It’s always a mixed feeling when entities outside of skateboarding attempt to co-opt our culture, presenting it in a way that feels foreign, a sentiment echoed back when the X-Games first emerged in 1995. While the skateboarding community largely viewed the X-Games with disdain, the public embraced the spectacle, birthing (or perhaps rebirthing) a widespread fascination with skateboarding. We, the core skate community, rarely concern ourselves with the winners and losers of these contrived competitions. They serve as mere novelties, offering the masses a distorted glimpse into our world, and of course, generating substantial revenue for the involved corporations. Now, years later, this popularization has led to discussions about including skateboarding in the Olympic Summer Games, and this is not something every skater agrees with.
Shaun White winning, representing skateboarding in a way that might not resonate with core skaters
When polling opinions at my local skate park, I expected resistance to the idea of Olympic skateboarding. Surprisingly, many younger skaters were enthusiastic. “It could be cool to see skateboarding in Estonia,” one skater remarked. This openness was unexpected and somewhat encouraging, suggesting a forward-thinking perspective among the younger generation. Yet, it also raised questions of naiveté. Were they fully aware of the potential for the Olympics to sanitize and distort the true essence of skateboarding?
Jason Jesse, a pro skater from the early ’90s and a symbol of individuality within skateboarding, once famously said, “I love skateboarding so much I want it to die.” At the time, this sentiment was hard to grasp, but as the soul of skateboarding evolves, it resonates more deeply. It’s better to see skateboarding die than to become another homogenized, mainstream sport.
Do these younger skaters understand that skateboarding transcends the definition of a sport? Do they realize that we’re content with being perceived as outsiders? Do they grasp that including skateboarding in the Olympics contradicts its fundamental principles? Perhaps not, and that’s because the very definition of skateboarding is shifting.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and media outlets are keenly aware that capturing the attention of younger audiences is vital for maintaining viewership and revenue. Skateboarding, in turn, finds itself in a precarious position. Tony Hawk, skateboarding’s most recognizable figure, acknowledges this dynamic: “The Olympics needs skateboarding more than skateboarding needs them – to gain some cool factor. It should be in the games immediately.”
However, gaining entry into the Olympics demands structure and organization, qualities not traditionally associated with skateboarding. Lacking an official governing body, the IOC initially turned to external organizations, including the Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS), a roller skating association. Entrusting roller skaters with overseeing skateboarding in the Olympics would be akin to skiers governing snowboarding, a situation that unfolded during the 2008 Winter Olympics. While snowboarding boosted viewership and revenue, it fostered animosity between snowboarders and the IOC. Consequently, the IOC reassessed its approach to integrating skateboarding into the Olympic program.
A photo illustrating the spirit of individual expression often associated with skateboarding
Now, skateboarders themselves are taking the necessary steps to establish an official governing body, the International Skateboard Federation (ISF). The ISF boasts an impressive roster of skateboarding icons, including Tony Hawk, Chris Miller, and Tod Swank. Notably, the inclusion of Dave Carnie lends the ISF significant credibility. Carnie embodies skateboarding’s anti-establishment ethos more than almost anyone.
Carnie, known for his work as writer and editor of the provocative Big Brother magazine, has long been a counter-culture figure in skateboarding. His sharp wit and commentary have skewered those seeking to exploit the culture. He was a vocal critic of poorly designed public skate parks and also initially opposed skateboarding in the Olympics. Ironically, he was instrumental in forming the ISF.
“Skateboarding is going to be in the Olympics whether we like it or not,” Carnie stated. “I don’t like it. But the IOC wants it, and they’re going to get it one way or another. If it isn’t done by skateboarders, it will be done by one of a handful of other groups out there claiming to be the official governing body of skateboarding.”
As a devoted reader of Big Brother, I reached out to Carnie to ask a question that had been bothering me: Why couldn’t the ISF, once established, simply decline the IOC’s offer?
Carnie responded, “We have actually declined. We are in a unique position to be able to say, you want skateboarding? Well you’ll get it, but only on skateboarding’s terms.” However, it’s not that simple. The Olympics, with its long-standing traditions, may struggle to adapt its rigid judging system to the subjective nature of skateboarding. It remains to be seen how willing the IOC will be to accommodate skateboarding’s unique character.
This led to further questions about the motivations of some of the non-skateboarding figures within the ISF, particularly its president, Gary Ream. Ream owns Camp Woodward, a summer camp catering to skateboarding, BMX, rollerblading, gymnastics, and cheerleading. After reading articles critical of Ream’s involvement with the ISF, skepticism arose. One article alleged that the ISF would receive millions from the IOC to develop the “sport” and that Ream’s summer camp enrollment would inevitably increase.
Gary Ream, a figure from outside core skateboarding, involved in shaping its Olympic future
However, after speaking with Carnie, I felt more confident in Ream’s intentions. “I know Gary well enough to say that he’s not in this to rape skateboarding,” Carnie assured me. “He’s been providing camps and places to skate for kids for years, and he’s been doing a really good job at it. I think he looks at a bigger picture: he sees skateboarding and the values that it provides to kids: independence, creativity, and confidence.”
Ream highlighted that unlike the United States, where sports are privately funded, many countries rely on government funding. Olympic inclusion could lead to increased funding for skateboarding in countries like Estonia, resulting in the construction of more skate parks. He stressed the importance of preserving skateboarding’s creative essence within the rigid Olympic structure. Ream insisted that skateboarding would be judged by established skateboarding standards, not by the metrics used in gymnastics or figure skating. These measures, according to Ream, aim to protect skateboarding’s creative spirit amidst the competitive environment of the Olympics.
As long as there’s money to be made, individuals will seek to commodify and exploit skateboarding. Olympic inclusion is likely inevitable, whether in 2024 or beyond. While this prospect is unsettling, it’s somewhat comforting to know that figures like Dave Carnie and Tony Hawk are working to minimize the potential damage. Perhaps there’s still hope for skateboarding.
