If you’ve ever stood and watched the skaters at the iconic Southbank Skate Space, you’ve almost definitely thought to yourself ‘I wish I could do that’. And with skateboarding now an Olympic sport, there’s sure to be plenty of new interest in the activity. But where to get started? Sure, you could roll up to a local skate park and just try (and inevitably slam pretty often) until you figure it out. Or you could head to BaySixty6, a London skate park that’s working to make the extreme sport accessible to anyone who wants to try it.
The team behind BaySixty6 knows that skateboarding can be an intimidating sport to try out. Just like any new endeavour or pursuit, it can be difficult to put yourself out there. And as if the social aspect wasn’t enough, there’s also the fear of falling over and embarrassing yourself. And you will fall over at first – a lot! It’s not an easy sport when you first get started. Fortunately, BaySixty6 is making it much easier for anyone to jump on board.
Inclusive lessons and sessions
To ensure that absolutely anyone can give skateboarding a try, BaySixty6 has a wealth of ways for anyone to enjoy the skate park. These range from term-time after-school sessions to beginner-only lessons, one-to-one instruction, and skate camps throughout the school holidays. The Early Riders Club even allows those as young as 4-6 to learn how to skate! And if you’re worried you’re too old to give it a go, BaySixty6 also runs group skateboard lessons specifically for adult beginners.
To ensure everyone remains safe throughout the sessions, instructors are DBS-checked and have first-aid training. Oh, and they’re pretty good at skating… Obviously…
Image: @baysixty6_skatepark, via Instagram
Outside of the question of talent, ability, and fear of not ‘being good enough’, the social aspect of skateboarding can be a difficult hurdle for some to overcome. And, if we’re being honest, skateboarding still has a very male-dominated energy that can be quite confronting or aggressive for those just looking to try out a new sport.
That’s why BaySixty6 offers more than just lessons for a variety of age groups. They also host skate nights and sessions for overlooked groups in the community. These skateboarding events allow new and experienced skaters to enjoy themselves in a relaxed atmosphere with other people like them.
BaySixty6’s inclusive sessions include:
- Girls Night
- Trans- and queer-friendly girls-only sessions, with group lessons
- every first Friday of the month – 7-10pm
- Old Man Nite
- sessions for those 30 and over, with craft beer and burgers and skate movies playing
- every last Friday of the month – 7-10pm
- Queer + Transkaters Night (Organised by transkaters – London’s first trans+ skate collective)
- sessions for LGBTQIA+ skaters of all abilities
- every second Friday of the month – 7-10pm
- Roller Thursday
- sessions for quad & blade skaters (experienced skaters only)
- last Thursday of each month – 6-10pm
Image: @baysixty6_skatepark, @transkaters, @notaphaseorg, @milo_turns, via Instagram
Skating at BaySixty6
If you want to skate at BaySixty6 you’ll need to become a BaySixty6 member. But fret not, it’s free to join and you’ll gain access to the skate park’s booking and entry, plus they’ll keep you up to date with special events, offers, discounts, and more.
To enjoy the skatepark, you’ll need to purchase a pass to one of the two-hour slots in the daytime sessions or an evening pass, or buy a ticket for one of the special sessions. Passes start at £8, but all-day passes are available for £14, with day and evening passes also available for £18.
Beginners-only sessions run on the weekends, from 10am to 12pm. Otherwise, beginners can also opt for the 4-6pm slot in the day sessions for a safer experience.
Image: @baysixty6_skatepark, via Instagram
If you’re turning up for your first lesson or skateboarding session, you may not have the right equipment. BaySixty6 has you sorted, however, with skateboards and safety gear available to rent for just a few pounds each. And if you fancy buying your own equipment, they’ve got plenty to choose from in their shop.
So, what are you waiting for? Head on over to BaySixty6 and give this thrilling sport a go!