Rubicon Skateboards was created in 2005 by two brothers, Greg and Geoff from Hampshire. Rubicon operate the first skateboard school in the United Kingdom[1] and are the biggest and most active provider of skateboard lessons in the country.

Location edit

Based out of Winchester, Rubicon have regional instructors around the country including Tony Da Silva (Harmony Skateboards, DC Shoes, Note Skateshop). Other professional UK skateboarders who have worked with Rubicon include Greg Nowik[2] and Callum Bowran (UK Freestyle Champion).

Work edit

Rubicon work with children aged 6 to 18 through primary and secondary schools, but have also established partnerships with several county councils.[3][4][5] They are unique to the UK in that they always travel[6] to whoever wants to learn, as opposed to working out of a single skatepark.

They have 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), the BBC (as part of their Blast Tour programme to engage children in creative pursuits) and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme (skateboarding is now on the options syllabus and monitored by Rubicon). In total, the Rubicon team has provided over 500 lessons to around 4,000 children.

Camps edit

Rubicon Skateboards were also the first company to bring skateboarding-specific residential week long camps to the UK. Previously skateboarding had been included within other general sports weeks. Camps involve trips to a number of large parks and include daily tuition from the instructors. The 2008 camps are based near Coventry and will visit the Stoke on Trent Plaza and the Works Skate Park in Leeds.

Sponsorship edit

Rubicon sponsored the first ever Girls Skate Comp at NASS08. The National Adventure Sports Show[7] is Europe's biggest action sports and music festival. Results were: Helena Long 1st, Sam Bruce 2nd, Lois Pendlebury 3rd with Sam picking up Best Trick with a frontside boardslide down the rail over the G gap into the bank.

Rubicon sponsored the Winchester City Skate Jam on 7 June 2008.[8][9]

Media Appearances edit

Rubicon Skateboards appeared in a wide selection of national press recently for their work with the Hampshire Police Force.[10] The community success led to interviews and coverage with America's ABC News Network and their "Good Morning America" programme.[11]

Other documented groups Rubicon have worked with edit

Sports England along with Brighton & Hove Council organise Active for Life with Rubicon.[12]

Sportsfest and Rubicon promote equality within sport.[13]

Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Rubicon promoting healthy lifestyles through non-traditional sports.[14]

Research edit

New research shows that the BSkyB "Living for Sport" project that Rubicon was involved in has been a great success.[15]

References edit

  1. ^ [1] Archived 2008-05-02 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "SkateMalaysia: GREG NOWIK IN TOWN". Skateboarding-malaysia.blogspot.com. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Gosport Borough Council reviews their work with Rubicon". Gosport.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 March 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Councillor Info v3". Councillor.info. Retrieved 27 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ [2] [dead link]
  6. ^ "Looking to Pick Up Skateboarding? Here Are 6 Reasons It Is Worth It". Skateboard.about.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  7. ^ "National Adventure Sports Show". Nassfest.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Team Rubicon". Team Rubicon. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  9. ^ "winch jam 08". Mpora.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  10. ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times". Timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  11. ^ "'Just Normal People': Cops Hop on Skateboards". ABC News. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Clubs". Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  14. ^ "GNN - Government News Network". Archived from the original on 9 June 2007.
  15. ^ "Youth Sport Trust". Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2008.

External links edit