Abstract
Skateboarding, an urban sport predominantly undertaken on heatretentive
impervious surfaces, exposes participants to a heightened
thermal stress risk, exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect.
While heat stress in traditional sports is well-documented, a research
gap exists concerning its impact in a less-traditional sports including
skateboarding. This study, conducted at Tighy Park in Westdene,
Johannesburg, investigates the intersection of heat stress, skateboarder
perceptions and thermal risk. Meteorological readings were taken
at the study site from February to April 2025. Concurrently, 27
skateboarders completed questionnaires on their experiences of
heat stress and adaptive strategies to mitigate heat exposure. Their
responses were analysed thematically. The meteorological data were
analysed using two indices: Humidex (Hx) and Heat Index (HI). The
results indicate an environment with a moderate-to-high heat stress
risk. The questionnaires revealed near-unanimous experiences of
thermal discomfort, with prevalent symptoms including excessive
sweating and diminished stamina. The findings underscore the
need for urban planners to integrate thermal stress risk considerations
into the design of skate parks to ensure the wellbeing of the
target participants.