2. thesis
educate the world on the true values of
skateboarding
get rid of the black and white view of the sport
disclaim the media’s portrayal on the sport
finally show the posotive light skateboarding
deserves
3. personal relevance
Skateboarding is gnarly
always been a major part of my life
directly ties to art and expression
has enhanced my ability to create and view
the world differently
4. skateboarding and its image
the many faces of the sport make its image
one that is hard to grasp,
brews speculation and misconception
mostly youth participating in it
black cloud of stereotype
5.
6. the stereotype
the main view is the competition and retail of
the sport
ESPN’s x games and mall skate shops take all
the credit for the sports success
the true skaters are fighting tooth and nail for
a place to skate, not for neon clothing and
yellow helmets
7.
8. how we got here
the 80’s and 90’s had polar opposite affects on
the sport
80’s bought in a newskool aerial assault, and the
beginning of corperate companies.
90’s brought the streets into the game and actual
skateboarders began to take control of the
industry
9.
10. mainstream
to the occasional skateboard enthusiast the
sport stands as a fairly new alternative sport.
tony hawk
skateparks
kids
township space
11.
12. subculture
subculture makes the freedom of the sport
music, terrain, landscape, and attitude define
skateboarders style on and off the board
increases the oportunity for the sports growth
by creating nich’es
13.
14. subculture
inner city styles are generally asssociated with
urban hip-hop, and a more devoted effort
toward clothing.
the urban landscape creates a playground of
possibilities and freedom
15.
16. subculture
towards a more rural area one will begin to
see a more focused area of skateboarding
less things to skate meens you get good at
what you have
more vert ramp and skatepark devotion
17.
18. subculture
the gray area in style is a great improvement
in the sport
the next generation of skateboarders is
beginning to embrace all elements of the sport
grant taylor
19.
20. music
very much like music, skateboarding provides
a creative release for participants
instruments and skateboards both serve as
empty canvas for the creative mind
both embrace the rythem of human motion
and expression
21.
22. music
music listening directly influinces the
skateboarders on board style
tricks, ride aways, spot selection and attitude
all play a part
slow= stylish fast=hardcore
people find that they can pick a skateboarder out of a crowd, different is wrong to the narrow minded so with the immidiate draw of attention the sport is already misrepresented. a long history of property damage and steriotypes dosent help much either, the skateboarder has become synonamous with drug abuse and rebellion\n\nBIG DUMB CHERADE born ugly magazine rob lee\n
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companies like zumiez and pac sun are here to cash in on the newest thing the youth is into, espn bought their way into the sport by creating a giant advertising cherade out of a vert ramp and a street course. the skaters have become well basically “a stock car” is what jay adams said to stacy peralta, stickers and logos pay your way when you sell out.\n
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different trends within the sport have brought different times for its image, in the 80’s a visually stimulating air show known as the vert ramp attracted viewers and enthusiasts from all walks of life mostly because of its flashy approach and glam metal style, guys like geoorge powell who wasnt even a skater, started companies.\n the 90’ s brought grunge and post punk into the scene creating a more layed back approach to filming and media exposure. guys like steve rucko and rodney mullen began to elbow in\n
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the sport seems skin deep from the outside looking in, many remember the legacy of tony hawk just for his media envolvement and good nature. skateparks are always thought of as the go to thing for a skater but oddly enough itgs far from the truth. when a township builds a skatepark more than likely it will be abused vandalized and underused. the same area takes the soul out of creativity on four wheels\n
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the ever bustling city enviornment allows for skating to take itself to every nook and cranny of urban construction all the way to urban decay, like a sidewalk tile thats popped up from a water main break, instant skate spot. or it could be a beautiful marble ledge just screaming out grind me. these skaters are constantly harassed by inner city bacon and renna bacon\n
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skatings tough when you live in the middle of noware, a lot of rural areas are starting to build massive skateparks to bring culture and sport to the town and keep the kids out of trouble. but before that there was the vert ramp. a two walled ramp known widely from its popularity at x games. the ramp is built easily and has unlimited possibility which keeps a level playing feild for everyone who skates one.\n
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skating vert or street was a good excuse for a while.\n“i dont skate vert” or i dont skate “street” would get you by but is becoming obvious that anyone with decent board control is ignorant for not skating everything. when the excuse is presented to me i just pity the narrow view of the person. as seen in the pictures above, bowls and staircases are becoming ne in the next generation of skating\n
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recently picking up drums i feel the same creative buzz wether playing or skating. wether it be my own music or skateboarding, its playing by my rule. \n
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though it may be hard t understand and or document, with the amount of skateboard footage i have reviewed i can clearly see the distinction between a slow beat music taste and a hardcore music taste in a skateboarders style. a heavier effort into the perfection of a trick comes from a slower and more dialed approach to skateboarding. a punk rock approach just screams go fast and hold on tight\n