Skitching

Skitching after a taxicab in New York City.

Skitching (abbreviated from "ski-hitching" or "skate-hitching", pron: \ˈskē-chiŋ\) is the act of hitching a ride by holding onto a motor vehicle while riding on a skateboard, roller skates or bicycle. It is also sometimes referred to as bumper hitching, bumpershining, poggying, or bizzing, bumper jumping, and hooky bobbing, the latter three referring primarily to the equivalent done on icy or snowy streets without a skateboard or roller skates, but skitching does not include a snowboard; the proper wording for that is snitching. In addition, skitching can be performed on a bicycle or inner tube.

Types of skitching

Lucas Brunelle demonstrating Bicycle Skitching

The term "skitching" can refer to a number of related activities. The unifying concept is that the skitcher holds onto a motorized vehicle while it is in motion, using the vehicle to propel themselves along.

Skateboard skitching

By far the most referenced type of skitching in news sources and popular culture, if not necessarily the most practiced in reality, skateboard skitching is the act of holding onto a moving motor vehicle while riding a skateboard. Skateboard skitching has appeared in films and video games, and is confirmed to be the cause of death for a number of youths and young adults. Some young drivers are willing participants in skateboard skitching, which can open them up to legal action in the event of an accident.

Inline skates skitching

Skitching is also performed on inline skates. It has appeared in video games, for example Skitchin' and Jet Set Radio.

Bicycle skitching

Likely more common in practice than other varieties of skitching, bicycle skitching is the act of holding onto a motor vehicle while riding a bicycle. Bicycle skitching is frequently practiced by bicycle messengers in urban areas, with drivers who are most often unknowing of their activity. Bicycle skitching is not directly responsible for as many deaths or injuries as other varieties, which may be due to the fact that bicycles are safer to operate at high speed than skateboards and other modes of skitching.

Snow skitching

What may be the original type of skitching, snow skitching involves holding onto the bumper of a moving vehicle in a crouched position on snow-covered roads. The practice may have started after school when students were dropped off from their school bus, and used the bus to skitch closer to home so they wouldn't have to walk. The chromed metal bumpers of the late fifties provided a good grip to gloved fingers. Car speeds were quite slow due to very icy conditions [see also lake effect snow]. It was not something to be encouraged but was widely practiced.

Motorcycle skitching

In motorcycle skitching, the driver of the motorcycle flips their legs over the saddle and drags their feet on the ground while holding onto the handlebars. This is similar to ghost-riding in motor vehicles. Motorcycle skitching requires metal plates on the soles of the rider's shoes to protect them from the road surface.

Dangers

Because skitching is often done in traffic, on inadequate equipment for the speeds traveled, and sometimes without the knowledge of the driver of the vehicle, there is significant potential for injury or death. Reported skitching deaths include 17-year-old Lachlan Burgess in January 2012, 18-year-old Cody Doolittle in August 2010 and 16-year-old Joey Madison in August 2007. Statistical data on skitching-related deaths and injuries is "difficult to come by", however the skateboarding advocacy group skatepark reported that 2 of 42 skateboarding deaths in 2011 in the United States were skitching-related. Skateboarding celebrity Tony Hawk has advocated against the practice of skitching due to the related deaths and injuries.

Cultural references

In film and television

The Z Boys perform skitching in the film Lords of Dogtown. Michael J. Fox can be seen skitching in the 1985 film Back to the Future, as can Michael Beck in the 1980 film Xanadu and Christian Slater in the 1989 film Gleaming the Cube. It was done in Biker Boyz and Premium Rush as well.

In literature

• In Neal Stephenson's novel Snow Crash skateboard Kouriers like Y.T. use a magnetic harpoon to skitch.

In video games

• The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis video game Skitchin' involves racing against other skitchers.
• The video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 and subsequent games also feature skitching.
• Skitching is featured in the game Jet Grind Radio.
• Bully also features skitching after receiving the skateboard.
• Skitching is also possible in Skate 2.
• Skitching is also included in Aggressive Inline.