By Melica Mahmoudi
Skateboarding is an action-based sport that has brought people together through the thrill of performing complicated tricks and interacting over their hobby.
Starting in the 1940s when California surfers needed an alternative when waves were not good, skateboarding was originally considered “sidewalk surfing.”
In modern times, skateboarding’s growth has introduced the sport into its own territory. Skaters can even turn their hobby into a passionate career filled with competitions. Skateboarding made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, legitimizing it as a worldwide sport.
There are over 20 million skateboarders competing in the real world, according to Transworld Skateboarding. Of those, 16 million are from the United States.
What distinguishes skateboarding from other sports is its sense of community. As they are usually made up of diverse people, they all unite together and have fun whilst considering themselves part of one community. The sense of inclusion is highly significant in this sport as it allows the members of the sport to bond and really have fun.
More than most sports, skateboard culture has influenced fashion, music, and even language. Skateboarding is known to be an inclusive sport, allowing self-expression for its very diverse community. Each skater’s board is unique which often reflects their own personal style. This freedom of self-expression allows for creativity and art through sport.
Another component of skateboarding are the skating competitions which also create an additional sense of community through practice.
“Skateboarding is a very uplifting and supportive culture. The better skaters assist newer skaters with skills and tricks. If they get really good they post how-to videos. Any toxicity gets shut down right away. Skateboarding is supposed to be chill, so they don’t really allow anyone to keep people from having a good time,” junior Joe Cordova said.
Although the sport is known for being community-oriented, skateboarding is popularly known for its crazy and sometimes dangerous tricks. Skateboarding brings the thrill out in normal people. Landing an impossible trick and impressing your friends is what causes the addiction in the sport. However, the dangers of this sport are highly risky. Injuries are just part of the journey and fun.
The excitement that comes with landing a trick you’ve been practicing for months is the fun of it all. The physical demands of the sport allow a person to feel the adrenaline rush that comes with landing an impressive trick.
“It is an amazing feeling when you land a trick for the first time. It’s literally the best and can’t be beaten. The first time I landed a kick-flip, I was ecstatic,” Cordova said.
An exhilarating sport that’s both fun and challenging, skateboarding has cultivated a community of athletes who genuinely care for each other’s well-being and progress throughout the sport. Although the sport has its risks, it is exciting and casual. To many, skateboarding is not just a sport, but a way of life.
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