'It excites me to think about how we can apply a skateboard lens to the sports world.'

By Darren Pearcy, Performance Manager at Skateboard GB

I’ve been operating in the Olympic arm of skateboarding for nearly five years. I’ve seen, heard and felt a lot in that time.

Recently, Skateboard GB released “The Thing”, a ten-minute documentary which provides insight into some of our national skateboard team and staff on a summer camp to Rome in preparation for the 2023 Skateboard Park World Championships.

We’ve not figured this Olympic skateboarding “Thing” out, and we’re not pretending to. There’s a lot of work to be done. Honestly, I hope we never figure it out. Learning and growing always matter.?

What do I know?

We are here because we love skateboarding, and we will not compromise its values or culture for competitive success, but we will use them to drive us to where we want to go.?

Success at the destination should be the outcome of a meaningful and fun journey. It’s got to be “Bigger Than The Rings”, or it’s not worth doing.

An excerpt from Darren from “The Thing”

“Practice or training, whatever you want to call it, isn’t a problem. They’re just words.?

Everything is about how you do it. Yes, we are out here skating, getting ready for a competition, but ultimately, all we’re trying to do is do the right things by a group of people.?

Skate trips have always been the same: you go on the trip, get in the van, find some good places to skate, and, hopefully, vibe with the crew. The result, everyone puts it down.?

Camp ingredients are no different to your average skate trip; it’s the same ones that skateboarding has always used when travelling. We must stay true to them as fun, friendship, passion, care, and progression come from them. They are important things we want to hold onto.

It excites me to think about how we can apply a skateboard lens to the sports world. I think skateboarding has a huge opportunity to influence so much of sport and how people do things. It excites me to try and bring that into that bubble”.

Watch 'The Thing' documentary by SkateboardGB