About David Walker and the Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic

About David Walker, Event Founder

David A. Walker David Walker (center) with the NYC Sports Commissioner and the winner of the 2005 Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic (Karen Roston photo)

David Walker, (det. sgt. ret. NYDP) founded the Father's Day Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic and revived the sport of Double Dutch.

In 1973, Dave started a bicycle safety program for children. This bicycle safety program has become the Skyscraper, the oldest and most prestigious cycling race New York City, often attracting world class, olympic cyclists.

Also in 1973, aware that there were no intramural sports for girls in the schools, Dave held a Double Dutch demonstration at Harlem's I.S.10 for the NYC Board of Education. The Board of Ed loved it and from the late 1970s-the late 1980s, Double Dutch was an intramural sport in the NYC public schools, with the championships held at Lincoln Center. Today, the big event is the Annual Holiday Double Dutch Classic at the Apollo Theater that attracts teams from around the world. A documentary filmed at the 2004 holiday classic Rhythm in the Rope and shown on ESPN2, won the Emmy award for outstanding sports documentary. For more information, visit www.nationaldoubledutchleague.com