Image credit: Brett Davies photographed by Owen Peters
Skateboard sales have ramped up in Salford as people beat the lockdown boredom.
With contact sports being unable to continue, skateboarding became an accessible sport that complies with social distancing measures.
The sport will have its’ debut in Tokyo at next years Olympics, which is set to begin in July.
David McCabe, is a Director at Graystone Action Sports in Salford and he shares how skateboarding has become a huge sport again.
He said: “We have a skate shop downstairs and they are reporting a massive increase in the sales so it would definitely feel like it’s a sport that has taken off this year when others have shut down.”
“There’s a rise in Salford and we like to think we’re part of that, we’re certainly facilitating it. The demand in October was looking very strong and it has done in the last week since we’ve been able to reopen”, he added.
Skate boarding, along with 3×3 basketball and sport climbing are new action sports that are set to take place in the 2021 Olympics.
The 47-year-old said: “There’s even more to look forward to next year with skateboarding making its’ debut in the Olympics and with the very strong possibility that there will be a gold medal for Great Britain with Sky Brown, who has been at Graystone in the past and trained with us. We think it’s going to go absolutely through the roof.”
Brett Davies, 38, is a Warehouse Operative from Manchester. By night, he is an avid roller skater and has been enjoying his hobby for 25 years.
Over the course of this year, Brett has struck up a Instagram page, gaining over 17,000 followers through posting videos of him skating around the city.
View this post on Instagram
He said: “I’m probably one of the few people that says that they miss lockdown. Because I was on furlough and I was still being payed the majority of my wage, I had a lot of free time to commit time to skating.”
“I find it to be a really good release. Within five minutes of putting on my skates, my mind feels lifted and I feel a lot more relaxed.”
He believes skating has made a huge impact on him and been a defining factor in his life.
“It’s been a constant thing in my life and it’s always given me something to fall back on through harder times. It always keeps me on a better path than it would have done without skating.
“I’d recommend it to anyone. If gyms are shut and team sports have set structures and rules, it’s an easy way to keep active. It’s really good for your core muscles and legs. The more you do it, the more fun it becomes”, said Mr Davies.
Click here for more information about Graystone Action Sports.
One Comment