Skating
Making its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, skateboarding took the global stage once again at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. From July 27 to August 7, 88 of the world’s best skaters represented their countries in Paris. The USA team, 6 of the 12 competitors are San Diego locals, ranked third on the medal table.
“It’s really cool for the sport and skating is such a unique sport in that, even when it gets these huge moments of exposure, it’s still an underground sport,” Austin Wade, social science teacher, surf PE coach, head surf team coach and former skater, said.
This is a great moment for skateboarding and for our community, Given the sport’s strong roots in San Diego.
“I’ve been skating a lot, and it was cool to see my sport and hobby featured worldwide,” Max Sipes (12) said.
Modern skateboarding developed in the 1940s and ’50s as Southern Californians searched for other activities when the waves were poor. The creation of polyurethane wheels in the 1970s introduced a new surge of popularity and San Diegans enjoyed skating in places like the Escondido Reservoir and La Costa housing tract until Carlsbad Skatepark opened in 1976, the first official skatepark in California, one of two in the entire world, according to the National Museum of American History. Popularity again grew with the Del Mar Ranch Skate Park which opened in 1980. Professional skateboarder and TPHS grad Tony Hawk (‘86) began his career at these two parks.
The addition of skating as an Olympic sport legitimizes what is a lifestyle for many, especially for those in Southern California. Many, like Jacob Cava (12), were introduced to skateboarding during quarantine in 2020.
“Skating is really freeing; you really only have to focus on not falling on your face. It keeps you present,” Cava said.
Olympic skating mirrors other events that athletes compete in, like the X Games. The 22 skaters in park events had three 45-second runs in the preliminary round, and three 45-second runs if they advanced to the final. Skaters were judged by the height, speed and variety of tricks and their ability to utilize the entire course. In the street competition, the 22 skaters had two preliminary 45-second runs, and two additional in the final, to perform five tricks judged on difficulty, execution, and variety. Both competitions were determined by a panel of five judges. Park skating takes place in a bowl-like arena with ramps, banks and varying transitions at different heights. Street skating incorporates various obstacles found in a “street,” such as rails, stairs, benches and curbs.
The addition of skateboarding as an Olympic sport created great exposure.
“At the Olympics, everyone views sports they don’t necessarily know about, and it’s the same for skating. More people get to see it,” Cava said.
Given the creative and non-traditional aspects of skateboarding in comparison to other, more organized sports, some skaters disagree with its status as an Olympic sport. Some believe competitions and scores, especially the Olympic level, takes away from the art form skateboarding is. Others believe the addition of skateboarding is a step in the right direction, exposing more people and putting it on the same level as other sports.
“There’s always going to be challenges because there are so many different ideas of what skating can be. At the end of the day, it will be what you make out of it: ignore scores and see how you want it, and for the great actions of the competitors,” Wade said.
Wade expressed that many sports in the Olympics are “not accessible” to every-day people, but skateboarding can be enjoyed by almost anyone.
Although skateboarding has reached new heights at the Paris Games, it is still the same sport that so many love, allowing people to have fun and step outside their comfort zone.
by Gabrielle Gonzales
