Anthropologist Sander Hölsgens in Leidsch Dagblad on how skateboarding is changing the city
image: Hielco Kuipers
Sander Hölsgens is a skater and anthropologist. He has been skating since he was 11 years old and has been conducting research on skateboarding, the culture surrounding it, and what skateboarding can teach you about the use and accessibility of public space since 2013.
Last month saw the launch of two recently released books: Skateboarding and the Senses (in collaboration with Brian Glenney) and Skate/worlds (in collaboration with Adelina Ong). Skateboarding and the Senses offers insights into the sensory experience of skaters and shows how these experiences can vary between skaters, depending on political and socio-cultural contexts. Skate/worlds brings together writers, educators and activists who explore how skateboarding can serve as a powerful learning tool within areas as diverse as therapy, care, parenting and a more inclusive and diverse education system. In an interview published in Leidsch Dagblad this week, Sander talks more about his research on skateboarding.