I was remembering Suzzane the other day and how she liked to skate but she did try #skateboarding once while Charlie likes to skateboard. Which is why I was excited to be able to put a new book about Skateboarding in the Christmas closet for Charlie for Christmas or should I give it to him for his Birthday?
For my family some of the sweetest surprises in life happen when you discover that one child loved something, and years later, your other child develops that same interest. That’s exactly what happened in our family with skateboarding not only with Charlie and Suzzane but also my nephew David M.
When Suzzane was younger, she was obsessed with Tony Hawk and even had a video game featuring him. Back then, I worked at North Hills Mall, and we held a full-on skating event where some pretty talented skaters came out. Now, Tony Hawk wasn’t there, but Suzzane did get to meet some impressive skateboarders. I know if Charlie had been there, he would have absolutely loved it!
Years later, Charlie and his friends were skateboarding all the time. So when I had the opportunity to review Skate Obsession, a illustrated book by Charles Ravinski, I knew I wanted to share it. The book reminded me of Suzzane, and I immediately thought of Charlie.
This wasn’t just another book just for our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List. It was a chance to bring two family memories together and find a Christmas Gift or Birthday Gift I knew Charlie would appreciate. And yes, I’m putting this one on Santa’s list! When we help him load the sleigh I want to make sure he has plenty of these books for any #skateboarders on his list.
Skate Obsession takes readers into the world of skateboarding, covering more than 75 years of history, the legendary riders, iconic brands, tricks, fashion, music, art, films, video games, and the culture surrounding the sport. Whether someone is just learning about skateboarding or has been riding for years, there is plenty to explore.
The book is divided into several sections, including:
- From Hobby to Subculture
- The Essentials
- The Radical Rise of Skateboarding
- Who’s Who of Skateboarding
- Skate Life
- Skate Culture and the Future of Skateboarding
I especially enjoyed seeing how the history is broken down by decade, starting in the 1950s and moving through the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. That’s practically my entire lifetime of watching trends come and go! Can you imagine that? I can’t wait to see what Charlie thinks of it.
The book also introduces readers to skateboard anatomy, important terminology, tricks, and the unwritten rules of skateboarding. There are step-by-step illustrations of tricks such as the ollie, flip, grab, grind, manual, shove-it, slide, and wall ride I could see Bradley and Charlie trying to do these tricks but not me. How about you?
I learned quite a few things just flipping through the pages. Words like fakie and goofy were #Teachingmoments for David and I, and I definitely need to spend more time with the glossary of skater lingo. How many of these terms do you already know? As much as I hate to admit it David and I knew very few of the words and definitions which we could have used when #Homeschoolin Charlie in his language arts class.
The author introduces us to Riders, Brands, and Skateboard Culture and of course, Tony Hawk was a name I recognized immediately. But I also discovered riders I hadn’t heard of before, including Nyjah Huston and Leticia Bufoni. That’s another reason I appreciate books like this: they introduce us to people and things we might not otherwise discover.
Readers can explore the skate lifestyle, from skate shops to skate parks, and learn about the brands and names that have helped shape skateboarding culture. Vans is a familiar name in our family. We’ve grown up with the brand! But I also enjoyed discovering more about Independent and Flip. There are iconic skateboard brands, wheels, shoes, and other pieces of equipment to learn about.
And speaking of equipment, I never realized there were so many different parts of a skateboard. The diagrams give readers a closer look at how everything fits together. There are also illustrations of skaters in action, flipbook-style pages, and plenty of artwork that makes you want to keep turning the pages.
One thing I kept thinking about while looking through Skate Obsession was how useful it could have been when I was Homeschooling Suzzane and again when I was homeschooling Charlie. Although, I could see PE Teachers using this book in there classroom as well.
We could have incorporated this book into our physical education class, especially when discussing the history of skateboarding, equipment, safety, tricks, and the people who helped make the sport what it is today. Which will give me something Charlie is interested in to talk to him about.
This book would also make a fun addition to a 10-Minute Reading Challenge. Sometimes children are more willing to pick up a book when it covers something they already enjoy. And with all the illustrations, this is a book that invites readers to explore even when they don’t feel like sitting down with a traditional chapter book.
Although the subject is geared toward older readers and teens, younger children who enjoy looking at pictures could have fun exploring the illustrations with an adult, too. I also appreciate that the book includes both male and female skateboarders. Yes, girls skateboard, too! I can almost hear Charlie teasing me about that one, because back in the day girls had #Cooties LOL but it’s a great opportunity to introduce readers to some of the talented women in the sport.
I love the yellow cover with its pink skateboard. It caught my attention immediately, and I know Charlie would appreciate the pink. He has always liked pink, just as Suzzane did. The illustrations throughout the book are just as enjoyable. I could spend days flipping through them and still find something new to look at.
Even before reading every section, I found myself stopping to look at the artwork, the equipment diagrams, and the different skateboarding styles. This is one of those books that makes you want to pick it up again and again. All the while teaching me about a spot I knew almost nothing about.
For me, Skate Obsession is more than a book about skateboarding. It brings back memories of Suzzane, reminds me of Charlie and his friends riding their skateboards, and gives me another opportunity to share something meaningful with my family which is always a Godsend in my home.
I also remember my ex, Everett, and his son Josh, who could have become a professional skateboarder if he had stayed with it. At the time, like plenty of parents, we tried to encourage him to stick with it. Of course, he probably thought we didn’t know what we were talking about. What can I say? We’re parents!
That’s why I think this book makes such a fun Christmas gift. It celebrates a hobby that has grown into a worldwide culture and gives readers a chance to learn about its history, people, and traditions. I believe this book will bring families together getting them outside and off electronics for a bit.
I’m asking Santa to load the sleigh with Skate Obsession for the pe teachers on his Christmas list. Whether you’re shopping for a young rider, a longtime skateboarding fan, or someone who simply wants to learn more about the culture, this book has plenty to discover. And if you have a skateboarder in your family, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to check it out. You might even learn a new word or two along the way!
Book: Skate Obsession
Author: Charles Ravinski
Format: Paperback
Here’s to family memories, new discoveries, and finding books that give us something to talk about around the table. Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed!
About the book: Skate Obsession by Charles Ravinski (Author) Format: Paperback
Rider? Trick? Trucks? Santa Cruz? Skate Obsession plunges readers into the exhilarating world of skateboarding.
Retrace the history of skateboarding and its iconic brands, meet the legendary riders, and learn all about the skater universe in this fully illustrated book. From fashion to film, music to art, and the Olympics to video games, here—at last!—is a complete guide to all aspects of skateboarding culture. Learn how the activity rose to the heights of cool, decipher the (previously unwritten) skater code of conduct, and discover the trends that have turned skate life into an obsession for the past seventy-five years.
Invented by surfers as a way to kill time between waves, skateboarding rose from its “anti-sport” roots in 1950s Californian youth subculture to its place today as a global cultural phenomenon. Perfect for novice riders, this book covers skateboard anatomy, a dictionary of key terms, and a guide to the tricks—the ollie, flip, grab, grind, manual, shove-it, slide, and wall ride—along with their infinite combinations and accompanied by step-by-step illustrations.
Diehard skate obsessives can take a visual deep dive into all facets of the sport’s history through profiles of epic skate locations, headline skateboarders such as Tony Hawk and Nyjah Huston, and popular and cult brands that cater to skaters. Riding a balance between the rebellious spirit and mainstream appeal of skateboarding—which draws generations of young audiences worldwide—and cementing its status as a lifestyle choice that transcends even the sport itself, the ever-evolving world of skateboarding is obsessively fascinating.
About the Author: Charles Ravinski is an expert on fashion and alternative cultures. A passionate skateboarder since childhood, he has been a consultant for numerous brands and knows some of the biggest stars in skateboarding.
I received the book in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchase.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
