Exploration from Action Sport: Motivation for Skateboarding

Engagement in skateboarding has significantly increased over the past decade. Despite this growing popularity, there is a paucity of research on the motivations behind participation in skateboarding. The aim of this study is to investigate the motivations for engaging in skateboarding. Employing a qualitative methodology, this study utilised semi-structured interviews with eight South Korean skateboarders, uncovering nine higher-order motivational themes. Seven of these motives align with established motivations in action sports: physical health, psychological health, mastery, enjoyment, competition, others&quot expectations, and catharsis. However, two additional motives, social relatedness and autonomy, were found to be distinctive within the context of skateboarding. Notably, the study underscores the significance of catharsis, social relatedness, and autonomy. This article provides valuable insights into the underlying motivations for participating in skateboarding.