Behind the Build: The Skate Workshop App Infrastructure

Elite skate coaching is visual, fast-paced, and happens on the concrete. In early 2026, it became clear that the industry was outgrowing generic coaching platforms. Coaches like the one we built this for — a coach of Olympians — were forced to use corporate apps that didn't fit the speed of the skatepark. We built The Skate Workshop App to solve that.

In early 2026, it became clear that elite skate coaching was outgrowing generic platforms. Coaches like the one we built this for — a coach of Olympians — were forced to use dashboard-heavy corporate apps that didn't fit the speed of the skatepark. We built this app to solve three critical pain points:

• The Lag: Athletes couldn't get feedback fast enough mid-session.
• The Friction: Uploading and trimming clips was a 10-tap process.
• The Data Gap: There was no objective way to track trick progression beyond manual notes.

We didn't just build a web wrapper; we built a native-first coaching lab.

1. The Mobile Core (React Native & Expo SDK 52)

Built in Q1 2026, the app uses Expo SDK 52 to maintain a single TypeScript codebase that builds native iOS and Android apps.

2. Real-Time Infrastructure (Supabase & PostgreSQL)

Supabase holds the clips, the coach's markup and each athlete's progress, so feedback reaches the athlete without email or a second app.

Deployment was handled as a professional CI/CD operation in March 2026.

Certificates & Provisioning

Managing the "Store" hurdle is where most projects fail. I handled:

• Apple Distribution Certificates and Android Keystores via EAS (Expo Application Services).
• Automated Provisioning: No more manual Xcode certificate errors. Everything is signed in the cloud during the build process.

The CI/CD Workflow

• GitHub Actions: CI runs on every pull request.
• EAS Build: iOS builds go to TestFlight for beta testers. The app has not been submitted to the App Store or Google Play.
• OTA Updates (Over-the-Air): We use Expo Updates to push bug fixes directly to users phones in seconds, bypassing the 48-hour store review delay.

The app architecture and design aesthetic were heavily inspired by the high-performance needs of the community.

• Pre-launch website: theskateworkshop.app
• Portfolio Breakdown: JTS Skate Workshop Case Study

The design uses high-contrast dark modes and bold typography, ensuring visibility even in bright outdoor skatepark environments.