‘Skating sport has a lot of promise’

Different forms of skating sports are rapidly gaining popularity worldwide. It debuted in the Winter Olympics in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, through snowboarding. Around four years ago, skateboarding also made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, Japan. It was aimed to attract a younger audience to the Games. And the sport is trying to find recognition in Nepal as well. Stakeholders argue that skating was once played merely for fun in Nepal, but it has now developed into a sport capable of winning medals internationally. Achut Khanal, President of the Nepal Skating and Skateboarding Association, is determined to see this sport achieve Olympic success in the future. Khanal, who took over the leadership of Nepal’s skateboarding scene last year, is also working toward securing a role within World Skate Asia. He believes that having Nepal’s representation at the international level would benefit the country. He shared further insights into the sports with The Rising Nepal’s Nayak Paudel.

How did this sport make its way into Nepal?

Skateboarding is not a native game for Nepal or Asia. It was founded in California, USA, via surfing, in the 1950s. But it found its way into Nepal in the 1990s. Not until late, a Swiss citizen who lived in Nepal by the name of Arniko ran a skate shop in Kathmandu; he established it in 1998. The sport also reached Pokhara and other major cities across Nepal through tourists. 

A Pokhara Skate Club was registered in the Kaski district during the early 2000s. The Nepal Skating and Skateboarding Association was registered with the National Sports Council in 2015. Today, the association has branches in 45 districts and seven provinces. 

Moreover, the increasing craze for skating in India has attracted more youngsters from Nepal’s Tarai region towards it. 

How professional have the sports become in Nepal?

Skateboarding is currently one of the fastest-growing new sports in Nepal. A group of skateboarders tried systematising the sport in 2011. Later, in 2013, organisations like Yuwa for Change and various private-sector entities began working on its preservation and promotion.

Currently, there are a significant number of athletes in the sport. When we called for registration of skaters, 1,800 skateboarders and 3,500 roller skaters applied. There are 275+ skate parks across the country, with 36 located in Rupandehi district alone.

We categorise players based on their skill levels. At present, three types of skating are practised in Nepal: skateboarding, roller skating, and ice skating. Over the past decade, Nepal has hosted seven national skateboarding championships, with the eighth national championship and third roller-skating championship scheduled for Chaitra (March-April) this year. We plan to take skateboarding and roller skating championships together.

Similarly, we are also producing technical staff for the sports. There are currently 33 individuals in the coaching and technical teams of skateboarding and roller skating in Nepal. We are trying to increase their number. 

Has there been international achievements by Nepali skaters?

Nepal gained membership in the International Skating Federation in 2016 and since then consistently participated in various international competitions, congresses, and forums related to skating.

In 2016, Milan Shah Thakuri won Nepal’s first-ever gold medal in the freestyle skateboard category at the Asian Plate Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2017, Nepal participated in the Asian Skateboarding Championship in China, where Milan and Ronit Deula competed, accompanied by coach Ujjwal Dangol.

Similarly, Nerish Thapa finished 10th in freestyle skateboarding while participating in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

Likewise, Nepal has participated in the last three World Championships and will participate in the upcoming edition in South Korea. 

How is the preparation for the Asian championship?

We will also take athletes in skateboarding and roller skate during the upcoming Asian Games. We have requested the National Sports Council to aid in training. Two male and female athletes each in roller skating and three male and female athletes each in skateboarding will participate in the tournament slated for July 15 to 30. The 10 players will be accompanied by five officials and coaches. Skateboarders will be trained in Butwal while roller skaters in Golfutar.

Is a world-class skatepark under construction in Kathmandu?

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is constructing a world-class skatepark christened after the late rapper Yama Buddha. The structure will expand across five ropanis of land in Bhatkeko Pul, Chabahil. It will have a concrete structure for skating as the replaceable ones are expensive. 

The design for the skatepark was prepared through World Skate, the governing body of global skating. Their office in Switzerland sent two volunteers to inspect the area and collect data for the design which took six months. 

Is the sports affordable for all?

We cannot say skating sports is cheap, but it is not so expensive as well. A normal skateboard set costs Rs. 2,000 while good ones can cost higher. Additional gear, which is essential for safety, will cost around Rs. 2,000. Nepal procures skateboards and other items from China, so it is cheaper than in other parts of the country.

How promising is the sport?

It is a little difficult to convince parents that this sport is safe. This sport is risky, but safe under the proper guidance of experienced coaches and staff. Currently, skating areas are being opened without following standards and keeping well-known staff, and it has caused accidents.  

We are coordinating with schools and colleges to promote skating and we are getting positive results. The sport will flourish once the number of fans increases. But we need to make the sport known to a greater mass, we are working on it. Internationally, skateboarders have been able to create their own identity and are earning handsomely as well.

In another context, international organisations are also looking into developing skating as a mode of transportation.

This is an Olympic sport. What about the association’s membership in the NOC?

We have applied for membership in the Nepal Olympic Committee since 2018. We have sent the applications seven times since then. Yet, we have not been granted a membership. It has also disallowed us to utilise a good amount of budget skating received from the international body. 

We have reached the court against the NOC and its stakeholders to seek justice as the sport is suffering due to the misdeeds of others.

What are the upcoming plans of the association?

Our annual calendar includes provincial and national-level skateboarding seminars. Additionally, district, provincial, and national-level competitions will be held this year.

We are planning to organise the South Asian Skateboarding Championship in Butwal and Pokhara this April. This competition will feature participants from all seven South Asian countries, along with four to five invited nations. We are hosting this event to establish Nepal as a powerhouse of skateboarding in South Asia and to showcase our strength in the sport.