Megabi Skate / Photo Libell Foto

If you happen to be in London June 1st-3rd - you may want to check out this FREE 3-day PUSHING BOARDERS event that's happening. Pro skaters Lucy Adams, Alexis Sablone and Elissa Steamer will be there speaking, along with Jaime Reyes, Danni Gallagher, Daphne Greca - co owner of our fav London Skate Shop - Brixton's Baddest, skater/writer Tara Jepsen and we hear that everyone's fav skate artist, Eloise Dorr has a booth, so don't miss out!

A unique line-up of professional skateboarders, community leaders and renowned scholars from a wide variety of disciplines will be joining forces for the first time to examine the unconventional role of skateboarding in fields as diverse as urban planning policy, humanitarian aid, and gender identity.

PUSHING BOARDERS is a collaboration between London based non-profit groups SkatePal, Re-verb Skateboarding, and Long Live Southbank – the organisation behind the successful campaign which saved the ‘Undercroft’ skate spot on London’s South Bank from redevelopment.

The event, which is a celebration of the social and cultural impact of skateboarding, will take place at the House of Vans London and The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL from June 1st-3rd.
Highlights of the event include ‘Globally Stoked’ – a photography exhibition featuring images of emerging skate scenes from Peru to Palestine; ‘Skateboarding is Not a Crime: How to Build a Skate-friendly City’ –a debate between city officials and public space advocates; a discussion on experiences of race and identity within skate culture led by University of Southern California professor Neftalie Williams; and ‘The Rise of Female Skateboarders’ discussing how urban spaces, predominantly designed by men, affect and interact with female skaters.

Some of the biggest names in skateboarding and academia will travel to London to be part of the panel discussions over the course of the weekend, including: Elissa Steamer, the first woman to become a professional skateboarder; MIT-trained architect and pro-skater Alexis Sablone; UK pro-skater Lucy Adams; Skateboarding Coordinator for the City of Malmö Gustav Svanborg Eden; Founder of Skateistan Oliver Percovich; pro-skater and children’s book author Karl Watson; and art historian and satirical skateboarding critic Ted Barrow.


Lucy Adams, Professional Skateboarder , said: “Pushing Boarders is a fantastic opportunity to show
the social and cultural impact of skateboarding around the world and raise the profile of skateboarding in the UK as we see international experts in their fields come to London for this first-of-its kind meeting.”


The weekend kicks off on Friday 1st June with the opening party at House of Vans featuring DJs and a skate film premiere. Talks take place over the Saturday and Sunday, with a free skate school, a street
market and Drop-in ‘PhD surgery’ for anyone interested in writing their university thesis about
skateboarding. The weekend concludes with a skate session at the legendary Southbank Undercroft.

Tickets are free, but places are limited.

Register for yours at www.pushingboarders.com

Schedule | Venue:
Fri 1st June | 18:00 - 00:00 | Launch Party | House of Vans London
Sat 2nd June | 10:00 - 20:30 | Q&A discussions | The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
Sun 3rd June | 12:00 - 20:00 | Q&A discussions | House of Vans London



** Photography exhibition, film screenings, skate schools, workshops, stalls, DJs and more.**

Presented by: SkatePal, Long Live Southbank and Re-verb

Hosted at:   House of Vans & The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

Official Media Partner:    Free Skate Magazine