LNDSKT co-founder Veith Kilberth counts among the publishers of a book exploring the relationship between skateboarding and the Olympics. Published in 2019, the book charts the subcultural development of skateboarding all the way into a competitive sport from the perspective of various scientific disciplines. It is highly likely, that this evolution will have an impact on the design of skateparks. In his contribution, Kilberth analyzes the Olympic terrains of ‘Street’ and ‘Park’ Skateboarding in light of their historic development to current sportization with important consequences.
Here is the official introduction of the book:
Skateboarding Between Subculture and the Olympics
A Youth Culture under Pressure from Commercialization and Sportification
By Jürgen Schwier und Veith Kilberth
The Olympics need skateboarding more than skateboarding needs the Olympics!’ Such is the sentiment within entrenched parts of skateboarding’s core culture as the sport prepares to make its debut as an official Olympic discipline at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Is skateboarding’s tightly knit subculture in danger of losing its very identity?
For the first time, the tense relationship between skateboard culture and the Olympic Games is examined in academic book format: Skateboarding Between Subculture and the Olympics: A Youth Culture under Pressure from Commercialization and Sportification provides an analytical framework for understanding the fundamental conflict between skateboarding’s core ethos and the tenets of institutionalized sports.
Skateboarding Between Subculture and the Olympics creates an analytical framework for understanding the fundamental conflict between skateboarding’s core ethos and the tenets of institutionalized sports. Eleven acclaimed international authors from the fields of architecture, philosophy, sociology, sports sciences and gender studies provide a unique perspective on the manifold manifestations of skateboarding previously ignored by academic discourse.
These writers provide a unique perspective on the manifold manifestations of skateboarding previously ignored by academic discourse, including:
- Jürgen Schwier outlines the history of skateboarding’s long resistance against commercialization and sportification
- Veith Kilberth traces implications for the design of public skateparks and identifies DIY-construction of unsanctioned skate spots as a countermovement
- Iain Borden examines skateparks constructing communities and building lives
- Becky Beal and Kristin Ebeling tackle the issue of gender inclusion in skateboarding
- Antoine Cantin-Brault shows skateboarding as a last bastion of existentialist freedom.
Edited by sports scientists Veith Kilberth and Jürgen Schwier, the 212-page, English-language volume was published in 2019 by transcript independent publishers in print paperback and PDF eBook format at €39.99 recommended retail price.
Bibliographical information
Veith Kilberth / Jürgen Schwier (eds.), Skateboarding Between Subculture and the Olympics: A Youth Culture under Pressure from Commercialization and Sportification, transcript Publishers, 212 pages, paperback, ISBN: 978-3-8376-4765-5.
About the editors:
Veith Kilberth, born 1976, blends his Sports Sciences diploma from the University of Cologne with experience as a former professional skateboarder. With a Ph.D. from the Europa University Flensburg for his thesis on skatepark concepts, he plans and realizes skatepark projects as a partner in agency LNDSKT. He specializes in the fields of youth marketing, trend sports, skateboarding and skateparks.