Why skateboarding is part of Southern California’s cultural fabric
No sport is more connected to Southern California than skateboarding.
The whole thing started here in the 1950s as surfers looked for fun on days when the ocean lay flat. Downhill cruising morphed into wild tricks off vert ramps and spinning moves inside empty swimming pools, then skate parks and the urban vibe of street skating.
With the sport’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics, The Times has it all covered.
Laguna Beach’s Nyjah Huston brings a fierce commitment to training to a rebellious sport, making the skateboarder a star to watch in the Tokyo Olympics
Few people outside of the skateboarding world knew of Jeff Grosso before his death a year ago of a drug overdose. Yet few led as influential a life.
Zion Wright overcame the stress and pressure that comes with being a professional athlete to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in skateboarding.
L.A. ’28 is still seven years off, but the Olympic debut of surfing and skateboarding is turning the Tokyo Games into a SoCal showcase.
Skateboarding in the U.S. has been dominated by white dudes. Lately women, people of color and LGBTQ people are creating room for themselves.
Making its Olympic debut, skateboarding brought joy and expression to the forefront of the Games, showcasing freedom, creativity and individuality.
As these photos show, new friends are made, camaraderie is built and sometimes the bonds become the genesis for new meet-ups, new skate crews to be born.
The following short list, for skaters and spectators alike, offers a sampling of the best outdoor public skate spots in greater L.A.
