Editorial: Skateboarding and society: intersections, influences, and implications

Abstract

Skateboarding has come a long way over the last 75 years, from an early niche among surfers in California to a global phenomenon with millions of participants worldwide. Over its history, the activity of skateboarding has diversified. Who skateboards, where they ride, how they ride, and for what purposes have evolved as skateboarders have developed new and creative ways to participate in the activity. As the activity of skateboarding has changed, so too have skateboarders' interactions with their surrounding communities, both physically and socially. These unique characteristics of skateboarding have attracted the attention of researchers over the last several decades. Books, theses, and articles are evidence of this research development. The Research Topic presented here, entitled "Skateboarding and Society: Intersections, Influences, and Implications," contributes to this body of literature by demonstrating how skateboarding can be a useful mechanism for negotiating power, placemaking, urban and social development, education, and change.