Skateboarding News | November 2023 

A 15-year-old skateboarder was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding in the street in Pittsburgh last month, according to WTAE. 

The incident occurred at around 6:00 p.m. on October 18, 2023. The skater, Charlie Thornburg, was apparently hit by a car while riding near Winloch Ave and Joel St in Ingram. Denise Ball, the victim's grandmother, said his "skull was shattered" in the collision and he was transported from the scene to an area hospital in critical condition. The teenager sustained a traumatic brain injury and was put into a "medically induced coma." On October 23, 2023, Thornburg died after he was removed from life support. 

The driver remained at the scene, police said, and Ball stated the incident was deemed an accident. The victim's aunt set up a GoFundMe to support his family. 

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The BBC reports that a 17-year-old skater died after he fell onto a "bollard" or short post while skateboarding on a path at Center Parcs, a holiday village in England. On October 26, 2023, Alfie Richley was transported from the scene by emergency personnel to Bedford South Wing Hospital, where he later succumbed to traumatic abdominal injuries. 

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Veteran slalom skateboarder Judi Oyama is preparing for the 2024 World Skate Games, which will take place in Rome, Italy. The 64-year-old skater from Santa Cruz will participate in the games on the United States Slalom team. Oyama has over 50 years of skateboarding experience and said, "I had no idea I would be racing and going fast at 64," according to NBC Bay Area.   

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In Florida, the City of Jacksonville is in the midst of completing a skatepark as part of the development of Artist Walk, a "public space project," reports Action News Jax. The new public plaza, which includes the skatepark, will be created underneath the Fuller Warren Bridge, near the Riverside Arts Market. The skatepark will have three sections to accommodate a range of skills from novice to advanced. Eventually, the project will also see the addition of art installations, sculptures, and murals from artists based in Jacksonville. 

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On November 10, 2023, two people were critically injured and a third wounded in a skatepark stabbing at De Vargas Park in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Police say all three stabbing victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment. The suspect is reportedly unknown. 

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On November 11-12, 2023, thousands gathered at the PNE Forum in Vancouver, Canada for the 7 Gen Skate Festival, which held professional and amateur contests with a total purse of around $20,000. The event also featured Indigenous ceremonies, a concert, skate demonstrations, and a market. Reportedly, 7 Gen "is committed to the representation of Indigenous peoples as spiritual and territorial hosts," and was designed to take the place of the Slam City Jam, an event that has not happened in Vancouver since 2005. 

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For over a decade, the Askate Foundation has been supporting children with disabilities by way of skateboarding therapy, according to CBS Los Angeles. Apparently, "skateboarding can be a useful therapy tool for those on the Autism spectrum." 

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Rip City Skates, the oldest skateshop in Santa Monica, California was featured in the documentary film Kinda Crazy, according to L.A. Taco. Directed by Daniel Pappas and produced by Chris Candy, the short film features the shop's owners, Jim McDowell and Bill Poncher, as well as skateboarding legends like Mark Gonzales and Tony Alva. Though the shop has been a mainstay in the community for about 50 years, McDowell and Poncher do not own the property. A petition signed by over 15,000 people prevented the landlord from leveling the building in 2020. 

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Evansville, Indiana is set to open Sunset Skatepark on Saturday, December 16, 2023. It will be the state's largest skateboard park at 27,000 square feet. 

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In Newport, Rhode Island, Friends of Newport Skatepark (FONS) have raised $750,000 for a new skatepark. The financial goal is $1 million. The park is set to be built by the firm Spohn Ranch. 

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At Southwest Middle School in Lakeland, Florida, art teacher Paul Peterson is teaching kids how to create their own skateboards from scratch. Students can participate in Peterson's art class only if they pay $25 of their own money for supplies. Peterson has taught his skateboard making class for 25 years. He shows his students how to press veneers, cut the board into a specific shape, and paint it with their own original artwork. 

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WGN profiled froSkate, a Chicago-based collective for the "non-traditional skate community." Check out their site for more information on events and to browse froSkate products. 

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Shawn Powers has new footage, per Transworld. 

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Check out the previous Stoofus article - ​​Style in Skateboarding: An Interpretation