Past and Present of Go Skateboarding Day

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Derek Melchin

June 21st is a day like no other, a day to look forward to, and day to remember. It’s this day, and this day only that skateboard culture is unleashed upon the world. Not many people recognize the special date but skaters from all major cities from around the globe gather to celebrate the official holiday of skateboarding. The initial celebration, in 2004, which started the revolution has dramatically changed the holiday after a full decade of development. Be prepared, this Saturday will be the mark of the eleventh anniversary and the establishment of another decade to come.

How it All Began

Created by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), the holiday of Go Skateboarding Day allows passionate riders as well as those who are just entering the sport, the opportunity to get on a skateboard and just have fun. The holiday was established in 2004 to influence skaters to make riding their first priority for an entire day. Blowing off all your other obligations: school, business meetings, court dates. It didn’t matter. Just drop everything and ride – “DEAR” – to show your true passion for the sport.

It all began with a few small skate sessions and a BBQ held in the Skateboarding capital, Southern California. It wasn’t intended to grow much larger than that. But surprisingly, it spread like wildfire and soon enough the holiday was being celebrated by millions of skaters from around the globe. Such a powerful acknowledgement lead to GSD receiving Special Congressional Recognition from the US Congress for promoting the sport of skateboarding.

In the years since that first celebration in 2004, the holiday is continuously growing to new lengths, bigger and bigger each year, but the objective has always remained the same: Have fun and go skateboarding!

What to Expect This Year

With the upcoming of a new decade of anniversaries you can expect June 21, 2014 to start with a bang. The celebrations have come a long way since those small skate sessions in Southern California. Now, skaters everywhere will show their love and passion for skateboarding through fundraisers, contests, protests, and demos that you can join. People will skate through cities, gather in skate parks, and some will just hangout in the local skate shops.

Skateboard retailers, manufacturers, distributors, organizations and individuals of all types hold local events to celebrate the holiday. Skate parks around the world also create their own events and traditions to celebrate the day so check your local skate shop if you want to get in on the action because believe me, you are not going to want to miss it. And with events in every major city of the globe, skateboarders everywhere celebrate their very own holiday on June 21 and every city does it a little differently now, it is completely up to you. Don’t forget to check local flyers to see where all the fun is going to be. But don’t forget to grease up your bearings with some Bones Speed Cream and get involved!