"The skateboard saved my life" | Israel today

In the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates, Sharjah, the World Skateboarding Championship will open today in the first criterium competition for the Olympic Games.

Among the hundreds of participants, this will be the first time that the Israeli team will also take part, with the seven participants in blue and white wanting to show their abilities on the biggest stage in the sport that is on the Olympic program for the second time in a row.

21-year-old Yam Bachar was born and raised in Givatayim, and started riding a skateboard at the age of 4 when his uncle bought him his first skate.

Between football, surfing and skateboarding, he ultimately chose to focus on the last branch where he felt most successful.

At the age of 14, it was the first time he won the Israel Championship, and a year later he flew for the first time to the Asian Championship, where he reached the finals and was eventually ranked seventh.

Since then, he won the Israeli championship 8 times, and in the last competition in Rio he finished third among the Europeans.

Yam Bakr

Dreaming of a medal, photo: Yahav Trudler

What is so special about the industry?

"It's something that can't be explained, everyone takes it differently. On the one hand, for me it's peace of mind - even if I'm having a black day, I can just drop everything and ride for 3-4 hours, and my day changes 180 degrees like that. It The most amazing and pure thing in my life.

"I went through a very difficult time around the 11th grade, and I don't know where I would be today if the skateboard wasn't with me.

I had emotional problems, and this was my refuge.

I finished school and then until 12 at night I would ride.

You could say it saved my life."

Is this a dangerous industry?

"It's a very dangerous industry, but I believe that every industry has its own risks. In soccer, you can break your leg with a glitch. In training and competitions, I try to ride with a helmet, and that gives me confidence."

When does it get serious?

"When I was in the ninth grade I had to make a decision about what I wanted to do. You can't try to be the best in any sport, it's on the verge of impossible, so I went for the skateboard with all my might. It had everything I was looking for. When there's a trick you don't succeed and you try The same for a few hours, as soon as you succeed - it's hard to express the feeling in words. Making the decision was really not easy, and here I am today, almost eight years later and can say that I'm in a place I never even dreamed of."

How did you feel when the sport entered the Olympics?

"It was very exciting because I am a very competitive person. I wanted to be taken seriously, there is a stigma that it is a sport for children. It is simply a crazy feeling that a sport that you dedicate your whole life to receives such recognition. I am in contact with the Olympic Committee, and they are very supportive and helpful, and also I have sponsors who give me peace of mind to train."

Yam Bachar in action, photo: Bryce kanights

So the big dream is to reach the Olympics?

"The big dream is to bring a medal at the Olympics, I don't think it's so far-fetched. I still have a lot of hard work to get there, but first I want to get there and I believe I will do it."

Even before that there is the World Championship.

What does it look like there?

"There is crazy excitement for such a big event, this is the first world championship that a team is going to. We have a strong team with young people who are skaters at a very high level. I hope to finish among the first 16 in order to accumulate an important score for the Olympics."

As mentioned, the world championship will start today with seven Israeli athletes.

Four of them - Yaakov Trall, Shanir Kobashi, Dor Abuhchira and Shawn Rosenzweig who immigrated to Israel from Argentina - will participate in the Street Skate competitions on a track that contains street elements.

Also, three other athletes - Becher, Moti Ivanchenko and the only female representative, Shani Paz - will compete next week in the Parks field, which consists of ramps, poles (empty pools) and lots of airs (jumps in the air).

The team is accompanied by coach Almog From and the professional director of the branch Avi Luzia.

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