The skateboard has its roots in the 1940s and ‘50s but it wasn’t until the 1970s and the beginnings of punk culture that it developed into the powerful cultural symbol that it is recognised as today.

The sense of freedom associated with the activity quickly sowed the seeds of anarchy in the minds of thousands of bored teenagers and the battle against ‘the Man’ and ‘the System’ began anew. Skateboarding has since flourished into a sport enjoyed by over eighteen million people worldwide but the gritty mischief that characterised the participants has been lost. Modern skateboarders take pride in their sport and their concrete arenas, and exude a controlled antagonism that still separates the activity from more conventional sports.

The image of the skater as a disobedient youth has changed over the years to such an extent that the sport is now seen as a means of promoting good behaviour and sportsmanship: a far-cry from the misdemeanour and anti-establishment ideals that the sport was previously associated with. The government has begun diverting a great deal of attention and money into the construction of skate parks in the hope that the wrath of anti-social youths will be quenched or deflected into more meaningful activities.

Antisocial behaviour is one of the greatest threats faced by civilians and a bane to government funds, and while the percentage of youth crime reported is decreasing (The Home Office reports that 17% of the population faced anti-social behaviour in 2006, down from 21% in 2003) many people still feel that not enough is being done to tackle would-be vagabonds. It is perhaps pertinent to ask: does the government want to encourage more people to take up skateboarding or is the initiative just a misguided attempt at social cohesion? Skate parks need to attract skaters otherwise the ramps and rails become just another haunt for bored teenagers.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that the police often report a marked decrease in antisocial activities following the construction of a skate or BMX park, a number of proposed sites have been petitioned against for fear that instances of irresponsible behaviour would rise. The Scotsman newspaper reported that a second skatepark planned for the centre of Edinburgh was met with ferocious criticism, slamming the decision as a temporary solution and a nonsensical waste of money.

On the flipside, The Guardian newspaper writes that Caroline Flint’s controversial new Eco-towns will contain skateparks aimed at achieving ‘community cohesion.’ Similarly, the refurbishment of a park in Barrow, Cumbria was aimed at giving young people a constructive new hobby.

In many towns the skateparks have replaced the youth centres as refuges for young people due to their relative seclusion, specialised purpose and their inherent resistance to vandalism (most skateparks are made from concrete and steel, and actively promote graffiti and similar ‘tagging.’). Much like other sporting venues the skatepark may attract events and competitions becoming a pivotal community site for participants and spectators alike.

The skateboard is an iconic piece of equipment and its influence on young people is becoming apparent all over again. It seems ironic that a sport once viewed as a magnet for anarchistic yobs is now being called upon to free Great Britain from the grip of antisocial behaviour.

Written by Chris Illingworth