The skater’s ear: a sensuous complexity of skateboarding sound

Abstract

The sound of skateboarding is an issue fraught in controversy: the sound is a common basis for public noise complaints as well as participant praises. We consider a possible basis for this controversy, an inherent subjectivity of skatesound, one that is truly in the ‘ear’ of the beholder. This paper centres subjectivity in the sensory lives of a group of 18 adult skateboarders. These interviews provide rich qualitative data on the sonic spectrums of skateboarding, including how skateboarders describe skatesounds as both unpleasant and lovely, and the importance of adding music and the annoyance at headphone use while skateboarding. The findings show that skateboarders critically enjoy skatesound and are aware of its unpleasant affect. Evidence is presented that further advocates for skateboarding as leisure sport that is both attractive and rewarding to individuals who may be marginalised (disability, neurodiversity, age, gender, ethnicity) by the institutionalisation, and constraints of mainstream sport.