Skateboarding in Afghanistan.

January 28, 2009 6:07 AM

Skateistan is Afghanistan's first dedicated co-educational skateboarding school.
posted by gman (15 comments total)

I saw this in the NYT, but now I wonder if it's a double seeing as they received press back in June of last year...
posted by gman at 6:40 AM on January 28, 2009

Dude, the Taliban is so not gnarly.
posted by jonp72 at 6:47 AM on January 28, 2009

In other news: Osama opens a skate shop.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:04 AM on January 28, 2009

I like the picture on the homepage of a kid grinding on an AK-47.
posted by CaptKyle at 7:12 AM on January 28, 2009

Aww, heartwarming. Thanks.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 7:20 AM on January 28, 2009

I'd sure like to do a kickflip to tailslide on Osama Bin Laden's face.
posted by porn in the woods at 8:11 AM on January 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

I couldn't find anything else, but the are doing something other than just teaching skateboarding, right? I missed something, right? Not that a little frivolity isn't good and necessary - but coverage in the NYTimes?
posted by From Bklyn at 8:14 AM on January 28, 2009

I couldn't find anything else, but the are doing something other than just teaching skateboarding, right? I missed something, right? Not that a little frivolity isn't good and necessary - but coverage in the NYTimes?

They're also teaching things like English and computer skills.
posted by CaptKyle at 8:19 AM on January 28, 2009

SKATEISTAN! [guitar riff] We put the RADICAL in RADICAL ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM! [explosion]

(jeeze how many times you gonna trot that one out. boo, get off the stage)
posted by Rhaomi at 8:27 AM on January 28, 2009

I'm trying really hard to think of a "Gleaming the Cube" joke, but I got nothin'.

Anyway, cool story.
posted by drjimmy11 at 9:09 AM on January 28, 2009

Spoiler: Animal Chin was hiding in an Afghan cave.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:18 AM on January 28, 2009

The more we have in common with each other, the harder it is for others to demonize us all.
posted by Xoebe at 9:19 AM on January 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

so awesome. glad to see more programs like this popping up. thanks for the post.
posted by auralcoral at 9:40 AM on January 28, 2009

Skateboarding is one of the Five Pillars of Punk.
posted by dunkadunc at 10:42 AM on January 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

Man. Skateistan is a much cooler name than the American equivelent, The United Skates of America. Good for them.
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 4:13 PM on January 28, 2009