Go Skateboarding Day (GSD), often seen as just another marketing ploy by the skate industry, has strayed from its original spirit. Much like how brands have capitalized on other holidays, GSD has become less about the raw, rebellious nature of skateboarding and more about corporate branding. So, on this 15th annual Go Skateboarding Day, let’s delve into its origins and explore what GSD was like before it became a platform for plastering logos and marketing budgets. Let’s revisit the times when it felt less organized, less commercialized, and a bit more dangerous—because let’s face it, the best skate events always have a touch of chaos.
Go Skateboarding Day GIF
The Go Skateboarding Day we recognize today was created by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), a trade organization comprising skate industry company owners. Their goal was to increase skateboarding’s visibility and reach, ultimately benefiting their businesses. The first official GSD took place in 2004 with a series of events across North America, including Canada.
Before the official GSD, there were similar events, like the All City Skate Jam in New York City, which ran for several years. However, Don Brown, an IASC member and the founder of GSD, claimed they were unaware of these events when they organized their own day on the West Coast. Don enjoyed organizing casual skate outings with fellow industry employees who, despite working for skate brands, didn’t have much time to skate outside of work. That’s why he proposed creating a “National Skateboarding Day”, an arbitrary holiday designed to get people out on their boards.
Go Skateboarding Day Poster 2003
“I saw all these stupid fucking days like National Bird Day or Puppy Day on the calendar,” Don mentioned, “and while we don’t really need many of them, they do create a focus for discussion. With a skateboarding day on the calendar, even mainstream media would start hosting events.” Per Welinder, co-founder of Birdhouse Skateboards, suggested calling it Go Skateboarding Day to make it a more active call to action. They set the date for June 21st, the longest day of the year, and just went for it.
A few weeks after the first official GSD, Emerica hosted their first Wild In The Streets (WITS) event in 2004. This is where Emerica team riders would skate with locals from spot to spot, finishing at a skatepark with a demo and barbecue. Mark Waters, Emerica’s marketing manager at the time, estimated that around 450 people showed up for the first WITS in New York City—a larger turnout than any of the individual GSD events that year.
GSD & WITS Philly 2006
Initially, the IASC asked Emerica not to host WITS on GSD to avoid associating the holiday with any one skate company’s brand. But to increase GSD attendance, they allowed Emerica to hold the 2005 WITS on June 21st.
I remember the first GSD event I attended back in 2006, the Chicago edition of WITS, where about 4,000 skateboarders turned up. I’ll never forget skating downtown with Andrew Reynolds, Heath Kirchart, and countless other skaters. We blocked traffic, disregarded the police, and were even called “an invasion of the skateboarders” by a local news anchor.
GSD & WITS Chicago 2006
Over the next few years, larger brands started leveraging the opportunity of having thousands of skateboarders in the streets, hosting their own GSD events worldwide. As a result, some of the events became more subdued. The more it became a marketing event, the less brands wanted to be held accountable for property damage at skate spots or injuries resulting from leading hordes of skateboarders through busy city streets.
Additionally, it became harder to separate company branding from the holiday that was not intended to be owned by anyone. With Nike’s “Skate Every Damn Day” ad campaign being heavily promoted at GSD events, it seemed like Nike was turning the GSD spirit into an obligation, which was a bummer.
My friend meeting Don "Magic" Juan at the Chicago WITS (2006)
Today, 15 years after the first Go Skateboarding Day, many older or jaded skateboarders find it difficult to get excited about attending any large GSD events. Many feel like they are just another crowded skatepark demo with kids flying around and a former pro skater yelling into a megaphone. The sentiment of “Fuck Go Skateboarding Day” is quite strong among some skateboarders, mainly because they dislike the idea of a designated skateboarding holiday.
To counteract these negative feelings about GSD, we should try to remember the carefree origins of Go Skateboarding Day, as Don Brown described it: “I just sent a fax to the local Costa Mesa brands, like Volcom and Channel 1 and Acme, saying, ‘Let’s all get together and skate down to the pier, have a few beers, and skate back.’ We had about 20 people. It felt awesome to have everyone together, saying ‘fuck work’ and just go skating.”
In conclusion, don’t feel compelled to participate in GSD-related activities. Celebrate the original spirit of the day by ditching work, going outside, and enjoying the longest day of the year with your friends.
