Experiencing the harsh sounds of skateboarding can help bridge the gulf between the joy and distaste of the noises created by the sport, a new study says.

Skate sounds can also help individuals sense and feel the urban environment in new and novel ways.

Skateboarders have a specialized knowledge of the texture of cities, and sharing this with the public could help to soothe conflict, according to the research. Paying attention to sound can give both sides “sonic” agency over spaces in the city.

Skate sounds, are a common basis of complaint from the general public. Yet these sounds can act as a source of inspiration and joy for participants. This has an impact on the planning and construction of skateparks in cities. Complaints about sound can also lead to “hostile,” costly and unsightly architecture like skate stoppers being added to public spaces as a deterrent to skateboarders.

The study, in the journal The Senses and Society, was carried out by Brian Glenney, from Norwich University, Max Boutin, from Quebec University and Paul O’Connor from the University of Exeter. The project involved exploring sensory perception of skateboarding and ethnographic work.

Researchers found the city’s coarse textures and materials are actively played with