SkateXS is proud to support Skate Rising as a recipient of the SkateXS 4th Annual Give Back Campaign! Skate Rising simultaneously helps to grow the base of new skateboarders while giving back to the community at the same time, they are movers and shakers, they represent the very best of what skateboarding is and can be.
Bryan & Zyler from SkateXS w/ Calli and the SkateRising Crew!
Skate Rising is the heart child of Calli Kelsay, inspired by seeing her daughters benefit from their time skateboarding. Calli says she saw her daughtersâ confidence âShoot through the Roofâ after learning to skateboard a few years ago and wanted to bring that gift to a larger audience.
âFalling down and getting back up it was such a cool thing to see them push through that fear and really embrace doing the tricks or dropping in on the big rampâ.
Calli joined forces with Exposure Skate, a non profit whose mission is empowering women through skateboarding, and partnered with them to create Skate Rising as Exposureâs Youth Program. Skate Risingâs mission is to provide opportunities to learn about Compassion through service projects and Empowerment through the lessons skateboarding provides.
Learn, Serve and Skate is the motto of Skate Risingâs monthly young skater clinics. Each clinic follows a similar format; the girls get to learn about a need in their community, they actively participate in a service project and then they get to learn or improve their skateboarding with the help of volunteer instructors and enjoy some free skate time with all their new friends. Each clinic is completely free and open to the public with extra skateboards and safety gear provided for girls from sponsors including SkateXS.
Since the first Skate Rising event in Encinitas, CA in August of 2016, the girls have had presentations from several inspirational speakers. Cary Williams, former Olympic boxer and founder of Too Pretty Brand came and spoke to the girls about breaking down barriers and gender expectations with the overall message: #nevertoopretty. Paige Hargis of My Grey Matterz shared her personal story about the importance of wearing helmets and skateboarding.
Working with organizations like International Rescue Committee the girls made welcome kits with hand written messages for refugee families living in San Diego. Guest speaker Lauren from the International Rescue Committee was on hand to talk to the girls about how to support new families and welcome them to their new homes. Rady Childrenâs Hospital was the focus for another Skate Rising event and the girls made Activity Bags and notes of encouragement for the children being cared for at the hospital.
Each Clinic is supported by a growing collection of sponsors providing donations and time including Nekter Juice Bar, Poseiden Foundation, Skatingfashionista, SkateXS, PHIVE bar, Neal Mims Skate Academy, Academy Skatepark, Pride Socks and others. In January of 2017 Skate Rising expanded to offering monthly clinics in Phoenix, AZ in addition to San Diego. Â
SkateXS remains committed to bringing high quality, appropriately sized skateboards for the kids at Skate Risingâs Youth Skater Clinics. We too have seen first hand the empowerment found through skateboarding and our company was born to support todayâs youth with proper equipment. We encourage you to sign up to follow Skate Rising and Exposure Skate at Exposureskate.org.
Recipients of the SkateXS Annual Give Back Campaign have recieved a financial donation from SkateXS to help further their success and mission.Â
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