‘Many frowned when they first heard about a skateboard high school. 17 years later we have learnt a lot. And we are still here.’
BRYGGERIETS
Skateboard High School
John Dahlquist
Teacher
Vice Principal
January 2025
Can you tell us something about Sweden that no one knows?
Wow! Getting fact checked straight out the gate. The essence of being a teacher. I often come to realize that when people talk in general it is ok to guess and make up facts for the sake of the conversation, in the classroom you have to know your stuff. Most people probably do not know that the propeller, the zipper, the wrench, Bluetooth and the pressure flip are all Swedish inventions.
Pressure flip is made in Sweden? Tell me more please.
Hazze Lindgren, Swedish freestyler and one of the originals on New Deal skateboards invented the pressure flip. For my generation it was the most expensive times as pressure flips worn down boards like no other trick. Funny enough Hazze later worked with Performance Tip, a plastic tail and nose to make boards last longer. Hazze is a legend.
In 2006 the skatepark turned into High School because Sweden changed their laws for NPO to become schools. Were there any other creative schools that came out of this new initiative?
The skatepark and its organization is still here. The school was just added to it. For a period, a series of schools opened all around Sweden including a CSI-high-school. Most of those schools are probably not around today. Many frowned when they first heard about a skateboard high school. 17 years later we have learnt a lot. And we are still here. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
CSI-high-school. Are you referring to a high school specializing in crime scene investigation (CSI)?
Yes. It was located outside of Malmö. It was probably just a normal school with a science profile but to make it cool they called it Crime Scene Investigation-school. It is not around anymore. I never saw a Paradise Hotel school, but who knows what the future holds?
How can people apply for your school. Do you have to submit a ‘sponsor’ or for better word ‘educate me tape’ to get into the school?
(Laughing) Great question. In the old system, before 2011, we actually had auditions and could accept skaters according to how good they were. But they still had to have good enough grades to be eligible. We never used that rule. Everyone that applied was accepted during the first years. Now it is all based on grades and students apply through a national system. We do not have a say in the matter, it is a central system that gives us groups of students. Lucky for us we always get the best students in the world.
‘We actually had auditions and could accept skaters according to how good they were.’
As per your Pocket Interview, you stated that ‘Learning is universal. What we do in skateboarding works in other parts of life too.’ What are some of the less obvious things that can be taken from skateboarding?
There is so much. I am actually on my final draft of a book, Skate and Educate, about skateboard as a learning tool. We know skaters spread thin and can be found in all walks of life. In one chapter I try to see my students as future colleges and realize that many of the qualities that skateboarding holds are really good in both work and life. Think about how focused most skaters are on having fun, never giving up, making stuff look cool and self-education. All those qualities are on top of my list when I look for new colleagues. And friends for that matter too. I prefer to work with people who spread good energy compared to someone knows everything. Everyone can learn.
Apart from skateboarding and art, is there anything else you teach that people could use to be actively involved in the skateboard industry like running a board company, becoming a photographer, filmer, video editing or building a skatepark?
I do teach a design class where we often do colabs with companies and people in skateboarding. The last two years Viktor from CPHO brand has basically taught the students to produce, market and sell glasses and watches, lending them his platform. His point is that everyone in the class knows how to run their own company after that. He always tells them that there are no secrets, things are often easier than one might think. This message has turned out to be very powerful and more than a few students have gone on to both starting their own businesses as well as used the experience to apply for design schools and such.
Who was the most exciting guest teacher and why?
I am so grateful for everyone who has contributed with their time and insight to our work. It feels wrong and impossible to just pick one so here is a few: As I write this I am texting with Jesus Fernandez. He writes that he would be keen to pop by and skate with a class one day. We have done so before and Jesus is just so down to earth, supportive and accessible. If someone would have told me when we started that this would happen, I would just laugh. What other school has true legends in the field just pop by? Later today we are doing a panel discussion with Oski, Vilma Ståhl and national skate team member Koffe Kroon. They are discussing the different ways to make a career in skating after school. We have a great network of former students who seem eager to come back and support what we do. It always warms my heart. It is very powerful for the students to get to hear from someone who was in their place. Literary. Tony Hawk was great, it doesn ́t get any bigger than that. Brian Andersons story and way to connect with the students was moving. He even has a Malmö tattoo on his chest drawn by our teacher/tattoo artist Charlie. The list goes on. Johnny Wilson ́s stories from the streets is another gem. Tom Shaar is another. When it comes to guest lectures Viktor Telegin from CPHO Brand is in a class of his own. Listening to his lecture is like watching a good stand up special.
‘Think about how focused most skaters are on having fun, never giving up, making stuff look cool and self-education.’
Has the skateboarding high school concept been adopted elsewhere in Scandinavia or even around the world? Whether this is around skateboarding or another activity?
Fryshuset in Stockholm had skateboarding in school way before we did. But as an integrated part of the whole education, we seem to be a one of a kind. But there are plenty of more initiatives that use skateboarding as a means for learning. Not just great NGO ́s like Skatepal and Skate after School but also education with skateboarding. My best example is probably Shifty ́s in Boudreaux. The work Push to Heal does with trauma treatment is amazing too. Damn, I wish I could visit all these places and see it first hand! Skateboarding can do a lot of good when used in the right way. It can be totally pointless too. That is cool as well.
In your interviews you are always asked about the pros that came out of your school. However, I am more interested in a story about a ‘general’ student that is very inspiring.
Great question. We always try to explain that this is just a regular school. Most of the day just flows by like any other school. Motivation lacks, couple brake up, tests and the common cold. Life. If you have seen the TV series Post Radical with Rick McCrank you might remember this story. Sondre Mortensen was interviewed and asked if he had excelled much through school and answered “If becoming a better human being counts, then yes”. That is both heartwarming but also an objective for schools much greater than grades and landing tricks. Then again, it is hard to call Sondre a “general” student. He is one of the best skaters and built a guitar out of used skateboards as his final project. The kids are all right.
‘Skateboarding can do a lot of good when used in the right way. It can be totally pointless too.’
Is there anything else you want to do with your High School but there are limitations set by the government?
The government is not anything I often think about but off course they are providing the funds. The last couple of years the funds have gone down. Politicians say that welfare and education is important but their action speaks another truth. My limitations are more set by the schedule and the students. I would love to work on more holistic projects such as trips and videos that include everything from traveling, building and studying without the limitations of schedule and other subjects. But that is probably better suited for another school form. All in all, I have gotten to do and work with things that most high school teachers could only dream about.
What is on your wish list?
Right now my first step is to finish my book on skateboarding as a learning tool. My second draft is laying next to the computer staring at me as I write this. When I am done, I just hope there is interest for it. Other than that, I really wish to do more stuff outside the school. Work, give workshops, coach and see if the things I have learned and developed here holds any value outside this little bubble. Feel free to get in contact!
Last question. If you could pick any person in the world to be your guest speaker, who would it be and why?
Wow! Dream big. I would love to have a panel discussion with Colin Kennedy, Neil Chester from a TM side of skateboarding combined with skaters like Sarah Meurle and my favorite skater Dick Rizzo about how to make it in skateboarding from the two perspectives of industry – skater. But if I had to pick one I think Nora Vasconsellos would be a cool person to have that builds a bridge between skate and art in a good way. No, I ́ll go with the easy way out: Gonz. All day. What a dumb question. It is like asking any skater for their favorite top three. Everyone knows that top three skaters are always at least top 8.
‘I have gotten to do and work with things that most high school teachers could only dream about.’