SKATE OR DIE
~By Andy Chu~
'"Ride a scooter ... Die a virgin :)" - Josh Darcy
Note
This essay is entirely based upon Tim Bagnara's "Skate and Destroy..." essay piece. The following essay is a refined version and may contain some of Bagnara's content.
Essay
Throughout the many years of the earth’s existence, children were
always creative upon ways of personal transportation; they would ride
ponies or unicorns. But in these modern times, the skateboard is one
transportation system that’s most influential, having been extended into
its own world-wide culture. The presence of the culture is not
developed only through a person on a wooden board with wheels but by the
wide variety of influences that surround a skateboarder. These
influences break barriers of traditional skateboarding culture to build
subcultures that help define a skateboarder’s way of communication and
style. In terms of communication, skateboarders are exposed to a wide
network of connections: internet (social networks, websites, blogs,
etc.), skate parks, magazines, films and other interconnected cultures
relating to skateboarding (music and street art). The cultural
difference between professional and amateur skateboarders can be also be
very large because of the reasons that these people skateboard, which
can lead to angst amongst these individuals. The way that a skater uses
their skateboard can change the context of the product. For example an
individual can use a skateboard for the purpose of travelling, setting
the context as a means of transport.
Skateboarding began during the 40’s and 50’s in America when
surfing was experiencing a huge boom in popularity. Surfers experienced
flat waves during the day so they had to find something else to occupy
their time. The creator of the first skateboard is still unknown to
this date but it is believed that several people developed the same idea
during that time. The first skateboards were made out of a wooden boxes
or boards with roller skate wheels attached at the bottom.
Skateboarding eventually became popular in the early 60’s when companies
began to produce the decks. Skateboarding eventually evolved out of the
surfing scene and became its own independent culture. During the 80’s
subcultures began to develop, with the first being ‘Skate Punk’. The
Skate Punk culture impacted on skateboarding due to their influence of
punk rock music and rebellious actions. This led the general image for
skateboarders during the 1980s and 1990s as rebellious, non-conforming
youths, although that image has faded in recent years. Skateboarding and
surfing had an abstruse connection in the beginning but however the
rate of skateboarders began to rise and the influence of music developed
a sense of conformity with the rebellious image viewed by the general
public. Music soon became a hugely influential part on the culture of
skateboarding.
A 1964 image of early skateboards
With the rebellious image intact, the influence of music conforms to
the culture of skateboarding and is the most definitive factor of the
image and identity of subcultures. The earliest form of genre to
influence upon skateboarding would be punk rock. Bands such as Black
Flag, JFA, Agent Orange, Minor Threat and the Suicidal Tendencies were
among the first wave of skate punk bands. Punk rock in skateboarding is
largely represented in the magazine Thrasher and other similar
magazines. Thrasher was started in 1981 and during the 1980's punk
musicians used the magazine for releasing music, promoting concerts and
many skateboarders were exposed to skateboarding through punk music and
vice versa. During the 1990s skate punk music evolved into melodic. At
this time skate punk bands found more commercial success. This was
achieved through the establishments of skating events such as Warped
Tour and X-Games. The styles of skate punk music are usually based on
their rebellious actions. Although not originally associated with skate
culture, hip hop also plays a big part in influencing the culture. In
recent years hip hop has been associated with many skate-related
products. There are many magazines that document such associations. This
includes the Australian magazines: Monster Children and Acclaim Mag.
These two magazines combine hip hop, skate culture and street art as
their main influences and theme. Such magazines extend subculture itself
to different levels, as it also combines and develop interest towards
many new people. Hip hop music also connects with the punk rock sense of
style: rebellious and delinquency. But with a skate connection, a good
example includes rappers Drake and Lupe Fiasco’s single, “Kick, Push”
which loosely tells a story of a dedicated skateboarder who spends most
of he’s child hood skating. The song also expresses the skateboarder as
“Just a rebel to the world with no place to go” and “a rebel looking for
a place to be,” This demonstrates the far reaching influence of music
on skateboarding and skateboarding on people who are skaters.
The Skateboarding culture can also be divided into three different
groups: amateurs, verts and big air-skaters despite the sub-cultures.
Amateurs are simply skaters who skate on the street and are only skating
for fun. This can also include skateboarders who use it as a means of
transportation. It all depends on which context the individual uses the
product for. For example Tim Bagnara, a skateboarder from Melbourne,
“used to skate for fun, socially with friends” but now he uses a
skateboard to “serve as a mode of transportation for getting around
Melbourne’s Inner city.” Vert skateboarders are more of the half pipe
skaters. They take skateboarding serious such as making a career out of
it. Big air-skaters are very experienced skateboarders who have achieved
fame and take on extreme skating tricks such as mega tall ramps. While
each group of skaters is different, by identifying the similarities
between them, a greater understanding of the skateboarding culture is
gleaned.
Skateboarders have an extremely flexible and varied communication
system. It can simply be meeting at the local skate park or
communicating on the internet and through magazines and films.
Skateboarding has become a popular social convention. Skaters regularly
meet up at a skate park to socialise and conform. Some well known skate
parks in Australia include Riverside Skate Park in Alexandra Gardens,
Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains and Lincoln Square on Swanston Street. A
more articulate and broad way of communicating is the internet. It
allows skateboarders to be more open with their ideas and easily improve
their skills with the online presence of pro-skaters. SkatersCafe.com
is an example where skaters have the ability to share and discuss ideas,
tricks and places to skate. SkatersCafe.com is divided into different
sections; it also includes non skating sections such as music and art
which allows skaters to discuss about their influences and style.
Communication is also seen within the media industry (mainly films and
magazines). These companies are also sponsors of professional
skateboarders. Magazines are an example of how skateboarders
communicate: they would send letters, ask questions or even win
competitions. “Fuk’n Oath” is an example of a skateboard magazine that
provides such communication. Since it is a monthly free magazine, it has
a more local community-orientated theme rather than circling around
professional skateboarders. It contains sections where each month they’d
interview a local skater, allowing and giving opportunities to unknown
skaters to connect with other skateboarders. The interview questions are
also chosen and interviewed by random skateboarders. This gives a more
diverse connection with its readers. Film is another diverse
communication that engages their viewers to elaborate and connect. It is
more of a way to connect professional skaters to amateurs as an
influence. In 2007, skateboarding footwear company Lakai released their
film Fully Flared, which featured high definition footage and took over 4
years to make. Skateboarders are flexible with communication, even when
they don’t skate, there is always a place or media that they can turn
to for influence, socialising and engaging in skateboarding topics.
The industry of skateboarding is a very profitable business and there
are many outlets from which to buy skateboarding equipment and
accessories. Skateboard companies such as Element, Blind Skateboards and
Zoo York create their own skate teams, in which they are also
sponsored. Skateboarding is seen as an expensive hobby so unless you are
sponsored by a company or skate shop or your friend is, skateboarders
need to buy this equipment. These skateboard companies expand their
market by selling clothing apparel, shoes and other equipment with the
theme of skateboarding. With subcultures scattered around the world,
each subculture would sometimes centre on a specific brand, influencing
the choice of the consumer. The world famous skateboarder, Tony Hawk is
an example of extending and influencing skateboarding into video games.
With he’s line of video games proves skateboarding as a strong marketing
area for consumers. Although it can be argued that skateboarding
companies are exploiting skateboarders, but these companies are run and
influenced by the skateboarding public are vital in the survival of
skateboarding as a culture.
