United Kingdom Skateboarding Association

The United Kingdom Skateboarding Association (UKSA) is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation founded in 2005, with the initial aim of improving skateboarding facilities is the United Kingdom. Its further goals are to promote skateboarding and increase participation. The organisation is now defunct due to the decline of support of the unofficially recognised sport.
History and Objectives of the UKSA
Introduction
The United Kingdom Skateboarding Association (UKSA) is the only national (United Kingdom) organisation dedicated independently improving the provision of skateparks. It has the specific objective of improving skate park standards wherever needed.
The UKSA was set up in 2005 by Kevin Parrott to provide skate park information for skateboarders, councils, businesses and local communities throughout the United Kingdom. It assists in development of skate parks and public spaces and it campaigns nationally for skateboarding facilities.
The UKSA's affairs are conducted through its committee which meet yearly to ensure direction is maintained within the Association. However, the UKSA is also linked to many bodies such as the International Skateboarding Association, the European Skateboarding Association, The Tony Hawk Foundation and Skateboard Scotland.
The UKSA volunteer responsibility is split itself into the regions of England and deal with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales as whole countries.
The UKSA defined a skate facility or skate park as‘any space used for the purpose of skateboarding’.
Objectives
The objective of improving skate park facilities as both valuable sporting/recreational spaces is a precious one. It is however capable of achievement by providing information of a voluntary and independent nature to the landowners and intermediary bodies, as well as user groups, councils, businesses, communities and media.
Since its inception, the UKSA has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure the provision of adequate skate parks throughout the United Kingdom. As we move into the third generation of British skate parks, the cause that brought the Association into existence remains as valid as ever. The ever-increasing commercial exploitation of skateboarding often leading to insensitive planning, or quick fix methods contribute to the threat against adequate standard facilities. Too many skate parks are appearing of a nature for which they will never achieve their intended brief.
Recommendations on UK Skateparks were first formulated in 2005, soon after the Association’s formation. This helped ensure that equally, all would be privvy to information required to educate on the standard of skate parks the world over. The Association urged all local authorities to pay heed to the failing skate parks in the UK and move on from continually making these mistakes. Unfortunately, political motivation to satisfy current opinion, based on perceived use and interest in skateboarding, caused a large number of inadequate parks to be constructed. This ultimately led to increased ridicule of the sport and aversion of the current boarding community to use local/community parks.
This was a result of the challenge which the organisation faced at that time. When it came to numbers, there were only a small handful of adequate facilities in the UK out of the estimated 800 available. Research concluded that while certain areas were well ticking boxes by providing skate parks a tiny number of facilities came near reaching adequate standard for use.
This organisation no longer exists.
Teaching Skateboarding
The UKSA recognised the need to offer and improve access to a greater variety of sports to youth. The UKSA endorses the introduction of skateboarding programs with the goal of improving attendance and helping get the young active in the UK; They are achieving this by providing information and support for courses delivering skateboarding during curriculum time as well as out of school hour’s lessons.
UK National Skateboarding Championships
The UKSA are held the first UK National Skateboarding Championships in September 2008 at Adrenaline Alley, Corby. Chris Oliver became the 2008 UK National Street Skateboarding Champion with Paul-Luc Ronchetti taking the crown for 2008 UK National Vert Skateboarding Champion.
The 2009 UK National Skateboarding Championships are to be once again held at Adrenaline Alley, Corby in early September 2009.

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