Hey! I’m Greg Skolaski and I am so excited to be coming on-board as an area representative for FCA Action Sports in Rochester, NY.

Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, I grew up playing soccer, basketball and softball but my favorite activity, by far, was skateboarding. I enjoyed being a co-captain of my Christian school’s varsity soccer team. And, I eventually traveled around Europe playing for the USS Santa Barbara command team as a goodwill ambassador. But, even as a naval petty officer, I couldn’t shake the daydreams of skating the ramps and pools back home.

My first taste of “action sports” ministry was, actually, as a senior in high school in 1990. But, this type of ministry didn’t have a name back then! My friends and I proposed the progressive idea of building a halfpipe for a summer evangelistic crusade. Skaters from all around the Chicago area came to compete in our little skate contest and heard the gospel message in the process.

This was exciting to me!

I had dreams of making this idea a full-time ministry. But these types of “extreme” sports had not yet gone mainstream. I felt the pressure to grow up, go to college and get a real job - so I did. Over the next few decades, the dream faded and I hadn’t skated for just as long. At 50 years old, the desire was still there and surprise, so was the ability to skate!

After a 30 year career in entertainment, media and church ministry, I found myself being drawn back to my first love of skateboarding. While filming an FCA Motocross event, I wondered if sports like skateboarding, snowboarding and other individual sports could find their place at FCA. Come to find out, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes had been envisioning some of the same ideas!

In early 2022, (recovering from few broken bones and other injuries) I finally made the decision to pursue action sports ministry. After a therapeutic few years back on a skateboard and conversations with the Rochester regional director, Cody Foster, and metro director Jesse Tanner, God unveiled another piece of His plan. At this point, FCA Skate and FCA Surf had launched in New Jersey and I was encouraged to consider serving alongside FCA as an area rep.

Planting a God-centered, uplifting and thriving action sports community in Rochester excites me. Partnering with churches and youth pastors to bring about camps, skate clubs and even a Christian skatepark facility is what we are envisioning. And, fostering personal relationships with an often overlooked subculture leads to God working in powerful and unique ways.

My family and I live in Pittsford, NY and attend New Hope Fellowship in East Bloomfield where I also serve as an interim media director.