Skateboarding is one of the most popular "board cultures" in the world. Skating on a board with wheels on a hard surface exists already more than half a century and for this time has evolved from a momentary amusement of surfers up to the multimillion industry with cult brands, personalities and a special view of the surrounding reality.
Origin
It all started somewhere in the 1950s in America. A popular legend says that the prototype of modern skateboards was invented by Californian surfers who attached primitive wheels to wooden boxes. On these carts, they rolled to the ocean with surfs. So it turned out faster and more fun. Who exactly made the first skate, now it is impossible to establish. In the early years to the prototypes of skateboards of that time were not taken very seriously. Skating on them downhills were either a warm-up before surfing or entertainment in the absence of waves on the ocean.
1970s
In 1972, "Cadillac Wheels" introduced polyurethane wheels to the American market. This event was to a certain extent a coup and brought skateboarding to a new level. The old type of wheels was too dangerous and unmanageable. With polyurethane wheels opened up new opportunities, the number of skaters again began to grow. The decks themselves became wider and longer, acquired concaves on the bodies. Another interesting phenomenon of the mid-1970s was the emergence in California of the first skate teams - associations of skaters under one brand.
1980s
The form of the skate continued to change. Skateboards have become even wider, tails - more angled. There was still no bending on the nose. In the 1980s skate media started appearing . The journal business was developing (skate magazines appeared earlier, but in the 1980s their number increases and the quality of photos improves), and most importantly - people begin shooting skate videos. Portable video cameras in America have become much more affordable, and skate companies were quite able to use them to document the skating of their teams.
2000s
The 2000s started also positively, as the 1990s ended. The US remains the center of the skate industry, and Barcelona becomes the main destination for skateboarding trips. Inspired by the creativity of Antonio Gaudi, the unusual architecture of this city is ideal for skateboarding. Skaters start to travel more and more often. Since the mid-2000s, they have been discovering China, which is being updated and tuned at a record pace: big cities are designed as if they are skate plazas, and the tolerance of local authorities and people towards skating shock the imagination of tired skaters.
In what way skateboarding will move on, time will tell. Undoubtedly, the level of skating will increase, generations of skaters will change. We can say with certainty only one thing: skateboarding already exists long enough to take and simply disappear. A lot of interesting things lie ahead.
Sources :
Questions :
1. Have you ever tried skateboarding? Did you like it?
2. Do you consider skateboarding a sport or a subculture/lifestyle? And Why?
3. Skateboarding will be a part of 2020 Summer Olympic Games, what do you think about it?
Comments
As for me, I don't really do it by myself, by I love to watch videos about skateboarding so much. My favorites are videos where people skate in big towns. There are beautiful buildings, an atmosphere of the town, long roads in those videos. And the feeling of the endless road is incredible, and you can feel it even if you only watch the video. Something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bzATDSKuVs
But I tried Pennyboard. This is not a real skateboard, but for girls it's ok. My one is blue and I'm really happy with it :)
Thank you for the interesting topic.
Of course skateboarders made a subculture and in some meaning a lifestyle. Those people are just getting together and they even look the same.
I don't mind skateboarding to be a part of Olympics. Actually it could be fun to watch it.
I consider it rather as a kind of subculture and lifestyle only because for me definition of sport doesn’t cover activities like skateboarding but it may be outdated a little. Maybe I will have to update my definition of sport all the more that skateboarding will be a part of 2020 Summer Olympic Games. I’m not pretty sure that it should be a part of such sport events but maybe it will turn out to be great idea.
It's great idea that Skateboarding will be a part of 2020 Summer Olympic Games I don't know why that previously it wasn't. Personally I can't wait to see it.
I think that 90s/ early 00s were golden age of skateboarding, as I know/see it's not so popular as it used to be. Also Tony Hawk made bigger social impact than Shown White did.
I consider skateboarding as a sport. Most sports have specific community that dress and behave in a specific way and it can be noticed very clearly when it comes to skaters.
It's nice that skateboarding will be part of 2020 Summer Olympic Games. I'm just sad that BJJ (eng. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) is not a part of it.
I was skateboarding a bit in high school and I still do from time to time, but I don't think I'm very good at it. I managed to learn some basic tricks like pop shove-it, kickflip, heelflip and some variations of them and that's all. ;P
I would consider skateboarding rather as culture, but it could also be a sport, why not. You also have to train hard to be good at it and learn all the tricks that you want. It may seem simple, but it sometimes take very long time to get down some really "basic" tricks. And I think because of it, skateboarding can easily be introduced to the olympics.
2. I think it's hobby but I can be wrong , don't know.
3. It's will be interesting to see that, because I saw many tricks on a skateboard and some very cool :)
Actually, I tried skateboarding once - on a street in front of my friend's house. But I just stepped on a board and was moving back and forth.
I consider it more a lifestyle because all of my skateboarding friends have something in common, and I don't think it's just a coincidense. Of course at the same time it is a sport, but for me it's different than, for example, ice skating.
I think we should not close the Olympics to new sports. The World is changing, people are changing, and the demand as well. Some sports become more popular, some less. We should adjust the Olympics to current situation.
I think that snowboarding is a sport but when you dedicate yourself to it, it becomes your lifestyle and then you spend more time with other skateboarders.
If snowboarding is a Winter Olympic Games category why then skateboarding couldn't be. It's similar.
I reckon it's rather a lifestyle, because not every great hobby or lifestyle can be a sport. And answering your next question, I am convinced that it's quite weird idea, however you may persuade me.
I recognize that skateboarding can be a lifestyle. It can bring us money so it must be not only a hobby, but a work too. And what about harmful effects on our health, i would say, that every professional sport is making our health affected.
I'm feeling so amazed about 2020 Olympic games, i'm not a big fan of skateboarding,but after this article i would take a look on it 100 %.
It's kind of sport for me. You can earn money because the there are a lot of skateboard tournaments. In the beginning it was lifestyle but I think it's normal like with other sports which are popular nowadays.
About last question... It's not a problem for me. Skaters have to train a lot and that's why skateboards should be a part of Summer Olympic Games.
In my opinion it is good, that skateboarding will be on Olympic Games. It is very difficult and technical sport. I hope other urban sports, like bmx or parkour will also be included one day.
Yes, it most certainly used to be very important part of skate subculture, but I believe it's role has lessened and nowadays you can be skate without having skateboard and do skateboarding without being skate.
I don't mind - it's good that people find different ways to be physically active.
I consider skateboarding to be both a sport and lifestyle. When you skate, you hang with a certain type of people, usually wear typical skateboard-ey things (at least shoes), it does not just end on the purely physical activity of skateboarding.
I don't see why skateboarding shouldn't be an olympic sport when for example skiing is. It is also very entertaining to watch and might attract many young people to watch the olympic games.
2.I used to treat them more like a lifestyle when I was a kid because skateboarders created their own specific subculture with cloths, music and language. Currently, I am considering it more like a sport as skateboarding is much more commercialized nowadays.
3.I think it is natural consequence of including popular sport disciplines in Olympic Games.
I remember when there was a real hypr for it. Everyone wanted to be skateboarder or be friends with one. And they created some life style - in Poland it was smaller scale than in the US, but still - it was a group that was quite elite. But most of all I think that this is sport - you can't deny, that some of those acronations are just fun. There are competitions!
I am REALLY surprised that it will be a part of Olympic Games! I know, that this is a sport (as I mentioned before). On the one hand, this is quite young discipline, on the other hand - if it may make bigger audeince for Olympic Games, which are not as popular as they were few years back, it os good, because the more people will be interest the beeter future for whole games.
It was more kinda lifestyle to me. I've been listening to rap music, wearing baggy jeans etc. At that time I was also a b-boy - great years with breakdance. So it was all a part of subculture.
Right now I'm not skateboarding anymore, but sure, I'd like to watch it on Summer Olympic Games.
I consider it as both- a sport and lifestyle.
I think it is a great idea to bring skateboarding to the Olimpic Games- something new and nice to watch.
If you are asking me about 2020 Summer Olympic Games I think that it's good idea, it will be pleasure to watch it.
I was skating a lot when I was eight (1991), it was just pure fun especially because I liked BMX a lot so there was a lot of jumps while skating and bike riding.
2. Do you consider skateboarding a sport or a subculture/lifestyle? And Why?
Sport was greate - whole subculture and posers was just a pure laught. I did not had a skating trousers and was able to do most of the tricks.
3. Skateboarding will be a part of 2020 Summer Olympic Games, what do you think about it?
Do not know anything about it - let's judge after it.
however, for some people it is only sport. I can't wait to see skatebording on Summer Olympic Games in 2020. In my opinion it will be great show!
I do consider it as a lifestyle, cause you can clearly determine if someone is a skateboarder or not just by looking at their clothing style :)
It is a sport just as all other disciplines. It requires a lot of preparation and trainings in order to do tricks that are eye-catching.
It's more of a lifestyle than a sport to me, though- skateboarders usually have their own style and listen to their music, creating their own groups.
As for the Olympics, well... We've seen worse:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/weird-olympic-sports_us_5794b6a4e4b01180b52f4a0b
I really like skateboards. Even once I tried to learn to the ride on it. But I did not succeed. My friend tried to teach me because he is very cool in riding skateboards and BMX. He joked that I was not created for this sport, but I still love this board on wheels.
I think it's impossible to choose. Because skateboards are a sport, but also a way of life. This feeling of flight cannot be forgotten and therefore difficult to refuse. It's also a sport because it requires constant preparation and development to achieve results. I look forward to the 2020 Olympics. I think it will be fresh and interesting.
For me skatebording it's lifestyle or subculture. When you skateboarding, you look like skater, you listen special type od music and most of free time spend at skate park. All your live is connected with board. And i think that it's okay. We all have various trybe of live. If it comes about Summer Olimpic Games, in my opinion it's great idea :)
Still, it was a nice read to learn a bit of history about skateboarding, so thanks for that!
Ive never tried skateboarding - never felt like its something for me.
Its definitely a sport no doubt - and it has highly competitive scene all over the world. It is a lo a culture, built around legends of sport, competitive spirit and area of interest of young people.
Skateboarding on and Olympics i personally dont think its a good idea. There is an issue in how to measure performance in such sport - but on the other hand we have acrobatics and synchronised diving so well see. Im looking forward to be proven wrong. Skateboarding show in Olympics can start a second golden age for that sport.
Well, I've tried skateboarding, but I don't like it. I think skateboarding is mostly subculture/lifestyle. There are pro skateboarders and there are many competitions but for me skateboarding is not a sport and I don't like it that skateboarding will be a part of 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
For me skateboarding isnt a sport and just we can consider is as a sport when we want to relax and try it. I dont care about olimpyc sport. If this organization want to add this as a dyscyplin fell free to do it.