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State of Skateboarding
While skateboarding was initially
perceived as a subculture, "alternative" sports phenomenon,
Core sports have evolved into the mainstream. In their cover
story August 17, 2001, USA Today reports, "The X Games
have been mini vanned."
The Sporting Goods Manufacturers
Association (SGMA) reports that extreme sports
are at an all time high and the trend for continued growth
is expected to continue at the same level. This evolution
is dramatically evidenced by a survey conducted by the (SGMA)
which reveals that more Americans ride skateboards
than play Little League Baseball.
Indeed, the number of participants
in skateboarding has grown from 6.5 million in 1998,
to the current estimate of over 13 million in the USA.
In the past two years alone, more than 800 skate parks-concrete
and wood playgrounds with ramps, rails and swimming pool like
bowls for performing skate tricks- have opened in the U.S.
Many of the skate parks have replaced tennis and basketball
courts and other under used facilities in an effort to keep
up with the growing demand.
The huge popularity of skateboarding
has spurred a thriving retail market filled with specialty
t-shirts, hats, shoes, electronics and accessories. Indeed,
there is an entire culture around the skateboard industry,
and a distinct skateboard style. Giant retailers like Nike
have even gotten on board with mass marketing of their shoes
in Skateboard Industry Magazines.
Skateboarding has infiltrated
the video game industry as well. Professional skater, Tony
Hawk's Pro Skater play station games have been in the top
10 of all video games sold since their initial release in
1999 according NPD Reports. Consumers between the ages of
10 and 24 represent a significant portion of the participants
in the Extreme Sports.
These consumers are among the
fastest growing demographic in the United States. According
to the 2000 U.S. Census, this segment of the population represents
21% of the total population, or 58.3 million people and is
expected to grow to approximately 61.8 million by 2005. This
represents an expected growth rate that is 33% higher than
the anticipated growth rate of the overall population.
Skateboarding is the fastest-growing
"extreme" sport in the US Since 1998, overall participation
is up by 81% and frequent participation (52+ days/year) has
surged by 173%. In 2002, there were 12,977,000 Americans aged
six and over who went skateboarding at least once. Of this
number, 3,442,000 were frequent participants who rode on 52
or more occasions.
Skateboarding has a turbulent
history. In the early and mid-1990's, skateboarding was to
a large degree, the victim of the inexorable trend of in-line
skating -- which peaked in 1998. Since that time, skateboarding
arguably the quintessential activity of the new genre of extreme
sports has enjoyed a 66% growth rate, a beneficiary of both
the overall action sports trend, and also parallel growth
as a spectator sport fueled by lavish TV exposure and high
visibility in the video game market.
Benefits of a Skate Park
An estimated 9.3 million kids
under the age of 18 will try skateboarding this year.
There are an estimated 26
million kids who ride skateboards and rollerblades, both use
a freestyle facility.
The most common ER visit for
skateboarding injuries occur by automobiles, not while skating
at a skate park.
The primary age of a skateboarder
is 14. Most participants are between the age of 6 through
14. Skateboard parks provide a safe controlled area for this
core age group.
Skateboard parks reduce the
number of complaints from local businesses and city officials.
Skateboard parks provide
professionally designed equipment, for proper skill development
while minimizing risks.
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