Go Skateboarding Day: From Industry PR Move to Global Skate Holiday

Every June 21st, skaters around the world drop what they're doing, grab their boards, and hit the streets in the name of something called Go Skateboarding Day. Cops hate it, cities pretend to embrace it, and skaters either swear by it or swear at it. But how did this semi-anarchic skate "holiday" even start?

Let’s roll it back.

It Started as a PR Move (No, Really)

Back in 2004, the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) needed a way to "promote skateboarding and make it more accessible to the masses." Translation: they wanted to make the sport look good to parents, cities, and potential sponsors — not just like some outlaw kids spraying curbs and grinding rails to rust.

So they picked June 21st — the summer solstice — and branded it Go Skateboarding Day.

Sounds corporate? Because it kinda was.

The Streets Took It Over

The thing is, skaters don’t really do well with corporate holidays. But somehow, Go Skateboarding Day took on a life of its own.

What began as a few branded events and shop-led meetups turned into full-on city takeovers. DIY jams. Hill bombs. Blocked traffic. Police sirens. And that one dude skating barefoot in traffic with a tallboy in hand.

In New York, LA, London, Tokyo, São Paulo, and just about every major city, skaters started to say: “If you’re not skating today, what are you even doing?”

The Love/Hate Relationship

Ask 10 skaters what they think of Go Skate Day and you’ll get 11 opinions.

Some say it’s the one day a year skating gets the spotlight it deserves. Others call it “Skateboarding’s Valentine’s Day” — performative and annoying. Some just use it as an excuse to day drink with the homies and maybe try a tre flip.

But at its core, Go Skateboarding Day is what you make it. Whether you're bombing hills, skating a parking curb with your crew, or just watching clips and icing your knee, you're part of it.

So Should You Celebrate It?

Do you skate? Then sure. Do whatever you want with it. It’s not Christmas. There’s no goddamn rules. If you feel like rolling through your city with 400 other skaters and catching a fine for skating through a red light — go for it.

Just remember: skating doesn’t need a day. It is the day.

Happy Go Skateboarding Day. Or Don’t. It’s Up to You.