I maintain that...

[Slim]

All skateboarding needs is a reasonably smooth, hard surface. That, and no cops in sight.

[Skinart]

I'm sorry, someone thought it was broken? I'm confused. I thought there were people who
like skateboards who went out and had fun. But I guess that's Mark's point.

I think it would be nice if I could ride my skateboard or my bike in the same places without
legal problems. But that is a different issue.

[wilder]

I think it would be nice if I could ride my skateboard or my bike in the same places without
legal problems. But that is a different issue.

word. very good point.

[yikyak]

Inasmuch as you refer to the state of stoke, self-regulation, variety, self-promotion, product and service provision, information diffusion, attitude within the community, healthy competition between R&D peoples, tribal wisdom (people happily telling others -- especially newbies and kids -- that wearing a lid is a good idea; counteracting defeatist notions of "core" etc.) and sheer uptake and love, I whole-heartedly agree with the premise.

All skateboarding needs is a reasonably smooth, hard surface. That, and no cops in sight.

That's the only area where I might, if feeling combative, choose to differ. There are a number of areas which can't legally be skated now which could be a few years ago; that's just a fact. Maybe it's worse in the UK than elsewhere, what with the enactment of council bylaws left, right and centre, but maybe not. If there were any way in which it needed "saving", it is that one, but that's more a matter of engagement with the ignorant outside -- something wrong elsewhere -- rather than anything wrong with skateboarding as such.