Read an interview with two skateboarders from Los Angeles. Monica and Carl are teenagers from Los Angeles in the United States. They both love skateboarding. Read this interview with them and find out more about their favourite sport. Who invented skateboarding? Monica: Skateboarding began in California in the 1950s, but we don’t know who the first person to go on a skateboard was. Carl: In the beginning, skateboarding was popular with surfers. They wanted to practise surfing on land when the ocean was calm or the weather was bad. Where can you go skateboarding? Monica: There are skate parks in lots of towns and cities. They are special places for skateboarding. You can practise jumps at skate parks and meet other skateboarders. Carl: You can skateboard in the street too, but you have to look out for the traffic, people, bicycles and dogs. When did you start skateboarding? Monica: When I was a child, I liked going rollerskating with my friends. When I was thirteen, one of my friends got a skateboard and I tried it. I fell several times but I loved it. Two weeks later, I got my first skateboard. I haven’t stopped rollerskating. I like both sports now. Carl: I live in the city and there’s a skate park near my house. When I was eleven, my dad gave me a skateboard for my birthday and I spent the summer skateboarding at the skate park. I love the freedom and speed. When I was a child, I rode my bike every day, but I never ride it now. Is skateboarding dangerous? Carl: All skateboarders fall off their boards but fortunately most injuries are minor. It’s a good idea to wear a helmet to protect your head. Are there skateboarding competitions? Monica: Yes, there are. They usually take place in skate parks. Skateboarders do jumps or tricks. The skateboarders who do the most difficult jumps or tricks win. Carl: There was a campaign to get skateboarding included in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro but unfortunately it wasn’t successful. But who knows? Maybe, skateboarding will be in the 2020 games! Tell me about “Go Skateboarding Day”. Monica: “Go Skateboarding Day” is on the 21st of June every year. In the United States, Europe and Australia, there are competitions, parties and barbecues for skateboarders.

LA Skaters: An interview (level 1): Read at your level - text

What about fashion? Is there a skater look? Carl: At the moment, the fashion is for skateboarders to wear tight jeans or black trousers and a T-shirt or check shirt. Baseball caps and hats are popular too. Monica: A lot of skateboarders have long hair too. But fashion doesn’t matter. For me, enjoying the sport is more important than clothes. What’s a long board? Monica: A long board is skateboard that’s longer and has got bigger wheels. Skateboards are usually 70 to 80 centimetres long, but long boards are 90 to 120 centimetres long. It’s difficult to do jumps on a long board, but you can go fast. Carl: Listen to this! In 2006, a skateboarder went across Australia on a long board. That’s 5,850 kilometres! Robin Newton

Read the text about skaters in LA then do these exercises to check your understanding.

1. Check your understanding: grouping

Write the phrases into the correct group.

goes rollerskating and skateboarding says that baseball caps and hats are popular with

skateboarders

says it’s a good idea to wear a helmet got a skateboard for a birthday present

loves the freedom and speed of skateboarding started skateboarding with a friend

thinks skateboarding is more important than

fashion

says that skateboarding began in California in the

1950s

Monica Carl

2. Check your understanding: true or false

Circle True or False for these sentences.

1. Surfers wanted something to do when the sea was calm. True False

2. When she was a child, Monica rode her bike every day. True False

3. Monica started skateboarding when she was eleven. True False

4. Skateboarding isn’t going to be in the 2016 Olympic games. True False

5. “Go Skateboarding Day” is on 21st July every year. True False

6. It’s fashionable for skateboarders to wear tight jeans. True False

7. All skateboarders have long hair. True False

8. It’s difficult to do jumps on long boards. True False

LA Skaters: An interview (level 1): Read at your level - exercises

Answers to LA Skaters: An Interview exercises.

1. Preparation: matching

1. d

2. a

3. f

4. c

5. b

6. e

1. Check your understanding: grouping

Monica Carl

goes rollerskating and skateboarding got a skateboard for a birthday present

started skateboarding with a friend says it’s a good idea to wear a helmet

thinks skateboarding is more important than

fashion loves the freedom and speed of skateboarding

says that skateboarding began in California in the

1950s

says that baseball caps and hats are popular with

skateboarders

2. Check your understanding: true or false

1. True

2. False

3. False

4. True

5. False

6. True

7. False

8. True

LA Skaters: An interview (level 1): Read at your level - answers