Afghan kids find skateboards the wheel deal

Oliver Percovich, a lanky Australian in a black T-shirt, emerged from the van with a load of banged-up skateboards. The children grabbed the boards and raced off to skate in the cracked bowl of the dried-up fountain.

Skateboarding was unknown to Afghans until Percovich, who followed his social scientist girlfriend to Kabul, starting teaching local children to skate in early 2007. Two years later, their relationship is over and his girlfriend is back in Australia. But Percovich's "Skateistan" nonprofit club has become a magnet for children in Kabul, the capital.

Los Angeles Times article here

San Fran Skate-a-Thon

March 29, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. 8a.m. to 11a.m. for a good cause.

Toy Hall of Fame Welcomes the Skateboard (BOUT F'N TIME!)

November 9th was a good day for the Skateboard, as it finally got the recognition it deserved when it was welcomed into the Toy Hall of Fame. Other excited toys that received this prestigious award - the Baby Doll and the Stick. No, I am not making this stuff up.

Maybe if we are lucky next year's event will recognize Glue!

Class is in session! Skateboarding for Gym Credit

Tired for getting your ass kicked in Kickball? Always last the last one to be chosen for any sport in gym? Then give skateboarding a try! That's right, a school in New York City is offering a Skateboard class for gym credit and the class is taught by pro skateboarder Billy Rohan. Among local skateboarders, the spot on 12th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A where wooden ramps and metal-topped ledges are set up most afternoons is known as 12A. For the 9th and 10th graders of East Side Community High School, it is gym class.

It's not just for the guys, as many of the students that are participating in the class are girls.

More schools should be doing this!

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? SKATEBOARD, OF COURSE!

In sleepy Holland, MI skaters are welcomed at the Faith Christian Reformed Church on 85 W. 26th street. That's right, God has finally blessed the good skaters of Holland MI with a place to shred. Can I get an "Amen"?

No swearing, no fighting — just smiles.

This kind of atmosphere is what attracted Chris Aguilera to the weekly gathering at the church and has kept him coming back.

“It’s not dangerous,” said the 13-year-old who lives across the street from the church. “At the skate park, there’s a whole bunch of gang fights and stuff.”

Aguilera is part of a new skateboarding ministry that is offering an alternative place for Holland skateboarding teens to hang out, organizers said.

Each Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., the growing group gathers at Faith Christian Reformed Church just east of Holland Hospital.

If you are in the neighborhood - skate by and make a donation: http://faithcrc.org/

P.S. They appreciate the kind that jingles, but they prefer the kind that folds!

www.skateboard411.com