Dozens of people gathered behind D.C.’s Howard Theater on Tuesday afternoon, skating on a ramp, on obstacles or through nearby alleys.
As part of a two-day block party organized by the group USA Skateboarding, rookies participated in clinics while more experienced skateboarders had the chance to be a part of competitions.
Tuesday’s events started with a viewing party for the Paris Olympics which mark the second time skateboarding has been featured as an Olympic sport. It first appeared in the Olympics during the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Many attendees said they’re expecting skateboarding to become more popular now that it’s an Olympic sport.
“At the end of the day, to have a little girl or boy see skateboarding around the world for the first time and give them their first spark in life, it’s a beautiful thing,” said Jimmy Pelletier, founder of The DC Wheels skateboard team.
Meanwhile, Maryland skateboarder Matt Verdell said, “It expands the sport. It gets it exposed to more people. You have a lot more communities that will probably embrace skateboarding now that probably wouldn’t before.”
Tress Jacobs said that skateboarding “is a sport. I’m really glad that it’s in the Olympics, because that’s what they deserve.”
The block party is scheduled to continue Wednesday.
