Alabama Getaway
2024 World WCMX Finals with an Adaptive Skateboarding Division
Today our family work up in Birmingham, Alabama. We faced holiday airports head on and did a full send as Askate presents the 2024 World WCMX Finals, produced by Action Park Alliance. What the heck is WCNX? Think para/adaptive skateboarding but replace the physical skateboard with a customized wheelchair for extreme shredding.
Finding the platform
Although both WCMX and adaptive skateboarding have been around for over a decade, the fight for inclusion at big events is still a very current battle. There have been demonstrations at major events but it’s still difficult to find actual adaptive and WCMX divisions with a cash prize for the winners. Hosting events with inclusive divisions creates an added layer of difficulty and liability so it is an easy way for event hosts to exclude these groups. That’s why it’s so important when organizations like Askate, Action Park Alliance and people like Victor Nelson hosts a skateboarding event specifically for underrepresented athletes. Thank you for giving us a platform to show up in person and online via livestream to show other people like us that skateboarding can be for them too at a competitive level.
Showing up
Could it be inclusion is limited because not many athletes are able to show up to the events being held? Funding could be playing a major role in this. Most professional skaters have companies backing them and any event they want to can be funded from start to finish trip. The same cannot be said for the majority of adaptive and WCMX athletes who are continuing to self fun their journeys to events with hopes their sport gains traction and more inclusion someday. The hard part about it is without those willing to self fund or scrape up the funding to show up to these divisions the risk of disappearing all together is all too real. When organizations provide adaptive divisions but no one shows up it forces event hosts to reconsider dedicating precious time at their events. Losing our adaptive division at the Grind for Life and Boardr events in 2024 was heartbreaking but understandable because there were rarely enough adaptive skaters showing up to even fill the podium.
Spreading stoke
Our family likes to try and document our time at events with adaptive divisions to get people who are unable to attend excited that the event is happening. This trip to Alabama was only the second time we got to attend a WCMX and adaptive skateboarding specific event. It’s not easy for anyone to drop what they’re doing the second week in December and get on an airplane to skateboard but that’s literally what it’s all about. Something bigger than a contest or a trip to a new place. It’s an opportunity to be with others who are typically a “1 of 1” where they are from and come together and be a group. A group of people from many different backgrounds and stages of life showing up to skate in their own way so one day when a kid or recently disabled person who may think they don’t fit in can realize that’s not a thing anymore.
So as the Ferraro family takes on Birmingham, Alabama our only mission is to have fun. Enjoy the platform we have been given, commune with others who have made the trip and ultimately spread the joy of skateboarding. Thank you to those who have given adaptive skateboarding and WCMX a platform for 2024. I hope more take on the challenge for 2025 and beyond!
Again big thank you to Askate, Action Park Alliance, City Walk Skatepark, WCMX World Federation and the City of Birmingham, Alabama. Wising everyone a wonderful holiday season. One love.
Love you and what you are doing in support of others. You and your wife are my fucking heroes man! Happy to support, only wish I had more. Peace and ONELOVE!