Faiz Hisham

Not Just Tricks: How Faiz Turned a Passion for Skateboarding into Full-Time Coaching

Could you tell us a bit about yourself as a skater and your work with SKATEedu?

My name is Faiz, I’m 35 years old. I’ve been skateboarding since 2004.

What first drew you to skateboarding, and how did that journey eventually lead you into mentoring others?

This is funny. I never wanted to be a skateboarder. Apparently, most of my secondary school friends were skateboarders. Slowly I learned about the culture and I really loved it. I did many things in skateboarding. Skateboarding is not only skateboarding. You can be in any subculture and still be a skateboarder. You have skateboarding, photography, filming and video editing. Skaters do ramps, do skateboarding events, some do music skateboarding inspired. Skateboarders have the coolest fashion style, in my opinion.

When I was 18 years old, I’d already figured out that I couldn’t be a pro skateboarder and I never wanted that. So what else could I explore? I explored everything else and landed into coaching/mentoring.

What led me to coaching/mentoring was that I was jobless at one point in my life, and a friend of mine, Ali, who was doing coaching, gave me a chance to try it. Ever since, I’ve really enjoyed it and have been coaching for over 6 years.

What does a typical mentoring session or skate session with skaters look like for you?

A typical day would be coaching kids and even adults. If it’s the first lesson, we do some ice breaking and some games. It doesn’t have to be skateboarding-related. I need them to trust me first, so I can teach them more easily. And I’m doing this full time! I’m confident to say I give it 100%.

How would you describe your style or approach as a skater today?

My coaching style would be fun and productive. Usually I would ask them how their day was, whether they’re tired, have they eaten, how’s school or work. From there I would cater the lesson to their needs. I think trust is what we need to build first. From there, coaching or mentoring becomes easier. The students will trust you, and you as the coach need to believe in them.

What are some challenges you face as a skater/mentor, and how do you see the skate community helping them grow?

My goal is to let everyone try skateboarding and to make it as fun as possible. Challenges? Where do I start? Parents having high expectations? Rain? Skateparks? Spaces. I think challenges are easier to spot, but I’ll do my best to solve them one at a time.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in skateboarding and wants to improve or find a community?

Learn to have fun. Start slow. Skate at your own pace. You set your own goals. The goalpost is always shifting. Slowly you’ll find yourself progressing and having fun. If you want to find a community, go to the skatepark and make friends. If you’re shy or scared, trust me, everyone at the skatepark felt the same way. You are not alone. We all start from the bottom. We know how you feel. We were there once. Have a good time!

What are you currently working on, and what can we look forward to next?

Currently at SKATEedu, we are trying to make skateboarding accessible for everyone, doing clinics and camps, making it affordable or even free.

🔎 Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/skateedu