Title
Handrails, steps and curbs : sacred places and secular pilgrimage in skateboarding
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics
Publication Date
10-2017
Volume
Advance online publication
Publisher
Routledge
Abstract
This paper argues that significant places in the sport of skateboarding are banal urban spaces. These locations are made meaningful through interaction, history and media coverage. This has resulted in the emotional attachment and veneration of places that are overlooked by the general public. Building on cultural geography and the literature on pilgrimage, an analysis of sacred space and secular pilgrimage is presented. Skateboarders are shown to be deeply engaged with places that have been inscribed with historic meaning. Media is shown to be instrumental in making and communicating the importance of skateboarding ‘spots’. Through textual analysis and ethnographic work a distinction is made on the importance of space. Skateboarders are shown to perform secular pilgrimages, and to be emotionally invested in the history of particular sites. Skateboarding, unlike other sports, privileges places that are not legitimate sporting locations. The stadiums of skateboarders are urban settings, handrails, curbs and steps.
DOI
10.1080/17430437.2017.1390567
Print ISSN
17430437
E-ISSN
17430445
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
O’Connor, P. (2017). Handrails, steps and curbs: Sacred places and secular pilgrimage in skateboarding. Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/17430437.2017.1390567
