As I am sure a lot of you are aware, there has been a lot of talk about the possibilities of Skate Boarding being a part of the Olympics. Just a lot of you reading this, I'm big fans of skateboarding, and tonnes of other extreme sports as well. The main reason behind this is the inspiration we all get from other extreme sports. Whether that comes from clothing, style, tricks, even equipment, we all share a lot more than you'd expect.
Publicity for all extreme sports is great and I'm be the first to stick it on the TV when its broadcast, but I'm not convinced that the Olympics is the right for skateboarding, or for that matter, whether skateboarding is right for the Olympics.
One of the attractions of sports like skateboarding (maybe more so than MTB) is the rebellious side of things. When you tell people you skate, there is a stigma that goes with that. Some people frown upon it (inexplicably). But there is something quite nice about that. A sense of individuality. And, perhaps contradictory to that, a greater sense of community amongst who you skate with. There is something empowering about being able to make a choice to do something a little out of the ordinary and to really express yourself through a hobby in a way that isn't possible in other hobbies/sports.
Understandably so, there are people in the industry and who take part in extreme sports that are bored of the stigma and want to get their sport out to as many people as possible as many ways as possible. There are obvious bonuses to go with this, namely money. Skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport would pave the way for huge cash injections in to the industry and would pave the way for other extreme sports to get in.
"What about snowboarding?!" I hear you cry. Well, for me, snowboarding and skiing have always been more of a middle class past time. Yes they are extreme sports and incredibly entertaining but until recent years with the Chill Factor in Manchester for example and some bonkers weather, snow has been pretty difficult (expensive) to get too from the UK. Yes, MTB is not cheap either but you *can* get out on anything with two wheels (probably need the rest of a bike as well) and go and shred anywhere. Snowboarding and Skiing has traditionally been a past time of the wealthy and the businessmen and women of the world making it a more favourable sport for the (Winter) Olympics.
I say keep extreme sports as they are. MTB has the FMB tour which can be seen all over the world online, World Cups, World Championships, Skateboarding (and many other things) have the X Games.
Peace
Sean
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