Rubicon Skateboards

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[edit] History

Rubicon Skateboards operates the first and only skateboard school in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2005 by two brothers, Greg and Geoff from Hampshire, the company quickly established itself as the number one provider of skateboard lessons. Now running the largest and most active skateboard school in the UK - the company has seen phenomenal demand for their services. 2006 saw the instructors give classes to over 2,000 children from all across the UK. They primarily work with children aged 6 to 18 through primary and secondary schools but also have a lot of work through county councils, sports clubs and youth clubs. They are unique to the UK not just for the size of their operations but also in the fact that they always travel to whoever wants to learn and thus aren't limited to working out of a single skatepark. They have full insurance, the instructors are competitors in their own right and have been approved by county councils. They have first aid training and they supply all the equipment such as skateboards, helmets and pads children will need and bring all necessary equipment such as ramps and rails with them. Dozens of schools have setup regular weekly classes with them and they have been booked almost every day of the 2006 and 2007. Great feedback and a great reputation has meant that they've worked with companies such as BSkyB (doing a Living for Sport programme to help children who feel disconnected from education get involved again through sport) and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme (skateboarding is now on the options syllabus and monitored by Rubicon), as well as having done work with everyone from army bases (Mildenhall RAF) to Summer camps (Camp Xtra in Devizes). Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Rubicon's work is their ability to get children interested in exercise and promoting positive attitudes in young people. Skateboarding, despite its increasing exposure with legends like Tony Hawk and competitions like X Games, is still perceived as an underground sport and certainly separate from mainstream activities like football. For Rubicon this has allowed them not only to encourage children who perhaps don't want to follow the traditional sports route but also to promote the sport to girls - who can participate in the sport far more easily without negative remarks or competitive behaviour. Skateboarders tend to form one giant family and it is these positive attitudes such as helping each other learn, taking photos of each other and interacting in a constructive way that Rubicon firmly promotes during its lessons and demonstrations. The UK is only now catching up with its European counterparts and America as regards skateboarding sponsorship and activities and Rubicon is certainly a company that is spearheading the exciting revolution.