Summer 2024 kicked off successfully with our first skateboarding camp, known annually as the Progress Skateboard Camp STARTER. The camp once again took place in the Liptov region, where we are close to popular top Slovak parks such as Liptovský Mikuláš, Poprad, Martin, and this year we also added a smaller newly established park in Pribylina. Regarding this year's camp, we can confidently say that we achieved several milestones: the most girls - a total of 5, the most camp participants - a total of 17, the most instructors - a total of 5, the oldest participant - 30 years old, and the youngest participant - 6 years old. We would like to thank everyone for their trust and hope that you enjoyed the camp as much as we did.

We started the camp again on Sunday when we settled into our well-known accommodation Via Jasná. The first evening was introductory, where we, the trainers, introduced ourselves, then the camp participants introduced themselves, and we set goals and the program for the upcoming week. After the introduction, we warmed up on balance boards, and the more experienced skaters went to ride at a nearby spot right next to the accommodation.

Monday morning started with breakfast, loading into cars, and heading to the nearest skatepark in Liptovský Mikuláš. In the park, we began with stretching and repeated the names of the camp participants since not everyone stayed at the accommodation. After a quick briefing, we immediately dove into skateboarding activities. We started with pushing, tic-tacs, and penguin pushing to assess the skaters' levels. Then, we divided into groups according to skill level and got to work on improving. Given this year's number of participants, it's no surprise that the skill levels were very diverse - from complete beginners to experienced skaters who could handle more challenging tricks.

We trained until around 12:30, then went for lunch in the center of Liptovský Mikuláš, to the restaurant Soup's On, where we had an excellent menu prepared for everyone. After an hour's break, we returned to the park to continue practicing tricks. The Monday training day ended around 4:00 PM, and by 5:00 PM, we were already at the training center FitFactory Liptovský Mikuláš, where we reviewed the day, stretched, and did a gymnastics training session. Monday ended with dinner and lights out at 10:00 PM, which went smoothly after an active day.

Tuesday morning was tougher due to the intensive Monday training. We planned to go to the camp's most popular skatepark, Martin. The day started with a comprehensive warm-up, dynamic stretching, and then exercises on the pump track. After an active warm-up, we moved to the park, where everyone found their spot for training. The training again focused on progress at all levels.

Given that the Martin park is huge, each camp participant found their training spot, whether it was small ramps, big ramps, rails, boxes, or the skate pool. Beginners tried pumping the pump track for the first time on their own, advanced skaters practiced on the ramps, and some enthusiasts flew in the pool. A delicious lunch from Nhabe Bistro arrived directly at the park at 1:00 PM in both meat and vegetarian versions, so the well-deserved hour-long rest took place right in the middle of the park.

After lunch, we gradually resumed training activities, such as various tricks on ramps - rock to fakie, rock'n'roll, 50-50 grind, and also tricks on boxes and rails - various boardslides and grinds. We ended the day with extensive stretching and moved to Ľubochňa for Italian pizza at Pizzeria Eden. In the evening, we had a workshop on how to apply grip tape, and after an 8-hour training day, lights out at 10:00 PM went smoothly.

Wednesday is always about "rest activities." We started at the favorite resort Vila Vista, where slack lines, a gymnastics trampoline, and a workout playground awaited us. After a basic warm-up, we moved to the workout playground, where we trained strength development - pull-ups with an underhand grip, overhand pull-ups, monkey bars, hanging on one hand... After an active workout, we moved back to the restaurant Soup's On, where we reviewed the day and planned the afternoon.

After lunch, we went to the newly built skatepark in Pribylina, which is smaller but fun. After skating, we moved to the thermal spring in Kalameny, where we relaxed stiff muscles in thermal water. The brave ones tried cryo-training in the ice tub. We ended the successful Wednesday with a barbecue and balancing on balance boards from our partner BalanceBoard.sk.

Thursday we trained again in Martin, starting with a quicker dynamic warm-up and pump track with all camp participants. After stretching, we moved to the park, where we had video coaching and filming of the tricks learned. Progress was visible in everyone. Girls Evka and Ema, who were beginners, successfully navigated part of the pump track and learned to ride in the skate pool both normally and fakie. The youngest participant Tomáško (6 years old) managed rock to fakie in the largest part of the pool, and his brother Andrej, along with Miško, also dropped in the largest part of the pool. Boys Filip and Jakub were doing grinds and slides on almost all the boxes and rails. Girls Monika, Vanesa, and Aneta tried drops from larger ramps. Tomáš and Patrik practiced ollies while riding and also pop shovits and rock to fakie on ramps. Boys Artur, Robin, and Oliver practiced ollies while riding and ollies on the box, which were going well. Oliver even managed clean attempts at kickflip, which he learned at the camp. Maxo and Levi were flying around the park, improving mainly tricks they had been diligently working on all year during Liptov training sessions.

We assessed Thursday as the most progressive day, filming the most tricks and capturing many shots.

Friday always starts in Poprad, so in the morning we quickly moved to Poprad, unpacked, and followed with a dynamic warm-up. Friday was the final day of the camp, which was evident in the kids' performance. Despite the fatigue, we got moving, and everyone nailed their tricks they had been working on all week. Those who still had energy filmed the last variations of tricks that weren't yet on camera, while the others worked on improving learned tricks. For lunch, we had a menu waiting at Karma Coffee in Liptovský Mikuláš. After a hearty lunch, we had the final program in the Liptovský skatepark, where we gave a closing assessment of the whole week, reviewed the progress of the riders, and handed out prizes from partners.

We evaluate the first camp of this summer as very successful and hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and had at least as great experiences as we did.

THANK YOU to all camp participants and especially to parents for their trust.

We also thank our partners, without whom this wouldn't be possible: Chillstore, Interport, Tlakers, Sportby, Deska Trenčín, Kulíšek, Boardlife, BalanceBoard, Nhabe Bistro, Soup's On, Pizzeria Eden, Karma Coffee, FitFactory Liptovský Mikuláš, Vila Vista Apartments!

THANK YOU, TEAM 3StyleAcademy.eu