What began as a way to recreate surfing on the streets of the U.S. in the 1950s has since evolved into a respected global sport, earning its debut as an Olympic sport in 2020. In Colombia, skateboarding transcends being just a sport and has become a lifestyle and a powerful form of self-expression and resistance.
On June 21st, the streets of Medellín were taken over by skateboarders gliding across the pavement celebrating Go Skateboarding Day, an event that has international notoriety and has been celebrated in Medellín for the past decade. While Go Skateboarding Day has become a defining moment for Colombia’s skate scene, its far from ebbing the only skate even that brings the community together. On October 6th, the energy will shift to Aranjuez, where Diversión en la Loma will take place.
I can’t speak for the country as a whole since my experience has been limited to Medellín, but for the skateboarding community here, skateboarding goes much deeper than just an adrenaline-filled sport, focused on performing tricks. Its a form of self-expression, a way for young people to resist the limitations placed on them by society, even if its not always something openly discussed.
The creation of Colombia’s new constitution in 1991 placed a significant focus on the youth, directly addressing them as active participants in society and guaranteeing their right to an education. This recognition marked a turning point, highlighting the importance of young people as a reflection of the nation’s future. By understanding the values, interests, and challenges of the youth, we gain insight into the direction society is heading.
However, despite this acknowledgement, the youth are often stigmatized, along with music genres like rock and rap, which are closely intertwined with skate culture. Both skateboarding and these music styles have gone hand in hand, shaping a shared identity. Skateboarding hasn’t necessarily emerged to challenge these stigmas but rather to give young people a platform to express their perspectives. It has allowed theme to carve out their own spaces, participate in politics, and claim public areas where their voices can be heard.
Skateboarding in Colombia has been steadily developing since the 1980s, with Medellín becoming a central hub for the scene since the early 90s. Neighborhoods like Laureles, Belén, and Los Colores, along with nearby municipalities such as Envigado, Rionegro, and Bello, saw a surge in skateboarding activity. Skate clubs began to form as the culture grew, heavily influenced by movies like Back to the Future and Gleaming the Cube, as well as punk groups like Suicidal Tendencies. However, the real game changer for the Medellín skate scene came with the opening of the first local skate shop in the Terminal del Sur, Skate House, which also installed a ramp outside, creating a space for the community to gather and practice.
In 1997, Ley 375, also known as “Ley de la Juventud,” was introduced to recognize the importance of youth in shaping the future of Colombia. The law aimed to support and empower young people and created programs and committees focused on their positive development. It played a direct role in fostering Medellín’s skateboarding community by providing the framework for youth to actively engage with and transform public spaces. It created a space for young people to interact with the city through skateboarding (Ley 375, 1997, as cited in Zuluaga López & Vélez Maya, 2013).
As skaters turned streets, parks, railways, and other urban areas into platforms for self-expression, they realized the need for more formal spaces. In 2004, a group of skaters brought their request for skate parks to the city council. In collaboration with INDER, the city took action, resulting in the construction of the first skate park at Estadio, near the Atanasio Girardot football stadium, making a significant step for the skate community in Medellín.
Skateboarding in Colombia has developed rapidly, with over a dozen skate parks now spread across the country, creating a space that is both inclusive and welcoming to women. Women’s collectives have been forming, further supporting the growth of female skaters. This progress has paved the way for athletes like Jazmín Álvarez and Jhancarlos González to represent Colombia in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, Jazmín suffered a serious injury that prevented her from competing.
The skateboarding community in Medellín continues to thrive, with events like Go Skateboarding Day highlighting its growing influence. In June, the event drew around 2,000 participants, who made their way through six stops, starting at Skate Park La Piñuela and ending at the iconic Skate Park in Estadio. Along the route, skaters passed through Jardín Botánico, CC Aventura, Museo de Antioquia, and Parque de las Luces, transforming each location into a lively celebration of skate culture. The next major event Diversión en la Loma, will take place on October 5th in Aranjuez, marking its 6th edition. Organized by Corporación Performance, Infierno Skate, and Full Moon Entertainment, the event will feature live music, food, and local vendors.
In Colombia, skateboarding has become a powerful too for reimagining civil engagement, particularly among the youth. It allows skaters to interact with their environment in ways that transcend formal definitions of citizenship, crafting stories of inclusion and resistance. Although these narratives deviate from traditional civic roles, they complement and redefine what it means to participate in society. By turning the streets into a space for dialogue, skateboarding has helped initiate and maintain important discussions on identity, inclusion, and social change.
Citations:
Zuluaga López, L. M., & Vélez Maya, M. M. (2013). Prácticas de resistencia de jóvenes skaters en la ciudad de Medellín(Especialización en Psicología Social Aplicada, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana). Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana.
