Tokha Skate Battle Begins!

The 8th National Skateboard Competition started Friday, organized by the Nepal Skating and Skateboarding Association.

The competition is being held at Skaters Nepal Skatepark in Tokha Municipality. A total of 250 male and 150 female players are participating.

According to Achyut Khanal, the association’s president, the selection rounds were held on the first day, and the final rounds will be held on Saturday.

He also mentioned that this event is being used as a selection competition for the Asian Championship to be held in Incheon, South Korea, in 2025.

A Brief Look at Nepal’s Skateboarding Culture

Skateboarding in Nepal has seen impressive growth over the past decade, transforming from a niche hobby into a thriving youth movement. The culture began to gain momentum particularly after the 2015 earthquake, with the support of international and local organizations.

Nonprofits like Skate Nepal and Make Life Skate Life played key roles in building foundational infrastructure. They helped construct major skateparks like the Kathmandu Skatepark in 2016 and the Annapurna Skatepark in Pokhara in 2017, creating safe and creative spaces for young skaters.

One of the local pioneers of the scene is Ujwol Dangol, who was inspired by a Japanese tourist skating in Kathmandu. He went on to found the city’s first skate shop and the Ktm Skate Park in 2016. His efforts have introduced hundreds of young people to skateboarding, offering them a positive outlet and a sense of community.

The Nepal Skating and Skateboarding Association (NSSA), established in 2015, has also been instrumental in promoting the sport nationwide. Through national competitions and support for international participation, the NSSA has helped put Nepal on the global skateboarding map.

The ongoing competition includes events in the freestyle category, such as “Best Trick” and “Best Run.” The top three winners will receive cash prizes of NPR 25,000, 20,000, and 15,000, respectively.