CHAOS CULTURE

At first glance, it may seem like a piece of wood on wheels. But these boards have a destination: a life well-lived, with the friends and scars to prove it.

Skateboarding traces its roots back to surfers in 1950s California. Itching for something to do when they couldn’t ride the waves, they decided to put wheels on boards and surf the streets. Soon after, these boards could be found on the streets of New York, where young boys would ride them just about anywhere — into traffic, at parties and over flaming trash bins. These juveniles caught the attention of MTV, where their daredevil escapades began to be broadcasted for all to enjoy. It was official: that piece of wood on wheels opened up a whole new world of fashion, music and media that would revolutionize American pop culture

Skateboarding gained popularity because it was cheap and accessible, especially compared to other extreme sports like dirt biking, snowboarding and skiing. Skateboarders quickly became branded as misfits; kids with too much time on their hands and crazy ideas running through their heads. These humble boards opened up a whole world of risk taking and adventure.

Skateboarders in Media

Skaters took their ambitions on the streets to the web and decided to share their gnarly and new ideas with the world. The likes of Bam Margera and Stephen “Steve-O” Glover, the stars of “Jackass,” kickstarted their careers by performing skateboarding stunts on camera. These “delinquents” found a way to support themselves and their families, while also finding inventive creative outlets and branding their own names. Take Rodney Mullen, for instance, a Gainesville native who invented the majority of skating’s ollie and flip tricks; his innovations are considered building blocks for modern street skateboarding today. He also helped build the skate scene here in Gainesville, which explains why you’ll find many dedicated skaters around town. Viewers lived vicariously through the wild antics of skateboarders like Margera, Glover and Mullen, and they couldn’t look away.

Fashion and Music

Crazy videos of tricks and destruction weren’t the only ways skate culture made its mark. Skate apparel is its own form of durable and destroyable — clothes that will last through several falls and shoes that can handle the wear and tear of the street. People soon adopted skate clothing like Vans, Thrasher and Supreme. Apart from being comfortable and durable, skate clothes are fashionable, which contributed to their immense popularity. Artists like Tyler, the Creator, Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar are just some of many celebrities that have profited off of the wearability of skate culture. Music also forms an integral part of skate culture. Concerts for musicians in genres like rap, punk and ska will likely be filled by skaters partaking in mosh pits and skanking — a kind of dance where you kick your legs and arms to ska music.

For skateboarders, funny looks or honks from cars when on the streets simply come with the territory. As Tony Hawk, skateboarding industry pioneer, said in his promotion for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, “it all starts with a push.”

The unbridled joy you feel when you land your first trick or make that sharp turn is unparalleled. Skating with friends, listening to music and dreaming about the future is what skating is about. Deviants are not only allowed in this community, they are embraced with open arms.

As skating continues to dominate the media, its style and culture is becoming more accessible to all who wish to partake. It’s not just about who can land the best tricks or wear the best styles, it’s about who’s willing to keep pushing, keep kicking, keep dreaming. When you’re a skateboarder, you live for the streets, and the world is your runway. SOFIA ZARRAN

There’s an order to every inch of my madness. The nearly empty iced coffee just inches to the left of my laptop? Intentional. I can’t crack a sentence without 16 ounces of caffeine sailing through my veins. Mood lighting? Absolutely. Headphones? For sure. My space is a projection of my mood. Does the mess make me comfortable, or does a minimalist table top spur my productivity? An equilibrium between both is balance.

Like a life size mood ring, the space within my four walls echoes how I’m feeling. The clothes on my chair pile higher with each assignment. The allergy medication cornered on my desk has been there for weeks; the two minutes spent putting it away would take too much time away from writing my English paper. De-stressing is stressful. Oh my god, the idea of having to do the most mundane task sounds more like climbing Everest. The clutter is suffocating.

But I get back in the groove. I write a realistic to-do list, toss the wristbands from last night, wash my dirty laundry and make my bed. I can see the base of my chair. The spoiled snacks from the fridge: trashed. There’s finally room to put pen to paper.

For many on Strike Magazine GNV, resetting is the ultimate form of self care.

For assistant creative director Jacob Wall, it’s a clean space with a side of house music and a latte. “I rely on organization to get my shit done. Having an organized mentality helps, so your surroundings match your desired energy,” he said.

Beats by Flume, Swedish House Mafia and ODESZA help him flow into the tasks at hand. Nothing sets the mood like music.

“I am always listening to music. So, during my work, it is an essential for me,” Wall added.

For most of Strike GNV staff, coffee is another essential to completing tasks. Whether it’s a latte or an espresso, hot or iced, we’re having it. From Opus tabs to random coffee runs before a heavy afternoon at the library, we’re taking sips between assignments.

“Caffeine via several shots of espresso has become my ritual at this point,” Wall joked.

Strike staffers don’t kid around when it comes to coffee or black tea, which is writer Naina Chauhan’s beverage of choice.

For Chauhan, an airy space with a spa-like smell is the only way she’s getting work done. “I’m not a hyped up on caffeine loud sort of music, in a dark room sort of worker. I need peace and serenity to get down to business,” she said.

Her room turns into a chamber of light: windows open, candles lit and puffs of essential oils breathed out by her diffuser. Some moody, mellow beats by Beach House is the ultimate creme de la creme to Chauhan’s ideal space.

The workspace is sacred. Whatever formula you need to follow, whatever ritual you need to ready, make it intentional. The state of your environment will either bring you up or anchor you down. After all, it is a mirror of your mood. ANDREA VALDES-SUEIRAS