Let’s talk about January 2026!

January was big and honestly, kind of special. A lot of firsts, a lot of people showing up, and a clear feeling that this thing is working.

What came together

  • We kicked things off with our first two partners: Ritchie Community League and Foam Fighters
  • The ESA website officially went live
  • We ran our first round of fundraising through events
  • We fundraised over $500 to help keep things running for the future!

Our Programming

  • Foam Fighters: Adult Skate Nights + Beginner Skate Lessons
  • Ritchie Community League: Beginner Skate Lessons
  • All of this is locked in and running through the end of March

You told us. We listened.

  • We ran our first skate lesson and skate night surveys
  • What skaters want was loud and clear:
    • Mini ramp (top priority)
    • Ledges
    • Flat ground
    • Manny pads
    • Rails
    • Quarter pipes
  • We’re already using this to shape setups and sessions

People showing up (big time)

  • First volunteer intake brought in 30+ people
  • Every January program had 1–3 volunteers for each shift
  • Our volunteers are the heartbeat of ESA

Support that blew us away

  • Borrowed and donated equipment from some incredibly generous folks:
    • Hunter Patton — Freshpark ramps
    • Kevin Clark — round rail
    • Canora Courts — rail + wavy fun box
    • Keith Yerex — a beautiful custom ledge
    • Tegler Youth Center — Freshpark ramps
    • Greg Rose — fingerboard gear
  • We also ran our first-ever gear drive
  • Donated gear included trucks, wheels, bearings, helmets, pads, and decks
  • Because of this, we were able to build 14 complete skateboards for skate lessons and our Skateboarding Without Borders initiative

Some early wins

  • Our first Skate Night sold out (still kind of unreal)
  • We’ve started conversations with other venues about future programming — details coming soon

The next few months are about building more access, better experiences, and making sure skateboarding feels welcoming to anyone who wants to roll up.

We’re just getting started, and we’re glad you’re here

A big thank you from our ESA leadership team!