Urban Skateboarding

In 2009, I long-boarded across the southern United States with a few friends to raise support and awareness for a local non-profit. I found that holding a skateboard can cause an interesting reaction from those that I come in contact with.

The connotations around the skateboard, I would argue, seem to eliminate the chance of a new understanding of new ways to approach green transportation, urban development, social capitol and community development. The seemingly juvenile sport, has transformed me to an academic and contributing community member, from an annoying kid purposefully trying to destroy public property in the eyes of those who view skateboarding in a negative light as well as those who cannot accept the idea of a sport with no “out of bounds.”

My intentions for the community are good, I assure you, my intentions for Tacoma are good. I don’t want to destroy public property and have no desire to give you the finger.  Well, most of the time I don’t. I noticed, while trying to do good in this country, that skateboarding, or even just holding one, resulted in me being treated like I was a social inconvenience or even a criminal.

Skateboarding through this country was a wild adventure. I saw and met several infinitely interesting people, some of whom welcomed us into their homes and some who viewed us as a public nuisance. The connotations of the skateboard began to put into question how the average community in America thinks of the urban skateboarder and the role they play within their specific communities. Skating across this country allowed me to see the wide-range of communities within America; from poor and drug-ridden urban areas to wealthy suburbs and it forced me to re-evaluate the position that skateboarding is in to help our communities.

One question that was continually on my mind as I interacted with Americans across the country and with Tacoma natives, some of whom screamed at us, threw objects out of their cars at us, and others who welcomed us into their homes and fed us, is this: what is it about the skateboard as a symbol that causes so many to deny the creativity, innovation and community values that that are inherent in every skateboarder?

“I want to talk directly to the skateboarders, you really are the revolutionaries in thought and culture. You should be proud of the resistance you have created and you must stick with it. You must not let the stick in the mud older people prevent your continuing of the great, great process that you have initiated.”

 Urban planner, architect, educator and author

Edmund  Bacon