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| Q&A: Slalom Pro Mike Maysey (2489 Posts)
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... "major sponsor" ...
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On 6/4/2003
hg
wrote in from
(208.14.nnn.nnn)
By "major sponsor", I meant someone who gives an event or series credibility with the media. Of FCR's 3 sponsors last year, only Vision potentially had any media clout, and they're not on the slalom radar this season. From my understanding, a number of credible companies, including Red Bull and OP did take some interest last season, but apparently nobody committed.
And at this point, it doesn't seem that "major sponsors" and $$$$$'s are an absolute requirement for the sport to grow. Some great races and series have been held without corporate sponsors, including "da Farm", Paso, WLAC, JPL, and most recently, Paris. However, these various events had in common committed organizers and a solid vision on how things should be done. Our contributions are small in comparison to what the race organizers bring, but we'll do what we can to support their efforts.
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Wheres the Beef, Show me the Money and checks in the mail!
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On 6/4/2003
Arab
wrote in from
(24.24.nnn.nnn)
I hope that Eastern Bloc countrys buy enough 3dm wheels for you and your family to make monthly trips to europe to race next year. Since of course there wont be an American Racing Series
The thing about these under privalged skaters that you have given wheels to, if they can afford a board then they can afford wheels, you see there is the upper class and the lower class, unless your sending complete boards to these people your efforts are really only beneifiting the upperclass who could afford your wheels anyways.
You might want to check the ISSA business practices because I heard that the wheels that were ment to be given away were sold at a discount and the pockets of the ISSA got padded.
Regardless your a business man, and I like you, believe in capitolism, I hope you make a s#@!load of money on slalom because nobody else is gonna, Myself, I do it because I'm a skateboarder that just wants to race.
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there is a bigger picture
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On 6/4/2003
hg
wrote in from
(208.14.nnn.nnn)
If FCR was a viable organizing body this season, they'd have my support. I really don't know what happened to them, though it seems that because they didn't succeed in signing a major sponsor, they backed away from serious promotion of a race series as a result of their "bottom line" analysis. Not quite certain how FCR "supported me" - only 3 companies put real money into FCR last season - Comet, Turner and Vision.
I don't understand the comments about "third world countries", though our export sales are now exceed our sales to US customers, and just on the basis of demographics, that trend should continue. Maybe it's in reference to the wheels we donated to help eastern European racers, but that seemed like a good investment, as it raises the level of competition across the board.
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Show me the Money!
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On 6/4/2003
Arab
wrote in from
(24.24.nnn.nnn)
"The missing piece is event organization on a grand scale"
The missing piece is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
To bad you dont support FCR anymore, You are the missing piece to event organization on a grand scale.
I can understand Howard that for you this is all about the bottomline, Putting money behind the ISSA who wants to promote slalom in 3rd world countrys, those same countrys who havent the funds to buy your products might be a step backwards, I would have hoped that you would support those that have supported you?
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ISSA
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On 6/4/2003
hg
wrote in from
(208.14.nnn.nnn)
Mike - with slalom as a grass-roots level activity, where a bunch of skaters get together and throw some money in a pool for racing from time to time, you certainly want to keep it simple. And maybe that's how it stays.
However, there are other models for slalom that have organizers, event calendars, sponsors, teams, prize money, rules, point rankings, championships, etc, and those models require a different level of organization and commitment.
It's a "trilateral" deal - 1. events, 2. equipment, 3. competitors. There have been periods in the history of slalom where the events drew real crowds (as well as media coverage), manufacturers sold a lot of product, and top riders made real money.
Two of the three ingredients are fundamentally in place today for the sport to move to another level which allow the various participants to experience the possibility of financial reward. The missing piece is event organization on a grand scale (not withstanding the heroic efforts of some individuals). and without it, the sport really never moves beyond its grass roots.
Bottom line - if I see an organizational effort that makes sense and seems to have a chance for success, I'll look forward to supporting it. I supported FCR, and would have continued to support their efforts if they had kept things going. I'm now supporting ISSA, and expect that they may assume a significant role in global growth of this sport.
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Identifying course types
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On 6/4/2003
W. Tucker
wrote in from
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
Mike,
I've said this before, but in context of what you said I'll repeat it here: Slalom has to be quantified, identified and labelled. And the simple reason for it is that not all equipment is appropriate for all courses.
So, when you're getting ready to jump on an airplane and ride several thousand miles to a race, you are often times limited in what you can pack. That means you have to pick the best equipment for the course. If, though, you don't know what kind of course (and surface) to expect, you are immediately handicapped.
I had a brief exchange with Richie C. about this last summer and the way I described it is this is probably the best example of a "home-town advantage." If a local can put every board he owns in the trunk of his car, then he really doesn't care what is layed out for a course. He's got the wheels, trucks and deck combination to make it work. If someone, though, gets off a plane and has their one full nose and one cut away but the course is set up so that a 24" wheelbase works best, then the traveler is pretty well screwed.
Knowing what to expect makes all the difference. How many times this year already have we heard, "if only I had brought such-and-such a board for the wheelbase. What I had just didn't have what it took to be competitive on the course and surface we rode."
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ISSA
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On 6/4/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(63.110.nnn.nnn)
I don't know much about the ISSA.
I have gone to their website and read results from races that were held quite a while ago as well as rules and guidelines for running and competing in races. I've read the entire ISSA rulebook (all 10 pages of it) which was given to me by John Gilmour. Too many details...but they are what they are.
I don't think we should adapt the ISSA rules here in the US. I don't think we should adapt any rules for that matter other than these simple two...ride a skateboard through a prescribed path and be penalized for knocking cones over. Of course there are others, but for sake of arguement, let's assume two rules. Of course, being the humans we are, we'll have to define a skateboard and a course. By now I would hope that we can all loosely agree on what a skateboard is and what a course is. Most of us have been riding them for the better parts of our lives.
Step back for a second though. Don't forget this is skateboarding. To me, if there's a skateboard involved and there are cones involved that the rider weaves in and out of...it's SLALOM. Don't bother me with details. I think, myself included, we get caught up in the details all too often. I say to hell with alling it TS, GS, HS, parallel, special....blah. Here's how I do it...I show up on race day with my slalom board(s), decide which board(s)I'll ride based on pitch and cone spacing.
But I've forgotten on fundamental thing...we're all human and we all have this need to identify and define everything. When we identify, we conquer. Why do you think we had to name all the animals in the animal kingdom and all the plants in the plant kingdom? Why do you think it's such a big deal to be the one who discovers blahblah...so you can name it and conquer it. I studied Social Science in college...spent many hours in classes on Anthropology, Archaeology, Sociology learning about the human condition, so I know a little bit about this subject.
Back to skatboarding...
Do we classify pool skating by the size, transition and depth of the pool? NO. Do we classify street skating by whether you're skating a ledge or a handrail or a curb? NO. Do we classify half-pipe skating by the size and vert of the ramp? NO. So why do we have to go round and round with deinfitions of slalom...
We need to conquer it. Right?
Here's my advice...I have a long, long way to go before conquering slalom. A long way. For me, for the time being, I prefer to call skateboarding around cones slalom. I call skating on the street, street skating and I call skating in pools, pool skating.
End of story.
How's that for a rant? hehe...back to work...can't wait to fly tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing all your smiling slalom faces in Breck.
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Arab
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On 6/4/2003 NinetyNine with respect to"66"
wrote in from
(65.161.nnn.nnn)
Arab, just give up will you.
What American Race organisation ahs International credibility. Or any credibility at all.
Whats American slalom? Is that like Cali slalom?
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Mikeys Room
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On 6/4/2003
Arab
wrote in from
(24.24.nnn.nnn)
Mike,
Sorry all these people had to mukkity up your forum(Where were you), I made a small statement "The ISSA is Dead" and look what it turned into, fact of the matter is, I was right, the ISSA as we know it from its past is dead.
Their recent race in Paris used little if any of their rules/regulations and demands.
There is races happening all over Europe that are not promoted or are useing ISSA rules, WHY? I thought the ISSA was the figure head of European Slalom.......
If the ISSA wants to pretend they are back, then why dont they stick by there rules? Because they sucked then and they suck now!
So Slalom Pro Mike Maysey my question for you is, If the ISSA was to infiltrate American Slalom, do you think there previous rules should be used here?
For curiositys sake, punch in ISSA into the search function here within the slalom forum and what I have said is no different then what was said in previous years about the ISSA. the ISSA is dead!
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Mike Maysey
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On 6/4/2003
Wall Street Racing
wrote in from
(63.81.nnn.nnn)
Thanks for the great session at GGP this past Sunday and the new turner prototype was pretty bitchen too. Based on your recent practice runs, I'd expect you to do well in the SlalomCross and I think you will suprise some people in the Tight. Look forward to seeing you and the rest of the team at Breckenridge.
cheers...
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I just had a thought...
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On 6/4/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(65.234.nnn.nnn)
I have a sister who is 5 years younger than I. When we were kids, she used to constantly get on my nerves when my friends were over. I'd have my slot car track set up and me and my friends would race. My little sister would constantly come into my room and be a little pain. I would have to yell at her to get her to leave. Eventually she would no longer be effected by the yelling so I would have to physically pick her up and remove her from my room. Do you know what I would say to her when I was yelling?
GET OUT OF MY ROOM!!!
Understand the comparison?
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Taking the Power Back...
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On 6/4/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(65.234.nnn.nnn)
Thanks Judi and Hamm, I've decided that this section needs to return to the way it was when it started...or I'm done.
Hey, maybe I should start my OWN URL?
You guys think I would have a following?
I think this weekends event will be the event of the year....for me at least. Hehehehehe, wait 'til y'all see the proto decks Team Turner is sportin' lately.
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Mike Maysey
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On 6/4/2003
Judi
wrote in from
(63.249.nnn.nnn)
Mike,
I you were missed on Saturday in Santa Cruz, you would of liked the course. I hope you get your site back. There are only a few sections I still enjoy and this was one of them, until the past few days that is. What happened to all the plain old slalom talk? Don't know where to send sponsors to check out what's going on. I know some companies that are starting to warm up to slalom, even some of the folks at Giro check this site out and say what's up with your skate bro's?
Amazing such a small community can't even be nice to each other. Bums me out.
On a better note, see you in Breck. It will be fun for sure.
We'll see who skates better than they can post.
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Mike Maysey
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On 6/3/2003
Hamm
wrote in from
(63.175.nnn.nnn)
Hi Mike,
Congrats on being named the comissioner of slalom. At least I assume that's what happened since since this forum has become the place to complain about rules, courses, race announcements and T-shirts.
Anyway, just wanted to wish you luck @ Breckenridge. Don't forget I predicted you to win the Slalom Cross!
Bring it home for Turner!!!!
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What's Happening here?
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On 6/3/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(65.234.nnn.nnn)
sorry for the delay in responding to my friends who come here to hook up or talk to me...I have been WORKING and haven't had time to read what's been happening in here. Hey Adam, can we get some moderation here? This board is getting WAY WAY WAY off track. If you want to talk or ask questions email me direct.
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Hey Jack
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On 6/3/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(65.234.nnn.nnn)
of course I still love you bro...I've just been super busy lately with the new job and all. I look forward to hanging with you in Breck.
As for the rants and crap going on in here right now...I'm over it.
BYE...
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99
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On 6/3/2003
ur13
wrote in from
(165.247.nnn.nnn)
99....e-mail me?
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66
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On 6/3/2003 99
wrote in from
(195.92.nnn.nnn)
Tell UR13
i am not a number...I am a free man!
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99
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On 6/3/2003 66
wrote in from
(68.117.nnn.nnn)
get lost buddy, i got a corner on the numbers racket around here
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La Costa
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On 6/3/2003
Jack
wrote in from
(207.114.nnn.nnn)
Oops...that should be the city of Carlsbad.
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ISSA - FCR - Mike Maysey
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On 6/3/2003
Jack
wrote in from
(207.114.nnn.nnn)
The ISSA promoting slalom races is a good thing. I have met a few of the people involved in the ISSA and can tell that they care a great deal about the sport. I hope to someday race in a ISSA event.
It is true that FCR has not been as active this year. Last year was both fun and very difficult. Monetary sponsors were hard to find. Most racers and posters to this site have no idea what it costs to stage major slalom events in the USA. I've been through all these costs before, but here's an example: La Costa fencing (required by the city of La Costa) $3000.00. FCR is still owed money by sponsors and entry fees from companies. We are still working to pay any prize money owed to racers. Did we bite off more than we could chew last year? Possibly. Whas it worth it? I think so. Did we lose money? Oh yes...more that $25,000.
99, another reason I personally have not been that involved in race organization since the end of last season is that my 14 year old son Jack was very ill. He passed away on May 6th 2003.
Hey Mike Maysey, don't you love me anymore... you never email me or call me.
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Action figures
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On 6/3/2003
clayton scott
wrote in from
(130.212.nnn.nnn)
I wish somebody would start making "99" and "Arab" action figures? Maybe with a wind up mechanism? And, each set would include some mini cones to set cali courses and non cali courses which can be skated according to your rules of preference. Maybe they could also have little punching arms so you could make them fight eachother.
Mike and anyone else: wanna skate presidio thursday evening ? or tomorrow?
Clayton - cometbombsquad
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the issue
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On 6/3/2003 ur13
wrote in from
(165.247.nnn.nnn)
AND...this issue about rules and organizing bodies is above where you are from and what type of courses you want/like to ride. There is room on the plate for alot of course types and riding styles but without an organizing body defining all of this the sport just can't grow on an organized level. Grass roots is great, I love racing in grass roots events and it is the foundation of racing. With an organizing body their can be a defined step-up to racing in the "pro" levels.
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Cali slalom
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On 6/3/2003 99
wrote in from
(65.161.nnn.nnn)
Thats 15 foot gates at ANY speed.
Its fast, sure, but oh so boring. Do it in a tuck.
No pump. Its what you do best.
thats Cali slalom for ya.
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ISSA
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On 6/3/2003
ur13
wrote in from
(165.247.nnn.nnn)
HG said it.....all these various parties want to see the sport grow. It seems there are a few different ideas as for the direction slalom skateboarding needs (should) go to grow...but that is the nature of things.
I personally like some things about the ISSA rules and don't like others. I like the important things though and I like the fact that they were accepted/written by many countries, all voted on and approved. I think the rulles could be updated for the year 2003 but all in all they are pretty damn good.
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