DUBAI // Amateurs and experts zipped and swerved down skateboard ramps at Dubai's Tashkeel centre yesterday, drawing to an end a month-long series of workshops and competitions to boost the sport in the Emirates.
Friends and relatives snapped pictures and posted them online, along with videos of the most difficult skateboarding moves, to drum up support for the skaters.
"It's so much fun, if feels like you are flying," said an excited Haya Al Mutaiwa, 11, along with two Emirati friends who were among a clutch of girls among the more than 1,000 skaters who participated in the all-day event. The girls cheered and clapped before jumping on skateboards themselves to practise their moves.
Beginners went through their paces on an easier descent away from the high orange slopes of the Tashkeel ramp.
Large screens constantly updated a stream of comments on Tashkeel's Facebook page, which was part of a social media experiment to draw online viewers in to watch the skateboarding.
Emirati, Russian, French, Indian and Filipino skaters from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and the Northern Emirates took part in the competition.
"It just gives me an adrenalin rush," said Max Carette, 15, a French-Danish student in Dubai.
"Even if you skate for really long, it never tires you."
This is the second event to be held in Dubai. The first was in Mamzar Park last year.
Organisers have planned regular workshops to run through the year.
"The whole idea is to get the local population involved in a sport that is so much fun and requires skill," said Bradley Kirr, one of the organisers.
"The best skaters use the whole ramp and we looked for style and the degree of difficulty."
