This post was updated Nov. 13 at 8:46 p.m.
For those who find skate parks intimidating, Skate Club at UCLA is making the skating experience welcoming and supportive.
Skate Club co-president Arman Shahinfar said he and his board have worked to ensure the club remains a safe spot for UCLA skaters. Shahinfar, a fourth-year environmental science student, added that the club provides a welcoming community for a variety of skaters, regardless of their expertise level.
“It’s tough to meet new people and find your place,” Shahinfar said. “There’s a lot of skaters or people who just want to get into skateboarding … but they’re a little nervous or they don’t want to skate on campus, so we (UCLA Skate Club) provide that area where … it doesn’t matter what background, who you are, how good you are. We’re here to skate and just have fun together.”
Shahinfar said he joined Skate Club in 2024 and added that the club has had a positive impact on his experience at UCLA. Shahinfar, who has been skating since he was 12 years old, said he looked at the skating clubs of top universities such as Stanford University and UC Berkeley, and UCLA stood out to him because of its Skate Club.
Kira Tarkiainen, a third-year mechanical engineering student and a member of Skate Club’s general staff, said the club’s fusion of academic excellence and fun is what makes it unique.
“What sets UCLA Skate Club apart from other skate communities in the Los Angeles area is the common interest everyone has,” Tarkiainen said. “Everyone is a student and is working really hard toward their classes, but at the same time, they want to go out and find this community where they can relax and decompress and just have fun. … It’s really important to have those people that you find common ground with because you can have a good balance between skating and having good academic grades.”
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Tarkiainen, who has been skating since she was 14 years old, said she joined Skate Club during her freshman year, adding that the club provides a space for members to decompress outside of class. Tarkiainen said that when she joined Skate Club her freshman year, the branch was still relatively new. The club had launched several times in the past, but Tarkiainen said the club has a solid structure now. She added that she feels confident that the current version of Skate Club is one that will only continue to grow more structured.
Tarkiainen said improved organization has permitted the club to enjoy more financial stability through membership dues and ticketed parties that help fund the club’s various events, which feature sponsored drinks, live music from local bands and giveaways of prizes like board decks. Tarkiainen said she would underscore the club’s efforts toward inclusivity, particularly their women-only and beginner-only skating nights – a magnet for new members.
Annie Ding, a fourth-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, is one such member that was recruited from a women-only skate night hosted by Skate Club. Serving as Skate Club’s internal coordinator, Ding said she is proud that Skate Club upholds the tradition that first stirred her interest in the club. Ding said like many members of the club, she only had a passing interest in skating, but after attending her first women-only skate session, she embraced skateboarding as a hobby. She said creating a space for new skaters to feel welcome at UCLA is a large priority for the club.
“A lot of people that join our club this year are freshmen or transfers, so I think really connecting with them and making them feel welcome and like they are a part of Skate Club is really important,” Ding said. “And hopefully eventually if they stick with it and stick with the club, I think they can … be great leaders in the future.”
Skate Club has already kicked off the year with two parties and more to come in the upcoming quarter. Shahinfar said he hopes Skate Club will expand even further in the future. He said UCLA could do more to accommodate UCLA skaters by initiating collaborations and installing more skate-friendly infrastructure that is not limited to parking lots.
“It’s for everyone and anyone,” Shahinfar said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are, it doesn’t matter what tricks you do, what style you are, whether you’re skating for fun, just cruising … doesn’t matter. Everyone is welcome, and we embrace the diversity.”
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