Sk8 or Die: Where Skateboarding Meets Storytelling at Eagle Rock School

At Eagle Rock School, education is about much more than classroom lectures and textbooks. It’s about exploring passions, developing empathy, and building connections in unexpected places. One such place? A skatepark. Led by World Languages Instructional Specialist Josán Perales and Human Performance Center Fellow Lukas Chin, the course Sk8 or Die offers a unique blend of skateboarding, filmmaking, and community-building, challenging students to push themselves physically and creatively.  

The Story Behind Sk8 or Die

The idea for Sk8 or Die came to Josán Perales after witnessing how skateboarding helped his son, who has ADHD. The sport provided an outlet for focus and self-expression, and Josán, a lifelong educator, began researching the broader mental health benefits of skateboarding. He noticed that many students at Eagle Rock were already passionate about skating, often frequenting the local skatepark in Estes Park. This sparked an idea: what if he could create a class that combined the mental and physical challenges of skateboarding with the art of storytelling through film.

Josán shared this idea with Lukas Chin, who immediately saw the potential. Lukas has taught several film courses at ERS, and though he had never skateboarded before, he quickly fell in love with the sport, appreciating how it offers a clear progression of skills and an opportunity to overcome physical and mental hurdles. For Lukas, skateboarding’s visual and dramatic nature made it the perfect subject for a film. It’s more than just tricks and flips—it’s about falling down, getting back up, and persevering. Together, Josán and Lukas set out to create a course that would allow students to capture these growth moments on film and share the transformative power of skateboarding with others through a documentary film.

A Class for Everyone

Sk8 or Die is not just for expert skateboarders or aspiring filmmakers. It’s for anyone with a curiosity about both skateboarding and film. The class welcomes students at any skill level, from beginners to those who’ve been skating for years. The only requirement is a willingness to try—and to fall. Both skateboarding and filmmaking come with challenges, and students quickly learn that perseverance is key. As Josán and Lukas remind their students, the title Sk8 or Die isn’t just about skating; it’s about finding what you love, what’s essential for your mental and emotional well-being, and committing to it wholeheartedly.

The course runs for five weeks, with students spending their days immersed in both skating and filming. Week one focuses on introducing students to the basics of skateboarding and visiting various skateparks across Colorado. Since some students are completely new to the sport, special attention is given to making sure these students feel comfortable on the boards. As they progress, students begin to experiment with video production, capturing their skating experiences and interviewing local skateboarders and shop owners. By week three, the class is deep in excursions, visiting three different skate shops, eight different skateparks, and partnering with local skateboarding organizations like Square State Skate and Launch Community Through Skateboarding. Students sometimes spend more than 12 hours a day skating, filming, and learning about the skateboarding community from experts. 

The Power of Community

At its core, Sk8 or Die is about community. From day one, students start to understand that skateboarding is more than just a sport—it’s a powerful tool for building empathy and fostering connections. Whether they’re first-time skaters or seasoned pros, students quickly realize that they have to rely on one another for support and encouragement. It’s common to see more experienced skaters mentoring beginners, or students working together to capture the perfect shot on film. This spirit of collaboration is quintessential in building empathy, and mirrors the larger skateboarding community, which, as Josán and Lukas emphasize, has made strides in recent years to thrive on inclusivity and mutual respect.

The class culminates in the production of a short film that showcases the students’ journey, both on and off the board. Students learn to approach filmmaking with a critical lens, reflecting on their identities and the power of storytelling. The course challenges students to consider why they are telling certain stories and how they can tell them in ways that inspire change. Filmmaking can be revolutionary, offering a platform for voices that need to be heard. It encourages students to ask, "What stories do I have to tell?" 

Each student is responsible for editing a scene that reflects their personal experiences, with the final film screened at a local movie theater. The students collectively developed a mission statement for their film: “How does skateboarding build community and benefit personal and collective health?” Within this statement, major themes around community organizations, skate shops, and personal skater stories emerged. Every shot and interview connects back to this idea, showcasing how skateboarding can break down barriers, create a sense of belonging, and contribute to mental health.

The partners they met along the way—like Square State Skate, Launch, and Skate With Us Boulder—deeply understood the project’s goals. These organizations work to foster youth development and create spaces of empowerment, especially for women and nonbinary individuals in skateboarding. This theme of empowerment and inclusivity runs through the entire course, with students learning how to tell stories that highlight the transformative power of skateboarding.

The Legacy of Sk8 or Die

The beauty of Sk8 or Die is that its lessons go far beyond skateboarding. By combining physical challenges with creative expression, the class teaches students about resilience, empathy, and the importance of community. The legacy of the course is that it could be repeated with any sort of activity—what begins with skateboarding could evolve into other activities like mountain biking or rock climbing.

All of this took place while the Estes Park Skatepark was under construction, adding an exciting backdrop to the students' journey. The park was completed during the school break and had its grand opening on September 22nd. With perfect timing, part two of Sk8 or Die kicked off on the 23rd, marked by a big celebration at the new skate park. This event not only highlighted the students' achievements but also emphasized the growing skateboarding community in Estes Park, bringing together students, local skaters, and supporters in a shared passion for the sport and the culture surrounding it.

For prospective students at Eagle Rock, Sk8 or Die offers more than just the chance to learn a new skill. It’s an opportunity to become part of something bigger, to tell a story that can inspire others, and to discover the power of following your passions—whether they’re on a skateboard or behind a camera. If you’re interested in pushing yourself physically and mentally, we invite you to reach out and learn more about starting your journey at Eagle Rock.