Skateboarder hopes to tackle stigma around sport

A skateboarding coach said he hoped a two-day festival would help break down any stigma around the sport being "rough".

The Two-Toed Skateboards event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday at Woodbridge Skatepark, Suffolk, included skateboarding lessons, live music and skating competitions.

The money raised throughout the weekend went towards Skatepark Respect and the Ben Raemers Foundation, a charity that ensures the skateboarding community has the resources to help people struggling with their mental health.

Lewis Anderson, the founder of Two-Toed Skateboards, said: "I wanted to bring everyone together and show skating is more than just people on a skateboard."

Mr Anderson founded Two-Toed Skateboards in 2017, after he qualified as a professional skateboarding coach.

He said each year he tries to make the event bigger and better.

"I wanted to bring everyone together and show skating is more than just people on a skateboard. It is rooted in the culture of art, in skateboard design, in graffiti, in music, in skate culture - so a skate festival just makes sense to me.

"I want to break down that stigma that skateboarding has... we're not rough, we are a community."

Joe Bourne attended the event, which was held in collaboration with Woodbridge Town Council, and has been skateboarding since he was 13.

He said: "It's the one thing that keeps me pushing really... it kept me out of a lot of trouble. It kept me sane at times, as my little escape from reality."

He hoped the Woodbridge skate scene could be kept alive by the younger generation.

"It's nice that it's still here. It used to be a bit bigger so it's a shame that it's dying out. It's good to see a lot of younger generations picking it up," he said.

When attendees were asked what improvements could be made to the skatepark, their answers included more skating events, a graffiti wall and repairs.

Mr Anderson hopes with repairs and improvements, the skatepark will become a place where skaters can "feel a sense of ownership".

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