By Mark Worang
After receiving news of unforeseen financial difficulty during my term, I was faced with a dilemma—give up and interrupt my studies or use creative ways to survive in one of the most expensive cities in the world by utilising informal housing, joining LSE events that gave away free food, and skateboarding to commute. Relieved when awarded the LSE Hardship Fund, thanks to the Student Union, I was able to continue my studies with the caveat of deep austerity. Being able to commute with my skates has helped a lot. Instead of using the tube, I had saved an estimate of at least £720 for the days I had to go to Holborn from my hostel to join mandatory seminar attendance. As an international student, this allowed me to memorise all the roads from South Kensington to Farringdon without maps. To me, skating hasn’t just been a hobby. It signifies a point of reference for hope during a dark time and I truly believe in its ability to change more lives.
Despite drawing strength from that experience, skating isn’t just an ivory tower for me. The journey began through spontaneity: starting with ice skating as a teen, to then learning the skateboard from the great Tony Hawk, and by playing his games whilst testing new skills. But what motivated me further was a country-rose-skater-girl, way older than me, a typical 90s kid with an attractive demeanour who made me feel as though I was out of her league. Skate for me was also a story of unrequited love, despite exhausting all my rizz, the other bad boy had always won. However, through all these peaks and troughs, I’ve always been able to use my skateboard as an expression tool, emancipating myself, even in the friend zone. Although some things aren’t meant to be, I know for sure that building this society is.
Out of a moment of serendipity among countless cold messages, I corresponded with my Co-Founder Pritam Singh, avid inline skater, and LSE PhD historian. We were at a crossroads at first, but now our visions have aligned to pioneer LSE’s first-ever skating society both for leisure and sports. I think for those who are unfamiliar, it can be a whole lot of fun to start. We will hold classes for beginners—the joy of learning something new or the novelty of a give-it-a-go sesh always gives a palpable dose of dopamine and serotonin. To those who are more advanced, you can tune in to your Spotify roller disco playlist, whilst roaming Oxford Street and cut transport costs just like I did, instead of the boring Boris bikes we see on every lane. And we will be organising events with groups such as London Skate Life, ensuring that those involved have the appropriate training for skating in every environment, whether indoor or outdoor.
As for the LSESU Skate Society, our vision is to be an assemblage of ideas in relation to skating or even outside if you’re keen on something new. Whether longboards, skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, or ice skating, it will be a safe inclusive space for everyone of different levels and abilities. In addition to that, depending on your enthusiasm, we may hold panel discussions on skate fashion, social impact, and causes you hold dear. So, whether you’ve been rejected from a spring week or bottled an interview like I did, come to us to release the frustration through skates. And if you’re not into any of this, you can always join us for a pub crawl in Camden.
