Kickflips Beneath The Capital: Inside Delhi's First Underground Indoor Skatepark

Underneath the chaos of South Delhi’s Neb Sarai neighbourhood — once known for its murals, graffiti, and vibrant music scene — exists a place that might as well be a world apart. A basement echoing with the sound of rubber wheels crashing against plywood and concrete, this is the Delhi Skateboarding Academy — the city’s first underground skatepark, and the beating heart of NCR’s growing skateboarding subculture.

The Academy, better known as Delhi SB, is tucked away beneath the hustle and bustle of the national capital, serving as a sanctuary where skaters of all abilities come to practise new tricks, fall, pick themselves up, and try again. Its ramps, rails, quarter-pipes, and banks are designed to challenge even India’s most experienced skaters; however, for beginners, there are instructors, protective gear, and a friendly atmosphere.

When the idea for the academy first took root, skateboarding in Delhi was mainly a pursuit of public parks and DIY neighbourhood corners. Before Delhi SB, skating in the city was largely improvised — young skaters claimed the city's marble benches, drainage slopes, and empty parks as their arena. However, the city’s unpredictable weather, extreme heat, smog, and untamed air pollution often made practice outdoors frustrating or impossible, if not hazardous.

That’s what makes this underground space so vital. The academy has become a community. Here, beginners find qualified guidance, while veterans sharpen their skills for competitions. Helmets, pads, and boards are often available, easing entry into a sport still regarded as niche. For many Delhiites, it’s the first space where skateboarding feels possible for the first time.

Skateboarding in India has long carried an outsider spirit. Unlike cricket or football, it lacks powerful federations or major sponsors. Instead, the subculture thrives on DIY spaces, viral social media clips, and the counter-cultural energy of young people reclaiming the streets. In a city where public space is often contested and policed, skating carries cultural weight: it turns overlooked corners into arenas of free expression.

Delhi SB’s underground setting embodies that ethos of rebellion. Sheltered from the city’s unpredictable weather and the moral policing of critical gazes, it offers skaters a judgment-free zone to push limits and build community. Here, bruises are badges of progress, and the sound of boards slapping plywood feels like an anthem.

Follow Delhi Skateboarding Academy here.

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