Skateboarding

[[File:BackSmithGrind.jpg|thumb|165px|right|Skateboarder in Grants Pass, Oregon, 2010]]{{media}}
'''Skateboarding''' is an extreme sport that involves riding and more often than not performing stunts on a skateboard. It is treated variously as a recreational activity, an art form, a form of entertainment and more simply a method of transportation. Though prior examples such as crate scooters have existed since the early 20th century (which was cheekily demonstrated in ''{{wpl|Back to the Future}}'' where Marty McFly turns one such scooter into a makeshift skateboard), skateboarding as we know it was believed to be invented by bored [[California]] surfers looking for a recreational activity when the waves were flat.

It being a subculture adjacent to the wider [[punk]] scene, the sport has naturally attracted all sorts of people from the more progressive types who view skateboarding as a pathway to free expression regardless of race, creed or gender, to those who claim to live by the credos yet are actually bootlickers for authority figures they supposedly resent.

==Of relevance to us==
==="Support your local skate shop!"===
Much of skateboarding's anti-establishment roots still remain in underground communities which encourage supporting local skate shops and organize grassroots events,<ref name="scene">{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2018 |title=Be The Scene: Organizing and Hosting Grassroots Skate Events by Bud Stratford |url=http://everythingskateboarding.com/be-the-scene-organizing-and-hosting-grassroots-skate-events-by-bud-stratford/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Everything Skateboarding |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="sic">{{Cite web |title=Skateboarding Inclusivity Cooperative |url=https://www.skatelikeagirl.com/sic.html |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=SKATE LIKE A GIRL |language=en}}</ref> though the sport is also criticised for ''selling out'' as it is with punk. Prominent figures like {{wpl|Tony Hawk}} have been criticised for commodifying the sport into a money-making machine while losing its character.<ref name="Senrud">{{Cite web |last=Senrud |first=Christian |date=May 22, 2017 |title="SELLING OUT" WITH TONY HAWK, JEFF GROSSO & ED TEMPLETON |url=https://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2017/05/22/selling-tony-hawk-jeff-grosso-ed-templeton/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Jenkem Magazine |language=en}}</ref> The [[Dead Kennedys]] song "Police Truck" was notably used in the original ''{{wpl|Tony Hawk's Pro Skater}}'',<ref name="Reilly">{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Luke |date=2020-09-24 |title=The Making of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Soundtrack |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-making-of-the-tony-hawks-pro-skater-soundtrack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925175014/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-making-of-the-tony-hawks-pro-skater-soundtrack |access-date=2025-06-19 |archive-date=2020-09-25 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> which led to some controversy with long time fans of the band accusing them of selling out to [[corporate]] interests, contrary to hardcore punk ethos of anti-corporatism; their record label, Alternative Tentacles, gave their consent for the song's use in the game, as the letter claims that even Biafra himself gave his consent.<ref>[http://www.deadkennedysnews.com/images/tonyhawk.jpg Letter from Alternative Tentacles]</ref>

Others such as {{wpl|Steve Caballero||,}} {{wpl|Lance Mountain}} and {{wpl|Christian Hosoi}} have needlessly brought their [[Christian]] faith to the fray and attracted controversy for posting [[social media]] tributes to demagogue figures like the slain [[far-right]] activist [[Charlie Kirk]], sparking debate in skating circles on whether aligning with contentious figures alienated those who uphold to skating's punk-adjacent ethos.<ref>[https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=101245.16650 lame instagram posts by pros]</ref><ref name="ShreddER">{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2025 |title=Skate Legend Steve Caballero Speaks Out on the Sad State of Free Speech Following Charlie Kirk’s Passing |url=https://shredder.news/steve-caballero-charlie-kirk/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=ShreddER |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="imgur">{{Cite web |title=Remember, these are the skateboarders we used to idolise. |url=https://imgur.com/a/y7wjaUX |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Imgur |language=en}}</ref>

This tension between authenticity and posturing has been discussed repeatedly, like in the 2020 video game documentary ''Pretending I'm A Superman'', produced by former ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater'' producer Ralph D'Amato, where pro skaters Jamie Thomas and Bob Burnquist reflected on the issues of mainstream attention. On one hand events such as the X Games and more recently the Olympic Games gave skaters a platform to promote their sport in front of a live audience, but on the other it risked devaluing the sport as little more than a circus attraction for corporations to exploit and milk dry.<ref>D'Amato, R. (Director). (2020). ''Pretending I'm a Superman'' [Documentary]. Wood Entertainment; D'Amato Productions.</ref> The ''Tony Hawk's'' series itself is emblematic of the tension, as Activision's eventual milking of the [[video game]] franchise resulted in mixed reviews and broken messaging relative to the themes it explores, e.g. rebellion and grassroots skating in ''American Wasteland'' sitting side by side with corporate sponsorships strewn throughout, and the excessive use of product placement in the remakes of the first four ''Pro Skater'' games.

==="Punk means thinking for yourself!"===
Another form of tension among skaters is with those who openly profess their religious and/or political beliefs. While being punk does not necessarily call for outright [[atheism]] — after all, [[Jesus]] himself could be seen as "punk" for turning tables and calling out authority figures — problems arise if these beliefs become glaring [[Hypocrisy|contradictions]]. On one hand, you celebrate [[freedom|freedom of expression]] and non-conformity, but on the other you end up bowing to the very same [[Authoritarianism|authority figures]] and thus undermine the values skating represents.

As mentioned above, Caballero, Mountain and Hosoi are some examples of hubris devouring themselves: professing humility and (overdue) teenage rebellion on the half pipe yet treating their lords and masters — [[right-wing]] grifters — as if they are [[Incorruptibility|incorruptible]] [[saint]]s. Cab and Mountain openly eulogised Kirk<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/DOlmzIJkTq3/ Steve Caballero on Instagram] ([https://archive.is/h3B1n Archive])</ref> and cried afoul of perceived attacks on [[free speech]] when critics either mock Kirk's death or even offered good-faith, inoffensive criticism. Yet in doing so, they [[Conservative correctness|curtail dissent]] themselves — a flagrant betrayal of skateboarding's principles as an inclusive space for everyone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Even my man Lance Mountain... :( |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Skateboardlove/comments/1nea82c/even_my_man_lance_mountain/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Reddit}}</ref> Caballero's affiliations also become more ironic considering how he previously [[cross-dressing|crossdressed]] as a caricature of a young woman in the video ''Future Primitive'' for the Bones Brigade skate team he was in back in the 1980s (and continues to be in to this day),<ref name="futureprimitive">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG74o7aafpc |title=POWELL PERALTA PRESENTS:  FUTURE PRIMITIVE |date=May 22, 2019 |last=Peralta |first=Stacy |type=video |access-date=2025-09-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> as well as his continued participation in the ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater'' franchise whose lineup of skaters recently includes those from gender-diverse and ethnically-diverse communities,{{efn|Doubly so when Caballero himself found out that besides his Hispanic heritage, he was also of [[Japan]]ese descent from his father's side as well, who took the surname "Caballero" in order to enlist during [[World War II]] and avoid potential interment due to his heritage. They kept the Japanese identity under wraps for a while until Steve's father died; Steve meanwhile had an affinity for dragons which ironically resonated better with him upon finding out his ethnicity.}}<ref name="ign">{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2025 |title=Every Skater in THP3 and 4 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/tony-hawks-pro-skater-3-and-4/Every_Skater_in_THP3_and_4 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> something whose Cab's recently deceased Great Poobah was clearly [[Racism|very]] [[homophobia|much]] [[transphobia|against]].{{fact|joke}}

===Shock therapy===
That being said, the use of offensive symbolism in skate and surf culture has been in vogue for decades, albeit tied to shock value more than sincere affiliation with abhorrent ideologies: the skateboard parts manufacturer {{wpl|Independent Truck Company}} was initially famous for its Iron Cross logo though in 2022 they distanced themselves from it due to backlash from those who perceive it as a [[Nazi]] symbol;<ref>{{cite web| url=https://shredzshop.com/blogs/news/independent-trucks-logo-change| title=Independent Trucks Logo Change| publisher=Shredz Shop| date=September 29, 2022| access-date=June 21, 2025}}</ref>  interestingly and bizarrely enough, the cross patee in [[Pope]] [[John Paul II]]'s regalia as seen in a 1978 ''Time Magazine'' issue was cited as an inspiration: "Well, if the Pope has it, it must be okay!".{{efn|Especially ironic considering what happened to Karol Wojtyla's home country come [[World War II|1939]] when the Nazis thought it would be fun to subjugate the Polish populace.}}{{sfn|O'Conner|2019|p=108}} The 1987 {{wpl|Powell-Peralta}} skate video ''{{wpl|The Search for Animal Chin}}'' has the titular character played by a white actor ({{wpl|C. R. Stecyk III|Craig R. Stecyk III}}) and utilised the usual mystical East Asian stereotypes. Despite this (as well as the fact that they used faux-Asian fonts on the opening titles and cover art), the ''Animal Chin'' mythos did not attract much in the way of controversy – the ''Animal Chin'' shirt can be seen in works as recent as ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4''.

[[Satanism|Satanic]] symbols have also been occasionally used to scare off parents and school groups and give whiny teenagers an edgy flair. [[Lithuania]]n-American skater {{wpl|Natas Kaupas}} gained notoriety as his name is an anagram of [[Satan]]; he allayed fears by explaining that his name is the masculine version of the Lithuanian female name 'Natalija', but many schools and shops banned any and all merchandise bearing his name.<ref name=youtube>{{cite web|title=Natas Kaupas : Street Skating 101| date=May 12, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccf0ENQBee0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/ccf0ENQBee0 |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=November 20, 2012}}</ref> At any rate, Kaupas took his faux-Satanic notoriety in stride and had pro model boards bearing occult symbolism in it to give conservative parents the heebie-jeebies.<ref name="nataspanic">{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2016 |title=Skateboarding and Faith |url=https://www.christianskaters.com/2025-2/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Christian Skaters International Ministry |language=en-US}}</ref> One notable personality who owned a Natas pro board was {{wpl|N.W.A}} member {{wpl|Eazy-E||,}} who was also an occasional skateboarder in his life (despite the [[hip-hop]] and [[Hip-hop#Gangsta rap (or, when hip-hop became really scary)|gangsta rap]] scene not being exactly in bed with skating at the time).<ref name="eazy">{{Cite web |title=Eazy Duz it. – Skate and Annoy |url=https://skateandannoy.com/blog/2013/04/eazy-duz-it/ |access-date=2025-09-19 }}</ref>

Skating also attracts controversy for its perceived association with petty crime and dangerous behaviour,<ref name=Atlantic>(1) {{cite news |last=Abbate |first=Vince |date=June 28, 2007 |title=The trucks stop here |url=http://www.newsreview.com/chico/trucks-stop-here/content?oid=345188 |newspaper=Chico News & Review |publisher=Chici Community publishing, INC |access-date=December 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217195001/http://www.newsreview.com/chico/trucks-stop-here/content?oid=345188 |archive-date=December 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}.<br />(2) {{cite journal |last=Heywood |first=Will |date=2011 |title=Navigating the New Fortress |journal=Urban Action |publisher=Department of Urban Studies and Planning at San Francisco State University |pages=19–33 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427155805/https://sites7.sfsu.edu/sites/sites7.sfsu.edu.dusp/files/UrbanAction_2011_0.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |url=https://sites7.sfsu.edu/sites/sites7.sfsu.edu.dusp/files/UrbanAction_2011_0.pdf }}<br />(3) {{cite web|first=Robert|last=Rosenberger|date=June 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701135734/http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/06/how-cities-use-design-to-drive-homeless-people-away/373067/|archive-date=July 1, 2014|title=How Cities Use Design to Drive Homeless People Away: Saying "you're not welcome here"—with spikes|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/06/how-cities-use-design-to-drive-homeless-people-away/373067/|work=The Atlantic|publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group|access-date=April 23, 2017|quote=An example of an everyday technology that's used to forbid certain activities is “skateboard deterrents,” that is, those little studs added to handrails and ledges.  These devices, sometimes also called “skatestoppers” or “pig ears,” prevent skateboarders from performing sliding—or “grinding”—tricks across horizontal edges. A small skateboard deterrence industry has developed, with vendors with names like “stopagrind.com” and “grindtoahault.com.”}}<br />(4) {{cite news|last=Kelly|first=John|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/its-a-grind-the-birth-of-those-metal-ledge-guards-designed-to-deter-skateboarders/2020/05/23/ea2b2fc0-9b95-11ea-ad09-8da7ec214672_story.html|title=It's a grind: The birth of those metal ledge guards designed to deter skateboarders|department=Local|date=May 23, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524183249/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/its-a-grind-the-birth-of-those-metal-ledge-guards-designed-to-deter-skateboarders/2020/05/23/ea2b2fc0-9b95-11ea-ad09-8da7ec214672_story.html|archive-date=May 24, 2020|url-status=dead}}.</ref> a particular example of which was the 2025 ''Halloween Hellbomb'' event organised by ''{{wpl|Thrasher (magazine)|Thrasher Magazine}}'' where what was going to be an ostensibly anarchic yet otherwise peaceful event degenerated into a riot when a self-driving car was attacked and vandalised by rioting skaters who participated in the Hellbomb (apparently in relation to growing civil discontent across America following the second reign of [[Donald Trump]]), forcing police to disband the congregation; many in the skateboarding scene went on record to condemn the violence at the Hellbomb event.<ref name="Glaser">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWunrkNCNsY |title=What REALLY Happened at this L.A. Skate Event... (Halloween Hellbomb) |date=October 27, 2025 |last=Glaser |first=Ricky |access-date=2025-10-28 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

Despite advice from even prominent pros to wear safety gear, it isn't uncommon for most skaters to just waive those minor inconveniences and risk maiming themselves on the pavement or plywood when they bail.<ref name="Fountain-1996">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Fountain | first1 = JL. | last2 = Meyers | first2 = MC. | title = Skateboarding injuries. | journal = Sports Med | volume = 22 | issue = 6 | pages = 360–6 |date=Dec 1996 | doi =  10.2165/00007256-199622060-00004| pmid = 8969014 | s2cid = 43292625 }}</ref> In a morbidly ironic incident, ''{{wpl|Strawberry Shortcake (TV series)|Strawberry Shortcake}}'' voice actor James Street was fatally injured in a skating accident when he rode without a helmet near his home;<ref>[https://www.awn.com/news/13-year-old-vo-actor-dies-skateboarding-accident 13-Year-Old VO Actor Dies in Skateboarding Accident]</ref> his character, Huckleberry Pie, is portrayed as a young skater. This stigmatization led to the skater culture slogan "{{wpl|Skateboarding is not a crime||,}}" which is an effort to allay concerns about marauding behavior and petty vandalism by those in the scene, culminating in the sport's inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

==Sources==
* {{cite book| last=O'Conner| first=Paul| date=2019| title=Skateboarding and Religion| publisher=Springer International Publishing| isbn=9783030248574}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:California]]
[[Category:Culture wars]]
[[Category:Moral panics]]
[[Category:Punk]]
[[Category:Stereotypes]]
[[Category:Sport]]

Categories: California, Culture wars, Moral panics, Punk, Stereotypes, Sport