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We are looking for skateboards that are innovative, efficient, and safe. The skateboards should be able to handle the long distances of the marathon, as well as the various obstacles that the riders may encounter along the way.
We encourage you to use the Stanford design process to design your skateboards. This process consists of five steps:
1. 1. Empathize:
Understand the needs of the users. In this case, the users are the skateboarders who will be participating in the Marathon Pour Tous. What are their needs? What kind of skateboard would be best for them?
2. 2. Define:
Define the problem that you are trying to solve. In this case, the problem is to design a skateboard that is suitable for the Marathon Pour Tous. What are the specific requirements of the skateboard?
3. 3. Ideate:
Generate a variety of possible solutions to the problem. Brainstorm different ideas for skateboards that could be used in the Marathon Pour Tous.
4. 4. Prototype:
Build a prototype of your skateboard. This will allow you to test your design and make sure that it works properly.
5. 5. Test:
Test your prototype with skateboarders to get feedback. This will help you to improve your design and make sure that it is ready for the Marathon Pour Tous.
We are excited to see what kind of skateboards you come up with. We believe that this is a great opportunity for students to use their STEM skills to make a real difference in the world.
Sincerely,
The 2024 Paris Olympic Committee
Here are some additional tips for designing a skateboard for the Marathon Pour Tous:
Consider the materials that you will use. The skateboard needs to be lightweight and durable.
Think about the shape of the skateboard. The shape should be aerodynamic and comfortable for the rider.
Pay attention to the wheels. The wheels should be large and smooth, so that they can roll easily over rough surfaces.
Make sure that the skateboard is safe. The skateboard rider should have a braking system and other safety features to protect the rider.
We are confident that you can design a skateboard that is perfect for the Marathon Pour Tous. We look forward to seeing your designs!
Lesson 1 - Introduction to Skateboard Design
Objectives:
- Students will learn the parts of a skateboard and how they function together as a system.
- Students will be introduced to the Stanford design process.
Materials:
- Skateboard parts samples - decks, trucks, wheels, bearings, hardware
- Posters of the Stanford design process
Activities:
- Teacher leads discussion on skateboard parts using samples. Introduce key vocabulary - deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, hardware. (10 mins)
- Students disassemble and reassemble a skateboard in teams to understand how the parts connect. (10 mins)
- Introduce the Stanford design process - Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test. (10 mins)
Lesson 2 - Empathize and Define the Problem
Objectives:
- Students will interview skateboarders to understand user needs.
- Students will define the design problem and criteria.
Materials:
- Skateboarding videos, magazines, websites for research
- Paper and pens for interview notes
Activities:
- Students research skateboarding culture and interview skateboarders to empathize with users. (15 mins)
- Class discussion on user needs and pain points. (10 mins)
- Teams outline the design problem and criteria for a marathon skateboard. (10 mins)
Lesson 3 - Ideate and Prototype
Objectives:
- Students will brainstorm and sketch design ideas.
- Students will build initial prototypes.
Materials:
- Blank paper, pens, markers
- Cardboard, tape, scissors and other materials for building
Activities:
- Teams brainstorm and sketch ideas for marathon skateboards. (15 mins)
- Teams select an idea and build an initial cardboard prototype. (15 mins)
- Teams present prototypes and receive peer feedback. (10 mins)
Lesson 4 - Test and Refine
Objectives:
- Students will test prototypes and gather performance data.
- Students will use feedback to refine designs.
Materials:
- Prototypes from previous lesson
- Tools for modifying - tape, scissors, markers etc.
Activities:
- Teams test prototypes through simulated runs and track performance. (15 mins)
- Teams interview users for feedback to guide modifications. (10 mins)
- Teams refine prototypes based on testing and feedback. (15 mins)
Skateboarding Takes Center Stage at the Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan featured the debut of skateboarding as an official Olympic sport. After decades of influencing popular culture and creative expression, skateboarding finally took its place on the biggest athletic stage in the world. The introduction of skateboarding to the Olympic program marks a major milestone that legitimizes skate culture while expanding the Games to new audiences.
Skateboarding is divided into two disciplines for Olympic competition - park and street. Park skateboarding, also known as transition skateboarding, takes place on a course featuring a variety of curved ramps, dips, and bowls. Riders perform tricks by utilizing centrifugal force to careen up and down the curves and edges. In contrast, street skateboarding is done on a straight course meant to simulate objects found in an urban environment. Street skaters will grind handrails, slide over benches, jump down stairs, and flip their boards over gaps.
Both skateboarding disciplines made their Olympic debut in Tokyo with men's and women's park and street competitions. The skateboarding events were held at Ariake Urban Sports Park, which was specially built to host Tokyo's urban-based sports like BMX freestyle, 3x3 basketball, and sport climbing. The skate park's massive concrete surfaces gave Olympian skaters ample room to put together creative lines and wow judges with their best tricks.
The 80 Olympic skateboarders were selected through qualification systems administered by World Skate, skateboarding's international governing body. Skaters earned points by competing at events around the world, and the top ranked skaters in each discipline were awarded coveted spots at the Olympics. Big names like Sky Brown and Nyjah Huston represented their home countries, while amateurs from non-skateboarding strongholds like the Philippines and South Africa introduced the sport to new regions.
Ultimately, Japan and Brazil dominated the inaugural skateboarding competition. In a surprise upset, 12-year-old Kokona Hiraki of Japan took home silver behind Japan's Sakura Yosozumi in the women's park event. Japan also nabbed gold and bronze medals in men's street courtesy of Yuto Horigome and Sora Shirai. Not to be outdone, Brazil clinched the gold in men's park with Pedro Barros and two silvers from Rayssa Leal and Kelvin Hoefler in women's and men's street respectively.
The skateboarding competition yielded some of the Olympics' most riveting moments. Sporting a helmet decorated with Anime characters, Brown crashed hard in women's park but recovered to land an awe-inspiring 540 wedged between the ramps. Jagger Eaton of Team USA whipped out his iPhone mid-run to take an ecstatic selfie after securing bronze in men's street. And 13-year-old Leal, the youngest athlete in Tokyo, endeared herself to fans worldwide with her infectious zeal while zooming around the course.
Beyond the actual competitions, skateboarding's Olympic debut also highlighted the activity's vibrant culture. Many Olympians sported their signature styles adorned with tattoos, jewelry, and dyed hair. Team Brazil paid homage to their street skating roots by wearing coordinated basketball jerseys on the podium. Skate apparel brands like Vans got in on the action, providing custom footwear for Olympians to rock while they shredded.
In the end, skateboarding's introduction to the Olympics was a resounding success. Millions tuned in to watch skaters ply their athletic artistry on the world stage. Young fans were inspired to pick up a board for the first time, energizing skateboarding communities from Tokyo to São Paulo. As Paris prepares to host skateboarding again in 2024, the Olympics have ensured generations of skaters will continue carving out the sport's unique niche in the athletic pantheon.
Here is a comprehensive list of common skating lingo and words related to skate culture:
Skating Lingo
- Ollie - Popping the tail of the board to lift off the ground
- Kickflip - Flicking the board to make it rotate 360 degrees on the x-axis
- Heelflip - Flicking the board with your heel to rotate 360 degrees on the x-axis
- 360 Flip - A 360 degree spin combined with a kickflip
- Impossible - A 360 degree flip while turning the board 90 degrees
- Hardflip - A frontside pop shuvit combined with a kickflip
- Tre Flip - A 360 flip combined with a backside 180
- Varial Flip - Flicking off the side of the board to make it rotate on the z-axis
- Primo - Landing with all four wheels touching the ground
- G-Turn - Sweeping frontside turn on the nose or tail
- Nollie - An Ollie performed from the nose instead of the tail
- Fakie - Riding backwards
- Switch - Riding with the opposite foot forward
- Manual - Balancing on two wheels
- Nosegrind - Sliding along a ledge or rail on the underside of the nose
- 5-0 Grind - Sliding with both trucks grinding on the edge
- Crooked Grind - Grinding only on the back truck
- Lipslide - Sliding along the edge with the underside of the deck
- Bluntslide - Sliding along the edge balanced on the trucks
Skate Culture Words
- Shred - To skate with intensity and skill
- Stomp - To land a trick solidly
- Bail - To crash or fall off the board
- Eat it - To fall hard off the board
- Yard Sale - Falling and spilling gear everywhere
- Sketchy - Unsafe, out of control
- Mob - To skate a location with a group
- Flow - Smooth, seamless skating style
- Gnarly - Extremely difficult trick or spot
- Stoked - Extremely excited and hyped
- Core - True, dedicated skaters
- Poser - A skater who pretends to be something they're not
- Sponsored - Supported by skate companies with gear and money
- DIY - Building your own skate spot
- Vert - Vertical ramp or halfpipe skating
- Hip - A funnel-shaped transition on a mini ramp
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