"We belong here": Lessons from skateboarding

Abstract

Skateboarding is like an enduring spell: as soon as you’re enchanted, you’ll likely be a skater for life. But what exactly is the allure of a wooden board with some polyurethane wheels? How to make sense of it? This preface traces recent developments in skate studies, including a turn to environ-mental, methodological, and ethical issues. The overall aim is to provide a context for the chapters that follow – particularly designed for readers who may be attracted to skateboarding in some way or shape, yet haven’t been fully enchanted yet.