I’ve been rollerblading a lot lately and neglecting my other hobbies. It’s not purely a coincidence. I fell while skating and sprained my wrist, which prevented me from playing video games or writing. So I skated more instead.
I haven’t skated much before, but I found it remarkably similar to skiing. You strap on funny boots that make you slide forward, you push with your feet in specific ways to turn or go fast, and you’re always holding a half-squat. But the community vibes couldn’t be more different. Rich white boys bond with future business partners on their boarding school ski team. Asian girls are pushed into ice skating at 4 years old, hoping to become a prodigy like Michelle Kwan and punch a ticket to an elite university. Rollerblading has no clout. It’s a bunch of eclectic hobbyists with nostalgia for the 90s.
Why do such similar hobbies create such different cultures? Are there some attributes of the activity that shape its place in society? Or is it random memetic chaos? I often think about these questions when analyzing games. Some regions prefer Dota and others prefer LoL, despite their ostensible similarities. The Smash Bros franchise has had many installments with varied competitive adoption. Most parts of the world prefer Ultimate (2018), the latest version. Melee (2001) maintains a cult competitive following in North America. And, for some strange reason, Smash 64 (1999) has become embedded into the youth culture of the small city of Tacna, Peru; they have a thriving competitive scene, and several Peruvians have risen to join the best players in the world. It seems there are factors at play beyond the game itself.
For Skiing vs Rollerblading, I suspect accessibility is the key factor. While history and marketing do play a role (aside: did you know “Rollerblade” is actually a brand name? It’s the Kleenex of inline skates), I believe that accessibility itself creates barriers to entry and status signals which separate audiences. Let me explain.
Rollerblading is far more accessible than skiing, in both price and convenience. To ski, I need to plan a weekend trip which will cost maybe $1,000, depending on how close you live to a ski resort. For the former, I need two minutes to strap on skates and head to the park. Ice skating sits somewhere in the middle; you need a dedicated facility which requires maintenance and pay-per-use, but they’re not trying to upsell you on spas and fine dining. This is largely why I picked up rollerblading; it’s a hobby I can cheaply partake in while watching my kids at the park. Ice skating would require $75 per session for rentals and rink passes for three (assuming the kids would even want to go). Skiing is totally out of the question.
The accessibility barrier acts as a socioeconomic filter, which in turn becomes a status signal. In order to take a ski vacation, you must have sufficient wealth, free time, and access to ski resorts. That last point isn’t trivial; the “Global North” is wealthier and also happens to have easier access to snowy mountains. Skiers are correlated with being wealthier and higher-status, and that correlation creates association. Ambitious climbers attempting to join the socioeconomic elite will adopt their customs in order to blend in better. Skiing is similar to golf in this way; aspiring businessmen learn golf so they can socialize with the old boys’ club. Rollerblading, in contrast, requires minimal investment. The only infrastructure requirements are some paved roads or basketball courts. The lack of entry barrier means there is no self-reinforcing correlation with clout.
I’m a radical populist when it comes to hobbies. I am drawn towards hobbies with negligible entry barriers that are often considered low-brow: video games, rollerblading, yoyos, freestyle rapping, etc. I attribute this to a few factors. First, I’m a frugal guy. I don’t like to spend money that I don’t have to, and I can find joy in inexpensive pastimes. Second, I’m socially aloof. I’ve always reveled in being a contrarian oddball, and I perhaps instinctively avoid the “socially correct” option. Third, I have populist political leanings. I grew up as a poor minority kid who had less and felt alienated for being different. Even though I’m certainly not “middle class” anymore when it comes to education or income, I’ve always wanted to be a man of the people. People shouldn’t be ashamed of who they are, and they shouldn’t let elites tell them who they ought to be. Rollerblading is better than skiing, and I’ll stand by that.
A post about hobby accessibility and no comments on Reddit gatekeeping?!