For this blog series, we teamed up with Trucks and Fins the World’s largest skatepark directory. Their mission: to help skaters discover skateparks across every corner of the globe. With comprehensive guides, interactive maps, photos, and reviews from real skaters, finding skateparks around the world has never been easier. It’s a game-changer for skaters who travel. Equipped with lodging options and local skate shops, Trucks and Fins help bring you the resources to shred no matter where you find yourself.
This blog series brings a unique perspective through the lens of skateboarding culture around the world. Each story explores a different topic, observing and capturing the enriching experiences that couldn’t have been possible without taking my board along with me on my travels. While traveling abroad, skateboarding has enhanced my journey, allowing me to tap into a subculture and even helping me meet locals along the way. Let’s dive in!
A Skateboard is the Best Thing You Can Take With You on Travel Adventures
We kick off the series by exploring how traveling with your skateboard is an essential decision for any skater seeking adventure. On top of being a mode of transportation, having a skateboard while traveling can serve as a creative outlet, enabling you to express yourself wherever you go. Skating is a way to turn off your brain, which is constantly engaged in sensory overload when traveling, and helps you get into a flow state. Furthermore, your skateboard opens doors to new spots and local scenes, providing the opportunity to meet and connect with fellow skateboarders across different countries and cultures.
Having a board in tow during travel fosters personal growth, pushing you to adapt to various environments, challenges, and terrain faced. Ultimately, traveling with your skateboard keeps the flame of your passion alive, guaranteeing unforgettable experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
Discovering Pura Pura, the Highest Skatepark in the World
A good skate adventure starts by hitting the streets. It’s also a reminder that you may find a skatepark in even the most unlikely of places. The story of Pura Pura is an inspiring one, built on the back of skatepark builders coming together from around the world, with a common goal in mind: to bring a skatepark to the city of La Paz, Bolivia.
Holding the crown for the highest-elevation skatepark in the world, Pura Pura is a one-of-a-kind 4,000 sq. foot masterpiece, built completely by hand. The skatepark is a testament to skateboarders teaming up for a good cause and sharing the joy of skating with others. It also serves as a reminder that travel will never cease to surprise you and adventure awaits around every corner. Check out how we discovered this unique DIY park in the gritty city of La Paz and its importance to the El Alto neighborhood of Bolivia.
🌎 BROS TIP: Traveling with a skate tool is essential for skateboarders on the go. It allows you to make quick adjustments to your board, ensuring optimal performance wherever you skate. Whether you need to tighten trucks, change wheels, or fine-tune your setup, a skate tool ensures you’re ready to shred in any location. I’ve also learned it’s necessary to have when packing your board or breaking down your set-up to get on an airplane.
Collectivist Culture & the Skate Communities of Southeast Asia and Latin America
Skateboarding has its own unique culture but what happens when that collides head-first with the heritage of collectivism? A beautiful community in the skate world forms: with an emphasis on interconnectedness, harmony, and mutual support. The idea of collectivist culture in Asia and Latin America has found its way into the skateboarding world in these locations, creating a unique blend of individual expression and community spirit.
On trips to Southeast Asia and Latin America, I observed how the local skate scene and collectivism mesh to form a special bond unlike anywhere else. For this installment of the skate and travel blog series, we explore the principles of collectivist cultures and how they manifest themselves in skateboarding in Asia and Latin America to foster a tight-knit, unified, and supportive community—a core principle of the skateboarding world.
🌎 BROS TIP: Supporting your local skate shop is crucial for the growth and sustainability of the skateboarding community. These shops serve as vital hubs, providing a sense of belonging, expertise, and a gathering place for skateboarders. By choosing to shop locally, you contribute to the local economy and help keep the skateboarding culture alive. Local skate shops often support local events, sponsor local riders, and contribute to the overall development of the skateboarding scene. Plus, they offer personalized advice, quality products, and foster a sense of community that online retailers cannot replicate. Supporting your local skate shop is investing in the future of skateboarding worldwide.
The Heart of Skateboarding Can Be Found in City Plazas Around The Globe
A skateboarding trip to a new country delivers the opportunity to skate to new spots and parks, explore unique cultures, indulge in authentic experiences, and connect with other skaters worldwide. But what happens when you can’t find a skatepark? We explain why a city plaza is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the local skate scene when you’ve just arrived in a foreign land.
In this blog, we explore the spirit of the city plaza. Bursting with energy, creativity, and a shared love for skateboarding, city plazas have become the ultimate hub for meeting and engaging with local skaters, artists, musicians, and other rad humans. It’s where the cool kids hang and you can get some local tips and suggestions on the city. Join me on a journey as we delve into why city plazas are the next best place other than a skatepark to connect with passionate like-minded individuals during your travels.
Traveling with Your Skateboard? Check out some blogs ⬇️
