We immediately recognized Jose’s love for Christ and his desire to reach the youth of Mumbai, India when we first received an email from him asking us to send him some Youtube videos that would teach him how to skate.

You see, at the time, Jose was in his early 30’s but he had never stepped foot on a skateboard. After learning about Ride Nature, hearing the stories and testimonies of how skateboarding was being used to reach youth worldwide with the Gospel, and recognizing the potential that skateboarding had as a tool to build relationships with the kids in his community of Mumbai, Jose was eager to learn how to skate.

As firm believers that you’re never too old to learn something new….especially skateboarding, we sent over duffle bags with 3 skateboards to get him started. Little did we know the impact that would come from just those 3 boards.

Through a few graceful falls, Jose began to start pushing around his neighborhood and quickly the youth started showing interest as well. While learning to skate himself, Jose simultaneously began teaching skate lessons to the youth in his neighborhood. This led to a Bible study in a coffee shop, then grew to a skate outreach at the local YMCA, and now has grown to a full church community. 

Since 2009, we have given away literally thousands of boards to children and leaders all around the world. But with the gift of each board we have no idea the impact that will follow. The vision for the organization was birthed out of the dream to see kids given the chance to surf and skate globally but never did we imagine that the simple gift of a few boards to a friend in India would have the impact that it has had.