Local Skater Community, Skate Tua Reminds Us That We’re Never Too Old To Keep The Boards Rolling

By Ameera Rosli  •  21 Jun 2021 in News

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Here at JUICE, skaters are getting all the love through our glowing review of local film, Kickflip, directed by long-time recreational skater Khairil Bahar.

In case you missed it, the film is an ode to youth but also a reminder that youth is not tied to age, it’s tied to our appetite for life.

Kickflip chronicles the journey of a tired middle-aged man, anchored by responsibilities and the corporate machine, who is trying to find his way back to his love for skating.

Since art often imitates life, the real-world version of Kickflip has been realised by Skate Tua, a community of skateboarding enthusiasts who are still dedicated to the sport despite growing out of their teenage angst and hardy boys jeans.

They’re still cheeky at heart though since the brand’s motto is ‘Pantang Stop Kecuali Bini Call’. These men have their priorities right!

Sharing their story with The Vibes, Skate Tua explains their reasons for kickstarting the brand and community as well as their efforts to keep the boards rolling despite Covid-19 limitations.

40-year-old skater and founder of Skate Tua, Awad, talked about how he reinvigorated his love for skating a few years back after a long hiatus. He and his 10 friends grew the community by spreading the word via word-of-mouth to their other friends, acquaintances and colleagues.

Despite the welcoming community of skating, Awad still felt reluctant and shy to pop tricks in-front of the youngens, so he decided to create a safe space for the older generations to fly off the bowls to their heart’s content.

He said, “Nowadays, when we look at all the skateparks in Malaysia, the kids like to show off their tricks, flying everywhere. We oldies are shy, shy to be even close to them. So we thought we would set up this group, to gather back all the young-at-heart old skateboarders to liven up the skate scene.”

In April, Skate Tua even organised their own skate competition in Bukit Jalil where all skaters, regardless of their skill level, could participate and attract viewers. Notable names that were in attendance include Syed Qodeem, Pa’din Musa and Joe Ipoh.

One of the participants, Calvin, also aged 40, expressed his newfound passion to learn more tricks after discovering Skate Tua. According to him, his skateboarding spirit never left and he even bought himself a new skateboard to practice with friends he made through the Skate Tua community.

Skate Tua may be comprised of the older folks, but that doesn’t mean they’re not savvy with social media. Soldiering through the pandemic, the community encourages skaters to continue skating at home and posting videos online to share their growth.

 

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A post shared by SKATE TUA COMMUNITY (@skate.tua)

They now have over 1,000 followers on Instagram and 528 followers on Facebook. Hopefully now, after discovering how endearing and tight-knit the community is, you would want to add to those numbers.

Not only are they building a strong community for skaters in Malaysia, but they’re also adding the bricks to their merchandise store. Selling sick apparel as well as colourful skateboards, Skate Tua is determined to solidify their position in the ever-growing world of skating.

Follow Skate Tua on Instagram and Facebook. If you’re interested in their merch, get it here!