Skateboards that look like they’ve been wiped clean with sandpaper, clothes baggy enough to fit two people inside of them, and shoes that have been beaten all the way to their inner soles: this is the style of skate culture.

Counterculture has been a prevalent power ever since the 60s, and one of the most popular genres of counterculture is skate culture. Gaining popularity during the 70s, skate culture would hit a peak audience interest during the 90s-2000s, and has since then made a name for itself as one of the leading movements among teens. So why does this culture attract the younger generation so much?

One of the leading factors for skate culture’s popularity can be quite obvious to most: its rebelliousness. Counterculture as a whole is about going against societal standards and being different from what is expected, and adolescent teens are the ones who embrace rebellious nature—heavily. 

During the mid-90s, skateboarding shifted from a small sport-like hobby to the more infamous street skateboarding, which focused more on riding casually through the streets, as well as committing to more flashy tricks rather than just moving around. Street skateboarding’s popularity would remain low until the early 2000s when it hit its peak. During the 2000s, skateboarding was seen as something for young outcasts and misfits, which attracted a large number of people towards it. Its rebellious and “do no good” image piqued many teenagers’ interest who fit into that “outcast” role. It also provided a more “active” image to counterculture, with professional skateboarders such as Tony Hawk and Chris Cole proving just how much athleticism skateboarding could require.

Due to its extreme rise in popularity, skate culture started to become more than just skateboarding. It branched itself into many other forms of pop culture, most prevalently in music and fashion.

Many skaters started to develop a keen fashion sense during the early to mid-2000s; this style was heavily influenced by hip-hop and punk fashion, consisting of very baggy clothing, most notably jeans, cargo pants, hoodies, t-shirts, beanies, and skate shoes. This style was not just limited to skateboarding, as it became an extremely popular fashion style throughout the 2000s, continuing to evolve and influence many modern-day fashion trends.

Skate culture also made its name within the music industry. Several musical artists make references to their love for skateboarding, such as Lupe Fiasco’s single, “Kick, Push,” and let’s not forget Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8ter Boi.” However, one group that was huge on skateboarding was none other than the rap collective Odd Future. Led by Tyler, the Creator, and consisting of members such as Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Jasper Dolphin and Syd Tha Kid, Odd Future made waves during the early 2010s for their music and internet presence and quickly rose to popularity. They would sometimes release skate videos on their YouTube channel and attend many skateboarding events. Their young and rebellious nature would help influence hip-hop and skate culture among many young adolescents, furthering not just their popularity but also spreading interest in skateboarding.

Though not as popular today as it was in the 2000s, skate culture still holds a strong presence in 2024, with many shops and brands still appealing to its aesthetic. Skateboarding is now even officially being recognized as an Olympic sport. Skate culture’s defiant and alternative lifestyle attracts those who feel outcast or bored with their current lives by providing them with a community full of thrill and self-expression, and of course, those who love to skate!