Nepal’s Go Skateboarding Day brings wheels, music and crowds to Kathmandu riverbank

The screech of wheels, cheers, and music filled the air on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu as skateboarders marked the international Go Skateboarding Day. The event, organized by a cluster of figures and organizations within the Kathmandu skateboarding community, moved across the city throughout the day.

It began with a skate rally in the morning in Dhumbarahi, where skaters cruised through the streets waving Nepal’s flag. The group later gathered at an abandoned swimming pool to showcase their best tricks before settling in Thapathali for the main events. At the marble platform, skaters competed in games of skate and attempted the highest ollie.

Go Skateboarding Day, created in 2003 by the International Association of Skateboarding Companies, promotes the sport globally. Bikram Regmi, founder of Skaters Nepal, has seen the local scene grow significantly since he began skateboarding in the 1980s, when facilities were scarce. "We have the talent here, but we don't have the opportunity and resources," Regmi said. While skateboarding's popularity has grown, young skaters still face barriers, but Saturday's gatherings reflected a community that continues to expand.

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We have the talent here, but we don't have the opportunity and resources.