Growing up in England, my first real glimpse of skateboarding wasn’t on the streets, but through the windows of my local swimming pool. The skatepark, tucked away behind the sports center, seemed like a forbidden realm, a place of cool I’d only observe with wide eyes and face smudges on the glass. It was a world away from the ordinary, and like many, I only saw glimpses of this magic. Events like Gnarathon, a skate contest in Vienna, offer the uninitiated an opportunity to see skateboarding up close, for better or worse. I decided to talk to some of the spectators on the edges to see what they thought of our scene, and their reactions were surprisingly positive.
Dominic, Marina & Their Son
The young boy in this family was not a fan of skateboarding, declaring it dangerous and stating his preference for chess. His father, Dominic, was surprised by the lack of protective gear, correctly assuming most skaters view pads as “wack” when street skating. Marina, on the other hand, loved the idea of a central city skate event, seeing it as a way to inspire kids to try it. She was clearly keen on her son giving it a go, but he had other plans. They eventually left for his chess lesson, but the seed might have been planted.
Aslan
Aslan, a Turkish man who was enjoying the day by the river, was captivated by the entire skate contest. He smiled and bobbed his head to the music. He was puzzled by the bank-to-wallride ramps, finding it strange that they weren’t smooth quarter pipes, which he thought would be easier to skate. I explained that it was intentional, but I was not sure if my bad German conveyed the message clearly. He had a great vibe, and I’m not quite sure what his hand sign meant, but it looked cool.
Katya & Philipp
Katya and Philipp, a very “Viennese” couple, were observing the ledge session. Katya noted that the act of continuously failing and then succeeding at a trick must be beneficial for one’s mental health. It was cool to see her recognize the value in the struggle and dedication that comes with landing tricks.
Klaudia & Peter
Klaudia, watching the warm-up session mostly filled with male skaters, asked with a hint of disappointment where the women were. I assured them that more women would arrive for the main event, which would balance things out a bit. I’m not sure if they stuck around to see, but I hope they did. It is always great to see new people become interested in skateboarding.
Ivor
Ivor, fresh from Dubai, was amazed that alcohol was readily available in supermarkets. He had spent his afternoon drinking vodka and smoking hash in a park. He shared the unusual method of acquiring hash in Dubai, which involves bitcoin and GPS coordinates to buried goods. The music from the skate event caught his attention, and he came over to see what was happening. He even offered me his Mercedes G Wagon to go and buy some drugs, but I’d had too many beers to say yes. He called his dad to tell him how great his first day was and also offered me the phone numbers of two prostitutes. Ivor’s bike in the photo is not his.
Thomas
Thomas, who had been swimming, was on his way home when he heard Slayer’s “Raining Blood” and decided to investigate. He loved the music but confessed that he wasn’t a fan of skateboarding. It was an interesting contrast to see someone drawn by the music but not the skating itself.
Shannon the Medic & Co-worker
Being a medic at a skate event is probably a strange experience. People are constantly falling, but unless it’s serious, skaters tend to just get back up and keep going. Shannon was trying to tend to a skater’s shredded hand, but he was just not stopping. She was half Irish and half Austrian, and she wasn’t impressed when a skater asked her which half was which. She had clearly heard that joke before. Her colleague made sure he hid his tobacco before the photo was taken, showcasing a bit of professionalism.
Gnarathon provided a unique opportunity to see how the “outsiders” view skateboarding culture, and it was fascinating to see their reactions. From chess-loving kids to music-loving swimmers, each perspective offered a fresh look at our world. It’s clear that skateboarding is more than just a sport; it’s a culture that can captivate and intrigue those from all walks of life. Perhaps if you have never tried skateboarding, consider going down to the skatepark sometime, you may see something magical.
