Skateboarding at the 2020 Olympics — Chris Cole’s Thoughts
Chris Cole’s thoughts on skateboarding at the Olympic Games.
It’s an interesting debate that surfaces every now and again, but the push for skateboarding to debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is gaining more and more momentum, and big names like Chris Cole and Tony Hawk seem to be getting behind it. Street League even recently teamed up with the International Skateboarding Federation in a bid to become recognised as the sport’s official body by the IOC.
What does everyone think about this? It would no doubt change the game forever. The funding boosts would be welcomed for sure, and the sport would probably be less “frowned upon” by the general public if it hits the Olympics. It would also be mighty hilarious — after watching slow motion footage set to gladiator music during the snowboarding events and commercials this year I can’t help but find the thought of skateboarders doing that to be both cringeworthy and highly amusing.
It’s an interesting one for sure…I must admit I’m still yet to make up my mind on the debate. On one hand we’d be given funding and positive attention, but the influx of giant bandwagon sponsorships and the corporate side of things would change the landscape, and many people think that this wouldn’t really be skateboarding. Drug testing probably becomes an issue for some potential competitors also…anyway, it would be cool to get some discussion going for this! Tell me your thoughts!
I’d prefer not. I see skating more of a lifestyle and a passion, not a sport. Street league is already starting to warp what skateboarding is about. It was pretty rad when it started being a street style comp, but is had basically become an espn sport and another games style event.
Face it, all the best boarders in the world are not likely to compete in the Olympics.
I think it wallflower be far better watch and more real n entertaining if Thrasher did a Kimg of a The Road in Tokyo while the Olympics were on and did a bunch of Olympic themed tasks 
I think it’s a good thing and I’d watch it for sure. Personally, I think it’s important for boardsports to get the global recognition they deserve. It brings more opportunities to athletes and our industry in general. The most important thing is actually keeping control of the sport, and not handing it over to federations such as the FIS whose only interest is controlling and cashing in on our sports. I think we are very fortunate to have guys like Tony Hawk and Chris Cole who represent skateboarding in the best possible way. I think the sport is in safe hands.
Not a fan.
Once you have these competitions you have the attitude of “blah blah is the best in the world” not every skateboarder can do every thing at every spot, just like snowboarding.
The core skateboarders are in it for life and even if they don’t make a bunch of money. I may be old school thinking but it’s not about competing to see who’s number one its about people finding some thing creative and comforting about skateboarding. We are all equal when we skateboard and that’s the way it should stay.
Don’t you think both sides of the skateboarding world can exist in harmony? One doesn’t need to mean the death of the other. I can see both street/core/non-contest skating thriving in conjunction with contest skating.
Either way it already exists with contests all around the world… X Games, World Cup Skateboarding, Street League etc. You’re never going to get rid of the competitive side of the sport. Don’t you think it can be used as a positive thing to bring in more opportunities for skaters and those involved in the industry? Change is inevitable but it doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.
Don’t you think both sides of the skateboarding world can exist in harmony? One doesn’t need to mean the death of the other. I can see both street/core/non-contest skating thriving in conjunction with contest skating.
Either way it already exists with contests all around the world… X Games, World Cup Skateboarding, Street League etc. You’re never going to get rid of the competitive side of the sport. Don’t you think it can be used as a positive thing to bring in more opportunities for skaters and those involved in the industry? Change is inevitable but it doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.
The problem will happen when every kid wants ‘Nyjah Olympic boards’ and then homies in small brands don’t get a sale then they lose out from a sponsorship and being a professional. It’s enough having Monster, Red Bull, Nike, Adidas etc in the game and that can become to many. It’s an opportunity only for the few who can be sponsored by them. These brands don’t sponsor the skater who slashes in videos they want the guys on TV the guys in the Olympics. Have you seen the state of Moto X? It’s a joke every time they are on camera they pretend to drink energy drinks and they have people telling them what to do all the time in the interviews. This isn’t my skateboarding.
You think these big brands will invest their profit back in to skateboarding? Will the pros invest their profit or help to keep the events for the next guys? Scares me really, I have purchased these brands myself in the past and feel a little guilty for doing so.
I think the real issue is losing the control and the Olympics is a business and we as a skateboard community don’t have control over. They will dictate their demands and the skateboarders will jump to their needs.
Valid points.
But it also brings opportunities to relatively unknown skaters, possibly from countries that don’t even really have proper skateboarding infrastructure. What is some unknown kid from a war-torn country surprises the world with his talent, thus inspiring thousands of kids in his part of the world to pick up a skateboard. What deck does he ride? Possibly some unknown brand from his country. Possibly it will create much needed jobs and opportunities in the far reaches of the world. Just saying…
Valid points.
But it also brings opportunities to relatively unknown skaters, possibly from countries that don’t even really have proper skateboarding infrastructure. What is some unknown kid from a war-torn country surprises the world with his talent, thus inspiring thousands of kids in his part of the world to pick up a skateboard. What deck does he ride? Possibly some unknown brand from his country. Possibly it will create much needed jobs and opportunities in the far reaches of the world. Just saying…
Very true! It’s a good discussion this topic.
Your right the guy/gal from a bad country could really make that jump out of the situation. Similar to the South African dude Thalente Biyela who was homeless, for him it wasn’t so much the brands who helped him it had a lot to do with people power with donations. His situation and his determination can help the youth in Africa.
Bwah ha ha , I would love to see them do drugs testing on skaters. Andy McDonald would probably be one of the few skaters that would be allowed to compete. I know it’s a stereo type but there is loads of pot smoking skaters out there. Not including myself, maybe I should start training for the Olympics 
Personally I am not keen on the idea. For me skating has always been about the raw essence of street skating and finding spots. Don’t get me wrong, the insurgence of technology and money has seen skateboarding progress to levels it has never been.
What would the judging structure be based around? Will it throw skateboarding towards a team sport position that it has been so free off. Will corporate sponsorship come into it and dictate how skateboarding shall be?
I know when the skateboarding World Cup started, skating did become a different game and some skaters became known as “competition skaters” as that’s all they did and never did video parts or were seen skating street.
Would I watch the skating in the Olympics? Possibly just to get the vibe and viewpoint they are going for. Will it improve skateboarding? I don’t think so, it will probably oversaturate skating with a jock mentality. Maybe I am being old school, but the late Jay Adams did turn his back on the shiny money side of skating and kept himself raw. Skating started raw and on the outside, so why can’t it stay that way.
If it exposes skateboarders to new smaller independent brands, RAD. But skaters have always discovered smaller brands and have supported them. That’s why there is so many brands now in skating, run by skaters for the skaters.