True World Skate
The Culture of Indie Skateboarding
Football’s most honest stories aren’t told in stadiums, they are stuck to walls, signs and shutters across Europe.
“DIY builds and the streets matter –
they let us skate on our own terms”
-Karabo Mooki,
Photographer
Soweto’s growing skate community has been fuelled by local punk rockers supporting young skaters to connect and learn. Skate Society Soweto and punk band TCIYF have been driving forces in creating safer spaces for Black youth to thrive. Photo by: Karabo Mooki
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A riveting deep dive into the wildly diverse centers of global indie skate culture, from the bestselling authors of the Stickerbomb book series.
Discover the community-driven spirit that has propelled the sport far beyond its Californian origins.Welcome to the thrilling world of 2020s indie skate culture—its people, communities, brands, and eclectic local scenes. With profiles, interviews, and graphics from the best of this global generation of skaters, True World Skate by Ryo Sanada and Suridh Hassan pays homage to the community-driven ethos that has boosted skateboarding far beyond California.
Through captivating storytelling and vivid grease-smeared imagery, the book uncovers the interconnected network of skaters, makers, and innovators who have contributed to the growth and evolution of skate culture.
Explore the varied landscapes and subcultures that have fostered the spirit of independence and creativity at the heart of skateboarding, from suburban parks and urban playgrounds to war zones and wilderness.
The vibrancy of this new global skate culture is captured in stunning photography and exclusive interviews with coaches, filmmakers, historians and community leaders. From board graphics to wheel makers and ramp builders, featured brands include Scout Hut, Moska Wheels, Cleaver, Proper Gnar, Heroin, and many more. -
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Paperback: 240 pages
Dimensions 190mm x 242mm
ISBN: 978-0-2620577-5-2 -
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Takahiro Morita riding his custom board, Tokyo, Japan. A cornerstone of Japanese skate culture since the late 1980s, Morita blends film, sound and board design into a fiercely independent practice. Through FESN (Far East Skate Network) and LIBE, his long-form videos, jazz-leaning edits and hand-built cruisers have shaped Tokyo’s look and feel while keeping skating’s DIY spirit front and centre.
Ohio-based artist and skater Latosha built Proper Gnar from her living room into one of the most recognizable Black woman-owned skate brands. DIY from day one, designing, packing, shooting. Her anime-leaning graphics and community focus invite new skaters in and keep the core close, proving that independence can set the tone.