THE SPIRIT OF SKATEBOARDING
it was a wonderful moment in Olympic history when skateboarding
was recognized as an event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The
Olympics organisers wanted to achieve the goal of attracting younger
viewers to the Games. Thrilled spectators of all ages watched the
impressive stunts. For skateboarders, it had been a long journey from
beginning as a street activity to becoming an official Olympic sport.
What had happened along the way?
Skateboarding started out in the 1950s in Venice Beach, California, as
a way to practice surfing when the ocean was calm. Kids attached
roller-skate wheels to wooden boards and rode on cement as if they
were riding waves, eventually inventing new acrobatic jumps and
tricks. Over the next few decades, skaters from all over the USA came
to Venice Beach to be part of the skating scene and develop their own
unique styles. Soon, similar scenes were starting in Europe and the
UK.
From the beginning, skateboarders had a reputation as misfits.
Skateboarding was an urban culture and way of life rather than just a
sport. It attracted outsiders looking for action far from the strict rules
of organized sports. Without skateparks like there are today,
skateboarders had to practice their skills in streets and plazas, on
handrails, stairs and benches. Injuries to skaters and pedestrians led
many cities to ban skateboarding. They were seen as troublemakers
and time-wasters, an image some of them didn’t mind.
Things have changed quite a bit since those early days. Skateboarding
is now an industry worth millions of dollars. It’s become a lot more
diverse., spreading across the world. Girl’s skating is on the rise and
women have been providing the sport with some of the best
professionals. Skateboarding is promoted as a great workout for all
ages. So, urban kids are taking it up as it doesn’t require much
equipment and gives them a sense of belonging. Bans still exist, but
city planners now realise that skateboarding is a way of drawing
tourists and renewing neglected parts of town.
Most skaters feel that having their sport accepted as an Olympic sport
is an honour and a chance for the best among them to perform and
share their moves they have been working on for years. Others have
regrets, knowing that Olympics mean strict rules, that make it tough to
keep the sport’s free spirit alive. Will kids continue to develop their own
styles on the streets, or will they only think about being in
competitions? Only time will tell. Hopefully, there will be enough room
for both of these approaches in the streets and skateparks of the world.
