# Skitching

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{{Short description|Using a car to assist in human-powered transport (e.g. skateboarding)}}
{{original research|date=June 2013}}

[[File:Skitching.png|thumb|300px|Skitching after a [taxicab](/source/taxicab) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City)]]
'''Skitching''' ([abbreviated](/source/portmanteau) from "skate-hitching", pron: /ˈskɪtʃɪŋ/) is the act of hitching a ride by holding onto a motor vehicle while riding on a [skateboard](/source/skateboard), [roller skates](/source/roller_skating), [bicycle](/source/bicycle), or sneakers when there is snowfall. It is also sometimes referred to as '''bum-riding''' or '''hooky bobbing''' when being towed over snowy or icy streets on boots or a sled.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/speak/words/trackthatword/ttw/?i=1224 |title=Hooky bob (1965) |work=Do You Speak American? Track That Word! |publisher=[PBS](/source/PBS) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527031150/http://www.pbs.org/speak/words/trackthatword/ttw/?i=1224 |archive-date=2010-05-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  In addition, skitching can be performed on a bicycle or [inner tube](/source/Swim_ring).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wordspy.com/words/skitch.asp |title=Skitch |first=Paul |last=McFedries |work=Word Spy |date=November 4, 1997}}</ref>

[[File:Bicycle Skitching.png|thumb|[Lucas Brunelle](/source/Lucas_Brunelle) demonstrating bicycle skitching]]

==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. The skateboarding advocacy group Skaters for Public Skateparks reported that 2 of 42 [skateboarding deaths](/source/Transport_accidents) in 2011 in the [United States](/source/United_States) involved skitching.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/2012/01/2011-skateboarding-fatalities/#fatalitiesActivity |title=2011 Skateboarding Fatalities |first=Teresa |last=Waters |date=January 30, 2012 |publisher=Skaters for Public Skateparks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821131829/http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/2012/01/2011-skateboarding-fatalities/ |archive-date=2013-08-21}}</ref>

Skateboarding celebrity [Tony Hawk](/source/Tony_Hawk) has advocated against the practice of skitching due to the related deaths and injuries.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tony-hawks-warning-dont-skitch-20120124-1qf74.html |title=Hawk's warning: don't skitch |date=January 24, 2012 |work=[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald) |type=MP4 video|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127095402/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/hawks-warning-dont-skitch-20120124-1qfiz.html |archive-date=2013-11-27}}</ref>

==Cultural references==

===In film and television===
[Michael J. Fox](/source/Michael_J._Fox) can be seen skitching in [''Back to the Future'' (1985)](/source/Back_to_the_Future), as can [Michael Beck](/source/Michael_Beck) in [''Xanadu'' (1980)](/source/Xanadu_(film)) and [Christian Slater](/source/Christian_Slater) in [''Gleaming the Cube'' (1989)](/source/Gleaming_the_Cube) and [''Nerve'' (2016)](/source/Nerve_(2016_film)) as a dangerous stunt. It was portrayed in [''Biker Boyz'' (2003)](/source/Biker_Boyz), [''Lords of Dogtown'' (2005)](/source/Lords_of_Dogtown), [''Premium Rush'' (2012)](/source/Premium_Rush), and [''Better Call Saul'' (season 1, 2015)](/source/Better_Call_Saul_(season_1)).

===In literature===
* In [Neal Stephenson](/source/Neal_Stephenson)'s 1992 novel ''[Snow Crash](/source/Snow_Crash)'', a skateboarder uses a magnetic harpoon to skitch.

===In video games===
* The 1994 [Sega Mega Drive/Genesis](/source/Sega_Mega_Drive%2FSega_Genesis) video game ''[Skitchin'](/source/Skitchin')'' involves racing against other skitchers.
* The 2002 video game ''[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4](/source/Tony_Hawk's_Pro_Skater_4)'' and subsequent games feature skitching.
* Skitching is featured in the game ''[Jet Grind Radio](/source/Jet_Grind_Radio)''.
* ''[Bully](/source/Bully_(video_game))'' features skitching after receiving the skateboard.
* Skitching is possible in ''[Skate 2](/source/Skate_2)'' and ''[Skate 3](/source/Skate_3)''.
* Skitching is included in ''[Aggressive Inline](/source/Aggressive_Inline_(video_game))''.

== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [Car surfing](/source/Car_surfing)
* [Inner tube](/source/Inner_tube)
* [List of train-surfing injuries and deaths](/source/List_of_train-surfing_injuries_and_deaths)
* [Train surfing](/source/Train_surfing)
* [Skijoring](/source/Skijoring){{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Skateboarding
Category:Hazardous motor vehicle activities

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Skitching](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skitching) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skitching?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.