He was a skater boi, she said see you later boi

Whenever I get gloomy about the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport… Okay, I don’t. And I have no idea why I’m referencing my favourite Christmas movie of all time. If you haven’t sobbed like a baby during Love Actually, then you’re missing out.

I digress… Oh, that’s right, whenever I get gloomy about the state of creativity, I think about skateboarding. It’s effortlessly colourful, minimal, opulent, rebellious, and welcoming all at the same time.

Skateboarding (when done well) is quite possibly one of the hardest things humans can do. The technical difficulty, unforgiving concrete, and defiance of physics combine to make it a beautiful monster of a sport and lifestyle.

But more than that, it’s a cultural powerhouse for design and creativity. From Vans to Santa Cruz, skate brands have been filling the wardrobes of people who have zero desire to be anywhere near a board. Part of the reason, of course, is that skateboarding, as I mentioned, is incredibly hard, which makes it really cool. And who doesn’t want a little cool rubbing off on them?

The other reason is that skate stuff—apparel, boards, art—is just plain awesome. From the artwork to the materials and the messaging, craft oozes out of skateboard culture. No AI, no stock images, and probably very few Zoom meetings.

Skateboarding, you had me at hello.