Written by La Monica Everett-Haynes

From Ocean Beach to the canyons of Clairemont and the sidewalks of San Diego State University’s campus, generations of skaters have pushed through the streets. Now, the city that helped define modern skate culture is home to a university program that is shaping the future of skateboarding – through research, education and global partnerships.

A new collaboration between SDSU’s Center for Skateboarding, Action Sports, and Social Change and The Skatepark Project (TSP) is linking skateboarding’s cultural power to academic research and community impact. The partnership aims to spotlight the mental, physical and social benefits of skateboarding culture, while launching a series of events and initiatives designed with students and communities in mind.

“Meeting young people where they are – and using their love of skateboarding – helps them see the university as a place of belonging,” said Neftalie Williams, director of SDSU’s skateboarding center and assistant professor of sociology. “It creates a gateway into other fields of study like business, diplomacy, art, and technology.”

Together, SDSU and TSP will conduct and share research on the wellness and cultural impacts of skateboarding, host programs and events that promote inclusion, health and youth development; and collaborate with universities, governments and businesses around the world to elevate skateboarding as a tool for social change.

“The Skatepark Project recognizes the importance of research in understanding and promoting skateboarding,” said Benjamin Anderson Bashein, CEO of TSP. “That’s why we’re excited about the center and the essential work that can be done there. We look forward to collaborating with SDSU to explore the benefits of skateboarding and skateparks for the millions who use them globally.”

The impact is massive. TSP has supported nearly 700 skateparks across all 50 states, with an estimated 17 million visits annually. And internationally, skateboarding has surged in popularity in South Africa, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. 

Williams, who co-authored a nationwide study (“Beyond the Board: Skateboarding, Schools and Society”) found that skateboarding is more than a sport; skateboarding is a creative and social ecosystem that helps young people build identity, navigate challenges and form lasting communities.

That sense of connection is key to skateboarding’s appeal.

“Often skateboarding is different from traditional team sports because it relies so heavily on individual practice and skill honing that is then shared in a communal space at a skatepark or ‘spot.’ This builds mental and physical health capacity by requiring skaters to challenge themselves and to develop focus and confidence. In many ways skateboarding is both about joy and overcoming the fear of failure,” said David Kamper, associate director of the SDSU Center for Skateboarding, Action Sports, and Social Change and professor of American Indian Studies. 

Skateboarding as we know it today has its origins in California in about the 1940s and 1950s as a fun way for kids to get around town. During the 1960s and 1970s, surfers turned to skateboarding to practice their movements and skills, often in the Southern California embankments and gullies that were paved to stop erosion. These mini hills provided perfect concrete and asphalt waves. In the 1980’s, Tony Hawk – who went on to establish TSP – emerged as the leader, and during the 1990s established one of the most celebrated teams in skateboarding under his brand Birdhouse Skateboards, in San Diego.

And anyone who has been at SDSU since the early 2000s knows how ubiquitous skateboarding is and it is only growing, Williams said. 

“Most everyone at some point has connected with skateboarding, which remains an influential part of culture and urban life, for youth and, really, for people of every age,” said Williams, a skateboarder himself, who served as the inaugural Ambassador of Skateboarding, appointed by the U.S. State Department. “Skateboarding is constantly evolving in terms of style, technique, health benefits, accessibility and its impact on public diplomacy. It represents everything we want our young people to experience early in life.”

It’s estimated that nearly three-quarters of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. The American diet shifting from whole foods to more convenient fare, a rise in sedentary lifestyles and less walkable cities are all thought to be factors. Being overweight or obese has been linked to numerous health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, stroke and certain types of cancers. Diet and exercise have long been the gold standard in turning the tide on weight gain, though genetics, medicalconditions and socioeconomic factors can make losing weight difficult to impossible. For people who are significantly overweight, bariatric surgery and a new class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) may offer solutions. Read in-depth about these options here. 

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After more than eight years of planning and construction, this June, Scripps will welcome a new hospital tower on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. The eight-floor, 420,000-square-foot tower will house an array of medical services and advanced technology. From operating rooms, comprehensive imaging and laboratory services to a dedicated women’s center, the new facility will further enhance and expand Scripps’ services and its 100-year legacy of quality health care in San Diego. Click here to read more about the new tower and how it will lead to an even better health care experience for patients. 

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This is the front line: flour-dusted, grease-slicked, knife-sharp. It’s fire and steel, instinct and invention, a glorious symphony of flavor. Chefs, renegades, restaurateurs—these Tastemakers are conjuring flavor from talent, turning gut instincts into cult followings. From sushi that sings to pastries that stop time, this is food with soul, swagger, and story. Meet the minds behind the magic. And come hungry.

In a world of endless emails, breaking news alerts, family responsibilities, work obligations and more, stress is understandable. Feeling stressed sometimes is a normal part of life—with an emphasis on sometimes. With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day around the corner, it’s a good time for women and men to check in and evaluate if their stress has become not-so-normal. Of course, every person is different and responds to stress differently, but increased irritability, fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, trouble sleeping and stomach issues are some of the most common signs of chronic stress. And when the body is in a state of chronic stress for a prolonged period of time, the impact of that stress only expands. Click here to learn more about the effects of chronic and how they differ for men and women.

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