You can't deny the impact of the latest skateboarding craze that has taken the country by storm in recent months. Once a favourite of extreme sports-type in the 80s and 90s, today skateboarding has a new hype, and is certainly more mainstream. You can see them everywhere, from a local park to the streets, and on all social media news feeds.
At first glance, they may seem to look like typical skateboards that we've seen before with a flat wooden deck and four wheels, but if you look closer you'll realise that this new craze is actually a new breed of skateboarding called surfskate. Part of the reason surfskating became so popular was due to the pandemic, as it skyrocketed the moment we went into a soft lockdown last year.
"I was introduced to surfskate not so long after the first wave of coronavirus hit Bangkok. I tried it and fell in love with it right away," said Nopphon Cheng, 31, sound engineer and X sports enthusiast on how he had moved from wakeboarding to surfskating last year.
Skate couple Sathapat Teeranitayapap and Varattha. (Photo: Nuttaporn Sodabunlu)
"At the time, all watersports complexes were temporarily closed due to social distancing measures. Like many others, I was looking for some new activities that would allow me to enjoy playing by myself and stay distanced from others. This works just right for me."
What is a surfskateboard?
Surfskate is a variation of traditional skateboarding, originally designed to mimic the feel of surfing the street. What sets surfskates apart from street skateboards and longboards is the special surfskate truck system that enables riders to mimic the movements and the feel of real surfboards. The trucks and adapters of surfskates use a variety of springs combined with bearings to achieve that pivoting effect. They allow the front truck to swivel from side to side, which gives riders an increased range of motion similar to how a surfboard functions on a wave. The backtrack acts like fins, gripping the pavement, whereas the front is more free flowing, which allows riders to perform different manoeuvres, also called "pumping" and "carving".
While surfskating has caught on in Thailand recently, the scene has been around for over two decades. Some of the pioneers include North American brand Carver Skateboards, which launched the first prototype of surf skateboard in Venice, California, in 1996. Surfskating is also very popular in the world-class surfing destinations of Spain and Portugal, with the Spanish brand YOW one of the leaders in the surfskate industry.
Nopphon Cheng.
Appeal for all kinds of riders
With its slightly wider shapes and mostly bulkier size than normal street skateboards, a surfskate provides more stability when entering and exiting a turn. Unlike the primary purpose of a skateboard to perform complex tricks, surfskates mostly use deep bodyweight shifts that transfer energy and speed into the board without ever needing to push your foot on the ground or ride downhill. Since it is less complicated to learn and enjoy, surfskating quickly became a very appealing sport to all kinds of riders. A wide range of people have taken up the sport -- couples skateboarding together, parents with their young children, and older, former skaters who are now re-engaging with surfskating.
"I tried street skateboarding as a teen. I found that the period of being a 'beginner' for skateboarding as rather short. Once you've learned how to balance and are able to ride along on a board, the rest of the practice is all difficult. As you'll have to learn all those tricks like ollie, kick-flip or grinding down a set of stairs, they certainly aren't easy," said Sathapat "Tum" Teeranitayapap, a music producer and member of indie pop group Monotone.
"But with surfskate, you can experience the enjoyment right from the start. And you can continue being a beginner for a long period of time, practicing the same moves over and over for months without getting bored. It's very addictive, honestly. There are some days when for whatever reason, I just feel like I'd rather grab my surfskate and go hit the skate park again whenever I have free time."
Yet surfskating requires safety and protective equipment just like other extreme activities. Lessons can be learned from recent accidents, such as where one man fell in a Bangkok parking lot without any protective gear. The accident broke his kneecap which cost over 360,000 baht in medical treatment and a three-to-six month recovery period.
The new trend ain't cheap
Much like the cycling trend, which has seen huge growth in popularity too, some turned to online ordering from abroad and have had to wait up to several months for the store to stock certain boards. Many brands are in short supply.
"The market price for both new and used surfskates in Thailand at the moment is ridiculously overpriced," said Cat Radio DJ Varattha "PleNoi" Phongthananikorn who started surfskating this year. "A complete board sold on a brand website may cost 12,000 baht, but now due to the very high demand, some local sellers would jack up the price to 40,000 to 50,000 baht. Despite that, many people are still willing to spend money. Hopefully, the market price should readjust once Bangkok hits the rainy season as most venues are outdoor and there's no place for people to skate."
There were rumours about a price manipulation problem. Recently, the popular surfskate brand Smoothstar from Australia announced on their website about the suspension of online sales to Thailand after finding out black market selling of their product in the country.
Just a fad or it's here to stay?
While one can argue that surfskate is another fad, its rapid spread this year hasn't slowed, and given the growing number of events and many cool new skate parks, they might want to think again.
"I think any activity that becomes very popular for some time would eventually have a downtrend at one point," said Sathapat. "However, you can't overlook how much fun it is, in its own right. And the skateboarding community is growing every day. I think it's one of the best activities and the skateparks are where you can hangout with your friends, or meet new players to discuss and exchange knowledge. It's easy enough to carry the board around or simply just put it in the trunk of your car, and you're ready to go play anywhere. So one benefit is that I can definitely imagine myself doing this for years."
Skateboarding destinations are spread across the city, from well-known public spaces such as Sanam Luang and Wachira Benchathat Park (Railway Park) to proper skate parks like Sky Park BKK on the 10th floor of Fortune Town, and Megabangna Surf Skate Play Area.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SURFSKATE
Surfskates come in a variety of sizes and styles, with each offering a different feel. You pick the right size board for you depending on your physical build and condition. Surfskates are less stable and harder to handle than street skateboards and longboards. An important factor is the size of the deck and brand to buy based on your budget, riding style and the experience you're looking for. Here are the four top surfskate brands in the market.
SwellTech (Australia)
Despite SwellTech being one of the most popular surfskate brands out there, they are by far the most sensitive and hard to control on the market. It's for the very best riders and advanced surf training only.
Smoothstar (Australia)
The perfect surfskate for most beginners. Often compared to luxury car brands like Mercedes and BMW, Smoothstar is said to be the best, smoothest, most luxurious feeling surfskate on the market. Aside from SwellTech, its boards have the widest range of motion.
YOW Surf Skateboards (Spain)
YOW started four years ago in Spain, and they have an adapter for converting your skateboard/longboard into a surfskate, which is gaining traction in Europe. With its strikingly beautiful designs and great stability, YOW is a popular choice among female skaters.
Carver (America)
Though Carver was one of the first surfskates in the US and in the industry in general, many would classify it more of a cruiser board. It's like a crossbreed between a surfskate and a cruiser, but you can still do pretty aggressive turns on it. Carver isn't the easiest surfskate to use and it may take a few days of practice to get the hang of it. The payoff will be worth it.
