Published by SDSU Press, the San Diego State University Surf and Skate Studies Collaborative presents Roll and Flow: The Cultural Politics of Skateboarding and Surfing. This groundbreaking collection delves into the multifaceted politics surrounding board sports, featuring a range of essays from cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, and history. The volume explores the widespread involvement of skateboarders and surfers in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and how these activities serve as a catalyst for reconsidering the cultural and political significance of board sports in contemporary society.
This is the first academic work to bring together some of the leading scholars in the fields of skateboarding and surfing, including Iain Borden, Becky Beal, Aaron James, and Cori Schumacher. The collection provides critical insights into how board sports, often viewed as lifestyle activities, are in fact deeply entwined with broader political and social issues.
As Paul O'Connor, author of Skateboarding and Religion and senior Sociology lecturer at the University of Exeter, UK, notes: “Roll and Flow frames the remarkable transformations taking place in skateboarding and surfing cultures. It emerges as an essential collected work for those invested in two dominant lifestyle sports—activities that have reshaped popular culture with their attitude and style, and ascended to the realm of Olympic events. These essays reveal the new political and social contexts that these sports vocally address and redress, from rolling street BLM protests and communal paddle outs to discussions on post-humanism, polluted leisure culture, border commerce, tourism, the corporate beach, and concrete appropriation. What emerges is a tome with a critical and edifying scope, making it a must-read for scholars and fans alike.”
In San Diego, a city with a rich history in both skateboarding and surfing, these sports have long been intertwined with activism. The Rolling for Rights rally in San Diego, for example, was a powerful statement against the stigma skateboarding has historically faced, particularly as a rebellious, countercultural activity. Skateboarders and surfers have long fought to reclaim their identities from negative stereotypes, and their participation in movements like BLM demonstrates the profound societal impact of these sports. The San Diego surfing community has also played a significant role in the Black Lives Matter movement.
One prominent example was the paddle out on June 3, 2020, at Moonlight Beach, where over 1,000 surfers gathered to honor victims of police brutality like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Traditionally, paddle outs are organized to remember fallen surfers, but during the 2020 BLM protests, they took on a new significance. This gesture not only highlighted the importance of solidarity in surf culture but also showcased how surfers, particularly in coastal cities like San Diego, have used their platforms to call attention to systemic injustices.
In the context of San Diego’s vibrant surf and skate communities, the connection between these sports and activism is undeniable. For generations, skateboarders and surfers in the city have been at the forefront of both cultural and political movements. From fighting for equal access to public spaces to taking a stand against police brutality, these athletes demonstrate the power of board sports as a platform for social change.
Beyond racism and police brutality, Roll and Flow explores topics such as climate change, the epidemic of overwork, the rise of authoritarianism, labor issues, class inequalities, misogyny and homophobia, the commodification of the surf industry, and the politics of gentrification in urban spaces. Through these diverse essays, the collection underscores how the cultural and political implications of board sports are far-reaching and complex. Traditionally, lifestyle sports like skateboarding and surfing have been dismissed as "frivolous" or devoid of significant social meaning. However, Roll and Flow sets out to dismantle these stereotypes. It highlights how skateboarders and surfers are not only engaging with issues of racial justice but also addressing other pressing political matters. The book asks critical questions, such as: How might the perspectives of surfers and skateboarders provide unique and progressive ways of intervening in a variety of political issues?
Edited by Michael James Roberts, Kristin Lawler, and David P. Cline, Roll and Flow also aims to bring philosophical traditions into the study of surf and skate culture. By complementing the important empirical work done in the field in recent years, the volume seeks to advance the academic conversation around the role of board sports in contemporary society, particularly in how they intersect with social justice movements.
Buy From Amazon Publisher: San Diego State University Press
Launched: August 10, 2024
Paperback: 394 pages
ISBN-10 : 0916304876
ISBN-13 : 978-0916304874
Retail: 29.95 (discounted for course adoptions)
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