I’m sitting here in the cold at the skate-aid hostel near Butwal, Nepal, drinking my morning Coffee in the January fog. The morning wakes up, roosters crow, the air is chilled, people are slowing stirring. It’s been nearly 3 months as a skate-id international volunteer and, reflecting on my time here, I feel so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and have been having so much fun. The kids and community here make me smile every day.
We spend our days drinking chiya (Nepali spiced milk tea), eating dal baht (lentils and rice) and skating. Monday through Saturday we run skateboarding workshops from 4pm to dark at the Dhunga skate-aid Skatepark. Before our sessions we fill our time with street skating missions, adventures, workshop planning and the chill vibes of just hanging at the skate-aid hostel.
This was my first trip to Nepal and the only thing I pretty much knew that it’s home to the Himalayan Mountain range and the tallest mountain in the world. It came to quite a surprise to learn that I would be only at around 280m altitude in Butwal. We are in the flatlands, where, if you head north, the foothills gradually rise to the great heights of Annapurna. If you head south, you venture into India and the watershed of the Ganges.
The skate park is within sight of the skate-aid hostel in the rural outskirts of Butwal in Tiltomatta. Butwal is a small city of about 200,000 people, but out here in Tiltomatta, life is slow. The daily goat herds pass by, cows roam the streets, farmers are tending their fields and fishermen are trying their luck in the river. There is plenty of time to collect your thoughts, read, write, draw, daydream or work on any hobby/project you’ve been putting off. Small excursions get planned with the local skate homies and you might find yourself street skating near the birthplace of Buddha, overnighting at a homestay in the mountains or simply going out for delicious chiya.
In the afternoon we head down to the skate park and are greeted by kids eager to skate, with a polite “Namaste” and with their hands placed together, palm to palm. The kids are then encouraged to take care of their park by picking up any litter and sweeping the fallen leaves and gravel off the skate park. Then we do some warmups and stretching, which is either led by a skate coach, or if you really want to make a kid’s day, you let them lead. Once warmups are complete, we distribute safety gear and skateboards and hit the park. The kids amaze me every day with their enthusiasm and raw talent. They progress quickly and are eager to learn more. Not only are their skateboarding technical skills evolving, but they are also growing up in a positive, safe and fun learning environment.
I was fortunate enough to bring over 10 brand new skateboard decks and a bunch of trucks, wheels, bearings, grip, hardware etc. thanks to the good people at 35th Avenue Skate Shop, Authentic Skateboards, and The Method Skateboards and Coffee.
As a departing gift I gave 2 complete skateboards to 2 students who definitely earned them. They showed up early every day full of enthusiasm. The 2 were especially polite, helpful with cleanups, driven, and very much in love with skateboarding. These 2 kids earned and deserved their very own first skateboard. They were so hyped! I can’t wait to watch how they develop with their skateboarding.
Additionally, I brought over art supplies for the kids and we had some really fun art sessions at the skate park. The intention is to leave the supplies for the library that is planned to be built adjacent to the skate park. It was so fun to see what the kids came up with and how joyful it was for them. Hopefully it gives some kids something enjoyable to do and sparks some creativity that goes so well with skateboarding.
During my first week as a volunteer, one local boy showed up and was interested in learning to skate. He was very shy and timid at first. Keeping to himself with a look of seriousness and curious expression. After a couple weeks of skating with us, he was ripping through the park, learning ollies, kick turns and how to flow with the freedom of a skateboard. He was smiling, standing up straighter, chatting and interacting with the other skaters. Completely transformed. There was a sparkle in his eye and a grin on his face as he joyfully raced around the skate park with his skate crew.
Skateboarding can be dangerous, and unfortunately accidents can and do happen. A young boy ended up breaking his arm at the skate park. My years of first responder skills and experience kicked in and I provided patient care. His arm was obviously disfigured and he was in a lot of pain. I made a makeshift splint out of his elbow pad and we transported him to the hospital. X-rays revealed both his Radius and Ulna were snapped cleanly through and resting at an angle which would require surgery. The operation would have to wait until 3 days for the surgeon to show up. The boy was released over a week later after a successful surgery, during which time we visited him and brought treats, drinks, skate-aid literature, art and stickers. It will take at least a couple of months of recovery, but I truly hope he returns to the skate park. I have a strong suspicion he will.
That’s one of the many things that skateboarding teaches you. You have to get back up. You’ll fall, it’s just a part of it but it’s up to you to get back up and keep going. When it all comes together, landing a trick is something special. That moment might be fleeting but it’ll burn-in into your brain forever. The euphoria is real with skateboarding, it just takes some pain along the way which makes it oh so much sweeter when it works.
One of the best parts about teaching someone to skate is to watch them pick it up and teach someone else. It’s amazing how impactful one connection can be and how it can multiply. The next person passing along the skills and opportunity they were afforded to the next. It’s incredibly beautiful to watch the really young kids show each other how to stand on the skateboard and push. That’s all it is, pushing and standing on a skateboard, it’s so simple yet so fulfilling. “It’s like flying” is something I’ve heard kids say when I ask what it feels like to skate.
The power of skateboarding is something magical. An opportunity to taste a freedom that feels like flying, with endless opportunities for expression and boundless opportunities for new experiences. Whether you find it on your driveway or halfway around the world, it’s a lifestyle, sense of community and feeling that you only know if you skate. Let’s all do our part to help others find that feeling by sharing our stoke with the next generation.
Thank you skate-aid for this awesome opportunity and for enriching kids’ lives through skateboarding. Thank you 35th Ave Skateshop, Authentic Skateboards, and The Method for the support and making some kids’ dreams come true. Thank you to the skate-aid Nepal Crew (Jagrit, Nischal, Atit, Amrit and homies) for making me feel so welcomed. Your generosity and friendship made my stay in Nepal such a remarkable experience.
Jonathan Jarodsky aka JJ Uncle
1/2025
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