Chennai's Adult Skateboarding Scene: Finding Freedom on Wheels
As dusk settles over Chennai, a concrete patch in the city transforms into a vibrant hub of energy. The sounds of skateboards scraping against pavement, wheels rattling, and bursts of laughter fill the air—not from children, but from adults arriving after a long day at work. They come ready to fall, fail, and try again, embracing a sense of play often lost in the routines of adulthood.
Breaking the Stigma: Skateboarding for All Ages
In a city where adult life is often marked by restraint and rigid schedules, these informal skate sessions provide something precious: permission. Permission to be clumsy, to not know what you're doing, and to simply engage in unstructured play. Skateboarding in Chennai still carries a stigma, frequently dismissed as reckless or unserious, especially for adults. Sessions typically occur in Thiruvanmiyur, with smaller gatherings near Anna Nagar Tower.
"There's very little awareness about skating here," says organizer Jacob Dan Paul. "People think you need to be young and fearless. That assumption keeps a lot of people away." The community, which began forming informally around 2022, was founded on a straightforward principle: skateboarding is for everybody. Age, skill level, confidence, or background should not determine who gets to participate. "The aim is simple," Jacob emphasizes.
Inclusivity and Accessibility: Removing Barriers
This belief shapes how the group operates. Skateboarding can be expensive, with decent boards and proper shoes costing thousands of rupees. Charging people to access a space built around joy felt fundamentally wrong. "If skating already has barriers, then adding money defeats the purpose," Jacob explains. Beginners are warmly welcomed, with boards shared freely, basics patiently explained, and falling treated as a natural part of the learning process.
"Falling is normal here," says Kamali, a regular participant. "If you're not falling, you're probably not trying." This supportive environment encourages newcomers to persist without fear of judgment.
Play Without Productivity: A Mental Escape
For many participants, skating serves as a vital release from structured lives and constant performance pressures. "I work in an IT firm," shares Sai Prashant. "This is the one place where there's no goal. I'm not trying to be productive. I'm just playing." This freedom attracted Divya, a Masters student, to the scene. "I didn't feel this kind of freedom anywhere else," she notes. "Even if I don't land any tricks, just being here changes my mood."
Infan, an entrepreneur, adds, "You can't fake it on a skateboard. You fall again and again, and the only way forward is to get back up." This resilience learned on the board often translates to personal growth off it.
Adapting to Challenges: The Spirit of Skateboarding
With limited dedicated skate spaces in Chennai, sessions frequently get interrupted, and locations change unexpectedly. Yet, the community adapts with flexibility. "Skating teaches you to adjust," Jacob remarks. "So, we do." This adaptability mirrors the core ethos of skateboarding itself—embracing imperfections and finding creative solutions.
Contributed by: Janani M
