About
OUR PURPOSE
Skateboarding, widely popular and often misunderstood, occupies a unique space in US society. Despite skateboarding’s popularity, little is known about the effects of skateboarding on youth and their educational and career trajectories. The USC Skate Studies research teams have sought to expand notions of who skaters are and how they navigate their day-to-day lives. We have approached our research in partnership with the skate community and from an assets-based perspective. Our primary goals are to (1) inform the skate community about challenges, needs and strategies experienced by skaters; and (2) to take lessons learned from skateboarders – about a wide range of topics – and share them with the broader society. Our hope is that our research will be useful to a wide range of skate and non-skate stakeholders.
For updates, please follow us on Instagram @uscskatestudy.
OUR PARTNERS
We are indebted to the Skatepark Project (formerly Tony Hawk Foundation) for funding our first study and to USC’s Office of the Provost for funding the second. USC’s Pullias Center for Higher Education serves as our home base and provides deeply appreciated administrative support for this work. We are also grateful to USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism for their support.
Our research would not exist without the tremendous support of the skateboarders and skate advocates who responded to our surveys, spoke candidly with us during interviews, and helped us get the word out about our research. Special thanks to the Skatepark Project, Garageboard Shop, Saved by Skateboarding, the College Skateboard Education Foundation (CSEF), the Harold Hunter Foundation, and the Enchantment Skate Shop for hard core support.
TEAM 1
Constanza Astiazaran
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Zoe B. Corwin
Professor / PI
Elon Mahone
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Tattiya Maruco
Project Consultant
Robert Reichardt
Senior Associate
Christine Rocha
Researcher
Maria Romero-Morales
Research Project Specialist
Neftalie Williams
Postdoctoral Scholar
TEAM 2
Teodoro Agredano
Skater/Researcher
Rafael Angulo
Professor
Veronica Argentieri
Skater/Researcher
Dan Birman
Professor
Brent Blair
Professor
Alfred Bordallo
Media Manager
Maggie Bowen
Researcher/Skater
Steven Bradley
Skater/Researcher
Michelle Bui
Coding Team
Andrew Chang
Skater/Researcher
Zoe B. Corwin
Professor/PI
Olivia Dickerson
Skater/Researcher
Susie Dueñas
Skater/Researcher
Alan Green
Professor
Dan Haase
Skater/Researcher
Jordan Harper
Graduate Researcher
Beatrice Hahn
Skater/Researcher
Ashley Helenihi
Coding Team
Briana King
Skater/Researcher
Liana Marin
Coding Team
Mauricio Montoyo
Skater/Researcher
Bryson Nihipali
Skater/Researcher
Brittney Quach
Coding Team
Stefani Relles
Associate Professor
Emma Schlichting
Skater/Researcher
Elliette Singleton
Skater/Researcher
Ethan K. Singleton
Skater/Researcher
Edwin Torres
Skater/Researcher
Eric Valladares
Skater/Researcher
Neftalie Williams
Postdoctoral Scholar
Elliott Wright
Skater/Researcher
Henry Yanes
Skater/Researcher
National Study
Skateboarding, Schools, and Society included a national survey of 5000+ skateboarders and interviews with 120+ skaters and community stakeholders. Key findings from the first study highlighted the importance of recognizing how race, gender, community, and mental health affect skateboarders across the country. The study also documented a wide range of skills that young people believe they gain from skateboarding.
LA Study
Mattering in the Margins, an interdisciplinary participatory action research study, explored how Los Angeles-based skateboarders from diverse backgrounds make sense of societal constraints, cope with mental health challenges, capitalize on community resources, cultivate relationships, and thrive. Data include video footage, still photos, and in-depth group reflections.
