As skateboarding becomes an ever increasingly popular past-time, Sheffield appears to be split over the intentions of those who choose it as a Hobby. The skateboarders themselves claim it not to be just a hobby, but more of a lifestyle, and that they are nothing more than just groups of friends with a common interest, hanging out and doing no harm. However, certain sections of the community claim that they are a menace to society. Nothing more than trouble causers who take drugs, graffiti on public property and are a general nuisance.
What's your view?

There is most definately a skateboard community growing in Hillsborough - it may be larger than it appears but I have only noticed a few.

I don't get the impression they are trouble causers. Just seems like people are looking for a scapegoat 'cos most would think the skaters look scruffy.

My personal opinion is the masses look in the wrong direction. Ever seen a scruffy gangster? Me thinks not.

Moon Maiden

So long as skateboarders don't physically get in my way I have nothing against them - it's just a sport / pastime and I've nothing against people enjoying themselves. I think the link between skateboarders and drugs / graffiti etc. is largely coincidental - it's a link that's commonly perceived, though, because the public 'image' of the sport is very urban. I do mind skateboarders damaging public property, though that's no different to me minding football hooligans damaging public property and the link between their actions and football is just coincidental. Likewise, I'd be just as concerned at skateboarders taking drugs as I would be at anyone taking drugs.

nb., if by graffiti you mean the graffiti adorning skateboarding parks / ramps (dunno the correct name for these), I don't have a problem with this, though there should be care taken to make sure these places aren't mixed up with places for young kids - it doesn't send out clear messages about when it's acceptable to 'customise' property and when that customisation becomes vandalism.

annoying near the city hall, but if they want to skate in skate parks i dont mind :wink:

I don't like to see it on the streets. Providing they go to a proper place then I don't have a problem with it.

I love watching skaters and have a lot of respect for what they can do - it's one of the hardest "sports" out there to become any good at, and lots of really nasty injuries can happen.

Accusations of drug use/graffit/etc are no different than accusations levelled at any gatherings of young people who some will always see as a threat or as an easy scapegoat.

I used to be a Sk8terBoi in th 70's, first it was a Beano annual on an old roller skate, then the plastic boards and then a cool skateboard shop opened on Chesterfield Rd, they were selling all the gear from America (kryptonics wheels, and tracker trucks etc)


At first there was no where to go, we used to go to all the usual places parks town etc
Well then the owners of the shop, branched out and took over the Old Heeley Picture Palace (an old cinema on Chesterfield Rd, where the new Ponsford's building is now) They built this huge skate park inside the old cinema. There was a huge bowl with half pipes, smaller bowls and a flat area for tricks all made out of wood. This was some place and it was packed to the rafters, it was officially opened by Tony Alva (I think that was his name), he gave a demo and I have never seen anybody get so high on those ramps.

Well the place stayed open for a while, visitor numbers dropped and guess what, one night it burnt to the ground. Never did get to the bottom of what happened some say it was an insurance job. But it was a sad day for Sheffield Skaters. By this time the craze was dying out and the rest is history. Still had my board up until recently, but like an idiot I chucked it out!!.

I agree with the general feeling that Skateboarders are just as likely as anyone else to take drugs. I think that it is due to a lack of proper facilities that they have found themselves using public places to skateboard. It is annoying that they skate around these public places, seemingly without a care for others, but I feel that if more skate parks were open, then we would see less skaters on the streets.

If they're crashing into people, etc then that's bad, but I don't care if they're out there grinding a bench or two - doesn't hurt anyone, does it?

I did a bit of skating when I started snowboarding but soon realised how hard it was and that I was too old and creaky to take the falls....then someone robbed my board - ah well.

There was also a really good indoor place ("The House" I think) down near the bottom of the ski slopes with loads of ramps, etc - was nice and only £1 entry fee.

The House is still there, no where near as good as the old one at Heeley

i see skateboarding as both a subculture and a mode of transport. i have a lot of time for skateboarders and i wish i had the patience to learn myself.

as for assigning certain areas to skateboarding and banning from others, would bmx'ers get the same treatment? or rollerbladers? in some cases yes but i think there's a huge bias against skateboarders.

Originally posted by "Mike"

...if they're out there grinding a bench or two - doesn't hurt anyone, does it?

Makes a right mess of the bench after a while, though :wink:

Just found this on BBC site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/i_love_sy/skateboarding/index.shtml

There's nothing wrong with skatebooarding as such, but they should only be allowed to practice in specified areas away from where people walk such as in tudor square or pedestrian walkway's. I have seen elderly people been run into due to the young lad losing control and when there is a lot practicing, the noise is awfull and does give one a headache.

It is not funny, when the workers are sat outside in the city centre on their lunch break in summer and gangs of twenty or more are clanging and banging all around, you cant read , relax or sit quiet and enjoy the sunshine.

Far be it from me to spoil anybody's fun, but these youth's must realise that there are other people in this world and need to be considered as well as themselves. The council has started to provide places already to try and solve the problem and as time goes by, I am sure it will be resolved.

I'm not going to criticise something I can't do myself. Tried it once, fell off, tried again, couldn't get it to move properly. Gave up. If I could do it, I'd probably be riding around on it all the time showing people like me what they're missing! LOL.

Skateboarding is a fantastic sport which is far better than sitting at home. Indeed I see the issues with skating on the street during busy periods of the day though it should be aloud during quietier periods. ie between 7 and 10 pm . I personly skate along with many of my friends. We dont graffitti nor do we do drugs. Yes some skaters do do drugs but some Doctors do to!!! are we going to boycot the doctors and shout in uproar about that NO. so why complain about skaters. If they are not causing harm to anyone whats wrong with it?

The other day I was skating just out side the dove and rainbow about midday. there were no people around. yet still some1 from the office near by called the police. I think the term to discribe that is waisting police time. firstly myself and others were causing no harm. and if he had problems with our non obstructive presence he should of come to us and we would of left instead of waisting police time. Personly its all about common sence... dont skate in busy areas and respect each other. drugs and graffitti are part of the youth culture not a skating cluture

Skaters are damn right annoying. They clutter up the pavements and pose a danger to passers by. With all the tricks they do such as flipping on the boards, they also run the risk of losing control and causing damage to cars and other property. What would they do if a board went flying into someones car and scratched it all? Probably run off, resulting in expense to the cars owner and an all round inconvenience. Skating is fine, just keep it away from busy and residential areas, and stick to skate parks.

Too right theyre bloody annoying. A skate park/cafe opened about 1/2 a mile away from me a few weeks a go and i thought id got rid of them for good off my street but theyre back tonight.

I had to shut all the windows cos i was trying to revise and theyre making a right noise banging and shouting. When theyre out there i darent go out cos when theyre in a group they can be cocky and sometimes rude.

I live on a nice little street and they lower the tone hanging around in their baggy clothes and their long scruffy hair. I dont mean to tar them all with the same brush or anything but the group round here are more annoying than anything. (and they arent even that good at skating)
Also, they make ramps out of all sorts of rubbish and leave it there when theyve done messing the street up.

Architects are partly to blame for the rise of skateboarders in cities. It's their designs of piazzas and walkways with a combination of steel and concrete that provides the smooth areas with 'obstacles' to jump around, under and over.

Skate parks are usually made too 'safe' by the councils scared of being sued in case someone comes off, and are therefore no challenge to the serious skateboarder.

My boyfriend is a skateboarder has been for about 7 years, ive grown up with them and have always known them to be good people. you get your odd Kn*b head but that's just normal but i don't know how you could say they are evil, all they want to do is have a bit of fun, shoot some pictures or video's no harm in that is there?
i don't see why people have a bad view on them you could say bad things about the people who Bmx or rollerblade.

as far as I concerned they have as much right to use the streets as we all do, ok some push it a little in busy shopping areas, but so do alot of people, take them mobility scooters, they are normally ok, then a old biddy that doesn't give a monkeys tears through at top speed with out a thought to others

They are fine so long as they skate in appropriate places and do not damage property. I'd rather see skateboarders than chavs hanging around with their trousers tucked into their socks trying to look "hard"...
I also have to agree about the leathal, badly driven weapon known as the mobility scooter. Have you ever felt the weight of those things??

How else would we get laughs like these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3Lv45GdAM&feature=related

How else would we get laughs like these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3Lv45GdAM&feature=related


My eyes are still watering.....:o

Back on topic, there are some right whinging gits on here.

Too right theyre bloody annoying ...
... I live on a nice little street and they lower the tone hanging around in their baggy clothes and their long scruffy hair.

I don't skate but if I thought the sight of some my baggier clothing and undeniably long hair might be enough to annoy someone I'd make a point of walking down their street as frequently as was convenient to me. :) Trouble is, I may go unnoticed as I tend to move quietly. ;)

I love watching skaters so bring 'em on :thumbsup:

Good! I used to love watching skaters on the skate park.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U-cgn3cEGA
Total genius

However, certain sections of the community claim that they are a menace to society. Nothing more than trouble causers who take drugs, graffiti on public property and are a general nuisance.
What's your view?

My view is that that is absolutely hilarious!

And skating is awesome. If you can tell me of a way that's more fun to get around in good old hilly Sheffield, then I might reconsider my position (having said that, I'm getting to the stage where I'm too embarrassed to skate because of my age). Sometimes I even used to combine Skateboarding and drug taking at the same time! good times.

Good! I used to love watching skaters on the skate park.

Oh yeah, plus that. Girls dig skateboarders!

girls like skaters ? as in skater girls? or just regular girls?

As skateboarding becomes an ever increasingly popular past-time, Sheffield appears to be split over the intentions of those who choose it as a Hobby. The skateboarders themselves claim it not to be just a hobby, but more of a lifestyle, and that they are nothing more than just groups of friends with a common interest, hanging out and doing no harm. However, certain sections of the community claim that they are a menace to society. Nothing more than trouble causers who take drugs, graffiti on public property and are a general nuisance.
What's your view?

Am I in a timewarp back to the 80's, didn't Marty McFly define the high in popularity of the skateboard and the subsequent decline?

i haven't got a problem with skateboarders as long as they don't cause an obstruction etc. The sport I love WATCHING is Parkour. It was on telly a few years ago - a group of people who did somersaults etc. whilst getting from A to B (on foot). Maybe someone else can explain it better who knows what I am talking about but it was brilliant to watch. Dosen't seem to be around anymore.

It's still popular, I've seen people warming up in the peace gardens, at least I assume that's why they were stretching and somersaulting off walls.

...........

My view is that that is absolutely hilarious!

And skating is awesome. If you can tell me of a way that's more fun to get around in good old hilly Sheffield, then I might reconsider my position (having said that, I'm getting to the stage where I'm too embarrassed to skate because of my age). Sometimes I even used to combine Skateboarding and drug taking at the same time! good times.

Rodney Mullen's still doing it...isn't he in his forties now? :thumbsup:


That said, it is his profession..

Rodney Mullen's still doing it...isn't he in his forties now? :thumbsup:


I'm only 21 ffs!:loopy: I just feel a bit silly because most people you see skating are about 15.:hihi:

Also, Rodney Mullen is awesome!:)

I'm only 21 ffs!:loopy: I just feel a bit silly because most people you see skating are about 15.:hihi:

Also, Rodney Mullen is awesome!:)

No, no, I wasn't implying you were in your forties; just pointing out that he still does it. :thumbsup:

I own a christian skate park in Cartersville Georgia. Have been doing this now for thirteen years and I have seen a lot. I can tell you that the skaters are like one big family. There are a lot of great kids who ride skate boards and make all A at school. However it only takes one to ruin the whole thing. We keep very strict rules at our park so the few that just wont follow our rules don't like us at all and don't come. We would love for them come and behave, they are just to rebellious to follow our rules. We never ever force our beliefs on anyone we just don't put up with any bad stuff. We do have Bible studies and hold christian skate camps and events to help kids grow to be stronger Christians. I travel to tell other how to start and run their own skateboard ministry and since we have had three skate boarders die, from things other than skate boarding, I go and give their testimonies to others all over the U.S. These kids are no different than any other kid, they just want to practice their sport. If you have never talked to one, try buying them a drink and getting to know one next time you see one. You will be surprised at how well mannered some of them are. Be prepared for a few to be rude though.

you people make me sick. skateboarders have as much right on the property as you do, the governments and people who run the cities have been doing next to nothing to give us skatespots and you people ARE aware of this. I feel sick to my stomach to think that we as skaters are being classified as pot smoking trouble makers when you dont even know us. for instance i am in grade 12 university courses and still skate. people instantly classify me as someone who has very low intelligence and you people should stop being immature and treat us fairly. Why dont you try making friends with a couple and you will soon find out that most of them are kind people who dont do anything bad. Dont start saying **** until you've tried talking to them like civilized people and give them equal rights.

As skateboarding becomes an ever increasingly popular past-time, Sheffield appears to be split over the intentions of those who choose it as a Hobby. The skateboarders themselves claim it not to be just a hobby, but more of a lifestyle, and that they are nothing more than just groups of friends with a common interest, hanging out and doing no harm. However, certain sections of the community claim that they are a menace to society. Nothing more than trouble causers who take drugs, graffiti on public property and are a general nuisance.
What's your view?



Old men with tales of "When I were int war".

Curtain twitchers

People who generally don't enjoy life, or have one.

Self inflicted unhealthy envious people.

People who talk at you rather than to you.

People who would define scateboarding as "Good or evil". :huh:

IMO skaters are generally pretty safe middle class kids. I've never found them menacing. Can't see any more problem with a skater making use of urban streets than a cyclist or horse rider using rural roads.

As skateboarding becomes an ever increasingly popular past-time, Sheffield appears to be split over the intentions of those who choose it as a Hobby. The skateboarders themselves claim it not to be just a hobby, but more of a lifestyle, and that they are nothing more than just groups of friends with a common interest, hanging out and doing no harm. However, certain sections of the community claim that they are a menace to society. Nothing more than trouble causers who take drugs, graffiti on public property and are a general nuisance.
What's your view?

I remember the "end of an era" at the bottom of London Road and even worked in Boat World, so I have to support boarders!

However, there was a criminal, drug taking and graffiti element, but there is with virtually every culture I know of (a few exceptions which do equivalent).

Also, skaters in crowded areas annoy people, just as do cyclists and runners. Some will also complain about the damage to urban architecture, e.g. grinds on edges...

But, it was probably skating which developed my passion for design and architecture, and even physics!

I remember the "end of an era" at the bottom of London Road and even worked in Boat World, so I have to support boarders!



Bet the boarders are feeling all warm and fuzzy now. Just think of the calamity if you hadn't.
:roll::D:D:D

Can I just say does anyone reaise how much skateboarding gear costs?? When you go into a specialised shop and realise the expense in skateboarding you will realise how seriously they take it and that it is a hobby. I use to know someone and he was 18 and used to go skateboarding with his mates he was sick of being steroetyoed and he was decent and one of his skateboarding mates was at uni and the other was an architect..and its at least 70.00 just for a pair of skate shoes so when people see them don`t always think the worst because its just their passion :)