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| Q&A: Michael Brooke - Publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine (7141 Posts)
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Concrete Wave
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On 4/26/2003
Mike Moore
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
Michael-
Got a really nice note from Hackett. He loves us...he really loves us. In brief, he said our growth rate is amazing...we've accomplished a look and feel by Issue #5 that another underground mag didn't hit until #50. I'll take that compliment and raise you another...Without your drive and vision...many of us would be wondering if there was anyone else like us around.Adam, you've played a huge part in this as well. Thank you both!!!
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the future
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On 4/26/2003 irie rider
wrote in from
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
dont get too cynical people...we were all beginners at one time too..and so what if a rich frat boy buys a board? more people buying product gives companies more money to develop that high tech stuff that we all like so much...spread the love and charge it because the family is growing whether anyone likes it or not
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change
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On 4/26/2003
michael
wrote in from
(209.29.nnn.nnn)
Well put Psycho L.
I should have said Harley...
anyway, it sounds like you get the drift
I am about to head out to the local skatepark with my son. Oh, and in case any one is wondering, this SARS thing is not what you see on tv...I live in Toronto, work in Toronto and take the subway everyday. I am NOT in panic mode...at least not yet!
Yes,the stress this is causing is immense. Hotels, restaurants....airlines...probably a number of bankruptcies...
Thank God for skateboarding!
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personal perspective
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On 4/26/2003 psYch0Lloyd
wrote in from
(24.148.nnn.nnn)
Actually when one mentions motorcycle rider I think Harley...
...if you switch choice #1 biker with motorcycle rider the analogy makes more sense to me.
There’s no reason that riding skateboards can’t be part of our lives as we age. It’s just that what is important changes through the life cycle. As a pup I felt invincible doing barefooted 360° kickflips and V-sit pullouts to handstands down to (damn I forgot the name of that old trick where you almost scrape your chin on the ground) and the vert ridng was a bit more exciting back in the day. Anyway now I enjoy cruising around and a friendly race on occasion, someday my taste wound change I don’t know.
There have been times that I was well ahead of the trend or participating in something that wasn’t popular (at that time). It didn’t matter that I was riding just a larger version of my Snosurfer at the time when Burton first appeared. My next snowboard must have been one of the first Winterstick swallowtail back in ’79. Slaloming through the ‘80s and ‘90s all alone was just something else to do. The shops I worked at/with became the center of activities because I didn’t specialize (even though I wasn’t great at some practices). This is a new day, there is a new paradigm and the shop owners must realize that times do change.
If you come to my town I can take you to a surfshop that used to be on top when I was involved, eat (for free) at a popular restaurant that was inspired by one of my concepts, maybe even skate at a park I had the honor to be involved with designing. These days I soon hope to be a partner in a brick and mortar that may or may not occur, a designer of more things than I can even hope to create, and if there is one denominator in all this it would seem to me that it’s only the fact that I skate…
…live it, love it. Let it go!
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A New Perspective
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On 4/26/2003
michael
wrote in from
(209.29.nnn.nnn)
Wow,
less than 24 hours and we've got a real meaty discussion going on here. Thank you all so much for your insights and ideas.
No question, money talks. The business of skateboarding revolves mostly around the under 18, popsicle shape set.
But I agree with many of you, change is happening.
I'd like to pick up on something that was mentioned about snowboarding. I started back in 88...most hills wouldn't even let go on with my snowboard! It was a real joy to meet up with anyone who boarded at a hill. In fact, some of the same experiences with my longboard remind me of what it was like starting out in snowboarding.
Fast forward and you see that snowboarders encompass a wide range of ages and attitudes. Sure, some skiers still despise boarders, but there seems to be a grudging respect.
I often use this example to show non skaters why I am driven to do what I do.
Think of what comes to mind when I say MOTORCYCLE RIDER
you may think...
1) biker
2) bmx rider
3) dirt biker
4) 45 year old on a Honda Gullwing
5) racing bike
6) CHiPS!
the point is that motorcycles can take the shape of many different riders each with vastly different attitudes.
If you ask most people what they think of when they hear the word "Skateboarder" you'll get kid, youngster, delinquent, punk...
the fact is that skateboarding is 85% made up of folks UNDER the age of 18...
with an 85% attrition rate, skate companies continually have to find new customers...just like folks who die out from smoking cigarettes...the turnover is killer!
my question is "why can't skateboarding be a life long activity?"
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the CHANGE
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On 4/25/2003
K-LEE
wrote in from
(172.199.nnn.nnn)
I've already noticed a change. 7 years ago when I came to college I rarely saw another longboarder. If I did, I probably at least knew his name and had talked to him. Now, I see a different longboarder every day on campus and hardly know any of them. The local shops have been carrying Sector 9 and Gravity for a while, and recently added brands like Dregs and Deathbox, among others. The new brotherhood is those of us that know the true value of a quiver, and the picky nature of our needs drives us to the internet. I agree that the current wave is financially fueled by the mass kickflipper market, but it's not like the old days for sure. Simply being a skateboarder, or even a longboarder, doesn't set you apart from the norm anymore. But, having a well developed quiver with pool/park, slalom, downhill, and longboarding represemted makes you a better skater and lets you rise itno the brotherhood. As Joe Timeships says, "Quiver Counts". I feel blessed to have the selection of alternative gear that we have avaiable to us today. I think that availability depends mostly on the financial situation of skateboarding in general, and as long as we have the rest of the industry to fall back on, we can continue to grow in proportion to the norm. The future of "all around" skateboarding depends on the overall future of skateboarding itself. The change is here, no doubt. Even if every single person that reads these forums stopped skating, longboarding has already gotten a strong enough foothold in shops to secure its inclusion in the future. They still don't know what the hell I'm talking about when I ask for 8mm bearing spacers, but at least they can sell a Dregs board with Randals and Kryptos to a rich frat boy. The change is here, and out of our hands.
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Growth and Change
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On 4/25/2003
CKnuck
wrote in from
(66.185.nnn.nnn)
Well after a four hour meeting yesterday spent working on future local skatepark programs. 6 in the next 2 years and an a plan on the possibility of an indoor one by '07.
Listening to some of these kids was pretty funny. They're talking like it's a long time away. There are about 15 local programs now since the first one I was able to get going in 87.
Some of these kids will already have given up on the sport and their interest may be rekindled by '07. Skaters come and go and nowadays mosr return. A very small percentage never leave.
Most skateparks built in the last few years are still low budget and do not include anything more then quarters, banks and funboxes. The industry loves the fact that a kids can break 5 or 6 boards a season and wareout a few sets of wheels along with some of their overpriced crappy bearings. Who needs a really expensive bearing for street anyway (yeah, yeah I know).
The media coverage is a direct reflection of the companies it represents. Most of them don't give a crap about it. Most of don't really care about anything other then they're profits.
As we continue to do our thing people will see us and if they choose they will join in. Media coverage will certainally will help. Just remember the more things change the more they stay the same.
Many Happy Pumps
Skate for the skate of skating. Do what you can to help the sport grow and be understood for what it is. The sport is great the industry, well it leaves a lot to be desired.
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pickin' on scabs...
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On 4/25/2003 psYch0Lloyd
wrote in from
(24.148.nnn.nnn)
Brady: Don't be sorry, hugecorp was meant to make fun of the...
...never mind. You wouldn't understand it anyway.
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RESIST
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On 4/25/2003 lbk
wrote in from
(165.247.nnn.nnn)
RESIST "BLING BLING"
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REPENT
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On 4/25/2003 lbk
wrote in from
(165.247.nnn.nnn)
REPENT NOW FOR THE 'NEON YEARS" OF SKATEBOARDING!!!
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speculation on the future
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On 4/25/2003 snoball
wrote in from
(65.32.nnn.nnn)
Congrats on the thread here michael...
"what's it going to take to create monumental change within skateboarding?
by this I mean what will it take for the major skate media to recognize all the elements that rear their heads on this site?"
Well, there's other sites too with people who don't
necessarily come here or get involved ( gasp! ). In that gap
lies an answer too.
As cynical as this may sound, I think the skate media, really, ANY media is going to have to notice where dollars
are being spent and in what numbers and by who. Two
thousand people buying longboards seems significant to
some of us maybe, but not compared to 2 million buying kickflippers.
"what's it going to take to have more shops create an environment where every skater (ie customer), no matter what their age (or board requirements) feels like their needs are being looked after?"
I can only go by my favorite skate shop (
and comparitively it's counter-part which is 100% geared towards the 'nu school' and don't have any idea what
anyone means by a 'pool deck' ha ha ). Fortunantly for me
my favorite is owned by people who are all around skaters. They cater to various tastes BUT, they keep the most stock that moves the most which is generally what the majority of kids are buying. And they're not old school decks. They gotta pay rent right? Space is limited. It doesn't make good
business for a skate shop that wants to stay open, to
stock its shelves with things that don't move.
Unfortunantly or not, without up and coming generations
taking a SERIOUS ( and by that I mean significant numbers )
interest in pool/bowl skating, longboarding or slalom these styles will remain small players. Skaters who are lucky enough to still be doing pools in their 30's/40's even 50's
, are NOT in a large enough supply right now for alot of
businesses to justify truly equalizing their stock supply
nor media spending alot of time covering this
resurgence.
Maybe encouraging the ideal again of being a well
rounded skater to the youth ( and by well rounded I mean
capable of doing and enjoying a variety of board styles
and their applications ) should be a real focus for
skaters who are now, frankly, aging. If this kind of
'campaign', if you will, is successful then
business and media will pay attention because the demand will rise.
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Change within skateboarding
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On 4/25/2003
Tom M.
wrote in from
(12.222.nnn.nnn)
Congrats on the new forum!
Loved ILB.
Love CCW.
Love CCW (the book).
I think things are changing…
Rode my big (new) Bozi with monster Abec-11s to the local skate shop last Wednesday. Parked it outside the shop (didn’t want to draw attention to it/me).
One of the ‘regulars’ came outside and actually expressed an interest in my setup!!!
I was a bit floored!
I had gotten to the point of never riding to the skate shop. Seemed like a longboarder wasn’t considered a serious skateboarder to the owners and the kids who hung out there (even though they know I also like parks and pools).
Two years ago, I bought my son’s first serious board at this shop and two additional completes for myself (in search of a workable setup). After many attempts to get the owners to order me the boards I wanted (e.g., Beercity, Bulldog, Comet, Landyancthz, etc., -- not to mention the accessories), I finally abandoned them for greener pastures (i.e., the Internet). I’ve bought at least 11 complete setups and numerous additional accessories since my last purchase at that shop. Only thing I do at the shop now, is check on their inventory (still popcycles) and pick up the occasional video or set of risers.
After leaving the shop, I took a spin around town. Had a group of kids stop me and give me the third degree on my “Awesome board”. After answering a dozen questions it occurred to me: These kids really just don’t know (yet).
IMHO, it is only a matter of time…
(BTW, hope I make the first 25 – that’ll be a first!)
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change?
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On 4/25/2003 Glen D.
wrote in from
(216.102.nnn.nnn)
Changes are already happening. It has been for a while. The depression in skateboarding last summer let "the man" in the media know that it's time to expand coverage. Skateboarder, and Transworld now have regular pool photos in them. The first bit of slalom stuff in 1999 was getting goofed on by the insiders, now they are getting into it probably because guys they respect like Hackett, Olson, DP, and Chicken are into it. Pool skating is not just for older guys anymore, street skaters are now respecting the terrain and are pulling some seriously sick stuff on those tight transitions. The kids I deal with are not caring about the trick of the day as much and are getting into just skating around. With the return of the skatepark, people are transitioning their single hit street tricks into flowing lines with multiple hits around the park.
If by change you mean go back to the way it was in the 70's or 80's, then that's not change. In track and field guys aren't going to look back the good old days of 5 minute miles and start slowing down, new skaters won't either. They'll be pushing the envelope further than ever.
Change is here.
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change?
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On 4/25/2003
Brady
wrote in from
(66.21.nnn.nnn)
I don`t particularly see any change soon. Too many Huge Corporations (sorry Alan) that are making big bucks off of the current popsicle skate style. Even if thier profits got smaller, change would be thier end, and so I see them resisting it.
The new products like carbon fiber boards and differant wheel shapes are not the kind of thing you can mass produce and still offer that "graphics sells all" mentality attached.
Maybe local board shops will get wise and savy and start carrying alternative gear. In Florida, I know of no shops that carry slalom specific gear. Even if just Tracker RTX trucks or ABEC 11 wheels. That stuff must be ordered off the web.
Maybe if Thrasher were to make a push in that direction (which I doubt as that would be against the current corporate thinking) then you might see new gear in the local shops. But I won`t hold my breath.
I am not against change but what change I expect, is probably already in effect, but in little as our market is.
And I`d love to be wrong.
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re:Change
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On 4/25/2003
chris olden
wrote in from
(67.121.nnn.nnn)
Howdy,
Hey Michael, since I first e-mailed you back in October of last
year, I think we have seen no small change in in the marketing
of skateboarding. Certainly, the greatest part of the marketing is
aimed towards the baggy-ass crack showing-jeans wearing-how
many stairs can you ollie-popsicle stick riding-mom can I get a
ride to the skatepark?-crowd; however, we have seen a big in-
crease in the amount of "old school"(yeccchhh!!!) type of boards
and wheels available, which means SOMEONE is paying atten-
tion to what's going on.
I do think that we have the popsicle stick riders to thank for the
large number of parks built in the last few years(even if they can't
utilise the terrain to it's potential!). Let's face it, there are a lot of us
older skaters out there, but not enough to get communites or com-
panies like Vans, to build skateparks all over the place.
Also, we have the media to thank for the exposure that skate-
boarding gets on a daily basis; even if it is mostly popsicle-stick
riding oriented programs.
I don't know if a monumental change in skateboarding will occur.
What would constitute a monumental change?
I do, however, think that you are correct in your assertion that we
will see an increase in the number of older skaters as well as in
the types of skating(other than that of the "ollie nation") within the
next year or two. And that, will be healthy for skateboarding as a
whole.
Good luck on your forum!
Chris Olden
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Change to spare...
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On 4/25/2003 psYch0Lloyd
wrote in from
(198.160.nnn.nnn)
Conglomeration is taking over the industry. Surf and sporting goods manufacturers even the huge warehouse stores see an opportunity and buy in displacing many of the mom & pops. Service and product knowledge are key factors in providing the customers with the right equipment for different types of riding. As the sport diversifies many will find themselves without a direction to go. The quiver theory is in effect, all around riding can be a “focus”. If history repeats itself the support for public venues may fall into disarray and skating could just go back into the streets as the rest find themselves disenfranchised.
This is my message of doom and gloom…
…but when it’s all said and done. We all will still be here having fun.
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Where is skating going???
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On 4/25/2003 Michael
wrote in from
(195.92.nnn.nnn)
First off, great move Michael! (lets see how often our name is spelt wrong!)
Now, skating.
I'd love to see skating become as accepted as snowboarding, a sport I took up when Martin Drayton and I knew the other 10 guys that had boards in the UK.
The Daily Mail ( a mass market Tabloid) had "Ban this killer craze" headlines for a few years......
Each year the Daily Mail organised the UK largest ski show...the inspired "Daily Mail Ski Show". 7 days long in a central London location. Sure enough its now the "Daily Mail Ski and SNOWBOARD Show". Hoorah!
What I mean to say is that I'd love skating to be cool enough for people of any age to feel great with a skateboard under their arm, just as you feel cool walking to the snow, or parking your mountain bike to a railing, or driving your fancy car down the street.
Snowboarding emerged from nowhere, skating has a rich history, lets make it obvious we have fun with our boards and see where it goes. Have fun on the way though.
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cant spell none too goode...
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On 4/25/2003 psYch0Lloyd
wrote in from
(198.160.nnn.nnn)
Damn my spelling sucks!
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Creating change
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On 4/25/2003 psYch0Lloyd
wrote in from
(198.160.nnn.nnn)
michael brooke: Congradulations on the new forum. It's well deserved.
The subject at hand has also been on my thoughts lately. Your synopsys on recent events bear to mind the ebb and flow of trends within the "sport". This also occurred to me and although indirectly so the harbinger of change seems likely to have been longboarding and maybe even slalom. But strange ideas of history repeating itself makes one wonder how long before this type of racing could on the wane.
Pool riding and park riding is in vogue as witnessed by the many community parks sprouting all over this country. We can very well thank the popsicle crowd for being the impetus for this change.
Yes I too believe that the industry is in for an upheaval...
...change is good.
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a few more questions about change
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On 4/25/2003
michael
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
here's another angle if you don't like the time line thing....
what's it going to take to create monumental change within skateboarding?
by this I mean what will it take for the major skate media to recognize all the elements that rear their heads on this site?
what's it going to take to have more shops create an environment where every skater (ie customer), no matter what their age (or board requirements) feels like their needs are being looked after?
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Content
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On 4/25/2003
Mike Moore
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
When will we be seeing gnarly 20 stair switch noseblunt shove-its to nollie out 180s?
You should have more shoe companies advertise in your magazine.
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A burning question...
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On 4/25/2003
Dimwiticus Snotsalot
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
Is it true you have an extremely talented underpaid Associate Editor?
Have fun with this.
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change
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On 4/25/2003
michael
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
Way to go civ
it's great to be first!
so, if you're running cones, that means your ollies might be as poor as mine!
is my theory correct?
7 years + 3 years = MONUMENTAL CHANGE
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im first yay, way to go Mike.
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On 4/25/2003
Civ
wrote in from
(216.221.nnn.nnn)
Just wanted to chime in and wish you luck with this forum. We`ll have to get together and run cones again...
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Change within skateboarding
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On 4/25/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
Greetings all...
I'd like to kick this off with my theory on change within skateboarding. I think we are on the cusp of change. I think I have figured out the pattern...your comments and questions are welcome.
Cadillac urethane wheels hit shops in 1974,
by 1977 there are millions of skaters worldwide
1981 Thrasher Magazine founded
by 1984, the industry is starting to be healthy once again
1988 World Industries founded by 1991, the company has created a whole new skate environment
1995 Extreme Games launched
by 1998, skateboarding has become very popular once again
2002 Dogtown and Z-Boys hits theaters and is soon released on DVD and VHS
The skate renaissance has already started prior to 2002, but the Dogtown film is a watershed moment.
Over the next 18 to 24 months, I believe you will see a real return to roots: more shops will start to carry different types of boards, more pool, slalom and freestyle competitions will be held. Skateboarding will expand from just its ollie based persona. Variety will stretch not only from types of terrain or equipment, but types of rider. Older skaters (18+) will gain in numbers and female participation will increase.
Or will it? Your thoughts are welcome!
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