The contribution of skateboarding to societal challenges

• Published in: African journal of hospitality, tourism and leisure tourism and leisure, 2017-08, Vol.6 (4)
• Main Authors: Dr PS Radikonyana, Prof JJ Prinsloo, Prof TG Pelser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Open Public Spaces; Skateboarding; Societal Challenges; Townships
• ISSN: 2223-814X

Skateboarding started in the 1950s on the west coast of the United States of America (USA) as a response to a desire of surfers to continue their activity “when the surf was flat” This qualitative study focuses on the perception of what skateboarding is all about in South African cities and townships. In doing this, attention is also given to the skateboarding’s contribution to societal challenges in South African cities and townships. Skateboarding’s sub-culture, like other youth cultures, are commonly regarded as being out of place in open public spaces as they tend to pose ‘a crisis for public space’ or resist the normative logic of public space and offer unwanted alternative uses. The problem within this context can be conceptualized as “an activity for youths involved in anti-social behavior or undesirable social behavior whereby skateboarders are in general previewed as outcasts, nuisances, and even criminals”. This study is closely allied to the social constructivist where the objective of research ‘is to rely as much as possible on the participants’ view of the situation being studied’. A grounded theory guideline approach was applied, thus including open axial and selective coding. Four focus group interviews were executed amongst respondents located in and around Pretoria (Menlyn, Atteridgeville, Lotus gardens and Eersterus). Themes that emerged include the need for experience, skateboarding awareness, skateboarding’s attributes and values, skateboarding as a leisure activity, skateboarding as a competitive sport, personal characters of skateboarding, and anti-criminal behavior. Societies in general, always use the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover”, question is, does the society apply this widely used belief system? The findings of this empirical, proof beyond questioning that society does in fact, “judge the book by its cover”. Skateboarding could and should be considered by private industries (profit orientation and social responsibility programs) and relevant government structures (social development), as yet another element of a wider integrated social development plan.