What’s it like to be a skateboarder in Cuba?
Not too long ago, Skateism spoke to Isaac Gale, director of Ciudad Libertad: Skateboarding in Havana. His short documentary followed a small group of skateboarders in Havana as they worked to build a scene from nothing but a passion for skateboarding.
We decided to delve deeper, and got in touch with Miles Jackson at Cuba Skate, a group who are dedicated to the communities of young people that are working to build their own culture of skateboarding in Cuba.
So, what is skateboarding really like in Cuba?
It’s amazing. There’s a core group of skaters and a growing population in Havana and several provinces. Their passion for skating is pure, the spots are sick, and the Cuban style in general is impressive.
What exactly does that mean for Cuban skaters?
Skateboarding has survived in Cuba and in many ways triumphed. However, Cuban skaters find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to excelling. Boards break all the time, that’s part of the practice. It’s tricky, however, because there are no skate shops or domestic means of production to support the growth of this industry. Sustainability is a difficult goal in any setting, much less a 3rd world country that is hindered by aged policy on both sides. Nonetheless, the inherent Cuban resourcefulness, sense of sharing, and creative ingenuity to make things work keep the culture moving forward.
Wow. No skate shops? So how have skateboarders been maintaining and promoting their scene?
Instagram and Facebook. Internet access is improving throughout Cuba nowadays and these social media platforms are a great way to connect with like minded people on and off the island.
Recently the Havana crew were featured in a documentary entitled Ciudad Libertad, can you tell us how it was to work on that?
The Ciudad Libertad doc was an awesome experience. We hosted a group of solid dudes from Familia Skate Shop and Green Room as part of a cultural exchange with our nonprofit. We journeyed and skated around Havana as much as we could — it rained like crazy almost every day they were here, good thing the Ciudad Libertad spot is inside an abandoned gym. The experience was centered on exploring Cuba through a skater’s lens — street spots to skate, bomb street food, and places to build. We enjoyed the times and it was a valuable learning opportunity for our skaters and equally so our guests.
What other projects are coming up for you and the Cuba skate scene?
We’ve taken a number of DIY building trips over the past year and intend to continue doing so. Additionally, we’re underway with a cooperative to build skateboards and serve as a resource center for Cuba’s skateboarders. We experimented on pilot projects to build skate decks in the Fall, and will launch around two builds in early 2017.
Why is skateboarding important to the people of Cuba?
Skateboarding is a privilege that we are all grateful to have. As an instrument or vehicle, skateboarding can be a very powerful tool. Skateboarding in its natural state is an amazingly wonderful diversion, and as a group activity, even more intriguing. As important as these traits are, for us skateboarding is merely the entry point. Designing skate decks and skate spots, creatively thinking and problem solving, developing community relationships, creating empowerment and leadership, developing diplomacy and implementing sustainability, these are Cuba Skate’s reasons for skating.
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How do you believe the scene will grow from here on out?
The talent has been on the rise for years now, and more and more young people, and females, are immersing themselves into the culture. Once greater access to materials becomes available, and the Cuban skaters continue to develop relationships with the larger society, I believe skateboarding will grow stronger. Sustainability is crucial to the potential industry of skateboarding on the island. When I think about Cuba’s Latin American counterparts, countries like Brazil or Chile, and how skateboarding will be in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the general good vibrations around this culture on a global scale, I’m certain skateboarding has a bright future here.
What could speed up this growth?
I think a skate shop, official skatepark, and continued community acceptance and support are crucial. If the industry can become rooted here domestically, and more youth — and society in general — investigate the culture, skateboarding will grow in eclectic and tangible ways. For example, Cubans could compete in international contests, and most importantly, be autonomous.
Cuba Skate. Thank you so much for talking to us, and we wish you all the best. Keep pushing…
