A way of life, a good time with friends, a way to pass the time, and so much more to so many. As Lizzie said in her post from a couple of weeks ago skateboarding is much more than troubled teens in baggy jeans and a baseball hat. It is a good way to stay in shape, a motivation to stay in school, a boost to the local economy, and a means to meaningful identity development and social integration.
According to Livestrong.com, skateboarding can burn up to 329 calories per hour for the average 145 -lb person. It works large and small muscle groups throughout your legs and helps with general balance. If you’re more competitive with skateboarding the sport itself can act as motivation to work out more on the side. In a men’s fitness article titled “Fittest Men in America,” young skate boarding legend Ryan Sheckler expressed that working out on the side was the key to his success as it decreases his chances of falling and keeps his muscles tighter and more in control. He also does cardio to keep himself in tip -top condition. According to Families.com, skateboarding is a (sometimes addictive) means to provide flexibility, increase coordination and build cardiovascular stamina.
A case study on Philadelphia after the LOVE skatepark was built accounted several significant changes in the community including increased school enrollment and economic advantages. An informal survey conducted about Arts oriented students concluded that proximity to the skatepark and Philadelphia’s “skate friendly” atmosphere were significant factors that brought students to the area. There was also a spike in local businesses that were either directly created to cater to the skate community or were more creatively oriented but undoubtedly influenced by the skating environment.
Beyond physical fitness and economically sound cities, there is significant evidence that skateboarding encourages healthy risk taking in adolescents and that skateparks specifically are a perfect public space to create a sense of personal identity and to be a part of a peer group that you can identify with. A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Research concluded:
Contrary to the notion that only structured and adult-supervised leisure yields favorable development outcomes, this research found links between “unstructured” activities that occur within skate parks, on the one hand, and opportunities for task focus and challenge, meaningful identity development, and wider social integration, on the other. Skate park participation may thus meet many of the criteria thought to lead to positive youth development.
While we are certainly more accepting of skateboarding today than we were 10 or 15 years ago, it seems that we need to take that acceptance one step further and encourage it. Who can resist a sport that is fun and compelling but also can provide so many widespread health benefits?
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