Fun and excitement on a skateboard in Bangkok

Thailand and Bangkok especially are well-known for offering a great variety of attractions for the young ones, where both Thai and foreign parents can take their children for a day’s trip. Thailand-based renowned blogger Richard Barrow has even started a website where he documents and reviews such places. But what do we do with our teenage sons and daughters? They’re too old to tag along with their parents, every week, to this or that tourist attraction.

What safe and healthy options do we have for them? During daytime they wonder aimlessly in fancy shopping malls that are too expensive for most and, at night, many teenagers end up joining motorbike racing gangs or learn the habit of going to night clubs where, sooner or later, they’ll get exposed to alcohol, drugs and sex.

How about introducing them to skateboarding? There are many places where teenagers can skateboard in Bangkok, the most famous ones are at Benjasiri Park next to Emporium, under the Rama 8 Bridge, at The Ramp skate park inside the Esplanade Mall on Ratchada Road, and at the skate park next to Rajamangala Stadium within the Hua Hark Sport Complex. Many skaters meet at these places every day to skate together and have fun.

The costs involved are not that high either. The starting price for a complete skateboard set is around 4500 baht, depending on what quality board or wheels or trucks you get. You can buy these from various malls but we recommend the Preduce stores, a locally run business that specializes in skateboarding products. In Bangkok, they can be found at Siam Square Soi 1 and at Esplanade Mall but there’s also a Preduce store in Chiang Mai, by the Thapae Gate.

Simon Pellaux is a 32-year-old Swiss and member of the ‘Preduce team.’ He has started skateboarding 20 years ago and, these days, he calls Bangkok his second home. He has been involved in the skateboarding “business” in Thailand for the past 10 years. “I’ve just been really lucky to come here and meet Thai skaters that became my close friends and brothers. In 2003 we started Preduce together, worked hard and are now all blessed to be able to live from our passion,” he confessed.

Although it is hard to say exactly, there are at least 5000 skaters in Thailand and, in Simon’s opinion, “even though there are a few events to promote them already, there could be more for sure.” Most of the skaters are in Bangkok, but there is a flourishing scene in Chiang Mai, Korat, and in other cities in Issan.

Speaking about the skateboarding movement in Thailand, Simon agrees that it is quite good with a lot of talented Thai skaters. On top of that, it’s growing a lot. “Skateboarders organized themselves and started their own brand and shops which is great. With Preduce, we started the first Thai skateboard company and we sponsor local pro skaters giving them a job and a future in skateboarding in Thailand. They are now famous internationally.”

But regardless of how much effort Produce puts into promoting Thai skaters, the local administration also needs to chip in. “I think skateboarding still suffers from a bad image in the public opinion in Thailand,” said Simon. “I wish Thai authorities would realize it’s a great pastime for young people. It keeps them busy and healthy and it’s a great way to stay out of trouble. I wish the government and local cities office would support skateboarding more and start funding public skate parks like abroad. Public support for skateboarding is pretty much non-existent in Thailand.”

Those in the skateboarding circles must have heard, for sure, of Patrik Wallner, a 24-year-old German/Hungarian “skate filmmaker and visual traveler” whose mission in life is to skate in as many countries around the world as possible. He started skateboarding right around the beginning of the second millennium, which is now a bit over a decade. Although his whereabouts change from month to month, Patrik first came to Thailand back in 2008. “I was with a friend on a three day layover to Vietnam and instantly became in love with the city,” he remembers.

He didn’t stay but he started visiting Thailand more often while he was making skateboarding films in Asia, and then around 2010 Patrick got a job with Preduce skateshop, to film their next skatevideo called “Chaiyo.” This meant that he got to spend a year living and skating in Bangkok, which was more than enough to meet the local skaters and experience unforgettable times.

Patrick usually skated and filmed with Geng Jakkarin, Tao Kitpullap, Ryan Sripeasatja, Peter Petcharattana and many others Thai skaters. He participated in the events and competitions organized by Preduce, such ‘Go Skate Days’ and ‘Game of S.k.a.t.e’ which were meant to raise awareness among the locals and provide Thai kids and teenagers a safe platform for expressing themselves.

According to Patrick, “the Thai skateboarding scene is growing very fast and Thailand has one of the best skaters of Southeast Asia.” This is true, as Udon-native Geng Jakkarin has competed in South Africa and even won a first place in an event organized in Shanghai.

Skateboarding is a global movement and culture so skateboarders all over the world share the same drive and passion. “Still, skateboarding is more recognized as a sport and as a life style in Switzerland and authorities help build skate parks and fund events,” reflected Simon, comparing skateboarding in Thailand to that in the Western world.

But although Thailand is not a developing country as Burma or Cambodia, it still isn’t anywhere close to China with regards to the ‘skateworld.’ “The Chinese have marble spots everywhere which is what skateboarders are looking for to do their tricks on different obstacles,” recalled world traveler Patrik Wallner.

Skateboarding is for anyone. You don’t need to be good or reckless. Just start rolling around on a skateboard and you’ll be accepted as a skateboarder by your peers. You don’t need to be part of a team, go training, and follow a teacher. Skateboarding can be whatever you want it to be for yourself.  “It teaches you patience and perseverance as it takes a lot of practice and motivation to become good at it. It will bring you friends from all over the world,” said Simon.

If you want to stay updated with the skateboarding events that take place in Thailand, visit the official site of Thai skaters and Thailand’s street culture website.

Watch Thai skaters tuning their skills at Hua Mark skate park:

Initially published in “Bangkok Trader” (November 2012, Vol. 6, No. 12)