Skitching ( abbreviated from "skate-hitching", pron: /ˈskɪtʃɪŋ/) is the act of hitching a ride by holding onto a motor vehicle while riding on a

skateboard A skateboard is a type of sports equipment used for skateboarding. It is usually made of a specially designed 7–8-ply maple plywood deck and has polyurethane wheels attached to the underside by a pair of skateboarding trucks. The skateboard ...

, roller skates,

bicycle A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered transport, human-powered or motorized bicycle, motor-assisted, bicycle pedal, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two bicycle wheel, wheels attached to a ...

, or sneakers when there is snowfall. It is also sometimes referred to as bum-riding or hooky bobbing when being towed over snowy or icy streets on boots or a sled. In addition, skitching can be performed on a bicycle or inner tube. Bicycle Skitching

Dangers

Because skitching is often done in traffic, on inadequate equipment for the speeds traveled, and sometimes without the knowledge of the driver of the vehicle, there is significant potential for injury or death. The skateboarding advocacy group Skaters for Public Skateparks reported that 2 of 42 skateboarding deaths in 2011 in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

involved skitching. Skateboarding celebrity

Tony Hawk Anthony Frank Hawk (born May 12, 1968), nicknamed Birdman, is an American professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, and the owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. A pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding, Hawk completed the first docume ...

has advocated against the practice of skitching due to the related deaths and injuries.

Cultural references

In film and television

Michael J. Fox can be seen skitching in '' Back to the Future (1985)'', as can Michael Beck in '' Xanadu (1980)'' and Christian Slater in '' Gleaming the Cube (1989)'' and '' Nerve (2016)'' as a dangerous stunt. It was portrayed in '' Biker Boyz (2003)'', '' Lords of Dogtown (2005)'', '' Premium Rush (2012)'', and ''Better Call Saul (season 1, 2015)''.

In literature

* In

Neal Stephenson Neal Town Stephenson (born October 31, 1959) is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction. His novels have been categorized as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and baroque. Stephenson's work explores mathemati ...

's 1992 novel '' Snow Crash'', a skateboarder uses a magnetic harpoon to skitch.

In video games

* The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis 1994 video game '' Skitchin''' involves racing against other skitchers. * The 2002 video game '' Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4'' and subsequent games feature skitching. * Skitching is featured in the game '' Jet Grind Radio''. * '' Bully'' features skitching after receiving the skateboard. * Skitching is possible in '' Skate 2 and Skate 3''. * Skitching is included in '' Aggressive Inline''.

References