Vallarta Skate Project: Skateboarding to Build Community
Skateboarding has carved out its own language within the urban culture of our destination. Since 2016, Vallarta Skate Project has championed this movement—an initiative born from the community and dedicated to transforming public spaces into real opportunities for children, youth, and families across Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas.
“Skateboarding is a sport that allows us to promote positive values. It’s also a multidisciplinary activity that combines art, music, and creativity,” says Javier Hernández, operations manager of Vallarta Skate Project.
Javier Hernández, operations manager of Vallarta Skate Project.
Its roots trace back to Punta de Mita, when Rebecca Scotti, Emilio Fernández, and a group of local skaters built the first ramps under the name Build Ramps Not Walls. Within the politically polarized context of that time, the concept evolved into a powerful message that inspired a short film showcased at international festivals (including Cannes) and paved the way for a broader vision. By 2018, the project adopted its current identity, focusing on one essential mission: creating safe places to skate and nurturing a vibrant local skate scene.
Today, the project orchestrates a network of initiatives ranging from park rehabilitation to structured learning. Spaces such as the skate park at the Estadio (Unidad Deportiva “Agustín Flores Contreras”), the Riomar Skate Park at Parque Lineal (developed with support of Vans Global), and a dedicated zone in Ixtapa are the result of years of collective effort, local design, and community commitment.
Anahí Torres, Rebecca Scotti, Javier Hernández, Isaac Valenzuela, Jorge Mariscal and Daniela Joya.
La Escuelita de Skate is another cornerstone of the project—a program for children as young as four, led by fairly compensated instructors and grounded in safety, creativity, and holistic development. This is complemented by activities that broaden horizons, such as the organization of national competitions and opportunities for young skaters to learn from internationally renowned professionals who come to the bay to mentor and inspire them through the Mentorship Project. Together, these efforts show that skateboarding can be a true platform for personal growth.
“The most important thing is what happens beyond the ramps: young people find a sense of belonging, and girls discover a safe space. Meanwhile, communities come together to build and maintain the parks themselves,” concludes Rebecca Scotti, founder and director of the project.
Rebecca Scotti, founder and director of Vallarta Skate Project.
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