Michael Brooke is the owner/publisher of Concrete Wave Magazine -- the only magazine that actually covers ALL kinds of skateboarding. It's also the only magazine in which you will not find ads for video games, fashion, and other bullshit. It is 100% Skateboarding.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Michael about the trend toward increased usage of blank and shop logo boards by skaters, rather than purchasing pro models. This trend has many in the skateboard industry running scared.
This is a trend that affects all skaters, so I thought I'd get Michael's ideas on this issue...
BTT: Michael - we've been talking for a while about the skateboard industry's concerns about the increasing popularity of blank boards. I don't know that much about it. Can you describe this issue to BTT readers?
Brooke: Blank, along with shop boards are becoming increasingly popular with many street skaters. There are a host of reasons for this. The key thing to note is that in some shops, blanks have hit 80% market share. That is huge...and very worriesome if you are in the business of making "pro" decks.
However, in the mad world of skateboarding, it's anything goes...there are no rules, no standards...and many folks have gone on to eBay and found a treasure trove of generic, blank decks at unbelievably low prices...and been fairly happy with the quality.
As I said, there are many issues here. But the key issue is how do consumers react. Generally, once something becomes a uniform shape, it's easy to copy - which is exactly what has happened to the skateboard. As some Pro deck manufacturers have gone overseas, it has also greatly affected people's perceptions. There is a lot of confusion out there Chinese Wood? Made in USA? Canadian laminates made in China? Heat transfer vs. screen printing.
BTT: What's the difference between American/Canadian web and Chinese boards? Is there really a difference for the average skater? Aren't the pro-board manufacturers able to compete by using overseas manufacturing?
Brooke: It gets complicated. For example, most manufacturers are using Canadian or American maple. Some are making boards here in North America, others are making them overseas. Some will say that the glues that are used in China (for example) work better than the glues used in North America (which, because of environmental concerns are not used)...others say that when you store wood in a humid climate (and ship on boats) you run the risk of problems. The truth is that moving to China has saved labor costs, but it has opened up a whole new can of worms.
I could go on and on...the truth is that skaters use their boards on a variety of terrain and they inflict a huge amount of stress on the deck. If you are breaking boards with any consistancy, it gets expensive. Pro deck or blank, the truth is that customers will vote with their wallet if they see little benefit in a pro design.
I see blank decks as a symptom, however, of a much larger problem.
BTT: OK -- I'll bite. What exactly is that "larger problem"?
Brooke: ah, funny you should ask that Bob...come with me to the archives, I would like to draw your reader's attention to the Dansworld Website. Dansworld was the first website on skateboarding. In the "industry section" there are minutes of a meeting called "Gentleman's agreement"-my comments are in blue..I've highlighted some of the intriguing parts...read more at Dansworld.com
Introduction
This meeting took place in Poway, California on the trade show weekend in San Diego Saturday 29th Jan 1994. It was prompted by a discussion about the increasing sales of blank boards and blanks wheels. (at the time, it's doubtful ANYONE could have imagined that blanks would hit 80% of sales in some shops!!)
A group of us met to consider the long term effects on skateboarding and the health of the skateboarding industry. (this was before IASC)
Let's stress again; it was not an intentional move to restrict this meeting, or exclude any parties. It was just a starting point of what we hope will be more Cooperation between companies to help the sport grow and tackle some of the problems that are keeping skateboarding from moving forward.
The Problem
In 1980 there were 175 pros at the Gold Cup series. Six months later there were only 15 left. Think back to the early eighties and remember how small skating can get. Our whole aim is to avoid that happening again. (this was a year or so BEFORE the Extreme Games hit-it's doubtful anyone could have imagined what was about to hit-at the time, Transworld was barely past 120 pages in size)
Everyone present at the meeting supports pro skateboarding. Many have been professional skateboarders themselves. But the relationships
between pro skateboarding and their companies is supposed to be a 2 way street, and in today's industry environment things have gone astray. We
have gone from the Mid eighties when everything was so strict as in having to do well in am contests to turn pro, having to wear this shirt at a contest, having to go on tour etc etc to today when being a professional skateboarder you don't have to travel, enter contests, do demos, take photos wear company or ride company products. We have to find the happy medium.
Something has to change for everyone to succeed.
(ah, wishful thinking..."the happy medium" has never really been achieved...)
There is presently an abundance of pro's and models, but not enough buyers. (and it's even worse now due to the proliferation of blank/shop decks)
The way the industry is going looks bleak and things could get a lot worse before they get any better. If the blank war progresses any further we could find the industry regressing back to a handful of pro's. The intention of this meeting was to avoid such a collapse. (prescient? absolutely! Very few pros make a decent living off of decks...)
Notes on the Proceedings:
Please read the items which follow. All the people listed made a gentleman's agreement to keep to these points. We hope that other company owners who read this will support what we are trying to do.
Many conclusions can be drawn from these notes, and if you need more clarification, please call someone who was there. Don't just read between the lines. We'd all be pleased to discuss this with anyone. Overall it was a very positive meeting.
1) The need to rebuild Confidence
The overall theme of the meeting was to strive toward more stability in the industry. More consistency among companies, riders, teams and products will help rebuild confidence among distributors and retailers. (again, well stated, but the devil is in the details...in this case, Devil Man (aka World Industries)
2) The state of the Industry
Everyone present agreed (to varying degrees) that the industry was shaky and that we had a lot to blame on ourselves for creating some of these problems. It has gotten to the point where sales are weak and the companies have less money to use for promotion and in turn less money to take care of the riders. (the only difference is that now skate companies are trying to compete with MUCH larger entities - the marketing dollars are even that much tighter and they need to go further-it's a painful situation)
ACTION: We need to cooperate together to turn this trend around and head back in a positive direction.
3) Skateboarding doesn't seem like fun anymore
Media and companies tend to concentrate on the negative side of skateboarding. At present skateboarding is not fun: Videos portray the
impossible, product is not designed for fun- this all targets the hardcore market, and is not accessible to the "fun only" skater or the new skater. (nothing has changed in 12 years...the reality is that the tricks have become that much harder and accessibilty for the fun only skater has been left to you guessed it, the longboard, slalom and other "niche" skate companies. This is a missed opportunity that I think most in the traditional skate industry regret. I could see their side though. You make not be able to do a 40 stair ollie, but you can have the hardware, clothing and shoes of the pro that can. (The only problem is that the industry gave away the keys to the candy store to the softgoods guys)
ACTION: We as an industry, must concentrate on a more positive future. We have narrowed down skateboarding to a very small market. Bring the fun back and get the negative out. Target beyond the hardcore market: new buyers, cruisers, recreational skaters. (amen brothers and sisters! so what happened???!)
New kids who are not aware of all this vibing crap. (vibing crap? talk about a growth industry! as a result of being so narrowly focused, vibing has grown and grown-most hardcore street skaters think anything but street skating is not really skating..they show some tolerance for tranny, but don't get them started on longboarding!) We want the media to show more variety of types of skating out there. (are you listening, Transworld? the hardgoods advertisers WANTED you 12 years ago to change the tune)
The companies will promote more accessible skating and more positive images, produce products that are more fun to ride. We need to make a wider board, bigger softer wheels etc as well as the hardcore products. (you mean, VARIETY? Lord knows we can't have that! It would corrupt people! Again, easy to talk and write about, but then well, you know, our pointy eared foe pops up and NOTHING CHANGES!)
Tours, demo contests have to portray skateboarding in a better light. Emphasize consistency, positive attitudes, company support and promotion of the sport. Don't send out riders who do not agree with this, otherwise we risk doing more harm than good. (it's been sex, drugs, rockn'roll, hate, kill, destroy etc etc)
4) Blank Boards
We have been promoting sales of blank boards by allowing our riders to ride them. It was agreed that companies will only hand out with graphics or logos. We will encourage the media not to show boards without graphics and photographers will not shoot photos of team riders unless they are supporting their sponsor by riding a board with company graphics and wearing company T's, hats etc. No more blank boards, blank T's, Gap jeans etc etc. As one distributor said, "How can we sell the products if the pro's don't ride them?". (wishful thinking...the genie was out of the bottle...RIGHT HERE they should have realized that it was time to create a new bottle)
ACTION: This will require a process of education. We need to demonstrate to the riders how supporting their companies will help the companies support the riders. The riders who help their companies in this way are the ones who should benefit themselves through increased sales, trips to contests, tours, etc.
If this takes place we hope to see increased sales, increased payment to riders and more funds to promote skateboarding. Blank products only supports an industry which is doing nothing for skateboarding's future. (they could read the writing on the wall, but my sense they coudn't really find a remarkable way to fix the problem....just "hoping that pros would do something" seems about as sensible as hoping the skate media was going to showcase more variety)
ACTION: Everyone agreed to talk to the vendors and suppliers who are selling the blank products. In the long term, sales of blank product will destroy the market by eliminating the funds available for promotion. It's a case of a small short term profit versus the long term health of the Industry. We will also put more logo boards on the market and stabilize product changes to re-establish the strong company identification that has been lost through blank board sales. (did you just see our red tailed pal? he's back...and his pitchfork is pointed in your direction guys!)
5) The new Graphic problem Slowing down graphic changes was discussed briefly. It was accepted that this was killing deck sales. A distributor will only take 10 of a board, a shop will only take one, both then expect a new graphic next time. Reducing the rate of change across the whole industry was brought up but no final solution was agreed. Some in the room said that they have been slowing down already or are about to do so, others said that it was impossible to slow now.
ACTION: We all agreed it was a serious situation which needs further discussion.
6) Rider Guarantees
It was agreed that rider's deck guarantees no longer reflected the reality of the size of the market.
ACTION: $500-1000 (for 1994) is more realistic for new pro's or under fresh agreements and when a pro moves to a new company $2 per deck was fine. (If a company has an existing agreement with a pro at $2000 for example, obviously it is up to that company to keep that agreement.)
7) Team Jumping
We need to protect the retailers, distributors and manufactures, and to stabilize the market by reducing the harm caused by team jumping.
ACTION: If a rider leaves a company, the most that anyone can expect from a new company is $1000 a month. Also communication will take place between the 2 companies and the old company will have 90 days to clear the rider's inventory. During this period the new company can pay the rider but they can't release a model for him. The media will take an active role in not covering the team jumping, riders quitting or other info that will make inventory on a shelf or company or distributor warehouse obsolete. (there is much to ruminate over here...suffice to say, team jumping is still happening)
8) Too many Identical Models
There are too many pro models available on the market. Distributors and shops dare not order every different one in quantity.
ACTION: Don't turn riders pro so easily. It means nothing to be a pro today and the credibility and status of the pros suffer as a result. Have a rider know what is expected of him and what he can expect in return. Make sure
they appreciate that is a two way deal. This is not a new concept, think what sponsorship and being professional means. If the two way deal isn't working out, companies should discuss the problem with the riders, but if it doesn't work, they should let them go. (again, the proliferation of pros has led to a huge can of worms being opened. It was never fixed and it's doubtful that it will ever be fixed)
9) New Companies
We discussed how easy it is to enter the skateboard Industry. That it shouldn't be a problem if someone wants to start a company. But when a company is started to destroy another company, or make the stock on everyone's floor obsolete, it only contributes to the instability of the industry and erodes customer confidence in buying product.
ACTION: We should stop shooting ourselves in the foot by helping a company get set up and running, especially companies who are coming in
for a quick buck, or do not support the industry and magazines, or do not have long term plans.
(ironically, it is even EASIER to start up a company than ever before....10 blanks for $25 bucks on ebay? no sweat!)
Conclusion
This is a recap of what was discussed; it is no way complete, but it covers the main points. Another meeting is loosely planned for the beginning of May which other will be invited to. This was a positive move toward a more unified and stable industry. So far all the points that were discussed have been put into action, and the "we can trust these guys" thinking has been shown to be an unnecessary fear. Some remarkable cooperation has already taken place among people you would not have expected it from.
Other Ideas and Topics discussed
Skateboarding Promo Video- Maybe by Stacey Peralta. A video aimed at the general market, suitable for sale in every video store in the world. NOT made for the hardcore market. Showing skateboarding as a positive and fun thing to do. ESPN "Max Out" is interested in footage if you have anything to send in to her. (so, even before the Extreme Games, ESPN was sniffing around.....)
Drug Abuse and Paying Ams
Make Skateboarding more accessible to potential skaters- Right now the general public can't understand skating. It's too technical and too inconsistent. Name another sport in which the pro's are so inconsistent. Everyone must have heard non-skaters at pro contests ask when the pro's skate. We must make them go "Wow! Look at that" if we want them to get their attention. Right now skating does not look fun. The kid could quite possibly pass by the skateshop and go buy a mountain bike or a basketball instead.
We must encourage some changes. Modern street skating is rad but we must add to it. Just think if we could have the street scene of today PLUS
the mini ramp scene from 89 PLUS the vert scene from 86 PLUS the street scene from 85 PLUS the freestyle scene of 81 PLUS the pools and park scene from the 70's etc etc . With skateboarding ten times a big, pros could earn ten times as much money and companies make money. If we want those days back we need to open our minds and not limit skateboarding. That's what skateboarding was all about when we started. There were no rules, it just mattered that you were doing it and having fun. (this should have been tattooed on EVERYONE'S forehead! this way, they could have really made the changes when they needed to make the chagnes....now, it's going to be a scramble)
BTT: I remember reading that little thing about 7 years ago. Interesting. It seems that the industry has been aware of this "problem" for quite a while. So what's next? Frankly, I don't really see a problem. Street skaters need affordable boards. Blanks satisfy that need. It's my impression that the skateboard industry wants skaters to shell out an extra $20 a deck simply out of the goodness of their hearts, to help out the poor pro skaters and the company owners. If blanks and shop logo decks work for the skateshops, and they work for the skaters, then it seems to me like the skateboard industry might need to evolve.
Brooke: This issue is both simple and complex.
The truth is that the popsicle shape is PERFECT for street skateboarding...No one is disputing this fact. It's become a commodity...but as it became a commodity, the industry didn't come up with a plan b to make additional revenues.
When it comes to commodities, things are pretty much black and white.
You're a street skater...you need to purchase quite a number of decks because they break a lot due to the type of skateboarding you participate in. Blanks/shop decks are a cheaper alternative than pro decks. You've solved this problem and now are looking towards other things you have to deal with.
So let's talk about non-commodities, about products that have differentiation. The truth is that there is a whole other world of skateboarding out there. It's not show in most of the mags and it's rarely shown on tv and only recently (with the release of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam) has it made to a video game). Niche skateboarding is growing...and it will continue to grow.
It's funny, but for decades, the typewriter companies thought they OWNED document creation. Could Smith Corona have bought Microsoft or Apple? Who knows...but if I ran a typewriter company back in the 70's, I sure as hell would have kept my finger on the pulse of technology that had a keyboard attached to it...
Likewise, the skate industry heavies could have brought in some of the niche companies into their flock and groomed them for growth.
If you go back to 1990 and the rise of the new school companies
(Birdhouse,Foundation, New Deal etc)...and imagine what it would have been like for the Big 5 to purchase them. Santa Cruz could have owned New Deal.
Foundation would be owned by Powell....hell, Birdhouse could have been owned by Powell...)
The mind boggles at how the industry didn't see this coming...but as we head into 2007, my sense is there will be a huge rearranging of the skate world.
Skateboarding is always about change...it takes a while for things to
change, but it always comes.
BTT: Thanks for your time, Michael.
Comments (14)
I wholeheartedly agree with Michael's views in this interview - for well over a decade the imagery and type of skating showcased by the powers that be has been limited, to say the least. Only recently have older, non-ollie related tricks, as well as transition skating, begun to reemerge, not to mention the very much underground arts of freestyle, downhill, and longboarding. As far as the blank board issue, it does little to help matters, as it only further liquidates skateboarding of it's individualistic and expression-based nature. Not only do pro boards have a certainly greater degree of personality, but their oft overlooked shapes, sizes, and concaves can greatly impact an individuals skating. By churning out generic shapes, skateboarding will only further itself toward the conformity of your average team sport, which cannot be allowed.
Posted by Brandon Draga | December 20, 2006 10:00 PM
Posted on December 20, 2006 22:00
Some skateboard tricks are harder than some others and some skateboard tricks can mess up a deck.
Now reason people would buy such cheap deck is because it saves them money. But dosen't a cheap deck or even a cheap skateboard sound too good to be true.My first skateboard cost 30 doller and the grip tape on it tore of on the frist day I had it. when I got a new skateboard on my birthday, it really work well. it was much faster than my first and the griptape is still on it.It cost about 150 dollers.But a realy great sktebord can cost 300 to 400 dollers! with the cheap decks, well how can they compare to the much known brands of skateboarding.
Another issue here is longboard,shortbord,freestyle, and downhill wich are good also. Long boards are good for the big and tall,shortboard is good but hard wheels can be deadly when they hit rocks. Freestyle(flatland) is realy safe compare to street and vert,also freestye can save you from broken legs and knee damage. Downhill looks fun also. There are other boardsports that if made more known can give the best option for skateboarders style and ability.
Posted by Joseph Duran | December 21, 2006 1:22 AM
Posted on December 21, 2006 01:22
I think of a blank deck as a design deck but cheaper. Generally I feel blank decks usually appeal to me more than other decks. Of the graphics I see on decks, 99% of them do not appeal to me. The rare 1% comes from Jeremy's (Small School) art which I find absolutely fantastic. What if people prefer blank decks due to the blank/no design, rather than a cost issue? I know some people who prefer blank decks because they've all "grown out" of a graphic deck "phase" where they used to care about the pictures on the underside of the board. When they grew out of this "phase" they no longer cared about graphics because they weren't going to look at them anyway, they wouldn't remain there forever nor do they identify with the graphic on the deck. Sure pro models also have different shapes compared to blanks, but what if blanks were to come in different shapes and sizes (as if they already don't)? What incentive is there to purchase a pro model?
Shop boards may be popular because the consumers who buy them can identify with the shop they like. Powell has the Mini-Logo idea to sell boards and give the consumers the savings. Why can't other companies come up with similar gimmicks? Once you find your path in skateboarding, buying a skateboard is more complicated than the average non skateboarder may think. Parents who do not skateboard usually come in to shops and ask for graphic skateboards while people who have been skateboarding longer may not care about any kind of special shape or graphic. What use is there in shelling out an extra $20.00? The industry should evolve if they are going to be this devastated over blank decks. Sure pro models may sell once or twice or however long they may to some people, but more people get used to skateboarding after several years and see no point in buying anything that adds cost and is practically useless. Why buy a pro model for an extra $20.00 when all you need is a functioning deck? As I said before, there really is no visible incentive to do so. Especially when the pro models turn you off due to graphic or shape...
...and what about custom boards? Companies that will cut blanks to your specifications? Not only are those cheap, they fit you like a glove to increase your performance! How can pro models beat those? If anything is generic, pro model boards are. Why would I settle for pants that are too big to fit the average person, when I can go for pants that fit me? Out of my wallet as well?
By the way, I got a Buyer Guide from Tracker and I loved it! Even if it was a Buyer Guide. I'm seriously considering a subscription to Concrete Wave in the near future.
Posted by Jae | December 21, 2006 10:55 AM
Posted on December 21, 2006 10:55
good to hear from you all...there is an interesting letter to the editor in the new transworld...FEB
I guy calls out Mike V with respect to blanks...and I the "supposed blank future."
My sense is that blanks equal a blank future for SOME in the skateboard world, but not all...I think the ACT of skateboarding is still very, very healthy...
Posted by Michael Brooke | December 21, 2006 9:47 PM
Posted on December 21, 2006 21:47
not much to say but i ride blnk boards for videos so i may get sponsered. if i rode my world industries deck in videos world industries wouldnt sponser me becuz wat the hek? hes skatin on one of our decks why sponser him and lose money? nah we wont sponser him. i hope u cud follow
Posted by Freddy Raymond | December 21, 2006 10:55 PM
Posted on December 21, 2006 22:55
I just want to say I love blank decks I use them all the time and I think they are great for skateboarding. I buy the bulk packages from ebay all the time.The thing is that sometimes people get tired of riding blank decks or if there is a skater they really like they will go out and buy their pro model anyway.I know I do when I get tired of riding the blanks. I will go out and buy a Habitat Kerry Getz model or a Brandon Biebel Girl deck.I have a few friends that I sell the blank decks to but they still go out and buy pro model decks because they like the guys like PJLadd,Koston,Appleyard,P-Rod,Biebel,Janoski,Getz.
I think people will always buy pro model decks because most of the pro skaters thet people like are skaters they are trying to emulate.
Thanks for listening Merry christmas
Posted by Mark Hopper | December 22, 2006 7:01 PM
Posted on December 22, 2006 19:01
I think that while blank decks are cheaper, you should still be very careful about what you are skating. im proud to skate for a shop of which the owner is very concerned what are called "price point" products. these are products made in china then they slap whatever company logo they can on them and the companies sell them for way cheaper. i just dont see the point in skating something that isnt quality. if you want to skate blanks, thats great but at least be smart enough to scout out the quality blanks. (beer city makes a fantastic blank deck) i dont want to sound like a know it all, i just dont see why kids would want to skate something of bullshit quality. you dont have to buy a pro deck but damn, at least get something you know is made here. skateboarders should support skating, its that simple.
Posted by Mitch Wood | December 22, 2006 8:31 PM
Posted on December 22, 2006 20:31
I'm going to chime in here.
I think the whole pro-skateboarder equals pro-skateboard model is probably just not a reasonable way for pros to get compensated anymore. Compare a blank or shop deck to a pro model of equal quality -- and the blank costs less -- there is simply no economic reason for a skater to purchase the pro model.
I'm not saying that pros shouldn't have models, but for them to expect to get most of their compensation from such boards is probably not a good model to work from.
What are the alternatives? Well, there was once a time when pros actually skated in a contest circuit. To be a top pro and have a model, you had to work your way through the amateur ranks. Perhaps thats how it should be now. The ability to show, against your "peers", that you are at the top of the heap. Certainly there's enough money in skateboarding now that contest purses could be big enough to supplement a succesful pro.
These current guys need to realize that guys like Hawk, Chris Miller, Hosoi, Jeff Phillips, etc, etc, were pushing the limits of skateboarding back when there was NO money it. 1st prize at a major contest was may a couple hundred bucks. And they still skated! No shoe contracts, no clothing lines, no watches or other bullshit!
Posted by Bob | December 23, 2006 1:23 AM
Posted on December 23, 2006 01:23
the only reason i'm riding a blank right now is because it's the only board ive ridden, my first deck. I cant boardslide yet, but im afraid to, because i can bend this piece of crap in my hands. it still has enough pop to ollie good, but it just doesnt feel like a quality board. one issue: the drill holes for the trucks don't line up properly, resulting in a constant left turn. there is almost no chance that i'll be riding a blank in the near future. when this board breaks, i'll be riding on one of those darkstar armorlights, which are guaranteed against breakage for like 3 months or something. it costs more than the $30 blanks most people ride, but one of my friends skates constantly, and before he heard of armorlights, he was breaking decks every couple of weeks. now its 4-5 months. if that's not an argument against blanks, i dont know what is. plus the graphics look pretty freaking awesome, check out darkstarwood.com
thanks for allowing comments, bob.
Posted by Chris Goding | December 23, 2006 2:52 AM
Posted on December 23, 2006 02:52
I agree that a board with a more advance construction technique that prevent breakage is worth paying for if you break boards - totally. It is logical to pay more if you GET more, eh?
Example: Comet skateboards (www.cometskateboards.com) has a line of boards with some fiberglass in them -- stiff, light, and much stronger than your average deck.
I think the issue, really, is the industry wants you to purchase pro boards that are the same as a blank -- which doesn't make sense.
Guys, the real issue here is this: companies that control the industry do not want to lose control of the market for skateboards. If they don't want to lose it, they need to INNOVATE, and then effectively communicate those innovations to you guys! No bullshit - good valid information. And if those innovations really help skaters, they will prosper. If the innovations are helpful, it will be back to the blank boards, I'm afraid.
Posted by Bob | December 23, 2006 4:36 AM
Posted on December 23, 2006 04:36
I think i'll have to chime in here because i think there's a problem with skateboarding and the companies behind it.
I've been skating for around 15 years and haven't seen any increase in deck costs. I also havent seen any increase in deck technologies up until recently.
I buy pro decks. 1 reason, i support the guys that innovate skateboarding. To the guy that said the old contests weren't making any money, he's totally right... the largest purse was maybe 2000 at the very very most. But you have to remember that there werent that many pros, so each pro deck sold ... the cash was going to the top 15 guys. Nowadays there's hundreds of pros and that money has to be spread between all those companies and pros. It's kinda hard to understand, but i hope you get the idea.
I'm lucky to be in a position that i can skate with a lot of top pros in the san diego area. I want to support those guys, i want to help them get what they deserve. I want to help skateboarding prosper and if the pros cant make a decent living, it's hard for them to skate everyday and not get day jobs ya know?
Anyway, i'm done :) have a good holiday and thanks for opening up the comments on this one.
Wil
http://www.olliemag.com
Posted by wil | December 23, 2006 8:53 AM
Posted on December 23, 2006 08:53
i just have to say, the only reason i ride blank decks is because there much cheaper, i go into zumiez, and they will have a bucket of boards for 25 dollars, and pro modles hanging on the wall for 54 dollars, i could get 2 blanks for cheaper than one pro model, but the quality of the boards is noticable, pro modles ussaly last me about 3-4 months, while blanks only last about 2-3
Posted by anthony cannizzaro | December 23, 2006 8:54 AM
Posted on December 23, 2006 08:54
i skate shop decks and pro decks alike. id buy more pro-decks if i felt good supporting more board companies. when i go into the local shop, there isnt always a board my size from a company i trust. so naturally i go with the shop deck. too many of the bigger distribution companies seem to be just in it for the money. they dont do anything to help skateboarding...they just milk it. they ship their business to china for cheaper labor and lax enviromental laws and rarely pass any savings on to your everyday skater. why would i buy a board that was shipped around the world by a bunch of people who dont skate? i can get a shop deck that was pressed by a guy in california (who does skate) and then shipped to a local shop (run by a guy who skates) for less money. blank sales isnt a threat to skateboarding, its a threat to big companies. if there arent anymore huge distro companies and there arent anymore pros, theres still going to be people making boards and theres still going to be people skating. blank, shop or pro...buy decks that were made here in north america by people who skate and the industry will be just fine. likewise, go support local shops! zumiez is putting real skateshops out of business. thanks for opening up comments!
Posted by Rbo Frontz | December 23, 2006 10:04 AM
Posted on December 23, 2006 10:04
Look if someone wants the best deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, then well get it. But if you don't have the money then get get a board thats a good deal. Just make sure its the quility you like.
(P.S. Even good skatboarding shoes can make a difference in how you skate.)
Posted by Joseph Duran | December 24, 2006 6:31 AM
Posted on December 24, 2006 06:31