Abu Dhabi’s varied spaces, pavements and endless suburban space makes it a pleasure for getting around the city on two feet when the heat permits. But for a growing crowd in Abu Dhabi, the pavements and public areas have an extra usability – as a readymade skateboarding arena.
To us at Abu Dhabi Week, skateboarding tends to conjure up images of a Bart Simpson character with a rebellious attitude, a baseball cap, and perhaps a low-slung pair of jeans. But for the Abu Dhabi Skaters, there’s much more than a slanted hat and smart answers.

We meet the group at the public skate park opposite Baynunah Hilton Towers. Naturally, the group arrive on their wheels – and in the obligatory skate wear. Trainers, baggy T-shirts and shorts are de rigueur, and there’s even graffiti on the ramps. We’re waiting to hear our first “dude”, but there’s no messing –they’re here to skate.

The skate park is in fact the only one in Abu Dhabi and according to the group it’s unfortunately too small. “It’s great to have an area to practice in and meet likeminded people,” says Bashar Alabadi, the founder of Abu Dhabi Skaters. “But the problem is the park is too small and it can get really overcrowded. Plus the layout is too limited for skateboarding it’s actually better suited to rollerblading” (and there is indeed an impressive group of inline skaters on the premises most evenings).

According to Bashar, the other problem is that the park is open to anyone – and with no rules in place, the park can be dangerous for people who use the area for picnicking or just to slide down the ramps.

“It’s a shame really – there are over 400 skaters in Abu Dhabi, and it’s really taking off. There’s no real place to go, so we end up finding alterative spots around the city. The Corniche is great for practising tricks, but we need a safe, designated area. Ideally we need somewhere indoors – with air con!”

Somewhere like Zayed Sports City sounds ideal. Bashar is actually putting together a presentation for the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in the hope for better facilities and more support for skaters in the city.
As a couple more of the members turn up to the park on wheels, there’s a call to head to another area. Some of the tricks they want to try are not possible in the park. Plus with no shade, it’s getting too hot to jump and whizz around.
Since the group started in 2007 it has gained a degree of recognition through its website and local events. The next to be staged around Abu Dhabi is on 19th June; Wild In The Streets is a global annual event. Abu Dhabi skaters will meet at the public skate park before heading out and around, performing tricks, giving out prizes and generally having fun.

“It’s a really great event – and the best thing is it’s not limited to a certain age group. We have everyone from as young as nine to 45 years old joining in!” says Bashar. “We also have a Summer Skate Camp running from 26th June until 4th July – another fun Abu Dhabi-based activity where skaters can meet and learn new tricks.”

The whole group seems completely involved in the skateboarding community and keen to see it grow. “It’s a shame there are no skateboarding shops in Abu Dhabi. We either have to buy online or from a shop in Dubai,” says 14 year old Kyle Kenney as he takes a break from some impressive tricks along the Corniche. “But Dubai doesn’t lend itself to skating – you’ve got to get a taxi to get anywhere. In Abu Dhabi you can just hop straight on your skateboard. It’d be great to get something here.”
According to Bashar, there are two main types of skating – old school (or should that be skool?) and street style.  “Old school is better suited to the skate park, with ramps to tackle. Street style is a freer style where ordinary objects like benches, kerbs and steps are used to perform tricks.

“It’d be great to have a mixture of both, but for now we tend to take to the streets to practice,” says Bashar.
“Hopefully we can convince the people of Abu Dhabi that there’s some real talent in skateboarding, and that skateboarding in the capital could really grow with a little extra help.”

More information: www.abudhabiskaters.com

Tricks of the trade
? Indy Grab: A starter trick – grab the toe side of the board between the feet while in the air. This is the most common ‘grab’ in skateboarding and snowboarding.
? Caveman: Another popular beginner trick with skaters – drop the board and jump on to it before the board touches the ground.
? Ollie: Basically a jump, and sounds simple enough – but try jumping and landing back on a moving board and it’s suddenly not so simple. There are a number of variations on the trick, which was invented by skater Alan ‘Ollie’ Gelfand in 1978.
? Kick Flip: A mid-air move combining an Ollie with kicking the board so it flips under your feet in the air and then lands back on the ground – hopefully with you on it.
? 180: As the name suggests – the board rotates 180 degrees in the air with the skater. This trick  can be done ‘frontside’ or ‘backside’, depending which way the skater chooses to turn.
? Pop Shuvit: Spin the board before jumping forward and landing on it. This variation on the 180 and Ollie is a popular beginner trick.
[Writer] Charlie Kennedy

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 22]

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