...Skateboarding History and Culture Skateboarding is one of the newest sports and one of the only extreme sports. Skateboarding has had a short history but it’s been full of eventful moments. While most people think all skaters are alike, it’s quite the opposite, skaters have many different riding styles, ways to ride the board, and where they decide to ride at, all determine what kind of skater they are. Skateboards first appeared in 1958 when there were no surfable waves, so they (surfers) took to the sidewalks. Sidewalk surfing comes along in 1958 and in 1959 “Roller Derby” is the first to mass produce skateboards with metal wheels (Britannica School.) Though skateboarding is big business today, it started from simple means with a 2x4...
Words: 1067 - Pages: 5
...Running Head: CULTURAL AWARENESS: SKATEBOARDING Cultural Awareness: Skateboarding in Ada County In APA Style Aaron Ortega Boise State University I have selected to write the essay on the ever-changing culture of skateboarding. I have chosen this culture because I have seen the way that skateboarding and skateboarders has been viewed and perceived by our society change time after time with the changing generations. I have not only witnessed it myself, but in both research of the past and present history of the sport and culture there has been a 180 degree spin on the way that the culture is viewed. Skateboarding dates all the way back to the 1950’s. Its origin comes from Californian surfers that wanted to turn the streets into waves. The first boards were simply wooden boards with roller skate wheels mounted on the bottom of them. In 1963, there were some of the first competitions for skateboarding, hosted by some of the big name brands that are still around today, like Hobie. One of the most known stories of skateboarding will forever hold one of the most influential times of the whole realm of skateboarding, was the story of Dogtown and the Z Boys. (Cave, 2008) That is a very brief explanation of the origin of skateboarding, but back in those days it was an extremely rebellious sport for kids to be involved in. Skateboarders had the stereotype of being trouble makers and losers. It was a stereotype that...
Words: 672 - Pages: 3
...Eric Factor WRT205 Critical Summary In the text Boy Culture: An Encyclopedia, there is a specific segment dedicated to the skateboarding movement. Unsurprisingly, this portion of the encyclopedia is located under the “Bad’ Boys” section of the text. This “Bad boy” image of skaters and skating culture is the commonplace outsiders’ perspective on skateboarders. However, as the encyclopedia discusses, skating is a means of self-expression, individuality, and freedom (225). The origins of the skateboarding movement was very much a cry for deviance from restrictive societal norms. This is evidenced heavily by the flashpoint I chose, which states, “For skateboarders, skate culture is a location of difference, an alternative to dominant demands that adolescent boys, as exemplified by “jocks,” should overvalue competition, physical dominance, and emotional repression.” (225). Deviance from societal youth norms has always been an instrumental factor in the skating movement. As for why the authors included this text in their encyclopedia, the answer is clear. Examining and analyzing the history and trends in youth culture would be incomplete without taking into account the effect that the skating movement has had. Similarly, this text holds interest to me first because I feel that the skating movement is a perfect example of social deviance for this class, and the discussions which we hold within it. The way the material is presented allows me to examine the roots of this deviance...
Words: 280 - Pages: 2
...While skateboarding is most commonly considered as a recreational activity, it can also be used as an active and effective means of transportation. Therefore, skateboarding is often treated as a type of transportation tool. At Cal Poly Pomona, skateboarding along with other coasting devices become increasingly popular for students as an alternative means of transportation, but at the same time, they appear to the decision makers as a target for policy actions. Under current school policy, coasting transportation is prohibited at Cal Poly Pomona. In other words, students and staffs who ride skateboard, scooter and other coasting devices on campus will be warned or even ticketed by university police officers. However, a lot of students do not...
Words: 1518 - Pages: 7
...Do you ever hold yourself back from doing something new? Do you fear how you will react or how others will react towards you? Yous should not be afraid to try something new, you never know if you will like it or not. Plunge into the darkness and reemerge with a light. Go outside your comfort zone. First off, I have wanted to learn how to skateboard since I was young, but I have always put it off in fear of getting hurt or how others will make fun of me for not knowing how to do it. Fast forward to now, I have a brand new skateboard and the will to learn no matter what. I am persistent on learning even with the fear of breaking a bone. There is no gain, without pain. It will take years to learn, but I will get there eventually. Secondly,...
Words: 315 - Pages: 2
...Have you ever thought skate boards were just like small surfboards with wheels? Well it's speculated thats how they started, they were a substitute for surders when the waves were flat. Around the mid to late 1940s was when skateboarding seemed to just pop up, they started as blocks of wood on rollerskate wheeles, and slowly evolved into the planks with the curved lips we use today. It would appear though that the sport has only been popularized recently, as John Stevens states "Today's skateboarders are founders in this sport—they're pioneers—they are the first. There is no history in Skateboarding—its being made now—by you. The sport is being molded and we believe that doing the right thing now will lead to a bright future for the sport....
Words: 373 - Pages: 2
...1. Behavior Description While observing everyone at a local park I saw a young boy, around the age of 9, skateboarding. All he was doing was skating back and forth on trying to do any tricks at all. As he was skating an older, much better skateboarder came to the park and began to do tricks that obviously took years of practicing. When the young boy saw all the cool tricks he was doing he looked as if he was impressed and jealous all at once. He got up and started to try and land the tricks the older boy was doing. He became upset that he could not complete the tricks and threw his board and sat down on a bench. The old boy noticed him trying to achieve landing the tricks so he went over and talked to the young boy for a second, go the boy back on the board and begun to teach him a simple trick. It took many tries but the younger boy finally got the trick down and went to go show his mother the new trick he had learned. The younger boy was very happy and okay with what he was doing on the skateboard. Once her say someone that was better than him he tried to do the same tricks, once he though he couldn’t do them he got mad, crossed his arms, sat down, and pouted. The older boy saw that the younger boy was upset so he kindly went over there to help the younger boy feel better. He realized that he could help by showing the young boy a very simple trick. He had a smile on his face so you know he was enjoying the good deed he was doing for the boy. 2. Concept identification ...
Words: 556 - Pages: 3
...If you knew me, you would know that I skateboard, love to sing and play to guitar, and that I think my mom is very important to me. I enjoy skateboarding at Etnies, Vans, Harada, Volcom, and Jurupa. I love to sing and play my guitar almost everyday. My mom’s important to me because she’s always there for me when I need her. First of all, the reason I skateboard is because it’s a motivating and fun sport. It’s cool that I skate because not many girls do this sport. I’m also sponsored by this new company called SK8GRL. Usually I go to the skate park every one in a week. I skate with my friends, and they encourage me to do better. I also, am teaching my neighbor how to skate because she always looks up to me, as if I were her sister and it makes me feel happy. Though I’m sponsored, it doesn’t really mean that I’m really good, I still need to practice to get better than I am. Another, activity that I love to do is play my guitar and sing. I used to go to guitar lessons, but then I quit because they weren’t teaching me correctly. In the fifth grade, I entered in the talent show, and I sang and played on guitar, Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash. My neighbor, Kirsten Proffit also plays guitar and she sings. She has her own CD. When I grow up, I want to be just like her. Now that I’m in the seventh grade, I’m in choir, and I absolutely love it! When I get into high school, I want to sign up for choir again. That’s why I love to sing...
Words: 475 - Pages: 2
...competition is from Pinnacle Sports however their focus is on cycling and offers a limited range of skateboard merchandise. A larger national competitor, West 49, will be opening a store in the mall in the coming year. Internal perspectives In the coming year, St. Marseille must decide what he will do with the business. Connie, the manager of the New Sudbury store will retire from her full-time manager position leaving St. Marseille to decide if he will manage both locations or close one of the stores. The building where the South End Store is located will be sold in the coming months and St. Marseille will need to purchase the building, move the location or try to rent from the new owner. External perspectives The market for skateboarding and snowboarding merchandise in Sudbury is quite good with a very high density of skate parks compared to other nearby cities. The population is also quite young with over 30% being under the age of 25. Being an avid skater, St. Marseille is very familiar with the requirements of the target market and is able to offer harder to find merchandise, customization services...
Words: 462 - Pages: 2
...the better. I grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, a relatively safe town where a pre-teen could walk or bike around town during the day and not encounter any problems. There was always somewhere to go or something to do, so I took advantage of that, especially during my summer vacations. The summer between 6th and 7th grade was definitely one I will never forget. It was a hot day in July when I was roaming the streets with an old friend of mine, Kris, when we ran into some kids we knew from our school. With these friends of ours was someone who I had never met. He was holding a skateboard in his hands, and skating had always been something I wanted to try, so I approached him and introduced myself, hoping to segue into the topic of skateboarding, but instead was completely ignored! I tried again to talk to him, but he continued to ignore me. It was my first time meeting this kid and he already wanted nothing to do with me. I decided to not even try again, so I walked away and continued speaking to my other friends. That day continued with Kris and I joining our friends as they...
Words: 1017 - Pages: 5
...people often think my favorite place to be isa skatepark. But the skateparks were meant to be skates the way they were built. Skateboarding is about displaying your uniqueness. To truly skate like no other person, you have to hit the streets! Being out on the road, scoping for spots, is half the fun of skateboarding. Checking benches, rails, stairs, and gaps for skate-ability opens up your mind to what tricks could be done there. Simple things like how much runway, or space, you have to do your trick, could affect the final result of your trick. For example, if there's a bench near a wall, there's a possibility that a grinding trick could end with a wall ride variation. In the past, people would not have thought it was possible, but because someone along the way looked at the obstacle differently, skateboarding evolved. All it takes is the imagination of a skateboarder who wants to step up his skateboarding game. When skaters go to the streets, it's usually because they have a trick in mind at a certain spot. To the skater, that trick he or she chose, is beautiful. Until that trick is done, the skater will hate or resent the spot. But once the trick is landed, the skater will always look back at the spot and remember the beauty he created there, making that one of of his favorite places. Skateboarders' minds think about everything through a skateboarding prospective. Spots are the biggest part of skating, and there's always more than one in a skater's mind. Along with these...
Words: 367 - Pages: 2
...Lucretia Vigil Topic: Longboarding is better than skateboarding for beginners. Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech the audience will be able to name 3 reasons why a longboard is the best board for beginners. Introduction: I. Have you ever noticed how cool skateboarding always looked? And deep down wished you could at least ride a skateboard without breaking yourself. II. I’m here to tell you about a great solution. To greatly reduce the risk of injury a skateboard guarantees to beginners, I’m going to introduce to you the Longboard. III. 3 Reasons: A. A longboard is much safer than a skateboard because of its design. B. Source of Transportation C. Stress reliever, once it becomes an enjoyable hobby of inspiration. Body: I. Why is a longboard so much safer than a skateboard? A. The way a longboard is built and designed 1. Longer, wider base making it more stable, safer, and comfortable B. Much heavier than a skateboard 1. Gives it a fluid motion by giving more momentum 2. Rolls farther with a single push 3. Ability to perform big turns, and short-quick carves C. Bigger wheels 1. Much smoother ride over rough areas 2. Absorbs impact from rocks and other junk 3. Won’t biff it on huge cracks in concrete II. Great Source of Transportation compared to a Skateboard A. Skateboards weren’t designed for efficient transportation 1. Designed for crazy tricks 2. Advanced, not for beginners B...
Words: 445 - Pages: 2
...Beau Demmler ANTH 1200 September 12, 2012 Making the Familiar Strange Scott Carpenter Skate Park, a place I’ve visited many times since attending the University of Colorado at Boulder. Early in my childhood, I developed an interest for extreme sports, especially skateboarding. I quickly became fascinated with the skating scene and started experiencing the sport and its sub-culture. Even before learning anything about anthropology, I instinctively observed a lot of skateboarders and their unique styles. Having that in mind, I felt that the perfect place to conduct my fieldwork would be at a skate park, a location where I feel at home. As I approached the park, I instantly began to notice certain things, which I had never noticed before. I could here the sound of ceramic ball bearings vibrating though the air as the skateboarders’ wheels rotated along the hard cement. The cement was not any ordinary cement, but rather smooth, dense, and abstract to the eye. It went from flat and level, to an ascending curvature ultimately forming the walls, which the skateboarders rode effortlessly. Each skateboarder had a skateboard, which consisted of a black grip material stuck atop a concave plank of wood with each end of the wood curved upward. Underneath this plank, miniature axles were locked into place by bolts and screws, which allowed for four rubber wheels to be attached. The wheels were able to spin freely because of the ceramic ball bearings inside the wheels. All...
Words: 1094 - Pages: 5
...Skateboarding Is Not A Sport TylerF#@% In our society today we have many activities that are considered a sport. Whether it be football or stacking cups, people still argue over what is and what is not a sport. One of the arguments that people have concerning this topic is about skateboarding. Skateboarding started sometime in the 1950s, no one really knows when the first skateboard was made. Skateboards were initially made for surfers to use when the surf was flat (no waves breaking). These originators called this activity “sidewalk surfing” (Wikipedia). Some people claim that skateboarding is a sport, others claim it is an art. Some people even say skateboarding is just a means of transportation. I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and my opinion is that skateboarding is clearly not a sport. Growing up I was pretty much attached to a skateboard. I remember the first time I stood on one. I was in preschool and it was the day before we took class pictures. I stepped on this mysteriously appealing piece of wood attached to wheels and immediately fell. I smacked my face on the hard cement and cut it really bad! My grandmother came racing over to make sure I was ok and treated my wounds. To her surprise I was crying not from pain, but from anger and determination. After that day it was full speed ahead. As a child I lived in Omaha, and Omaha is not really a good place to grow up as a skater. I played sports and excelled at a quick pace, but no matter...
Words: 1238 - Pages: 5
...Name Teacher NAme Tom Sims 11 December 2012 ` Ever wonder who revolutionized downhill snow sports? I can tell you that. One day in school Tom Sims was in his 7th grade shop class and he had to do an engineering project and he wanted to make a skateboard that you could use in the snow. If it wasn’t for Tom Sims I don’t know whether or not there would be snowboarding or even skiing. He is the godfather of snowboarding and aggressive downhill skiing. The way he thought of it is when he couldn’t skate in New Jersey in the winter and that frustrated him. So he invented a ski board, which is a snowboard just with a different name. So that winter he had something to use in the winter and then it just hit. He had owned his own skateboarding shop for a while after he got out of school, and Tony Hawk road for his skateboards, but then he wanted to add his invention in 7th grade to his production list. So he tried to get them on their in the late 1970’s but he didn’t have enough money for it so he had to put it off for awhile, but he didn’t tell anyone about it. Because he wanted it to be a surprise. So then in the early 1980’s he put them on his production line and they called “Sims Snowboards”. It was basically a huge hit when he produced them. People loved it, it was Americas next big thing. After the snowboards came along in the mid 1980’s Tom Sims decided he wanted to spice things up with them. So what he did was wanted to make jumps so u could get big air just like if...
Words: 433 - Pages: 2
