sports
'It was much grittier than the US scene': UK skateboarding in the 80s and 90s
Flying from rooftops or grinding on car spoilers, the skaters at the spectacular birth of a UK subculture are captured in Neil Macdonald’s book Elsewhere
TL;DR
- The book 'Elsewhere' covers UK skateboarding from 1987 to 2002, focusing on its unique identity development.
- Early UK skateboarding industries, inspired by British skaters, have grown into multi-million pound brands influencing mainstream culture.
- NCP car parks were significant for UK skateboarding, especially undercover ones, providing shelter during winter.
- Northern indoor skateparks, often housed in deindustrialized Victorian warehouses, became community hubs for skateboarders.
- The transition from BMX to skateboarding was influenced by films like 'Back to the Future', making skateboarding more accessible and appealing.
- South Bank in London experienced increasing hostility from the Southbank Centre, with measures taken to make the area unskatable.
- The book emphasizes the 'gritty griminess' of UK skateboarding, differentiating it from American skateboarding.
- Many photos in the book are spontaneous 'snaps' taken by professional skateboarders, offering valuable glimpses into the reality of the UK scene.
- Blueprint was a pivotal British skateboard company that allowed skaters to earn a living professionally without moving to the US.
- Televised skateboarding competitions provided crucial footage for a generation of skaters before widespread access to US VHS tapes.