A Skateboarder’s Perspective
The squeaking of urethane wheels on the sidewalk and the grinding of trucks against concrete illumines the early summer morning as he makes his way downtown; his actions incongruous to the pedestrians walking about. His animated attitude propels him along, ollieing over curbs and any other obstacles in his path. His classic “Old Skool” Vans and long blonde hair contribute to his flowy style as he turns heads with every person he passes. He loves the sensation of moving fast and the endless variations of tricks he can do on just about any surface that will allow his wheels to roll. He feels at home on that seven ply piece of maple. There are no rules, no one telling him how to do it; he is on his own. He arrives at his favorite spot – the worn down brick ledge by the public basketball courts. Today, he is determined to land the trick that left him with bruises the day before. A group of kids playing a pick up game of hoops stops to watch. Something about his elusive character influences the young boys: they want to dress like him; they want to be him. Yet people in the area think otherwise, and soon enough a cop car pulls up, fresh on duty after receiving a complaint. The cop writes out a fifty dollar fine, hands him the small piece of paper, and asks him to leave. He had kept to himself, what could he have done wrong? He had committed a crime – the crime of being a skater. Skateboarding is relegated to the shadows of society, when ironically, it is a great influence on mainstream fashion, and poses a creative lifestyle that promotes independent initiative.
Since the beginning of it’s creation, skateboarding has been looked down upon by society. This negative image of skateboarding was formed through the numerous stereotypes that came along with it. Skateboarding has long been considered a lazy hobby for degenerate teens who have nothing better to do then to efface property, abuse drugs, and stir trouble. The word “skater” has become synonymous with the word “rebel” in the eyes of society. As a result, skaters are continuously fined, arrested, and kicked out of just about anywhere for simply having fun. Skateboarding requires balance and skill, like most sports. That is why almost all skaters are lean and muscular, not because of drug abuse, as people tend to assume. An all league NFL player might be a master at his craft, but if he ever stepped foot on a skateboard, he’d quickly gain respect for those so-called terrorizers of the streets. Moreover, the losers who only care about drugs and violating the law are almost always poor skaters, or not skaters at all. But unfortunately, it is those that have ruined everything skating represents.In the article, An Ethnographic Study of the Skateboarding culture, Linda Moore states, “Skateboarders are often seen as outsiders. However, understanding the culture of skateboarding can be insightful for politicians, adults, or scholars who seek to develop stronger relationships with young people who participate in skateboarding”. The majority of Americans have a provincial view of skateboarding only by its negative surface, instead of focusing on the positive aspects of the subculture that is home to millions worldwide.
Although skateboarding has acquired a poor reputation, over the years it has become a major influence on mainstream fashion. From the 1970s onward, the skate business has grown into a global superpower. A 2009 report found that the skateboarding market is worth an estimated 4.8 billion dollars annually and has close to 12 million active riders worldwide. How could a group of lax lowlifes create such a massive empire? Through fashion. Companies such as Vans, Converse, and Volcom are just a few of the notable brands that have had a broad influence on world fashion in the past few decades. However, no skateboard brand has been endlessly copied and coalesced into mainstream fashion as much as Thrasher. Thrasher Magazine has played an important role in skateboarding from its inception in 1981. Popular fashion labels such as Vogue have shown interest in the skateboard scene, especially Thrasher. Despite its surge in popularity, magazine writer Jake Phelps states in the Esquire article titled “How Skateboarding Became a High Fashion Obsession,” “The reason they wear the gear is because it’s stylish,” and “They don’t even know what Thrasher is.” The skater community has taken great offense to their brands and ideas emulated by someone who has never collided with asphalt, or experienced the sweat and blood that goes with it. Long story short, those who wear skater clothes just because it’s cool are posers. Another major brand that has exploded in popularity over the past few years is Supreme New York. Originally a small, Lower East Side skate shop in the early 90s, Supreme has become a streetwear giant. Stock drops have items that sell out in a few seconds, with resale values tripling retail. Brandon Babenzien, an early employee of Supreme, states “ it’s perfectly clear why fashion companies are fascinated with skateboarding, skaters are incredible, intelligent, and creative, and people want a piece of what they got.” Skaters historically have been outcasts; one day they are looked down upon, then all of the sudden everybody wants to wear clothes like them and lay claim to it. In addition, skateboarding has a broad influence among the youth that goes unnoticed to most. Walk into any high school or middle school (especially in the United States) and there will almost always be a handful of kids wearing Vans or some other skate related brand who, more often than not, don’t even realize it.The culture couldn’t care less if their brands are selling out or if they’re making millions every year, but at the very least, they deserve recognition for their impact on fashion and society in general – a society that typically only credits them negatively. “Justin Bieber skates? Good luck. Skateboarding hurts, the ground is a bitch.” (Jake Phelps, Esquire Magazine ).
The Skateboarding culture centers around creative lifestyle and independence . Skaters are typically stereotyped as unmotivated, with their brains atrophying from smoking weed. Anyone who looks a little closer under the skateboarding microscope would know that this is far from the truth. In order to be a talented skater, one must be creative. Before there were skateparks, skaters had to go out and make their own obstacles from scratch, thus creating the DIY (do it yourself) aspect of skateboarding. Whether it be made out of wood or concrete, skaters have always had the ability to turn just about any available space into their own park. What looks to be a common swimming pool to most, when emptied, is a skater’s heaven. Despite their dedication to making a place to skate, these pieces of art don’t last long. City councils have bulldozed most soon after their arrival, but the ones that lasted have become remarkable pieces of skateboard history. Even with the arrival of public skateparks, skaters are frequently not satisfied because they are usually designed by people who don’t skate and they are poorly built. No matter how many skateparks are built, skaters will never lose the desire to build on their own. Burnside Skatepark – in Portland, Oregon – was created through the desire of skaters to have a place to skate when it rained because the city would not offer it. Skaters understand what works and what doesn’t; their skills can’t be mimicked. Skateboarding has always gone against the orthodox and leaned towards the individual, which is why it’s such an independent activity. In the Huck Mag article, Is there a connection between skating and creativity, kelli states, “Skateboarding is a really important tool for enhancing resilience, and independence skills. Skateboarders do everything themselves,” “They fall off the board, they get back on. I think that is very underappreciated – what these people are doing with very little.” Skateboarding is not a sport; there are no rules or coaches telling you what to do, skaters are on their own. Nobody is going to land a trick for you, or make you go out and do it. This independent spirit can be considered the root of success for the skateboard industry, because only those who dare to go off the beaten path dare to be a skateboarder.
Society has condemned and belittled skateboarding since it’s emergence, while ironically, skateboarding is one of the most influential and overlooked inspirations on fashion trends, and is a subculture of creativity that centers around the power of the individual. As the skateboarding scene continues to grow and improve their image among future generations, only then will it be recognized for its achievements rather than its flaws. The next time someone asks you what it means to be a skater, ask them what it means t
Skateboarding creates leaders; in fact, it represents everything America is structured upon. People who dared to come to America started new lives for themselves through perseverance and a relentless spirit. Being American means having the freedom to be yourself. It means not judging or persecuting people for their beliefs just because they might be different than yours. Skateboarders are just one of many groups who have the courage to practice what they believe in despite the animosity directed at them.