OG pro skater Karl Watson has always found ways to give back to skateboarding, both on and off his board.
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From years of inspiring skaters through his skating and community work, he continues to show that skateboarding can have a lasting impact far beyond landing tricks.
This time, Watson stepped onto a stage in front of around 400 people to share his personal story about how skateboarding changed his life.
Even though speaking to a large audience was very different from skating in the streets, he explained that skateboarders face uncomfortable situations all the time whenever they try something new or roll up to an obstacle they have never skated before.
Watson admitted he would only give himself a "C+" for his presentation, but he also said he plans to keep improving every time he gets another chance to speak.
His honesty made his message even more relatable, showing that growth comes from being willing to try something that feels difficult.
After finishing his speech, Watson joined everyone in assembling 100 complete skateboards that were donated to Rob Skate Academy.
The boards will help introduce more people to skateboarding and give young skaters access to equipment they may not have had otherwise.
Watson also thanked Sarah and Lamar Engel for believing in him and making the opportunity happen.
He also gave a shoutout to Deluxe Distribution, Satori Wheels, and Venture Trucks for supporting the skateboard donation.
It's always great to see skateboarders giving back to the community.
Between sharing his story with hundreds of people and helping put together skateboards for the next generation, Watson showed that skateboarding can open doors, build confidence, and create opportunities to help others.
Watson Posted:
"As I walked across the stage, mic in hand, telling the story of how skateboarding changed my life forever, all I could think about was how stepping out of my comfort zone is the only way to grow. We as skateboarders do this every time we try a new trick that is unfamiliar or hop on a new obstacle that is foreign to us, so it wasn’t something I wasn’t used to. But having an audience of 400 was definitely next level for me and on that day I pushed my boundaries. Yeah, I give myself about a C+ but I’ll continue to improve and will continue to step outside of my comfort zone to grow.
Once I stepped off of the stage, we all got together and assembled 100 complete skateboards that were donated to @robskateacademy
Such an incredible opportunity! Thank you Sarah and Lamar for believing in me 🙂 @thelamarengel and to the brands that supported us: @dlxsf @satoriwheels @venturetrucks"