Olympians give youth tips on skateboarding

Olympian Lizzie Armanto shares her passion for skateboarding. Also seen (second from right) is Carl Harris, president of Whydah Group Sports Managment. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport reporter

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SKATEBOARDING was introduced to young Bahamians on Grand Bahama at the first Skateboard Jamboree, which took place on Saturday in Freeport in Goombayland.

Carl Harris, President of Whydah Group Sports Management, invited professional international skateboarders to the event, where more than 80 young people received free skateboards.

Olympic and world skateboarding champions Axel Cruysbreghs, Lizzie Armanto and Beatrice Domond taught the children and shared their passion for the sport.

Skateboarding originated in the United States and is an action sport with tricks. It is associated with recreational activity and even art.

It made its debut at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Mr Harris, who lives in Freeport with his wife, said he thought skateboarding would be an ideal option due to the lack of activities for young people.

“Now that we’ve lived here for a few years, my wife and I live in Freeport, we noticed there aren’t enough after-school activities for kids,” he said.

“With skateboarding, you don’t have to be part of an organized group. It’s something you can do on your own and there are positive benefits to skateboarding.”

More than 100 children registered for the Jamboree from 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturday. A cocktail reception was also held at Mr. Harris’s home on Friday.

Olympians Axel Cruybreghs and Lizzie Armanto were excited about the opportunity to attend the first event in the Bahamas.

He said that Mr. Harris, their manager, had asked them to come to Freeport and help introduce and teach skateboarding to children.

He hopes that children will be inspired.

“If all these kids can skateboard and feel the way I feel on a skateboard, that would be awesome,” he said.

“I’m really excited to be here in Freeport,” Lizzie Armanto said. “It’s so beautiful and the kids are so excited and excited to be out there on the field.”

Ms Armanto said she felt honoured to be among the athletes representing skateboarding at the Olympic Games.

“It was really amazing, but I also think skateboarding is so much more than the Olympics. There’s a whole other industry outside of the Olympics – a culture,” she added.

Ms Armanto said skateboarding is one of the easiest activities people can participate in.

“All you need is a board and a nice place to skateboard. It’s fun and you can be part of a global skateboarding community,” she said.

Beatrice Domond started skateboarding at a young age and hopes to inspire other black girls.

“I don’t think there’s a lot of representation for black girls in skateboarding, and I think it’s nice to show the kids that someone like me is doing something that’s different, and maybe it inspires them to do the same,” she said.