Meet <PERSON>, founder of Kathmandu’s first skate park · Global Voices
Ktm Skate Park in Kathmandu's Valley. Image from the Skate Park's Facebook page. Used with permission.
Amid the cramped buildings that dot the banks of Bishnumati River, a group of kids gathers to hone their skills at a sport still largely frowned upon by Nepalese society: skate.
It is in this small, concrete-lined plot of land that lies “Ktm Skate Park”, Kathmandu's first-ever skatepark. Running the show is <PERSON>, a local skater who first jumped on the board when he was around 14 and since then has never looked back. In June 2018, he spoke to Global Voices about his projects and plans for the future.
<PERSON> first felt inspired to open a skatepark in the Kathmandu Valley in 2014 after returning from a trip to Bangkok, where the skate scene has thrived for much longer. He first opened up a skate shop, then began collecting the ramps and materials for the park as well as working towards securing a location to build it. It all finally came true in 2016.
The First Skate Park !!!
Ktm Skate Park !!!
We struggled really hard to make this happen in real. Finally we have an amazing skate park in capital city which changed the lifestyle of many kids and make them stronger , confident & and more serious on skateboarding.#ktmskatepark pic.twitter.com/P3Kj1vtjpX
— <PERSON> (@ujwol_dangol) March 4, 2018
And here's a photo of <PERSON> with his board:
The one and only first skate park of Kathmandu , Ktm Skate Park !!!
People come an visit !! Skate and have fun !!
@ktmskatepark @firstskatepark pic.twitter.com/ZIAMPYTVwK
— <PERSON> (@ujwol_dangol) January 26, 2018
<PERSON> is now a central figure in the skateboarding scene in Nepal, where the sport has been slowly taking off. Despite its growing popularity around the world — even set to debut in the summer Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo –, in Nepal, it is still somewhat associated with drugs and criminality.
But <PERSON> doesn't let that discourage him: besides organizing classes in schools, he also runs events to help popularize the sport around the country. Eventually, he would like to see skating a widely accepted sport in schools.
In 2016, he took two skaters to compete at the Asian Skateboarding Championship in Shanghai, China, and this year was the manager of the skateboarding team at the Asian Games in Jakarta (unfortunately neither competition produced any medals for Nepal).
Amid the skaters who frequent Ujwol's skatepark is <PERSON>, whose disability doesn't get in the way of his passion.
View this post on Instagram
Skater homie <PERSON> is really cool guy. 168
I met him 3 years ago and he was like shy guy. Slowly, he became very good and friendly person. He skates good. Happy to support him with this old school deck which he liked a lot. #skaterhomie #sponsorskater #helpinghand #supportingacause #supportingskaters #firstskateshopofnepal2015 #hamroskateshop #worldskate #worldskatenepal #nepalskateboarding
A post shared by Hamro Skate Shop (@hamroskateshop) on Jul 18, 2018 at 1:27am PDT
<PERSON> frequently uses social media to showcase other skaters in the park:
View this post on Instagram
HSS Rider <PERSON> skates hard. After school he shows up to Ktm Skate Park and learns new tricks. An amazing photos of him captured by <PERSON>. Many appreciation for such wonderful photos. Thank you for supporting Nepal Skateboarding Scene. @francineboer #hssrider #sponsorskaternepal #passionateskater #juniorskater #nepalskateboardingchampion2075 #firstskateshopofnepal2015 #hamroskateshop #internationalsupport #worldskate #worldskatenepal #nepalskateboarding
A post shared by Hamro Skate Shop (@hamroskateshop) on May 31, 2018 at 8:49am PDT
Girls Guiding Girls into skateboarding !!
Youths really enjoying the first ever skate park of kathmandu,
People do visit us and support us.#ktmskatepark#firstskateparkofkathmandu#nepalskateboarding pic.twitter. 168