Skateboard Palace
EXTREME SPORTING is not yet popular in Jamaica. One would have to go abroad to take part in activities such as skateboarding, snowboarding and even BMX racing. However, the tides are turning and history was made with the opening of the first official multi-branded premium skateboard store in Jamaica. Skateboard Palace is located at shop No. 13, 98 Molynes Road in Kingston.
“We have made history by opening the very first skateboard store in Jamaica, Skateboard Palace Limited, and our goal is to incorporate the sport of skateboarding into all the schools of Jamaica. My goal is to make skateboarding as popular as football in Jamaica,” said store owner and CEO of Skateboard Palace Steve Douglas, who is also president of the Jamaica Skateboarding Federation. It is Douglas’ passion for skateboarding which led him to establish a store in Jamaica. “I started selling skateboards out of my car. My first premium dealership came from Flip, who partnered with me to bring skateboarding to Jamaica four years ago,” he said. Other brands such as Santa Cruz, Creature, NHS, Adidas and several others also came on board. With the help from executive member Camille Pandohie-Douglas, CFO of Skateboard Palace, the company became a reality. Skateboard Palace is an authorized dealer of the premium skateboard brands and also supplies safety gear and trendy fashion for the skateboarding lifestyle. “We have also established a progressive skateboard lessons programme at the Kingston YMCA , which has become very popular, and we will be building the first skateboard park at the Kingston YMCA,” explained Douglas. “The youth in Jamaica love the sport of skateboarding and have a strong passion to commit to the sport and compete locally and internationally. As we both know, in every sport, we as Jamaicans tend to rise above the others, once given the opportunity,” said Douglas. Skateboard Palace also aims to make skateboarding available as an extra-curricular activity in all the schools of Jamaica. With the sport being approved for the 2020 Olympics, Skateboard Palace believes Jamaica has untapped talent among its youth. With the right resources and exposure to sponsorship, the company also aims to create Jamaica’s first Olympic skateboarding team.
The members, and parents of members, are very pleased with the availability of skateboarding lessons, which allow them to be active and enjoy the fun of skateboarding.
Skateboard Palace Limited has customers from all over the world who have visited the store and declared that it is one of the best skateboarding stores in the world. “Our customers who visited are from Sweden, UK, Brazil, Germany, Venezuela, USA, Japan, Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad, Barbados, St Kitts, France, Switzerland, Cuba, Mexico, Norway,” said Douglas.
Member Catharine Brown, 17, started skating six months ago and has fallen in love with the sport. “Whenever I feel stressed out, I will just go on my board and cruise and feel the wind around me,” she said. Alex Seklof, 22, who is also a member, found Skateboard Palace on Facebook.
“Skateboarding really pushes out every bit of determination that you have, because it really is about discipline. It encourages you to never give up. This sport is also a real workout. I lost a lot of weight from skateboarding,” said Seklof. Other notable members include Alex Marley, who is both an instructor and a very loyal member of Skateboard Palace.
The 15-member Jamaican skateboard team, Shreddaz, was invited to compete in Barbados at the eighth annual One Movement Skateboarding Contest. The team will be competing against teams from Barbados, Trinidad, St Thomas and St Kitts. Shreddaz will also be hosting a skateboard demonstration along with the BMX riders from Jamaica on July 1, International Reggae Day, at the Palisadoes Raceway. For information on lessons and purchasing a skateboard, call 1-876-634-5207 or email Skateboard. Palace@gmail.com. Check out its social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @skateboardpalace.