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The BoNana Street Skate – We’re Here For It!

Oct 06, 2025
 

The BoNana Street Skate may at times look like a massive urban takeover today, but it all started with a simple gesture — and it was really sweet.

Emirates skater, Bobo (aka Kim) wanted to get more street skating experience under her belt but didn’t have a great first experience with an advanced skating group. That’s when she was introduced to Nana, an experienced street skater who was gracious enough to step and  offer his support with a simple, slope free beginner friendly route. Nana is pretty wonderful like that. 

 

Bobo explained BoNana's humble beginnigs in her own words: 

"I came back to skating at the start of 2021 after knowing how to skate a little when I was younger.  Back then there were hardly any street skate groups, and all the skaters I knew seemed to only want to jam skate at that point, but I really wanted to street skate.

So I found a beginner's street skate group that went from Hyde Park, and I convinced a couple of mates to go with me.
 
When it got to the day of the street skate, I was running 10mins late and when I got to the park, I found that the group had already left, but I saw one of my friends still there.  I asked why she hadn't gone on the skate, and she explained they had chucked her off as she stumbled on the incredibly uneven floor, and they made her feel humiliated.
So I said "fuck them hoes" I'll to start my own street skate group, and we will wait for people, and we absolutely will not chuck anyone off!
 
Someone then got me in touch with Nana, who at the time was running his Friday night street skates that were for intermediate and above only,  and I asked if he would be interested in starting a street skate group with me aimed for beginner skaters.  Nana was so lovely and actually open to run a street skate with me, someone who he didn't even know at the time!  
 
Our first Street Skate was literally just myself, Nana and our mutual friend Keva, and I loved every minute of it! We went from Kings Cross, through Central London, along Embankment and ended in Liverpool Street.  I fell in love with street skating from that day!
 
After that, the group started growing and growing, and after a few months we named the group BoNana, an amalgamation of my name and Nana's name, and the rest is history!"
 
And so it began, with a handful of other less experienced street skaters, supported by a few experienced skaters who also wanted to show their support while enjoying an evening skate with friends. 

 


Fast forward nearly 4 years, and those little Sunday evening roll outs [all organised via their WhatsApp group] have become a solid fixture within the London street skating scene. Most Sunday evenings, Bobo and Nana are still leading out large numbers of skaters from King’s Cross, weaving and styling their forwards and backwards skate flow through to the centre of town — all completely free of charge. It's all about enjoy a street skate with other who are passionate about skating outdoors. You'll mostly see skaters wearing hockey skate conversions without toe stops, and you'll also see people enjoying a skate their entry level soft skates, converted trainers, hard and soft wheels — literally anything goes! Skaters of all levels and from a variety of backgrounds happily skate together with music pumping from all directions.

People quite literally come from all over the UK for a taste of the BoNana experience. Skaters regularly show up from all inner London, some will get the train in from outer London, and I've seen skaters come from up north just for BoNana. They see avtion videos on social media and want to be a part of it. It's a beautiful thing to witness, and to be a part of. 

 

 

The Bonana Route

The first half is deliberately beginner friendly — no steep slopes or mad sprints. We roll out from King’s Cross station to Russell Square, up Gower Street, down Tottenham Court Road, cutting through Goodge Street and other central spots before stopping at Oxford Circus to complete the first half. They've created a really nice route which takes advantage of the smoothest cycle lanes, bus lanes and side roads in the area.

 

➡️ Watch Bonana: Summer Skate [July 24]

➡️ Watch Bonana: Spring Skate [April 25]

 

 

Over time, the skill level of the core group grew and more people were showing up. Skaters naturally wanted to go further, a tad faster, and explore the city at night. And so, the second half was born, taking those that opted for more adventure with slopes and quicker pace changes thrown into the mix. BoNana's second half takes us over some of the bridges that cross the Thames (offering up the most incredible night views), rolling the slick modern surfaces around St Paul's Cathedral, Stratford, and other London locations exposing skaters to a variety of terrains. The route changes at each meet to keep things interesting for the regular street skaters. It's this level of freshness that keeps BoNana firmly in their A game!

 

"...It just grew from a monthly thing, to a bi-weekly thing, it just grew. I think 2023 was the turning point, bank holiday -- that's when it just really grew.

It blows my mind to this very day that BoNana is what it is now, the creativity and the whole aspect of it. Kim handles the logistics, I just plan the routes. All the elements of BoNana make it a learning process each day -- we learn from each other."

~Nana



Pure Good Vibes

 

BoNana is one of a kind. It’s not just another street skate; it’s a whole community who have journeyed and contributed to shaping a culture of street skating in London — and, sometimes in locations much further afield, like Barcelona during their special Skate Love Festival edition!

 


Bobo and Nana are backed by 
a committed core crew of skaters, marshals in hi vis, first aid trained skaters, people willing to chaparone nervous skaters who are new to the streets, and plenty of friendly faces who’ll hand you a tool, readjust your wheel nuts, or just openly encourage you to do your best and enjoy the experience if you’re new. Everyone’s looked out for, and made to feel like an integral part of the BoNana family. This is the culture they've propogated right from the early days. 

"BoNana is not just a street skate group, it is a community, and both myself and Nana are thrilled to be able to create something so positive and to see so many people come together and spread joy on the streets! As Nana always says "we're outchea in these streets!!"

~Bobo 

 

 

Going Further with Themes

 

BoNana have indulged in a few themes over the years [that tie in with Halloweeen and Christmas] and it's been good fun to see. In September 2025, I joined their very first BoNAnime Anime themed

 

 

skate, and wow — what a spectacle it was. Skaters turned up in full creative flow, costumes, colours, ...and anime inspired wigs! It wasn’t just fun for us; people on the street were stopping to relish the display — who doesn't enjoy a bit of anime cosplay? It was a fresh idea that brought more energy. So much so, that they've announced the theme will return [I'm sure with a vengeance]  next summer.

 

 

 ➡️ Watch Bonana: BoNAnime Edition [Sept 25]



What’s Next

 

The next big one? The 'BoooNana' Halloween Skate. You’d better believe I’ll be there, fully clad in Halloween cosplay. The only question is… will you be able to spot me? Time will tell.

BoNana Street Skate started with acts of kindness and friendship, and now it’s grown into a huge family that takes over the streets of London on any given Sunday night. They have continued to nurture a culture of kindness and meaningful connections through their consistent support, inclusivity and sense of fun. I do not doubt that Bobo and Nana will continue to maintain this as a culture for the long term. We’re so here for it.

 

 

Kelly

Cranial Osteopath | Wellbeing Coach | Roller Skate Instructor

Skate Base London

 

Have you taken part in a BoNana Street skate? Is this something you'd like to try? Share your thoughts and comments below.

 

THE GEN X SKATER

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