Skateboarding or skateboarding (skate in its abbreviated term) is a sport that consists of sliding on a skateboard and at the same time being able to perform various tricks, a large part of them raising the board of the floor, making figures and pirouettes with it in the air. The important thing is that it is a sport motivated by self-discipline, where there is basically no competition, but self-improvement. This is a very different philosophy from the rest of sports where you win when you take down or defeat the adversary.
For this, a flat and folded wooden board is used, which has two axles and four wheels, with two bearings on each of its four wheels.
As for the place it is preferably practiced on a flat surface, in any place where it can be rolled, either on the street or in the skate parks. However, there is a category of skateboarders who skate on ramps.
As we mentioned, the equipment consists of a table that is made in different shapes, sizes and materials, although the most common are those of Canadian maple, or treated oak, being resistant but light. There are also maple wood and to a lesser extent those of guatambú and maple (hard maple), aluminum and fiberglass.
The back of the table is called tail, and the front part is called a nose. One aspect to take into account are the measures, especially the width of the table, depending on the type of style to practice. It also varies the shapes on the tips, the tail and the edges. Depending on the characteristics of the table will be the stability, maneuverability and agility with which it can be controlled.
The board has a sandpaper that serves to grip well, a base that joins the board with the axes. The latter hold the wheels; They can be of different sizes and materials, although the most common lately are titanium.
in the axes with the table, they are generally made of titanium and of the same color as the axes.
The equipment also consists of elevators, bearings and four wheels made of a material called urethane.
Depending on the type of skateboard and terrain, different types of styles can be distinguished, among which we find:
-Freestyle, considered the oldest skate style. It emphasizes skateboarding or technical tricks on flat ground that make choreographies to the rhythm of the music.
-Slalom, style based on following a tour of cones, and passing the route without touching them.
-Downhill (downhill), by means of which sections in descent are made at high speeds that usually reach 125 km / h. Of course, because of the risk involved, it is necessary to use protection that helps cushion any fall
-Vertical in which it is sought to mount the skate on vertical walls or inclined ramps in which different stunts are performed.
-De street (street skateboard), focuses more on the transitions and tricks that are carried out in public places such as plazas, industrial areas and urban streets. Also by park benches, handrails, railings, stairs, buckets, planters, etc.
-De Park, is the skate style in which they are made in parks designed specifically for this sport. Its facilities are suitable for stunts and tricks easily. The parks also have obstacles such as rails and stairs.
-In pool (pool skateboard), as the name implies, it is about skateboarding in a pool or spherical surfaces.
-City (Cruising Skateboard) is the use of skateboard as a means of transport.
As far as Mendoza is concerned, skateboarding began to be seen in 1988, when the places to practice were only limited to Sarmiento Square and Chile Square. This was because near them was the first store specialized in the sale of equipment. Getting special equipment was very complicated at the time, since the offer was very limited. Later came a second store that closed shortly after, causing an impasse in the sport because of the inability to find stores that offer equipment. As for the people of Mendoza, the only alternative was to travel or get someone to sell you what they had achieved outside the province.
In the mid-1990s, recognized national and international brands arrived in the province that, together with other small stores, gave a new boost to the activity. We can say then that the arrival of this sport in the province was largely due to the influence of skate shop owners.
Thus it was that many skaters emerged in different parts of the provinces that were nucleated in the mythical Plaza San Martín. It was no accident, its design seemed developed by a skater; since it consisted of stairs of all sizes to perform the most varied tricks, railings and some edges to slide. Another great point in favor is its location in the center, which made it easy to meet all the Mendoza skaters. San Martin Square became the emblem of local skate, officiated as a sort of “giant Skatepark”, became known both throughout the country, and even internationally. However, due to its recent remodeling, skating there is strictly prohibited today.
When the 2001 crisis arrived in the country, acquiring new products became almost impossible, which gave rise to the beloved “Guatamba”, national wooden boards of Guatambú, heavier than imported tables but much more economically accessible.
In 2002, the SMT team was born, a group of professionals that became known in different national media, and as a result attracted many skaters from different parts of the country and the world. With the arrival of brokers of important teams of foreign brands, Mendoza became news in international specialized media. Since then it is known as the Barcelona of South America (Barcelona is the most important city in the world in quantity and quality skaters and practice sites) for the amount of incredible places that are to skate, at the same time and ironically It was one of the few provinces in the country without Skatepark (skate park).
Arrived in 2010, with the support of AASK (Argentine Skate Association), the first skatepark in Mendoza and Cuyo, located in the San Vicente de Godoy Cruz Park, begins to be managed. However, in the middle of the road, its construction had to be stopped due to lack of budget. Later, during 2018, the entire work was completed, with bathrooms and good lighting, thus achieving a pleasant place that allowed us to put aside the prejudices that were running around this discipline. As for the design, the skatepark is mostly connected with transitions and elevations that respect the speed and potential energy necessary to achieve the fluidity of the maneuvers in the different obstacles. It is based on a plan donated by Peter Henningsen Viale, figure and eminence recognized in South America in creation of tracks. Based on these plans, design modifications were made by skaters from Mendoza called by the municipality. Then, these technical documents under the coordination of the municipality were made by interns of the Mendoza Architecture School, molding the track in 2 and 3 dimensions. Subsequently, the resulting plans were sent to Buenos Aires for adjustment, modifications and approval. definitive by the headquarters of the AASK. What was done on this occasion was to add a return to the half bowl sector built in 2011, in addition to a skate plaza in the East. It was improved in fluidity and in total surface which makes it much more fun. Currently, lovers of this sport are waiting for the construction of the second and third part of the skatepark.
But this is not the only important skatepark, since in the department of Rivadavia there is another importance park created by the head of tourism and Social Sports of the municipality and is currently managed and controlled by a skateboard subcommission that depends on the Rivadavia sports center. Martín Pibotto was responsible for the skatepark design that, due to budgetary reasons, was built by the municipality’s own workforce, which forced them to carry out a project of obstacles that were easy to understand and build, without too many complications. It also contemplates a Bowl that is still to be built.
For its part, the municipality of General Alvear, Mendoza, also understood the need to provide space for Skate and Bmx practitioners and built a specially prepared track for these disciplines. Located 50 meters from the terminal, the track has a Mini-Ramp, which can be connected to a quarter (circle room) in front of it, a Funbox that has some Street modules such as a staircase with handrail, and an edge Ideal for beginners in the center of the track. It also has some plans to perform more technical tricks.
The creation of multiple spaces for the practice of the same and the diffusion in the media has generated a great growth that estimates that in the province there are more than 1000 young people than practicing the sport.
As for the events, the province does not yet have an official calendar, however due to the existence of many skateparks, there are many meetings held in the province throughout the year. For more info you can contact the Association through its Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aaskmza
