Skating might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about improving their mental wellbeing, but for Jay Blair, 20, that’s a big part of the appeal.
“Sometimes going for a skate is less about the actual skating, and more about just clearing my head and relaxing. I find more and more people like me are using it to boost their mental health.”
And with youth mental health in decline, social activities like skate that take place outdoors have a lot to offer. Jivan Kumar, 21, says that apart from the obvious benefits of being physically active, skate is also about getting together with friends and finding a community.
“Skate for me is a way to connect with mates, it’s a creative medium and a way to make art together in various forms, and it gives purpose to my daily life. I’ve never met a community more accepting of me.”
For Jay, the welcoming vibe of the Pōneke skate community means finding someone to skate with is as easy as hitting up the group chat.
“I don't know everyone in my skate group chat very well, but thanks to that group, I can always skate in the city and just meet up with new friends.”
And while Jivan and Jay both love skateparks, they want to see more options for skating of all kinds, all over Pōneke. For Jivan, it’s all about having options, and not just being confined to one small section of the city.