Kids learn to skate with Christian Hosoi and Tosh Townend
McKenna Volkswagen Surf City hosted a "Learn to Skate" day this Saturday to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington Valley. Legendary McKenna skate team riders Christian Hosoi and Tosh Townend spent the afternoon teaching little dudes and dudettes from the community how to catch air and grind. Pads, helmets, skateboards, and ramps were provided by Shaun White Supply Company, and then donated to the club for the skate program hoping to launch this summer. The day included music, food, giveaways, an afternoon live concert by The Originalites, and of course, a whole lot of skateboarding.
For these legendary skaters, this event is about more than just a day of skating. "I was born and raised here," says Townend, "and it's a good thing to give back to the community, skate with the kids, and have a good time."
Hosoi adds that these lessons on skateboarding also hold valuable life lessons: "It's teaching kids not only how to skateboard, but how to try harder, to get back up again. You know, these are things that will transcend into the every day."
McKenna VW Surf City is known for reaching out and giving back to the community. General manager Tam Nguyen shared that this event is about preserving skate culture, and more than that, it's about bringing people together for a good cause. In terms of future fundraising events, Nguyen's scope is broad. "We're thinking the next charity might be CHOC hospital, and there are families in Huntington Beach that really need our help, kids who need guidance, so maybe a brother and sister program. We're always looking for the person that really needs the help, and that we can get together and help them out. For us right now, it's the kids that need the most help."
