Decks and Documentation: Preserving Egypt's Skateboarding Legacy

While often overlooked, the history and evolution of skateboarding in Egypt are rich with stories of perseverance, community, and creativity. We sat down with two pivotal figures in the Egyptian skateboarding scene, Hani Talat and Yehia O. Aboelfotoh, to discuss their journeys, the importance of documenting this history, and their vision for the future.

Beginnings and Inspirations

Hani Talat, a dedicated cinematographer and skateboarder, recalls his earliest inspiration from Tony Hawk American Wasteland. This fascination quickly turned into a passion when he got his first skateboard, a Powell Peralta Steve Caballero Golden Dragon, from his uncle in Dubai.

For Yehia, the inspiration came even earlier, skating with the old school skateboard next to his house when he was 6. He grew up watching Back To The Future, and that instilled his curiosity towards the sport.

The Impact of Skateboarding

Both Hani and Yehia agree that skateboarding has profoundly influenced their personal and professional lives. Hani, who transitioned from random photography to becoming a freelance cinematographer, credits skateboarding for teaching him resilience and persistence. Yehia echoes this sentiment, highlighting how skateboarding has enabled a much more resilient relationship with failure.

Documenting Skateboarding History

The importance of documenting skateboarding history in Egypt cannot be overstated. Knowing our history and understanding where we come from is really important. It gives the feeling of belonging.

This belief led to the creation of RAD (previously known as Radical), an audiovisual platform dedicated to showcasing the Egyptian skateboarding scene.

Empowering Egyptian Exceptionalism

Skateboarding is more than just a sport; it's a cultural movement that has the power to empower Egyptian exceptionalism. It influences so many things and gets influenced by so many things: fashion, music, art.

Yehia adds that skateboarding is one of the few sports that is more of an art form than anything else. The idea of self-expression is a much-needed matter within a culturally enclosed format.

Kick Flipping Over Challenges

Starting out wasn't easy for either of them. The biggest challenge when Hani started skating in Egypt in 2007 was not having a public skatepark. Fast forward to 2024, and they still don't have any public skateparks. Yehia shares a similar sentiment after skating for over 25 years.

Building a Tribe

Despite these challenges, Hani and Yehia have worked tirelessly to cultivate the skateboarding community in Egypt. In 2008, when most of the Cairo scene was dead, Hani decided to do Cairo's comeback along with Mo, Maisara, and Amr Sherif. When the rest of the skaters who stopped skating saw them working on a skate movie, they got excited to come back.

The Vision Behind Amulet

Amulet, their joint venture, aims to promote and enrich the skateboarding scene in Egypt. Their vision is to support the Egyptian skateboarding scene and community, to put the Egypt Skate Scene on the international skateboarding map. Their skaters are full of potential, and with the right guidance and nurturing, this artistic sport can thrive and flourish.

Global Connections

Hani and Yehia recognize the role of international brands and key figures in shaping the local skateboarding scene. Having international brands helps skaters get more awareness about the international skate scenes. This means more chances for Egyptian skateboarders to get the needed support and recognition on an international level.

Art and Skateboarding

Yehia's background as a painter and art educator has deeply influenced his approach to skateboarding and the community. Through skateboarding, he has also realized his passion for sharing his passion.

Future Goals

Looking ahead, both Hani and Yehia have ambitious goals for the future of skateboarding in Egypt. Hani wants skateboarding recognized as a sport, especially now that it's an Olympic sport. They just keep doing what they're doing, getting more involved, and creating an inclusive skateboarding community.