Page 169 - THE ENDLESS WAVE | Skateboarding, Death & Spirituality

THE ENDLESS WAVE | PART TWO
and inspires its participants to look within. Yes, there are people that you can look up to and be inspired by, but there is no one giving instructions on which principles to apply to your life. “Take what you will from skateboarding and skateboarders and make it your own” is one of the key messages found in skateboarding. Because of the absence from organisation and hierarchy, skateboarders of all ages and backgrounds can relate to each other and learn to appreciate the shared environment. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is, whether you are a beginner or veteran, sponsored or unsponsored, pro- fessional or skating for fun, skateboarding welcomes everyone to have a choice and a voice.
Reflecting on my experiences of organized religion, I always felt disconnected from the nature of the hierarchy, in that I found it difficult to relate to the teacher and teachings, to make understanding of them and express myself in meaningful ways. When I began skateboarding, I discovered more significant and relatable role-models and life lessons than any congregation or com- munity could share. It was the recognition of the spiritual and the human qualities of the skateboarders around me that really helped to mould my un- derstanding of the world within and all around.
Stars of the skateboard world are immortalized in their glory through the abundance of photos and videos found in print and digital formats. In the past, Skaters could only see their favourite skaters in monthly magazines and annual video parts on VHS and DVD. Only skaters who were equipped with cameras and video cameras could participate in documenting their skating. Skateboarding had barriers, which has now all changed with the onset of the Internet and digital age.
The era of the internet has lowered these barriers. The Internet has made Skateboarding open and available to everyone. Skateboarders are united around the world through the Internet, skateboard companies and their rep- resentatives have more interaction with their audiences. Skaters can easily seek out, create and publish their own content from the use of a phone. The bonds and connection between Skateboarders has become even greater. Im- proved communication has enabled more opportunities for Skaters to con-
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