University students recently founded a new RSO, Skateboarding Illini, to help combat the issues facing the skateboarding community on campus.
Skateboarding is highly restricted, making it difficult for skaters to form an on-campus community. At the University, the “Use of In-Line Skates, Roller Skates, Skateboards, e-Scooters, and Self-Balancing Personal Transportation Devices inside University Facilities is prohibited,” per University policy.
By operating a skateboard or other transportation devices, individuals must adhere to rules that align with traffic laws. Otherwise, they may receive a referral to a University disciplinary system. In more severe cases, there may even be a citation under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a criminal prosecution.
These policies and rules have made it increasingly difficult for students passionate about skateboarding to find an opportunity to skate. In Spring 2024, a group of students worked together to create a solution to this issue.
The Skateboarding Illini is a community unified by their love of skateboarding. Their prerogative extends from their passion for supporting others by promoting physical and mental health.
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“It’s only been a semester, not even, but I think it does adhere to a sense of belonging,” said Mateo Campoverde-Fordon, the club’s president and graduate student studying computer science. “You have a group of people that you can consistently rely on, and none of us are in the same grade, major, nothing — it’s a big hodgepodge of people. I think the fact that we can all come together for a shared passion regardless of our backgrounds is quite nice.”
The club hosts weekly skates at Spalding Park, a local skate park in Champaign. Club members want to get different groups together to skate and urge those without skating experience to put themselves out there and give it their best shot.
“We frequently sit and hang out with the people who are in the early stages of skating,” said Thomas Rademaker, sophomore in LAS and the club’s Community Leader. “They’ll normally have a trick that they want to learn, and they’ll ask us for advice.”
Skateboarding is not a hobby that can be picked up or mastered on one’s first attempt. There is much trial and error in recognizing what board suits a skater and a willingness to fail.
“A big part of this is people being willing to be vulnerable with us and being honest saying something like, ‘I’m very new to this, and I’d like to learn more,’” Rademaker said. “We are absolutely open arms to anyone that is looking to start.”
Regardless of the experience someone may have, it is inevitable that, at one point or another, one will fall. The club members continuously reiterated the importance of being comfortable and vulnerable to embrace these falls and learn from them.
Through helping someone learn a new trick or showing another member a trick they’ve never seen before, the Skateboarding Illini always aim to challenge one another.
However, an important component of the club is safety. Members encourage skaters to know their abilities and not to attempt anything too complex before they are ready.
“There is a concern where safety could become a big issue, but luckily, we haven’t seen anyone seriously injure themselves,” Rademaker said.
Since University policy does not allow skateboarding on campus, they must adhere to the rules, especially involving safety precautions. The club aims to advocate for the best interest of the skateboarding community by maintaining their club as a registered RSO, and following rules is the best way to ensure their status with the University.
“We want to create a long-term solution to problems surrounding skateboarding on campus,” said Jackson Friedman, club member and junior in Engineering. “There have always been skateboarders, they’ve always been around, but I feel like here at least is a place where people can come together and have this idea that we’re united.”
Aside from skating, the club recently hosted its first fundraising event on Oct. 25. The event aimed to aid club members in finding a solution regarding the expenses of skateboarding equipment.
The event, “DIY Graffiti Decks,” hosted three local graffiti artists, sold fresh decks to paint at a reduced cost of $30 and had art supplies for other customization needs.
“People came and spray painted and were just able to do their own designs on their boards, and a big part of that too was getting cheap equipment out to people,” Rademaker said. “We ordered quality decks, but we were able to get them at factory price, which really helps people who are trying to get into skateboarding because it’s such an expensive endeavor.”
The club’s executive board members hope to do more events similar to this one, as they meet weekly to discuss and plan future events.
Even though the club has only begun this semester, club members are optimistic about the future. With 181 current members, they hope to continue to expand their membership.
“We communicate the most through our Instagram, like social media,” Campoverde-Fordon said. “There is a lot of word of mouth involved because when we see someone that skates, we are like, ‘Hey, you would enjoy this RSO.’”
The club aspires to promote inclusivity and encouragement to try something new. They strive to create an environment where people can make mistakes and learn at their own pace, fostering a culture of support and positive reinforcement.
“It’s an important thing to be able to take a break from your day,” Friedman said. “I feel like the physical activity of it really helps recuperate your health after sitting and doing work all day.”
