Spanish and Skateboarding Culture

Barcelona is the skateboarding capital of the world. It is a Mecca that skaters from all over the world recognize and dream of being able to skate. While many other places around the world are very recognizable for skaters, like: Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Berlin, San Francisco, and New York, nothing compares to Barcelona. This makes one think, what drives skaters to continue to come to Barcelona? If one were to ask any skateboarder this question, their answer would be obvious. It's the spots! All over the city, Barcelona contains some of the most infamous spots in skateboarding history. This is an undeniable fact of what brings skateboarders to Barcelona, but what is it that drives us to come back? This is the more crucial opaque question. Most skaters would probably not know how to respond because they haven't thought much about it. Spanish culture is much more accepting, inclusive, laid back, and not time-oriented compared to the culture of the United States, where skateboarding began.  The incongruent culture causes many Americans to have negative stereotypes and outlooks on skaters.  Unlike the United States, Spain has almost identical characteristics to skateboard culture, bringing skaters back to Spain. Skateboarding has immensely integrated into Spanish society not just because the places to skate in Spain are extraordinary but also because of their analogous cultures.

One reason skateboarding has integrated into Spain is because of its collectivist culture. According to Hofstede's cultural comparison, the United States is almost two times more individualistic than Spain (Hofstede). Spain's collectivist culture aligns with the skateboard culture causing skateboarders to return to Spain continually. The skateboard culture brings people from different backgrounds and cultures together.  In the United States, skateboarding culture is entirely distinct compared to what the traditional American society accepts. Skaters dress differently, create their own slang, and live by their own rules. These foreign attitudes and differences from societal norms cause Americans to feel threatened. In reality, this is because skateboarding culture doesn't align with the United States' high individualistic culture. Jonathan Mehring, a photographer and the author of Skate the World: Photographing One World of Skateboarding, stated, "[Skateboarding] ignores typical judgments and stereotypes and easily connects people together. It provides a sense of community to otherwise disenfranchised youths who may not enjoy more popular team sports. It accepts those who don't fit in elsewhere and gives them confidence and purpose. Skateboarding is more than a form of entertainment. It's a lifestyle that transcends social, economic, and cultural barriers around the globe" (Mehring, 21). Since Spanish culture also reflects a collectivist lifestyle, it causes local Spaniards to understand the skateboarding culture better.  In fact, while in Spain, it is rare to see skaters being kicked out of skateboarding spots, while it is extremely common in America.  Many Spanish locals support and acknowledge skateboarding because the two collectivist cultures are so similar.  The author, Gregory J Snyder, wrote an article about the skateboarding subculture stating, "Skateboarding is not a homogeneous subculture and since its inception has attracted a diversity of practitioners. Skateboarders are united by the process and practice of skating and form their identities as skaters first and ethnic and racial identities second" (Snyder). Skateboarding transcends race and religion, similar to that of Spanish culture.

Just as skateboarders accept people regardless of race, religion, or gender, so do Spainards, allowing for skateboarding and Spanish culture to align. Spain has many foreigners that have immigrated from all over the world. One can see this when walking down La Rambla or going to a supermercat. Spain has employed many people from Columbia, Morocco, and many more countries all over the world (Romero).  Spain is a melting pot where people worldwide live; as of 2020, 15.23% of the population immigrated to Spain (Población).  Throughout history, Spain has been different than the rest of Europe.  When the Muslims came to Spain, they created a tolerant culture where Muslims, Christians, and Jews were all able to live together, shaping Spain today.  While Spains’ tolerance was lost during the Spanish monarchy, the ideology and culture remained.  In Spain, people are just Spanish and not identified by their race or religion.  Instead of Spain singling out immigrants that may be different, Spaniards accept them as they are, allowing them to contribute to Spanish culture. Spains' collective culture creates an opportunity for immigrants to contribute and become a part of Spanish culture.  Spanish culture transcends race and religion just as skateboarding does, contributing to their analogous cultures.  There is a word for this in Spanish called Mestizaje, meaning the intertwining of people of different cultures, races, regions, etc. Mestizaje is also very prevalent in Spains' famous dance, Flamenco. It has been adapted and changed by many cultures, making it Mestizaje.  Many Spaniards enjoy seeing new interpretations of Flamenco because of Spains' accepting, diverse and collectivist culture.  The way Spain and skateboarders can look past race, religion, etc., allows for stronger connections, contributing to why skateboarders love Spain so much.

Another way skateboarding aligns with Spain is their polychronic culture. A polychronic time orientation means that inter-personal relationships are valued more than a schedule (Monochronic). In Spain, most people tend to focus on growing relationships with others rather than arriving punctually. For example, in the context of a business meeting, "Spainards consider business meetings rather as a possibility to exchange information and opinions… preparing a meeting (by the use of an agenda) is [typically] considered as unnecessary" (Dunkel). Skateboarding culture is very similar. When I ask a friend to skate, it is an open invitation that they still don't have to show up even if they say yes. Skating with friends can be comparable to a business meeting. Skaters are laid back and will plan times to meet, usually showing up late or maybe not at all if something else comes up. This is not because Spainards and skateboarders are rude, but because the two cultures value relationships more than scheduled meetings. One could argue that when a skater bails on a friend, that deteriorates the relationship. While this may be true, most skaters understand that things happen, and skateboarding can't always be the first priority. When skaters come to Spain, they feel at home because most Spaniards live life at the same pace the skaters want to live. Both polychronic cultures contribute to what causes skateboarders to return to Spain continually.

Furthermore, since Spain is a polychronic culture, it also allows more civilians to stay in the moment. Spaniards tend to be more present than Americans because they are not stressed about future events out of their control. In the United States, when one is running late to a meeting, it can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. In Spain, this is not the case because of their polychronic culture. Skateboarders also tend to be more present because skateboarding puts one in a meditative state that allows one to reflect on their past and imagine the future. While skateboarding, it is imperative to stay focused on the moment, or else injury is inevitable. Being present while skateboarding is necessary to perform all the maneuvers successfully. During the Flamenco field study, I also learned the importance of staying present. While dancing Flamenco, it is imperative to focus on one’s body while maintaining eye contact with their partner. If one were to lose focus, they would no longer have the rhythm necessary.  On top of this, eye contact is essential for Flamenco and Spanish culture because it helps build the relationship with the dance, giving the partners a stronger connection.  Staying in the moment is difficult to possess, but it truly is freeing; it allows people to live free of stresses and anxieties. The past and the future don't exist; the only real thing is this present moment. Spaniards and skaters recognize this, allowing skaters to feel at home when arriving in Spain. 

Just as Flamenco is an art form, so is skateboarding.  While skateboarding, every trick, line, or maneuver can be done in different creative ways, making it an art form.  As I have learned in class, art is a vital piece of Spains’ history, with many influential artists emerging from Spain like: Picasso, Goya, Dali, Gaudi, Lorca, Velazquez, etc.  The importance of art in Spain also contributes to the fact that skateboarding is much more accepted in Spain and aligned with Spanish culture.

Lastly, skateboarding has integrated into Spanish culture because of its relationship-oriented ideology. According to an analysis on cultural differences by Amanda Dunkel and Sylvia Meierewert, "[Spains’] cultural standard refers to the personal relations which are much more important than business, where one even prefers to employ his friend than a person with the necessary abilities" (Dunkel). Spaniards typically care more about forming and growing relationships rather than accomplishing tasks punctually. This does not mean Spaniards are lazy; they just have different priorities. Many people also believe that skateboarders are lazy because the stereotype is that skaters are bad kids who don't do anything with their life and just play with wooden toys. In reality, skateboarders just have different priorities that may not align with everyone's identity. Spain's priorities align with skaters' priorities which helps bring skaters to Spain and keep them here. Skaters can develop deep, emotional relationships because they focus on the present, causing them to empathize and actively listen to their peers. Snyder expands on this by saying, "Subcultures like skateboarding create self-sustaining enclaves that attract more and more people to a city to capitalize on the opportunities the sub-culture creates" (Snyder). While skaters from all over the world come to Barcelona to skate the unique spots Spain has to offer, the skaters come back because of the relationships they developed. Spaniards are very relationship-focused, creating a very inviting environment that skaters love. During Mehrings’ travels around the world, he also stated, "We spoke different languages and came from different cultures, but skateboarding became our shared language" (Mehring, 21). I know I have experienced this kindness when skating spots around Barcelona. Skaters I have never met before that don't even speak my language say “hola” and give me a fist bump. When skaters land a cool trick, random strangers will clap for them and show their appreciation for that trick.  Even the non-skater locals will stop and watch, recording the skaters or cheering them on.  It is incredible to see the bonds skaters can form with each other.

Spains relationship-oriented culture helps emphasize the importance of relationships creating stronger friendships, causing skaters to come back to Spain repeatedly. The skateboard culture allows skaters to form connections through a shared interest instantly. A report titled Beyond the Board: Findings from the Field asked respondents how others treated them while skating, and one young man stated, "The group of us skateboarding – we were diverse culture-wise, Italian, Spanish, black, white, me, I'm Pakistani and British, all types. We were all diverse; it didn't even matter, none of that mattered. We just spoke the same language of street brothers. It was more of this bond we developed from each other's pain. It was kind of very deep in a way" (Corwin). Skateboarding allows people from all backgrounds to connect without judgment, bringing communities together. It doesn't matter where people come from or their background because skateboarding can bring skaters together no matter what. Even in different parts of Spain, I noticed similar actions like when I went to Tenerife. In the Canary Islands, I had strangers coming up to me and randomly starting a conversation. Spaniards are extremely friendly and aren't afraid to begin new relationships with strangers. Like skateboarding brings skaters together, Spaniards bring each other together; both cultures are not scared to make friends and grow relationships. The relationship orientation of these two cultures is what brings skaters to Spain and keeps them coming back.
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In conclusion, Spains' collective, polychronic, and relationship-oriented culture aligns with that of skateboard culture, explaining why Barcelona is the skateboarding Mecca of the world. When I initially chose to study abroad the first time, I didn't even think about where I wanted to go. I instantly knew I wanted to come to Barcelona because I heard how amazing the skateboarding was. After I arrived, I realized that while the skateboarding here is excellent, the most extraordinary thing is the way Spanish culture amplifies the experience. The reason I chose to come back to Barcelona again wasn't just because of the skate spots, but because I longed for the sense of community Spanish culture brings. Since Spanish culture and skateboard culture are so alike, it is easy for me to feel at home here in Spain. Many skateboarders may think the only reason they love Barcelona so much is because of the skate spots, but in reality, it is mainly because of the intertwined synonymous Spanish and skateboarding culture.

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Works Cited
Corwin, Zoë B, et al. “Beyond the Board: Findings from the Field.” University of Southern                      California, https://pullias.usc.edu/download/beyond-the-board-findings-from-the-field/.               Accessed 2 Dec. 2021.
Dunkel, Amanda, and Sylvia Meierewert. “Culture Standards and Their Impact on Teamwork —                An Empirical Analysis of Austrian, German, Hungarian and Spanish Culture                                 Differences.”   Journal of East European Management Studies, vol. 9, no. 2, Nomos                      Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 2004, pp. 147–74, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23280680.
Hofstede, Geert. “Compare Countries.” Hofstede Insights, 22 June 2021,                                                    https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/.
“Monochronic vs. Polychronic Cultures: What Are the Differences?” VP Legacies, 6 May 2020,             https://vplegacies.com/monochronic-vs-polychronic-cultures-what-are-the-differences/.
“Población (Españoles/Extranjeros) Por País De Nacimiento, Sexo y Año.” INE,                                       shorturl.at/bwxQ0
Romero, Teresa. “Immigrants in Spain by Nationality.” Statista, 20 July 2021,                                           shorturl.at/diuI6
Snyder, Gregory J. “The City and the Subculture Career: Professional Street Skateboarding in /                LA.” Ethnography, vol. 13, no. 3, 2012, pp. 306–329. JSTOR, JSTOR,                                        www.jstor.org/stable/43496451.