparks that are coming, we hope that they will be certified to some level of Olympic standard. 

If we want to develop our skaters, our athletes, we have to give them something like this. Something that is on the same level as Olympic or international contest standard.

Skateboarding is more popular than ever these days. There are a number of skateparks in the city and the sport has influenced both fashion and pop-culture.

Due to its popularity, skateboarding athlete Cheung Hang-tat said nowadays, even younger children are drawn to the sport in Hong Kong.

He explained that several years ago, the age of a rookie skater was usually 10 or older, but now, kids as young as five are picking up the sport.

“The sport is cool and you feel a sense of accomplishment while trying to complete different moves.”

Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced in this year’s Budget that the Government is examining the conversion of some underutilised floors of the Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building into an urban sports centre.

He emphasised that the goal is to provide a suitable venue for activities such as skateboarding. The technical feasibility study of the transformation project is expected to be completed this year.

Skaters and coaches expressed that they love the idea.

Prioritising safety

Mr Cheung suggested that the indoor centre should include a foam pit which can reduce the chance of injuries as athletes can practise their tricks pain-free when performing difficult moves.

“Plus, their training will not be affected by the weather,” he added.

There are eight skateboard grounds and five skateparks under the Leisure & Cultural Services Department.

Skateparks are provided for the co-use of the players of four extreme sports, namely freestyle BMX, skateboarding, aggressive inline skating and freestyle scootering.

Lai Chi Kok Park Skatepark is one such recreational environment.

A few weeks ago, there was a contest in the park where it was clear to see that although the skaters are young, they are able to perform different kinds of moves such as an ollie or a flip.

Professional grounds

While Hong Kong Skateboarding Squad Team Head Coach Warren Stuart noted that there is a fairly large number of good skateparks in Hong Kong, he believes additional skateparks would benefit the sport greatly.

Now that skateboarding is an Olympic sport, he stressed that if society wants local skateboarders to compete with the rest of the world, more professional skateboard grounds on the same level as the Olympics or international competition standards are needed.