The interviewee was originally influenced to start skateboarding after seeing people skating in London and watching skate videos. They say that skating has benefited their life by improving their determination and mentality, as learning new tricks requires perseverance. There is seen to be a stigma around skating from the general public, who see skaters as doing nothing productive, but in reality skaters work hard at their hobby. Music is also considered an important part of skating culture, both for filming videos and at skate parks. While skating can be someone's job through avenues like working at a skate shop or filming, the biggest surprise for the interviewee has been all the friends they have made through skating.

1. Interview Questions & Answers
What originally influenced you to start getting into the skateboarding
culture?
“I went on a family trip to London with my family and saw loads of
people skating, I went home and watched loads of videos and got
influenced by them and bought a skateboard, I started learning and
haven’t really stopped”
Has skating had a benefit on your life, and if so, why?
“100%. Its definitely changed my mentality and determination, once
you start skating the way you think begins to change, for example if
I’m trying a trick and it’s taking me ages I’m not going to stop until I
can do it, so it definitely gives you a lot of determination”
Do you think there is a stigma around the skating culture?
“Definitely, it has a bad reputation from the general public, from
experience if I’m skating some stairs in public, I get a lot of angry
people shouting at me and thinking I’m not doing anything with my
life, they think you’re nothing but in reality, you’re putting in a lot of
work into what you’re doing. Its not just smoking weed.”
Does music have a big impact towards skaters?
“Music definitely does, it is a big part of skating. For example, if
someone is filming – music is one of the main components for the
video, if the music doesn’t work with the video, then the video won’t
come out right.
There’s usually music playing at the skate park which also brings a lot
of people together.”

2. Can skateboarding be your job, and if so, how?
“Skating can be a job, there’s lots of arts to it even if you’re not
skating yourself, there’s still ways to make a living from it, for
example working in a skate shop, photography and filming. I actually
think this helps with the stigma around skating, it proves the people
who think you do nothing wrong.”
What has been the biggest surprise to you when getting into skating?
“All my friends that I have now I met through skating, if I didn’t skate,
I wouldn’t be friends with anyone I am now. So, I have skating to
thank for that.”
How does the skating culture vary in each country?
“The skating culture varies from country to country, an example of
this is America, a lot of people in America skate empty pools and it’s
a big thing there, but in England you don’t find empty pools so it’s not
as big of a thing over here.”