More and more professional skateboarders are swapping all-night parties and fast food for early mornings at the gym and high-protein meals.
Pro skaters like Stevie Williams, now known as Lord Williams, Neen Williams, and Weckingball are leading the charge, taking fitness seriously and focusing on building strength, not just stacking clips.
Brandon Biebel has also become a major voice in this shift, inspiring others to stay sober, lift weights, and treat their bodies with care.
What was once seen as counter to skateboarding’s laid-back image is now becoming a new standard.
Skaters are realizing that a strong body means fewer injuries and longer careers. From heavy squats to clean eating, fitness is becoming just as important as board control.
And according to new research, this shift toward stronger, healthier physiques lines up with what people actually find attractive.
A recent study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences looked into which male body types people rated as most appealing.
Researchers showed 283 participants from China, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom a series of black and white images featuring male bodies of various shapes. The faces were blurred so participants could focus entirely on the physique.
The results showed that people found men with a Body Mass Index, or BMI, between 23 and 27 the most attractive. In China and Lithuania, the ideal BMI was just over 23. In the United Kingdom, it was closer to 26.6.
To give some perspective, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is labeled overweight. But in this case, the most attractive bodies were often in that upper range, meaning they carried a little more weight or muscle than the typical fitness model.
The researchers suggest this preference might be linked to evolution. A slightly heavier body could signal strength, stability, and better chances of survival. It may also reflect healthy testosterone levels and a more balanced lifestyle.
This ties in with what we are seeing in skateboarding right now. Pros are starting to see fitness as a serious part of their lives.
It is not about vanity. It is about being able to perform better and skate longer. Biebel, Williams, Weckingball, and Lord Williams are perfect examples.
They have built powerful physiques without leaving their skate roots behind. They have built a lifestyle that mixes wellness, workouts, and skating with authenticity and real impact.
So while science is saying that the dad bod sits close to the ideal, skaters are showing that strength and care for the body can look all kinds of different ways.
Whether it is a solid frame built through lifting or a balanced body shaped by both skating and smart choices, the message is clear. You do not need to be shredded to look good or skate well. You just need to take care of yourself.