Skateboards are back - and rolling towards the Olympics

"We are so back", we are so back. This is the phrase that characterises the zeitgeist, as can be read in a recent edition of the New York Times.
Anyone who has been travelling the world for a few decades will indeed have experienced a déjà vu or two in recent months.

Now, just like years (or decades) ago, skateboards are roaming the streets again. Mobile pump tracks are suddenly appearing on greenfield sites. New skate parks are being built or old ones repaired. What's going on? Don't worry, you haven't landed in a time machine. Instead, you now have the chance to jump on the rolling trend for the first or second time.

Skateboarding is predicted to have a bright future

Market researchers are predicting robust growth for the skateboard industry. Following strong growth during the coronavirus pandemic, the global skateboard market is expected to grow from around USD 2.5 billion at present to around USD 3.2 billion by 2032, according to estimates by Market Research Future.

The trend is not only being fuelled by a love of the retro feeling. According to market researchers, the growing number of fans are largely teenagers and young adults who roll through the streets on skateboards. Skateboarding is particularly popular in the USA as a way to get from one building to another quickly on college campuses. And in this country too, classic rollerboards and e-skateboards can be found under the feet of some short-distance commuters.

Olympic Games bring advantages for female skateboarders

The fact that skateboarding has been an Olympic sport since 2020 and will also be part of the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 has given the sport a further boost. In the "Park" and "Street" disciplines, the athletes will be performing spectacular tricks on the Place de la Concorde this summer.

The Olympic Qualifier Series events are currently underway, after which it will be decided who will compete in Paris. The exceptional talent among the women, 16-year-old British Sky Brown, had tried to qualify for the Olympic Games in both surfing and skateboarding. At least in surfing, she did not achieve her goal.

All in all, Japan, Brazil, some European countries and the USA are the hopefuls. It is not yet clear whether Swiss athlete Kilian Zehnder will be able to qualify, as the competitions for Olympic participation are still ongoing. "The chances are 50 per cent," says national coach Simon Stricker.

While fears were running high before the Olympic Games in Tokyo that the Games would suffocate the soul of the rebellious sport, more conciliatory voices can be heard this year. For national coach Simon Stricker and founder of the Skate Academy, the Games were unproblematic from the outset. "Basically, it's another elite competition," he says. Participation in the Olympic Games has also made the sport more professional and at the same time more accessible.

He therefore sees a clear advantage for top female skateboarders: "Now there are the same opportunities and guidelines for women and men. This is extremely good for female skateboarders because it gives them the opportunity to show off their skills." Until now, good female skateboarders simply competed in the men's competitions. "The fact that there is now a separate platform has given women's skating a huge boost," says the national coach.

In any case, the Olympic Games will inspire many young skaters and further fuel the revival of the sport. But skateboarding will also continue to exist as a lifestyle, a hobby and a means of transport. If you want to try it out for yourself or get back on a board after a break, we have a large selection of boards in our range.