Skitching

Skitching (abbreviated from "skate-hitching") is the act of hitching a ride by holding on to a motor vehicle while riding on a skateboard or roller skates. It is also sometimes referred to as bumper hitching, bumpershining, poggying, or bizzing, bumper jumping, and hooky bobbing,^[1] 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.^[2]

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 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.

References