BETWEEN WHEELS AND RESEARCH:

YOUTH AND THE IAPI SKATEPARK IN BRAZILIAN ACADEMIC PRODUCTION

Abstract

This article investigates academic research on youth, skateboarding, and urban space, focusing on the IAPI Skatepark in Porto Alegre (RS). The objective was to construct a state of the art, identifying the main theoretical and methodological approaches adopted in studies on the topic. To achieve this, a bibliographic review was conducted using databases such as the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD) and Google Scholar, resulting in the analysis of 14 studies published between 2004 and 2023. The results show that academic production is concentrated in Rio Grande do Sul, particularly at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), and that most studies adopt qualitative and interdisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, skateboarding stands out not only as a sport but also as a form of cultural expression and the re-signification of urban spaces. The study highlights the need to expand research to other regions and deepen analyses on public policies, consumption, and the relationship between skateboarding and other cultural manifestations. Thus, this work contributes to the systematization of existing knowledge and suggests new avenues for future research on youth and urban culture.