Get on board!
When skateboarding was chosen to make its debut as an Olympic sport for Tokyo 2020, there were a few raised eyebrows. But, says one of those hoping to represent Team GB this summer, it very much deserves its place. Alex Hallford, 27, compares the sport to gymnastics. “It’s physically demanding and very creative,” he says. And he hopes that the global platform will help it finally shed its grungy image and inspire youngsters. “The thought of being an Olympian and standing on the podium would be a big honour,” he adds. “It’s exciting when the Olympics come around, and seeing these athletes push their bodies to the limit. The thought of performing alongside them is a little bit crazy. “But I always thought that skateboarding could be an Olympic sport one day.” Skating since the age of eight, Alex has gone on to establish himself as one of the UK’s leading skate stars, and last year he was among five people chosen by governing body Skateboard GB to attend international Olympic qualifying events. Alex also co-manages a local skateboarding shop, and volunteers for the National Lottery-backed project Skate Nottingham, which aims to raise the profile of skateboarding in the city, and helps people learn to skate. It’s been awarded just under £20,000 of National Lottery funding to help train coaches and fund free lessons at local parks. It is one of thousands of good causes across the UK being supported by National Lottery players, who raise around £30million each week. “It’s been a hugely positive thing,” says Alex. “I’ve met kids who could have gone a very different way had they not found skateboarding. “It’s a street sport and it has a rough reputation. But the world is becoming more open-minded and the skate scene is lovely in Nottingham now. “We are very grateful for the help from The National Lottery and the players. It’s made our community stronger.” And Alex says the charity has seen a huge rise in girls of all ages taking up the sport because of their work. Currently, 43 percent of skateboarders in Nottingham are female, compared with just 15 percent nationally. “Skateboarding has traditionally been a male sport,” he says. “You have to be willing to take some knocks. But there are so many female skaters cropping up, which is fantastic. “And now that it’s an Olympic sport, it will be more accepted.”
I’ve met kids who could have gone a very different way but for skateboarding Alex HALlford, SKATEBOARDER