Local designer raises money for skatepark construction in Peru

The cracking of skateboards against wood and concrete filled Baum Avenue North on Saturday evening, as part of a fundraiser aimed at supporting Peruvian skateparks. 

Ayden Stoefen, founder of local design company Stoef’s Studio, organized the event, and will put money earned from raffles and vendor fees towards two skateparks set for construction in the Peruvian cities of Huanchaco and Lobitos. 

This is the second event Stoefen has put together on Baum, which sits between Green Bench Brewing and Karma Juice Bar near downtown St. Pete. Grateful for the large turnout, the local creative told the Catalyst his successful fundraising is due in part to St. Pete’s appreciation of art and skate culture.

“St. Pete has a very artsy style to it, and it’s part of the vibe that goes around in this city,” he said.

At least 20 vendors filled the street, selling things like skate apparel, vintage T-shirts and house plants.  Glass House Point and other bands performed, and in the middle of it all, skaters rode the mini ramp, or halfpipe, in bracketed competitions based on age and skill level. 

The participants, as well as crowd members, were able to either pay or skate their way to raffle prizes, which included merchandise from the event’s larger sponsors. While Stoefen is still calculating the totals, he’s expecting to donate over $2,500 to the Concrete Jungle Foundation.

A nonprofit based in the U.K., Concrete Jungle specializes in building skateparks for developing countries, and has led successful constructions in places like Angola and Jamaica. Troy Björkman, development director for the foundation, says they begin every construction in response to a demand for skate infrastructure in places that have little.

“Every single project that we do is in response to local demand,” Björkman said. “We don’t choose a spot and say ‘hey it would be sick to build a skatepark here,’ . . . there is a community of skaters already present, but not any opportunities to further develop that skillset or that passion.”

Members of the foundation believe the countercultural aspects of skateboarding help attract kids and teens who may not be interested in traditional sports. Concrete Jungle offers educational programs alongside its skateparks, so young people from areas with drugs and crime have an outlet to learn healthy habits and get involved with extracurriculars.

“That subcultural stamp that (skateboarding) has makes it much more alluring for kids that have issues to actually want to get into it,” Björkman explained.

The new skateparks planned for Peru cater to a blend of surf and skate culture that Concrete Jungle first tapped into during 2017, when they helped fund and build the Alto Trujillo Skatepark. The organization has stayed connected through their educational programs, and plans for the two projects to contribute even more to the Peruvian skaters they have been working with.

Björkman says “youngsters” in these towns will be able to sit in during the new constructions, so they can learn the skills for themselves and continue growing the skate scene independently. 

The organization’s work in South America is also how Björkman joined forces with Ayden Stoefen.

The two skaters met at a hostel while traveling separately through Peru in 2018. One year later, Concrete Jungle invited the St. Pete-based designer to help document the skatepark they were building in Angola. Stoefen has been a frequent collaborator with the nonprofit ever since, shooting photo, video and contributing graphic designs.

After the Skating Across Borders event, Stoefen says big-name brands Volcom and Globe approached him looking to do similar events in other cities. The skatepark construction in Peru is set to begin in August 2021.