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Free skateboarding sessions are taking place in Aberbargoed and Bargoed over the next few weeks.
There are four sessions available for children between the ages of seven and 12 in Bargoed Skate Park and Aberbargoed Skate Park on March 25 and April 8 – with two sessions having already taken place.
Bargoed Town council has sponsored the community skateboarding sessions in partnership with Sport Caerphilly and children from Bargoed, Aberbargoed and Gilfach can attend for free.
The sessions are run by Sam Horler, 30, founder of Skateboard Academy UK.
Sam, who is a Bargoed resident himself, spoke to Caerphilly Observer about the sessions.
“I love skateboarding, but it’s also just about the people, it’s about kids feeling like they can achieve stuff,” said Sam. “It’s like a little mini-lesson that can be applied to life.”
Learning how to skateboard is difficult and requires perseverance and resilience. This can help children to develop a positive attitude to challenges in life, according to Sam.
“It’s like a healthy attitude to risk,” he added.
Children with any level of skill can come along as Sam makes sure to tailor it to an individual’s needs and break it down into parts. They’ll start by learning movement, two-handed-support, one-handed support and only then move onto a small version of a ramp.
Sam started Skateboard Academy UK back in 2020, after running an impromptu skateboarding session the previous year with Fusion Extreme – which went so well it sparked the idea of Skateboard Academy UK.
“I was like, oh my God, it makes sense,” said Sam. “The valleys need stuff like this.”
The sessions encourage community engagement and provide alternative opportunities for children to keep busy.
“I knew that it would work,” said Sam.
And it has. A love of skateboarding, having worked in children’s services as well as an understanding that not everyone likes mainstream sports, has been a ticket for success.
“Personally, I was never into rugby, football,” said Sam, adding that children need other options. “They need an alternative, don’t they?”
Sam is now “flat out” and has a freelance employee, Kev.
In fact, in some areas, Sam has created a network of skateboarders and parents.
“We’ve made a community basically, which is really nice,” said Sam. “We’ve got all these kids that I call ‘The Blackwood skater crew.’”
Now, even when Sam isn’t teaching them, the group gets together to skate, or just spend time together.
It’s brought the parents together too, who hang out when their children skate.
“They’re really good at it and they love it,” said Sam.
Skateboarding sessions across the borough
Sam works generally across south Wales and runs sessions across Caerphilly County Borough.
Caerphilly Sport, which is the council’s sports arm, has been working with Sam on a number of projects.
A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Sport Caerphilly Team have been working with Sam of Skateboard Academy to provide skateboarding sessions in the community and in secondary schools.
“Specifically, through our Positive Futures outreach sessions which aims to tackle antisocial behaviour, encourages young people to look after and take pride in their community environment and improving or learning skateboarding skills.
“Skateboard Academy also occasionally attend our Community Council Summer Sports Camps during half terms and other school holidays to allow children and young people to try a new sport.”
There are also school sessions, which come about by the school liaising with Sam directly.
One of those schools is Heolddu Comprehensive School in Bargoed.
Heolddu headteacher Nerys Davies said: “The skateboard academy first worked with us last academic year on a project with the Learning Pathways Centre.
“The sessions were so well received by pupils, the school now pays for a weekly after-school skateboarding club, led by skateboarding academy staff, as part of our extra-curricular programme.
“The sessions run for an hour after school every Monday and our pupils love participating, learning new skills and developing confidence in their own abilities.”
There are, Sam says, a lot of free opportunities for people who want to get involved – from summer sessions to Friday sessions that rotate each week.
Families who want to access lessons can take a look at the Skateboard Academy UK website and access the booking form or sign up for the newsletter – anyone is welcome.
“It’s beyond skateboarding and it doesn’t matter how good you are,” said Sam. “It’s about friends and community as well.”
Free skateboarding sessions in Bargoed will run at Park Drive, Bargoed Skate Park on March 25 and April 8 at 10am to 12pm.
Free sessions in Aberbargoed are located at Yes Steet Aberbargoed, on March 25 and April 8 at 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
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