Every time the Olympics creep back up from its four-year hibernation you hear the same opinions. Some are excited, some could care less. Now in the eyes of this writer skateboarding is a culture that cradles creatives of all backgrounds, races, and mindsets. Not a sport. It’s not like boxing or the balance beam.
Though someone would certainly skate the latter.
So, when it was added to the Olympics, many in the culture expressed their outrage. And with another summer games approaching, I couldn’t help but think of this ongoing internal cultural debate.
Back in summer of 2021, my wife and I stopped off at a bar for a drink, but mainly so I could finally see how skateboarding in the Olympics would work. Inside, the bar soccer hooligans licked up the liquor dribbling down their chins as they cheered and chanted. Outside on the sidewalk, fittingly in the street, is where they streamed the Olympics.
Grabbing a bench seat by the monitors, I quickly befriended the only other people invested in skating. As they chain-smoked off to the side during the commercial break, they informed me on what I missed, the park layout, and which skaters attended. Soon, a clique of other skaters formed around us.
“You ever think you’d be at a fucking sports bar watching skating?” One man asked as I reordered an overpriced beer. Growing up in the community, one would hear skateboarding categorized as anything from a sport to a crime. So, sitting at a bar watching it, as opposed to friend’s houses or a skate shop was entirely different.
Together our group talked about the rules the Olympics constructed. Jokes were made about the commentor overexplaining everything to audiences that only knew skateboarding as an activity in trespassing, self-mutilation, and Tony Hawk.
But it didn’t take long to make our presence known. We howled out every skater that hit the rail. Applauded every slam. Our shouts quickly muted the soccer fans that ravaged the bar only moments ago. The rest of the outside patrons turned to the T.V. and began to join us in our excitement.
One lady, dressed like she was attending a charity ball, sidled-up to the duo I first encountered as they smoke. Loudly she began shouting, “AMERICA!” clearly not knowing why we were there.
As this outsider screamed, one of our new friends turned around to us and shouted out, “Fucking preps!” giving me laughs and flashbacks of when I was thirteen and rallied against such groups. Leaving that night was like departing from a spot. The discussion was on the tricks not the standings.
Is skating a sport? No, but we’re happy to be taken as seriously. At least, as serious as we want to be.
We’re a culture. A people that forces their way into the world like graffiti pieces. Whether that be in an arena watched by thousands of viewers, or a select few at a local spot. No competition, uniforms, or rules can take away that true D.I.Y. essence of skateboarding.
Should skateboarding be in the Olympics? All I can say for sure is that come summer, you’ll find me at the bar with beers waiting for wheels to move. – Chuck Harp
