Self-organised practices and board sports

Skateboarding, surfing, street workout, running: practices outside federations, their values and their institutionalisation.

The outline, topic by topic

Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.

Self-organised practice: what is it?
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An activity organised by the participants themselves, without a club or federation.
It values freedom and choosing one's own rules.
Skateboarders refuse to join a federation but take part in contests among friends. Which value do they defend?
- Autonomy and style
- Measured performance
- The official ranking
- Respect for a common rulebook
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Autonomy and style
Board sports value expression over measurement.
Board sports: what is it?
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Practices based on gliding on a board: surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing.
They value style more than ranking.
Why did skateboarding's entry into the Games divide its practitioners?
- The IOC imposed a minimum age of 18 on every skateboarder
- It imposed federations, judges and rankings on a free culture
- Only ramp skateboarding was kept, with no street event
- Medals are won against the clock, as in alpine skiing
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It imposed federations, judges and rankings on a free culture
This is the tension between counterculture and institutionalisation.
Counterculture: what is it?
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A culture built in opposition to dominant norms.
The early days of skateboarding and surfing belong to it.