Skating isn't just for a moment, it's for life!

Teddy from Apeldoorn volunteers as a longboard coordinator at Longboardlesjuh. Here, you can learn longboarding, develop your skills, and meet like-minded people. Along with three passionate longboarders, he teaches children and serves on the board. Teddy has been longboarding for 10 years and is a true skater. With a heart for the sport and lifestyle, he enjoys spending his free time building a community for longboarders in Apeldoorn. In his daily life, he is setting up his own business, developing various (skate) characters for skate webshops that consumers can use as online avatars. He finds the design process a great outlet for his creativity.

Longboard community

For Teddy, it’s not just about giving lessons; it’s about creating a place where passion and development come together. “As a longboarder, I missed a community for longboarding in Apeldoorn. We were always a small group; friends moved out of town or went pro in the sport. I missed a place that fostered passion and development in longboarding. While working at a brasserie, I overheard a conversation by Hidde. As a youth worker, he talked about building a community for young people. I immediately engaged in the conversation, and shortly after, we started Longboardlesjuh.”

Safe haven

Teddy gives longboard lessons to young people, not just to teach them the sport, but also to provide them a place where they can be themselves. For him, it’s not only about learning tricks but also about encouraging positivity and teamwork. “It’s great to see the happy faces of the kids and parents. By sharing my passion, experience, and tricks with the kids, I give them something they can enjoy for the rest of their lives. My motto is: skating isn’t just for a moment, skating is for life.” Learning to longboard isn’t just about the sport. “We provide kids with a place to channel their energy, express their frustrations, and learn to interact positively. Negativity has no place with us; we call each other out on that. I believe in positive reinforcement, this is a safe place where everyone develops. Do good, meet good! We make each other feel good, and that helps young people grow personally and in the sport.”

Recharging

Teddy volunteers for something he loves. “I focus on the knowledge side and sponsorship for the community, it doesn’t drain me, it energizes me! In my free time, I’m engaged in my passion, and we’re building a community, which is fun to do.”

Growing and flourishing

For Teddy, volunteering is about creating a positive place where people can grow, collaborate, and simply enjoy longboarding. Teddy shares the inspiring story of Tim: “a boy who was involved from lesson one. In the beginning, he was insecure and cautious. I’ve seen him develop into a confident young man who not only masters tricks but has also embraced the art of teaching. He has undergone a positive development with us, and that makes me happy!”

For whom will you make a difference?

Find out what you can do here!