Gee, who knew, skaters could actually raise money for a cause....

[skategeezer]

Skateboarding culture does a complete 180
Generation Y boosts sport from crime to cause-worthy yet hip pursuit
CANADIAN PRESS Scott deCenzo of Surrey, B.C., rides his skateboard on a ramp in the AntiSocial Skateshop in Vancouver as fellow boarders look on last week.

Skateboarding culture has done a 180.
The sport -- or culture or lifestyle or hobby, depending on who you talk to -- was once seen as something misfits and social outcasts took up. Now, skateboarding is being used as an outlet to raise funds and awareness for causes like cancer and opposing violence.



As documented in films like "Stoked" and "Dogtown and Z-Boys," skateboarders have sometimes been looked upon as criminals and punks.

This started during the California drought in the 1970s, when skateboarding was in its incubation. Skaters would trespass onto properties and skate the walls of swimming pools left empty.
But skateboarding's popularity has gained enormous speed since then, making its way into the mainstream.

According to studies by American Sports Data and the University of Florida, participation in skateboarding has increased dramatically since the late '90s.

And now that they're more widely accepted in their communities, some skateboarders are trying to help make a difference.
Take, for example, Vancouver's Michelle Pezel, co-owner of AntiSocial Skateshop.

After her friend Lee Matasi was fatally shot by a stranger, she decided to raise funds for Leeside, a skate park he helped start.
The 27-year-old sells T-shirts and skateboard wheels with "I love Lee Matasi" logos as well as organic coffee, with all proceeds going to the park.

She also built an indoor ramp in the back of her shop, and charges skaters $2 to use it. The ramp is called "Until We Get Leeside," with funds going to the park.

Pezel is also president of the Vancouver Skateboarding Coalition. She was a leader in the fight to save China Creek, a skate park built in the 1970s that was set to be paved over.
After countless petitions, letters and hours at city council meetings, the park was saved.

But Pezel downplays any credit for the hard work she puts into the skateboarding community and in turn, the mainstream community.
"Skateboarding is just like any other thing, but just because it had such a negative start, when people look at skateboarders doing something positive, it's seen as super-positive," she said.
No matter how mainstream it becomes, skateboarding will always have a hard time kicking its rebellious image.
Rob Dyer of Toronto learned this first-hand as he was raising funds for his charity Skate 4 Cancer.

After several people in his life were affected by cancer, he decided to skateboard his way from Los Angeles to Toronto to raise money for research. Along the way, he found himself getting stopped by police.
"We'd get pulled over three or four times a day," he said. "Once (the police) found out what we were doing, they'd be confused."
Dyer, 22, and his charity have raised $95,000 in Canada and $70,000 in the United States. Proceeds were once donated to the Canadian Cancer Society but now go to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.

Dyer finds it frustrating that skateboarders still get a bad rap, no matter what they're doing for the community.
"If the so-called scum of society are doing all these amazing things, well then, what are you doing?" he said.
Skate 4 Cancer isn't the only skate-driven fundraiser. Push for the Cure was started by a group of longboarders in Halifax who made their way across Canada to raise funds for breast cancer.
Canadian skateboarders are also making a difference around the world.

Brian Lye of Vancouver has played a big role in the launch of Uganda's first and only skateboarding park.
He got involved last July after meeting South African Jackson Mubiru, who had built a ramp a few months earlier.
There were only two skateboards for the children to use on the ramp so Lye decided to take things further.

The 26-year-old had friends in Canada send over more boards.
"After I first met Jack and the kids at the mini-ramp I just wanted to get them a few boards and then carry on back to Canada," Lye wrote in an e-mail interview from Uganda.
"But once we got a few boards brought out, it was encouraging and I decided to get more involved. I was super amazed to see kids skating in Uganda and wanted to try and help make their skate scene grow and last."
He raised funds internationally to build a larger park. It officially opened last December.