Over 300 skaters set new record at Etnies skatepark
in Lake Forest, CA.

On June 21, Go Skateboarding Day 2012 at the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest went down in skateboarding history! The skatepark set the Guinness World Record for the largest skateboard lesson ever given. Led by Pierre-Andre Senizergues, World Championship Skateboarder and etnies Owner/CEO, and Nick Gates, skatepark coordinator, 311 Southern California skateboarders of all ages and experience levels participated in the momentous day to celebrate skateboarding’s official worldwide holiday.

The event, held in memory of Thomas Johnson, an eight-year-old local skater who passed away from cancer in 2010, was filled with skateboarders and their families wearing Thomas’ favorite color orange in support of Team Thomas, a community created to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

“Today was not only about learning a lesson in skateboarding and setting a record, it was also learning about inspiration,” Pierre-Andre Senizergues said after the event yesterday. “Skateboarding was Thomas Johnson’s inspiration to stay active and happy when he was ill and his positive persistence has inspired the hundreds of skateboarders that came out today. As skateboarders, we need to give back and inspire others who skate or want to skate. Thomas’ memory did that for us and helped us to set the Guinness World Record!”

The Guinness World Records organization required 250 participants in the lesson to set the world record and with immense support from skateboarders all over the county, the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest surpassed that number by more than 50 people. The feat accomplished on Go Skateboarding Day 2012 set the bar high for skateparks around the world to break the standing record.