Skatestopper Explained

Skatestoppers are skate-deterrent or anti-skate devices placed on urban terrain features, such as benches and handrails, to discourage skateboarders from grinding on the surfaces where they have been installed.^[1] They are a form of hostile architecture.^[1]

The name Skatestopper is a registered trademark of Intellicept of El Cajon, California,^[2] but in some skateboarding circles it has become a genericized term referring to any anti-skate device.^[3]

Design

The most basic skatestopper design is an L-shaped bracket affixed at intervals along a grind-able structure. Early designs were made from nylon while more recent designs have been made from aluminum. More ornamental versions have also been produced. Because the devices have been targeted for removal by skateboarders, there have been attempts to make skatestoppers tamper resistant.^[4]

Criticism

Some view skatestoppers as an obstacle to be overcome. The presence of skatestoppers can actually encourage skateboarders to stay in a location longer.^[5]

Notes and References

1. (1) News: Abbate . Vince . June 28, 2007 . The trucks stop here . Chico News & Review . Chici Community publishing, INC. December 30, 2013. .
   (2) Heywood . Will . 2011 . Navigating the New Fortress . Urban Action . Department of Urban Studies and Planning at San Francisco State University . 19–33. https://web.archive.org/web/20140427155805/https://sites7.sfsu.edu/sites/sites7.sfsu.edu.dusp/files/UrbanAction_2011_0.pdf. April 27, 2014.
   (3) Web site: Robert. Rosenberger. June 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140701135734/http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/06/how-cities-use-design-to-drive-homeless-people-away/373067/. July 1, 2014. How Cities Use Design to Drive Homeless People Away: Saying "you're not welcome here"—with spikes. The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group. April 23, 2017. An example of an everyday technology that’s used to forbid certain activities is “skateboard deterrents,” that is, those little studs added to handrails and ledges. These devices, sometimes also called “skatestoppers” or “pig ears,” prevent skateboarders from performing sliding—or “grinding”—tricks across horizontal edges. A small skateboard deterrence industry has developed, with vendors with names like “stopagrind.com” and “grindtoahault.com.”.
   (4) Web site: Kelly. John. It's a grind: The birth of those metal ledge guards designed to deter skateboarders. Local. May 23, 2020. The Washington Post. June 3, 2020. .
2. Web site: Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark. trademarkia.com. 6 February 2018. en.
3. Web site: Inclusive Cities Observatory, Skateboarding in Tacoma: Youth Reclaim Public Space through Dialogue and Cooperative Planning. UCLG Committee on Social, Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights. 19 April 2016. page 4: "...removal of skate stoppers on a popular ledge..." ("skate stoppers" written without capitals and as two words)
4. News: Dougherty . Conor . December 5, 2003. Success is a mixed blessing for San Diegan whose invention has pushed boards off the curb . The San Diego Union-Tribune . Copley Press . December 30, 2013 .
5. News: Bristol skateboarders take on 'skatestopper' defensive architecture. Mersom. Daryl. 2015-10-07. The Guardian. 2017-11-03. en-GB. 0261-3077.