A new study has revealed that sound plays a crucial role in the lives of skateboarders, shaping their experience of the sport in ways most people might not realize.
While skateboarding is often seen as a high-energy visual sport, it is also deeply connected to hearing and feeling.
Published in Sport in Society, the research shows that skateboarders use sound to judge surfaces, confirm their tricks, and connect socially.
However, they are also aware that their noise can be disruptive, leading to what researchers call the “skatesound paradox.”
Dr. Paul O’Connor from the University of Exeter interviewed 18 adult skateboarders aged 19 to 51 from around the world, with experience ranging from 3 to 36 years. Many described skateboarding sounds in vivid detail:
🛹 “Like the sound of drills and grinders.”
🛹 “An irritant, like beer bottles clinking together.”
🛹 “Loud in the best way.”
🛹 “Rolling, rough, smooth tickling in my ear.”
For some skateboarders, these sounds help them focus and feel connected to their environment, while others find it overwhelming, especially in enclosed spaces like tunnels or indoor skateparks.
The Skatesound paradox
Many skateboarders recognize that the sounds they create can be annoying to people nearby, especially in residential areas. Some choose not to skate near homes or avoid places where the noise echoes too much.
Despite this, they value the sounds of their sport, seeing them as an important part of the experience. One skateboarder, Alfie, even said that tuning into the rhythm of skatesound helped him become a more empathetic person and manage his anxiety and neurodiversity.
The study also found that skateboarding is often a social experience, and for many, listening to music through headphones while skating is seen as antisocial or even dangerous.
- Gavin was so passionate about this that he would ask skaters wearing headphones to remove them and join the group.
- Eddy said he couldn’t imagine skating with earbuds in because it would be too risky.
However, some skaters preferred headphones for different reasons:
🎵 Andy (22) used music to boost his focus and energy.
🎵 Fiona wore headphones to feel more confident when skating as the only female in a group.
🎵 Steph used music to reduce sensory overload in noisy indoor skateparks.
More than just a sport
This research highlights that skateboarding is not just about tricks and speed—it is a deep sensory experience. Researchers even collaborated with artist Dr. Max Boutin, whose interactive “texturologies” art installation allows people to experience the world of skateboarding through video, sound, and touch.
As Dr. O’Connor put it, “Next time you hear skateboarders practicing in your neighborhood, remember—they know they are noisy. But they are also deeply engaged in learning, focus, and friendship.”
Source: University of Exeter.
