Few people might realize it, but Go Skateboarding Day is a holiday that’s observed annually on June 21st and is used as a day on which people can not only celebrate the art of skateboarding but can also show off their skills. It doesn’t matter if a person is a novice at skateboarding or if they’ve been doing it all their life; this holiday is one that anyone passionate about this sport will want to participate in celebrating.

The History of Go Skateboarding Day

Go Skateboarding Day is a holiday that dates back to 2004. This is when the International Association of Skateboard Companies, also known as IASC, created the day to help make skateboarding more accessible to more people. By 2006, this holiday was not just a regional event but was celebrated by skateboarders in 32 different countries. It has been a holiday celebrated worldwide ever since.

Facts About Skateboards & Skateboarding

Every single time we research a holiday, we come across some great facts about either the holiday or the subject of the holiday. And Go Skateboarding Day isn’t exempt from that fact. During our research, we found some great facts about skateboards and skateboarding in general—facts we’d now like to share with everyone.

Skateboarding Started Off As Surfing The Concrete

What some people might not realize is that skateboarding actually started off as an extension of surfing. Even the early skateboards produced during the 1950s were simply surfboards with wheels attached to them. They were even called by some people as “sidewalk surfers,” and the idea behind them was that a person could “surf” even when they weren’t near water.

Skateboarding Shoes Took Awhile To Be Created

Although skateboarding officially started during the 1950s, it wouldn’t be until 1965 that the first skateboarding shoe—a shoe named the Randy 720—would be developed by the Randolph Rubber Company. This is partially due to the fact that since so many people considered skateboarding to be sidewalk surfing, they went out of their way to do it barefoot. It took a few years before skateboarders realized the benefits of wearing a shoe specifically made for skateboarding.

America Has A Lot Of Skate Parks

Just about every country in the world has skate parks, and skateboarding has become a worldwide phenomenon. However, the United States seems to have an especially high concentration of skate parks. At the time of this article, the U.S. had approximately 3,100 skate parks, and that’s a lot of skateboarding. That’s probably why there are 176+ skateboarding injuries every single day in the United States.

Celebrating Go Skateboarding Day

Go Skateboarding Day is best observed by grabbing your board and hitting the sidewalk or your favorite skate park. It’s also a good day to visit your local skateboard shop, learn some new skateboarding moves, or to help your community develop their own skate park. And if you’re celebrating this holiday, be sure to use the hashtag #GoSkateboardingDay on social media to invite everyone to celebrate this holiday with you.