Skate Club Telč¶
We create open and safe space for interaction¶
About Skate Club Telč¶
We are a safe and open space for children, parents, and the wider public.
- We educate through experience – children and parents learn together
- Movement teaches us courage, creativity, respect, and equality
- We build natural authority, seek disruption and collaboration
- We focus on the process, not performance – falling, learning, growing
- We reach into culture and broader society
We are deliberately building a skate club in close cooperation with parents, starting from the youngest ones. Through shared experience, we grow into a supportive community format where we all learn. We were surprised, but some parents took up skating and have their own way from scratch.
Some of the children of Skate Club Telč originate from the forest kindergarten Na Větvi and the private community-type elementary school Vážka. Both are based on internal motivation, playfulness, joy of discovery, and respect for oneself and others.
A common priority for us are healthy relationships and respectful communication. We reflect on innovative approaches in education, for example, during winter training, when we apply topics from the Ido Portal Method / Movement is Life.
Parent Effectiveness Training / P.E.T.
Skate without losers.
Values in skateboarding¶
- A sense of community
- Overcoming fear
- Pain management and the Art of falling
- Here and now, the opposition to the modern age
- Creativity and freedom
- Coordination and cooperation
- Spending time outdoors
- Perseverance
- Equality and respect
A skateboarding experience¶
The beauty of skating is that everybody has a unique set of variables that they can put in place and express their individual identity in the form of – call it – greatness.
— Rodney Mullen
We do not succumb to the temptation of our own mediocrity. We take risks and live with the urge to resist authority. We have a primal need for independent expression. Ambition and creativity storm within us. We are devoted, determined, and open. Of course, we are stubborn. We live Zen.
A sense of community. We respect the effort and endurance. As you spend time with others, you'll see them fall, bleed, sweat, and curse as they learn new tricks. You'll see their worst moments and see them finally triumph and achieve something they've been fighting for. Image, money doesn't even mean anything. An example of how relationships are formed in extremely strong situations (war, survival, etc.).
Overcoming fear. We gain the ability to face fear and still be determined. Skateboarding exposes a person to movement that is not natural. Anyone who wants to drop the ramp has to lean over, fall down and then somehow manage.
Pain Management and the Art of Falling. We manage the pain and it builds resilience and mutual respect. Skateboarding hurts. Learning a new trick brings pain and minor injuries. It is necessary to overcome the pain and keep trying. Those who ride learn to fall, because otherwise you can't do skateboarding.
Here and now, the opposition to the modern age. The sense of immediacy hides one of the greatest aspects of skateboarding. If you don't focus on the ride or trick, you will fall. Skateboarding is a form of meditation. Meditation reduces stress, increases self-awareness and increases development towards self-realization. The "self-realization / self-actualization" are terms associated with humanistic psychology and the theory of motivation (A.H.Maslow). Basically, they mean "to fulfill your potential".
Creativity and freedom. To what extent am I myself? Everyone skates for themselves, dresses as they want, invents tricks and their order. No one cares who jumps on a bus or an expensive car. Communication, community, respect, freedom and liberty are all available – if one is willing to overcome oneself.
Coordination and cooperation. Finding balance with body leads to mental balance. Skateboarding is about coordinating your own movements, constantly monitoring the movement of your surroundings and finding the ever changing available space. This is one of the basic lessons at DAMU, in theatre, dance or martial arts. This experience can save your life when driving a car, motorcycle or even cycling. It's not a gimmick, it's a process. Exposure to imbalances also slows aging and reduces the likelihood of civilization diseases.
Spending time outdoors. Through movement, I gain respect for myself and at the same time receive it from the community. The last generations are losing the balance between their own space and the outside world — peer pressure, information pressure, social networks, availability of things in e-shops and supermarkets. Skateboarding is an individual, providing free movement to everyone. Every skater experiences this – over and over again. Social networks or even YouTube make sense with skateboarding, because they are used for self-improvement — who did what trick, how, what could be done, how to learn a new move, and so on.
Perseverance. I don't get results without a long-term investment. Without results, I will not gain self-respect or community reciprocity. These are empty words here, but anyone who has ever stood on a skateboard has experienced this and carries the experience with them for life.
Equality and Respect. We are equal. We perceive space around us and use it without blocking anyone else. Everyone does their own thing. We accept differences, givens and needs. From children to grandfathers. Age and other differences do not matter because we respect each other. Be cool, dude. Just ignore toxic jerks, if any.
Our principles¶
We adopt the principle of how to create change by Ulrike Reinhard: Disrupt → Observe → Co-Create → Let go.
Ulrike has long been a catalyst of collective intelligence and network nodes, an enabler who forges direct links that bring people together. She seldom follows a steady straight line but always shows an unwavering sense of direction.
🛹 Systems over Objects¶
We think in broader contexts. We don't focus solely on skateboarding skills. We consider how the club influences children's self-confidence, family relationships, the role of girls, and community cohesion. One of our core values is "Girl power — Girls come first." We're steadily evolving from a skate club into a community HUB.
Example: We organize events that connect skateboarding with culture — showing that the club is part of a larger system. We maintain close contact with parents, as well as with organizations like Káčko Jihlava and other organizations.
💪 Resilience over Strength¶
We value mistakes. We encourage children to fall, get up, and try again — both literally and metaphorically. Summer skate sessions and winter training are adaptable — they reflect the current energy of the group and the level of willingness to try new things.
Of course, we set intentions over time, do our best to achieve them, but we remain flexible and responsive to new developments, organically tuning our plans. We reduce the cost of our failures and the risk of injury — on all levels.
🛠️ Practice over Theory¶
We learn through doing. We involve children and parents in creating rules, organizing events, the "Art of Skate" exhibition, and even the upcoming quarter pipe construction.
Example: Instead of long planning sessions, we try out new training formats and adjust them based on feedback. We encourage parents to invest in the community — for example, by joining a group trip to the Mystic Skate Cup.
🌱 Emergence over Authorities¶
We want our kids to grow into respected figures — individuals who stand out through their social skills, who unify rather than divide, and who take responsibility without pushing others aside.
For us, authority is defined by reputation and respect, not by dominance. Ideally, the emerging leaders will be children with high emotional intelligence (EQ) — those who value collaboration, respect their teammates, and feel no need to seize power. They should be proudly connected to the system they're part of — and actively engaged in building it.
❓ Disobedience over Compliance¶
We create an environment where it's okay to question things. We need strong individuals who feel comfortable not fitting into the usual mold and who are confident enough to ask questions. We are building an environment for new disruptors. Are they demanding? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Does a safe environment require clearly defined boundaries? Unconditionally!
During sessions and winter trainings our riders are already used to saying what they want to do and what they want to achieve. We discuss why, how and what needs to be changed. We demand inputs from children, parents, and partner organizations. We are constantly reshaping ourselves and seeking a stronger 'WE'.
🧭 Compasses over Maps¶
The Telč skateboarding community is proud, open, and non-toxic. It perceives skateboarding from many angles and continuously creates opportunities for self-development. Spending quality, unstructured free time is becoming a necessity of our lives. Death to boredom and social media!
We live in the here and now — with overlaps into surfing, skateboarding beyond borders, universal movement, and endless friendships. Together, we're creating a better place to live.
We don't know exactly how to achieve all of this, but we know why and in which direction we're heading. One small act of mutual support at a time, session by session. We're learning to trust, building community, and investing in a shared vision.
🧲 Pull over Push¶
Skate Club Telč doesn't come with a fixed plan. Instead, we create a safe and open space where ideas can grow — sparked and shaped together with the local community. We don't create projects for kids and parents — we build them together. Our goal is for initiative to come directly from the riders. When the ideas are their own, they naturally take greater responsibility for bringing them to life.
Example: The "Picnic on Skateboards" was an initiative purely by students from Vážka Elementary School. That's exactly why it was such a success — and it's become a foundation we continue to build on.
📚 Learning over Education¶
We let children discover what truly interests them — whether it's skateboarding, organizing events, or filming videos. It's not about what we teach them. It's about what they want to create and explore on their own. We create a safe space where the chance for self-development can grow.
Ideally, Skate Club Telč is seen as an environment where children can metaphorically get burned — a place where they can experience and process risky situations, rejection, or consciously choose to avoid addictive substances.
🤝 ME and WE¶
We focus on values and the contribution to the community. We support individuals — the 'ME's — who then help create a better 'WE'. We don't expect them to always be the best skaters or top students.
We value children who help others, show empathy, or bring the group together — not just those who can land the best tricks. Often, it's the overlooked underdogs who surprise us the most — those who truly live and breathe change.
Manifesto¶
1. We Create Safe Space¶
We are a home for kids, parents, and anyone who dares to try. A place where falling is part of learning, and where everyone belongs — no matter their age, background, or skill level.
2. We Learn by Doing¶
We don't teach from the top down. We build ramps, organize events, and shape our club together. Kids lead. Parents join. Everyone contributes.
3. We Value the Process¶
Skateboarding teaches us courage, creativity, and resilience. We celebrate the fall as much as the trick. We grow through effort, not perfection.
4. We Are a Community¶
We skate, talk, laugh, and sometimes cry — together. We support each other through scraped knees and big dreams. We are more than a club. We are a movement.
5. We Disrupt with Purpose¶
We question norms. We challenge authority. We build new systems based on trust, respect, and shared responsibility. We are raising disruptors, not followers.
6. We Choose Emergence Over Control¶
We don't follow fixed plans. We follow energy, curiosity, and the needs of our people. We adapt, evolve, and co-create — session by session.
7. We Believe in Girl Power¶
Girls come first. Always. We create space for their voices, their leadership, and their freedom to ride.
8. We Live in the Now¶
Skateboarding is meditation in motion. It brings us into the present, into our bodies, into the moment. It's how we resist the noise of the modern world.
9. We Build the Future¶
We're not just raising skaters. We're raising kind, confident, emotionally intelligent humans. Leaders who unify, not divide, and take over the responsibility naturally.
10. We Are the Change¶
We don't wait for permission. We act. We build. We support. One trick, one session, one shared moment at a time.
Contact¶
Skate Club Telč, z.s. Registration number: 19318537 Transparent account: 2602855005 / 2010
Jakub Šafář · +420 730 131 779