As a subculture, skaters value creativity, risk, and freedom. Whereas traditional sport is organized and run by adults, skateboarding is not. There are “no referees, no penalties, no set plays. You can do it anywhere and there is not a lot of training” (Beal & Weidman 2003).
What type of culture is skateboarding culture?
Skateboarding is a youth subculture that emphasizes the importance of self-expression and taking risks. Considered one of the top 10 sports today, this unique sport is increasingly popular, despite its reputation as an outcast or rejects sport.
What is the skate lifestyle?
Typically, skaters are individuals who value individuality, creativity and freedom. They are also known for an unrelenting dedication to progressing the sport as a whole. Instead of trying to one-up each other, they often encourage fellow skaters and embrace individuality.
What is skateboarding subculture?
Skateboarding has developed as a youth subculture that emphasizes creativity and individuality. It is an alternative to mainstream team sports, which are more formally organized and largely controlled by adults.
When did skater culture start?
Skateboarding, as it exists today, was probably born sometime in the late 1940s, or early 1950s, when surfers in California wanted something to do when the waves were flat. This was called “sidewalk surfing” – a new wave of surfing on the sidewalk as the sport of surfing became highly popular.
Why do people like skateboarding?
The risk of injury, the determination to pull off a difficult trick, and the physical demands of the sport all come together to produce an intense adrenaline rush. Pulling off a difficult trick you’ve been working on for months is exciting, and that excitement is part of the reason why skateboarding is so popular.
What type of people skateboard?
Skateboarding appeals to all kinds of people. Although a majority of skaters are teenage males, a visit to any popular skatepark will present a diverse collection of patrons.
Is skating a counter culture?
Since the beginning, skateboarding was seen as counterculture. The only thing that truly defined who could be a skateboarder was the fact that none of us fit in anywhere else. Unlike other sports where teams are organized, practices are scheduled, and funding is allocated, skateboarding is complete and total anarchy.
Why is skating considered cool?
One could argue it was always cool because of the unique way it allows us to interact with urban space, feel the sense of speed and balance as well as a way to express oneself. The days where punks and misfits were the only ones skating are long gone.
Is skating an art?
Skateboarders can do graphics, some can even make art, but skateboarding itself is not an art. Defined by Raphael Zarka, skateboarding is a ludic, playful activity that is an extended form of play.
Where did the skater subculture come from?
History. Skateboarding, originally named ‘Sidewalk Surfing’ (The Center for Mental Health UCLA), first appeared in Southern California in the 1950s with one simple idea in mind, to surf the streets. Surfers wanted to create a way they could surf the streets when waves were low, or it was no longer surfing season.
What are skateboarders called?
What Skateboarders Call Themselves. Skateboarders and ice skaters both go by the generic term “skater,” which can lead you astray if you’re searching the internet. But since you almost never find them in the same place at the same time, there’s generally no confusion in the real world.
Where is skateboarding most popular in the world?
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is by far the most famous city for street skating because it is where street skating began.
Why is skateboarding not a sport?
Skateboarding isn’t and never really will be a sport, there’s no team, no rules, and no limits, only creativity. Although competitions are big in skateboarding, none of them can compare to the olympics. For example, Street League, it’s the biggest competition host in the industry.
Who invented skating?
The French inventor M. Petitbled patented a three-wheeled inline skate model in Paris in 1819. But it wasn’t until 1863 that James Plimpton “revolutionized the roller skate” by designing quad skates, according to the National Museum of Roller Skating.
Who invented the Ollie?
Alan "Ollie" Gelfand
Invented in the late 1970s by Alan “Ollie” Gelfand, the ollie has become a skateboarding fundamental, the basis for many other more complicated tricks. In its simplest form, the ollie is a jumping technique that allows skaters to hop over obstacles and onto curbs, etc.
Why are skaters a subculture?
Skateboarding is not only a means of travel or even just a sport. As a subculture, skaters value creativity, risk, and freedom. Whereas traditional sport is organized and run by adults, skateboarding is not. There are “no referees, no penalties, no set plays.
What skateboarding teaches you about life?
Skateboarding is about going against the grain, challenging and expressing yourself. Skaters are taught at birth to look at architecture, culture, and society from a different lens. You have a unique chance in this life to leave a mark — your only chance. My advice is to try and leave a bold one.
Why is skateboarding so addictive?
Endorphins. Endorphins are basically the hormones that alter your mood, specifically they give you a good feeling. During times of physical stress, from exercise, injury, or doing an exhilarating activity (riding a waterslide for example), your body releases endorphins that alter your brain to give you good feelings.
What is skater style called?
What is the skater aesthetic called? Skater style, or skatecore, became a phenomenon in the ’90s. The clothing is practical, loose, and comfortable, does not restrict skateboarders, and offers some protection. The aesthetic can be described as casual and carefree, but there is also an anti-establishment element.
What is the average age of a skateboarder?
The average age of skateboarders is between 13 and 14 and they participate in the sport on average 50.8 days in the year. 90% of them are male and 60% are under 15.