The art of obstacles

Jump over, duck under, grind, slide...

Skateboarding is all about navigating the boundaries, the gaps, the hurdles, and inventing creative ways to keep rolling past them. You've walked past that curb every day without noticing it, serving its function as a transition from sidewalk to street. But later there is a line up of skaters innovating other uses for this obstacle: dropping down, popping up, slashing a grind across the edge.

Last week in SKATEYOGI classes we took a broomstick and wedged it between a discarded speaker box and column to create a game of skate limbo. Before that we practiced ducking on our boards but it wasn't until the physical obstacle in place that things got really fun. At first crouching on our feet to drop down to a surfer stance, as the stick got lower the skaters need to figure new ways to get through it. Knee-boarding, coffin pose, superman... one skater just let the board go under as they walked around the obstacle entirely.

Skate limbo!

Even the space we were skating in, the indoor ramp at Skate Brooklyn, was born out of necessity. With the harsh winters of the Northeast, skateboarders are forced to create these indoor spots to hold them over while the outdoor world is covered in snow, slush and rock salt. Cant wait to see what kind of obstacles we can shred this week!

Registration open for the next round of SKATEYOGI series!
Check the links and details at skateyogi.com/classes for the next round of series starting the weekend of Feb 21st. If there's a week you know you cant make, let me know and we'll figure out a make up class. And as always we have the drop-in classes. Adults on Saturdays at 11am; Kids on Sundays at 11am. If you need gear we've got boards, helmets and pads of all sizes for you to borrow. For drop-ins still be sure to save your spot since we cap the number of skaters on the ramp. See you there!

Girls Riders Organization sessions at Homage
GRO is hosting all-girls skate sessions at Homage for the next few months. These are free and open to any girl that wants to skate. They're doing beginner sessions on Sun. Feb 8 and Sun. Mar 8 at 3:30-5:30pm. Might have to bring the little one out! Here's the link for more details.

Video of the Week: SKATEYOGI "mobile short" of Amigo Skate Cuba fundraiser at Homage
Speaking of obstacles, can you imagine trying to be a skater in a country with no skate shops? This rad movement, Amigo Skate Cuba is showing that skateboarding transcends politics and helps get skate supplies to the shredders in Havana. They hosted a fundraiser event at Homage last Friday and the amount of energy and good vibes was tremendous.

Namaskate!
Kevin

Upcoming Classes:

Sat 1/31 Kids Groms A Series 9:45am-10:45am (registration closed for this series)
Sat 1/31 Adult Beginners Class 11am-noon
Sat 1/31 Kids Shredders A Series 12:30pm-1:30pm (registration closed for this series)
Sun 2/1 Kids Groms B Series 9:45am-10:45am (registration closed for this series)
Sun 2/1 Kids Absolute Groms Class 11am-noon
Sun 2/1 Kids Shredders B Series 12:30pm-1:30pm (registration closed for this series)
Wed 2/4 Kids Afterschool Skate Club 3:00pm-6:00pm (cancelled for ramp maintenance)