Skateboarding marathons went multiplying all over the world since 2010: some are held on a circuit, other through cities or entire regions. Some last a few minutes, others one hour, others last for three days, others last for 24 hours continuously…
The IDSA certifies and compiles the annual ranking of riders and records, which ultimately are broken always more often. But not all the races take place under the auspices of IDSA, some famous races are even illegal (though very crowded!).
Since a few years, we wanted to organize something similar in Italy; a little step to put our Country on maps, but also to create a factor of aggregation for that small but growing group of italian Distance Skateboarding enthusiasts: the art and sport of moving on a skateboard (often in the form of a longboard), covering small, medium, long and… record distances!
After reviewing dozens of bike paths in every region, after having tested small street circuits of all kinds, in 2015 we had the idea to organize the first Italian race (informal, self-organized, free and made possible thanks to the help of volunteers) on the most beautiful circuit in the world: the Autodrome of Monza. A kind of critical mass “race version”, we would not know how else to call it!
Half marathon, 20km. Participants were about 30, of which there are the names of the only 15 arrived on time (!): all of them true pioneers and heroes … the temperature that day was really really hot!
In 2016 we change location and we move to Milan into one of his most famous parks, the Lambro Park. A real green lung that since 2002 is home to the skatepark that with his bowl is one of the most famous and loved spots of the city. A unique opportunity to celebrate skateboarding in all its multiple realities!
According to some of us a spontaneus event like Pusha! would have sooner or later shown his limits of participation, due to impossibility to exploit public advertising channels, and, in a worst case, of organizers responsibility. So in 2017 we start thinking about an appropriate location to host the first official LDP event in Italy in an easily to access position with structures to receive athletes and audience for a great annual date: Piacenza Cycling Track is the one. Collaborating with UISP Nazionale Pattinaggio Sezione Skateboard, Comitato Piacenza and Comitato Regionale E.R., we have succeeded in realizing this project in a dual formula, Marathon and Half Marathon, to allow as many people as possible to express their passion for LDP, with also a Slalom Show to give visibility to a skateboard declination as spectacular as not much popular in Italy.
2018 edition was a success. Skateboarders from all over Europe gathered and faced each other riding their boards in a peaceful, friendly and sportingly challenging mood. Organizers left almost anything to chance; all guests appreciated staff commitment and passion for this project, confirming the sanctioning as Official Race coming from IDSA.
In 2019 rain didn’t stop the fun desire of riders and audience. Trophies for the fastest riders were selected from local food specialities, in order to let foreign guests tasting the best of traditional Italian cuisine; for the first time none of them was left exposed for long time on a trophy case!
Pusha! fifth edition has been postponed for two year because of global pandemic that prevented riders from gathering and racing…but not training!
Indeed expectation for this event has grown up exponentially from the announce of official date: the 22nd of May 2022. One of last year news was about Piacenza Skateboarding School partnership and the return of 1Km Junior Race for U18 riders. The event took place with a boiling weather! Athletes raced under the hot sun with temperatures above 30°C, a real showdown especially for North Europe racers.
To limit bad weather conditions, Pusha! organizers started to plan a 2 days event, with a night marathon, never seen in Europe before! This new kind of happening will allow more rest for participants and more time to socialize and have fun together after the Saturday race.
The train is moving and can’t be stopped anymore; preparing the May event we announce:
Welcome to Pusha! 2023
PUSHA! has been made possibile by past sponsors like:
Please contact us if you would like to sponsor the race and keep in mind that all the founds from the race will go to charity!
This site – as the event – only serves to provide appointment and a reference point to fans of Long Distance Skateboarding, there is no source of profit.
Further informations