Current debate: towards an educational practice

Current debate: towards an educational practice

Currently, skateboarding phenomena is a spatial practice that some non-profit organisations teach in order to provide educational and empowerment opportunities to different social groups (Borden, 2015). Lombard, proposes spatial practice as a tool which creates community and wellbeing: “realisation of the positive role of skateboarding is being utilised for ends such as providing young people with design and technology skills, building social capital and countering societal issues from addiction to unemployment, violence, gender issues and access to education” (Lombard, 2015,pp.2).

Lombard explains how skateboarding is part of an answer to complex social conditions in the city (Lombard, 2015). The role of skateboarding as a sport, which promotes responsibility and brings health and joy to people is considered as a powerful tool that creates community and promotes wellbeing (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Learning to skate. Refugee camp, Jordan. By Daniel Zvereff.

Skateboarding, as an educational practice, has also been developed by big brands such as Vans and Nike, which have skate schools in various cities around the world. In the case of London, the House of Vans underneath the vaults of Waterloo Station was conceived as a multifunctional venue, designed for the spread of the skating culture (Figure 2). Films, exhibitions, ramps, and a bowl 13

promote skating through open classes and special events such as the monthly Girls Night (House of Vans London, 2018). On the other hand, Bay Sixty 6, sponsored by Nike, constructed a skatepark in West London which also promotes skate lessons for users of different ages (BAYSIXTY6 Skate Park, 2018).

Figure 2. House of Vans. Girls night. Author.

Skateboarding practice, therefore evolved from an informal practice in America to a sport recently added to the Olympics (Borden, 2018). Additionally, skaters’ performance has some specific socio-spatial conditions, characterised by the lack of a formal structure, which leads to a relaxed interaction among skaters (Beal, 1995). Moreover, the necessity of some specific infrastructure to the sport practice, such as vertical surfaces, was highlighted (Carr, 2010). Finally, skateboarding is proposed as a spatial practice that brings health, joy and wellbeing to its participants as a tool to teach and promote positive values among community members (Lombard, 2015).

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