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| Q&A: Michael Brooke - Publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine (7141 Posts)
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thesis of John Gilmour
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On 6/20/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
we are now accepting manuscripts and book ideas for concrete wave publishing corporation....
email me....
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msk correction #2
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On 6/20/2003
C-Money
wrote in from
(66.243.nnn.nnn)
are you sure you don't mean "Fat old guys on long/wide boards"? heh heh heh. when i point a finger i remember i'm pointing 3 at my self.
Carl Kincaid
Knucklehead Wide Bodies
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I just did it for the money.
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On 6/20/2003 John Gilmour
wrote in from
(209.6.nnn.nnn)
Okay....so what if over 95% of those 15,000 Inline students are women? What does that point towards? So what if I have to hold their hands and position their waists when teaching...and perhaps have to catch one every now and then.
It is strictly professional.....
The former student you mean must be this one.. at the end of the video.
http://www.attikus.com/tv/tv_4.html
actually it is just an excuse to post the july 4th video.
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oops
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On 6/20/2003 msk
wrote in from
(172.160.nnn.nnn)
make that " fat and/or long boards..."
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Blades vs Boards
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On 6/20/2003 msk
wrote in from
(172.160.nnn.nnn)
Let's not forget that it was a roller blader (Scott Peer) who helped get the slalom ball rolling again in SoCal...
People tend to focus in on the faults of "the others", while ignoring the same faults from their own. If you observe everyone at the local skateparks, you'll often see stupid behavior from both groups. So far, I've never been hit by a blader, but the two worst injuries I've had skating in the last few years have been the result of being dropped in on by clueless groms (dislocated shoulder 3 years ago, broken foot last year).
Personally, I think a lot of the bladers' moves look pretty silly, but then, I'm sure a lot skaters think that about old guys on fat and/or wide boards...
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John's philanthropy
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On 6/20/2003
Duane
wrote in from
(64.223.nnn.nnn)
C'mon, John, drop the pretenses for teaching the inline skating. We've seen the "former students" drop by to say Hi on the 4th, we know the real motivation !
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Tolerance
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On 6/20/2003
Tom M.
wrote in from
(164.227.nnn.nnn)
Geezer-X wrote:
Who made me arbitor of other peoples pastimes? Do it, have fun doing it, and apprecite the fact that at least someone has something that they're passionate about, and that they're not just sitting in front of the tube, or worse yet playing "Tony Hawk Pro Skater"...
Word.
I've seen both booters and bikers perform some awesome stuff. In an IDEAL world, we'd all have our own separate parks. Maybe the next time around?
In the mean time, I try to board when the parks are fairly empty (IOW, won't be doing it much this summer = more time for longboarding).
Speed?
Yeah. That and perpetual flow seem to do it for me. I really get off on being able to flow through a park and/or through other terrain without stopping -- manipulating the board and my body so as to (somewhat) overcome the forces of friction and gravity.
AFA the comment about gays not being into boarding/biking/booting: IMHO, that's just another example of stereotyping individuals.
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High Heels on wheels
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On 6/20/2003 John Gilmour
wrote in from
(209.6.nnn.nnn)
My take on the fruit booters….FWIW. I've been skating for a long time. I remember the old clay wheels roller skates and roller rinks. My first introduction to rolling on wheels was on skates. I have pictures of me skating at just 15 months old. As a child my mother and I lived in NYC- a difficult place to own a car. Cabs were not always the fastest way to get around. Often the subway was the quickest. Now this was before they had those lightweight folding strollers….try carting a 35 lb. stroller up and down a few subway stairs while making connections during rush-hour muscling with hundreds of other rushing shoving stockbrokers on your way to work.- I'm sure my Mom wasn't too happy the first time she tried it. Besides my mom used to Race 300SL Gullwings as a fast walking New Yorker being slowed down by a stroller was unappealing. I have no pictures of me in a stroller.
She put me on Roller skates at about 12 months old. Dragged me through the subways, on buses, through department stores- And to her Work
I have memories of skating down these perfect linoleum hallways at Advest, Burnham ((later Drexel Burnham), and Oppenheimer and Co on Wall Street. She'd take me to work for some summer days and leave me skating around in carpeted boardrooms. I'd go down to the receiving level and skate the loading dock ramps. That was in 1968 and I was 5.
The wheels on roller skates sucked at the time so my first real introduction to self powered speed as a kid was on the ICE rink. As a kid I formed a group of speed skaters called the "Puck Raiders" and since we could easily outskate the wanna be 6 year old hockey players- we would swoop in and steal their pucks and take off.
Speed skating wasn't offered at my school and my dislike for team sports led me to skateboarding. The Urethane wheel was the driving force. Later in 1975-1976 I revisited roller-skating out of curiosity. I made a pair of cambered roller-skates by bolting some "footprints" I had cut out of an old 28 inch pro slalom fibreflex onto some stiff Jox Hightops. They were the first sneaker skate I knew of. I didn't like the look of those heavy hot leather boots. I put Tracker Half tracks and 65mm second generation Red Kryptonics with GMN's on them. They hauled ass on flat ground. New Yorkers would stop me and ask about them. About a year after they started renting quad roller skates with Kryptonics on them in Central Park. Then Roller skating took off.
Almost overnight My slalom course at The Tavern on the Green got flooded with Roller skaters poaching the course. It was pretty annoying at first (most wouldn't stop to pick up cones)…but after a while we got to know a few of them and some of them were really great skaters…. Crowds were really into watching the slalom skateboarders race the roller skaters. We found that having a lot of skaters made the courses reset a lot faster.
I left to go to school/skate in Brazil. The roller skaters tended the course without me for years.
Of course to me skateboarding is far far far far more fun than Roller Skating. But most of the Roller skaters felt they could never skateboard well- or as well as they roller skated. When I'm on skates I feel restricted in bound boots like the soul has been sucked out of me. Like a prostitute…… I pretend I like skating while I'm doing it- and I only do it for the money…..and feel blah afterwards.
So after returning to the States……skateboarding was dead. But I still kept slaloming. And whenever I dropped by the Tavern on the Green Course they were still there slaloming. I moved to Boston and started a slalom course there- it is now tended to by inline skaters. I'd try to get Inliners to skateboard…but it was pretty much impossible. Most Inliners felt they could not get around as quickly on a skateboard. They wouldn't trade speed for style. At one point I had 200-600 people a day at my slalom course in Boston….but never more than 10 slalom skateboarders and snakeboarders.
As inline started to boom I taught Inline skating…I charged $30 per student $15 for rentals and taught classes of up to 40 students at a shot. I was making about $300-1200 an hour. I had 10 instructors working for me. All in all I've taught over 15,000 people to skate…still have all my class lists. That money paid for my trips to Europe to race skateboard slalom. It allowed me not to have a real job and write about slalom skateboarding.
So I owe my racing in Europe to Inliners- otherwise I could have never afforded it.
And the Inliners were always interested in the racing over in Europe and ironically wished they had slalom races in the USA.
I regards to Inliners at skateparks. I think whenever you have a bunch of novices rolling around on anything in skateparks there are bound to be collisions. I remember seeing newbie skateboarders causing accidents with other skateboarders in skateparks in the 1970's those collisions look a lot like the types of collisions I see with Inliners in skateparks today. Mostly people need to know right of way rules…and sadly from what I've seen, most Inliners don't do as well a job of "self policing" as skateboarders do. Usually the Inliners wipe out a lot harder than skateboarders and as a result fewer seem to stick with Inline Vert. Proportionally there seem to be a lot more novice Vert Inliners than Vert skateboarders.
I once thought…..What if I could get all Inliners to switch to slalom skateboarding? Well after years of trying I know that will never happen any more than we will get regular skateboarders to switch to slalom skateboarding. But I did learn that we like similar terrain…and if we pool the resources of Inliners, rollerskaters, skateboarders, BMX'ers etc…we can get more exposure and terrain. That is the value of Inliners as they also can be a voice for more skateable terrain.
Sure Inline looks gay…to me it looks like "High Heels on Wheels". (see my post on that other site on the dark side of the cone) To them some of us probably look like Bart Simpson, But at the top of the ranks of all the skating sports are some cool people and we are all alike in a lot of ways. Victor Luke and Francis Valentine of NYC are super cool Inliners- not an ounce of poser in either one of them. If a few skateboard slalomers met them and saw them lay down a few blistering runs and complex slides at 40 plus I think they would be impressed- it all looks great when it looks impossible. BTW NYC Inliners blow away all the other USA Inliners except for those French Inliners………… but their scene is much larger with about 21,000 inliners in Paris going on a nightskate each week in the summer....we saw 6000 take off- and that was pretty amazing.....
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Road Trip to TORONTO
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On 6/20/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.29.nnn.nnn)
We are just under 24 hours to the start of the Concrete Wave
first year anniversary party.
Expected attendence is 1000...plus!
If you live within a 5 or 6 hour drive, you owe it to yourself to come on down...Hotels are DIRT cheap...the restaurants are dirt cheap...and if you get bored of my contest, Toronto has some of the gnarliest surf...
(just kidding about that last part)
Anyway, come on down. Load up the van get to Cummer Skatepark (Leslie and Cummer Streets in North York) and be prepared to win some goodies.
Registration starts at 9:00 on the 21st...
We have best trick, highest ollie and of course,my favorite,
A DEATHRACE throughout the park...
You absolutely will have a blast.
And, yes, for anyone coming more than 2 hours by car, a free copy of the latest issue #6 with Jeff Budro on the cover.
Toronto...NO SARS, TONS o' CARS, FULLY NUDE STRIP BARS and the home of Concrete Wave...
Folks, keep spreading the stoke...this is the summer we break through...
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RE: Theory of strapping things to your feet
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On 6/20/2003
Pat Chewning
wrote in from
(12.206.nnn.nnn)
On 6/19/2003 Nick wrote in from 66.87.xxx.xxx:
I have a theory that goes something like this: You're either a one-board or two-board person.
One-board person: Skateboarder, surfer, snowboarder, wakeboarder/freeboarder, single waterskier, etc.
Two-board person: Rollerskater/inliner, skier, ice skater, double waterskier, etc.
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Nick, I can disprove your theory. I ski (and prefer skiing to snowboarding). I also skateboard (rather then rollerblade).
I believe that Bobby Piercy also came into skateboarding from skiing.
Nearly all of the Colorado skaters I knew (1968-1980) were both skiers and skateboarders. But then again, snowboarding hadn't been invented yet.
My preference is for single-board devices when not "strapped in" (skateboard, surfboard) and double-board devices when strapped in (rollerblades, skis). I just **HATE** the feeling of being strapped in to a single-board device (snowboard). It makes me very uncomfortable that I can't immediately spread my legs for balance to prevent a fall.
-- Pat
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Bladerbasher
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On 6/19/2003
Arab
wrote in from
(24.24.nnn.nnn)
SSSSSSSHHHHHHHH Geezer-your on a skateboard site admiting that you rollerblade, you might want to keep that to yourself.
Brookes-Maybe 1 page each issue dedicated to the skaterbladers?
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You know what's really gay ?
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On 6/19/2003
John the Hairdresser
wrote in from
(66.32.nnn.nnn)
Sitting in front of your computer, spending more time talking about skateboarding than actually skateboarding is really gay. This statement is coming from a hairdresser; so believe it. If you have time to type, you have time to skate. You can be excused for injuries, illness and snow pack three feet and higher. Otherwise go get some! As for rollerbladers; they'd be cool if they just stuck to doing big-ass back- flips.
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oops, hit the send button by mistake
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On 6/19/2003 richard marnhout
wrote in from
(198.81.nnn.nnn)
sh#$, wrong button..........................
but as i was saying, wouldn't it be cool to learn all of the things that you really wanted to do in a relatively safe enviroment,pros watching you and HELPING, rather than snickering? considering the consequences of "older" skaters meeting mr. cement, finally learning how to do frontside laybacks on a softer surface does have its' appeal.
xxoo richard
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off topic, but a cool idea anyway
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On 6/19/2003
richard marnhout
wrote in from
(198.81.nnn.nnn)
ya know, the woodward skate camp offers an amazing array of equipment designed so that the little heathens can learn to ride not only street, but those godawfully huge vert ramps as well. things like foam pits, soft ramps and even a harness rig (ala trapeze school technique) so that one can learn to drop in on the big ramp without undue suffering.
now i KNOW
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More
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On 6/19/2003 ohm
wrote in from
(207.172.nnn.nnn)
Geezerx, no, I don't think 40 year old men still skating competetively is or looks gay. Yes, I do take racing seriously. Why do something if you are going to put in a half ass effort. Win or loose, give it all you have. If you win, cool. If you loose keep racing.
As far as rollerblading, I always thought it was for kids that couldn't skateboard. Kinda like boogieboarding, for those who can't surf.
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More of same
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On 6/19/2003
Geezer-X
wrote in from
(149.2.nnn.nnn)
So if I you were like completely shredding some pool, but you were wearing the wrong outfit, it's "gay"? Try, sometime, to look at a bunch of 40 year old men in baggy black shorts on $300 skateboards wiggling their asses as the go between little plastic cones. Thay take it *so* seriously. Tell me that's not completely "gay".
Farid has hit on an important point. The Nash goofy foot wasn't quite as fast as my Stingray, but it felt faster. The sprint karts I race only hit about 55mph on the very tight course I usually go to, but it feels really, really fast. Faster than 140 on a road race motorcycle, and there are about 16 turns per minute, vs. 6 or 7 per minute if you're fairly fast at Summit Point in West Virginia. My Civic is way faster than my Austin Healey Sprite, but doesn't feel 1/2 as fast. Slalom? 25 cones on level terrain in 9 seconds? 50 in 16 seconds on a hill? That feels really fast. Bombing a hill on a speedboard? The fastest. The sensation of speed is what I crave.
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speed
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On 6/19/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
speed...now we are onto something here folks.
I dig the speed of skateboarding too....
In fact, I would say that the rush of speed is the KEY element for me...
well said Farid!
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blades
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On 6/19/2003
Farid
wrote in from
(158.252.nnn.nnn)
I use to blade for cross training (I know that has "gay" conotations.) I would skate for up to 40 miles at around a 15mph average. I didn't wear a helmet (stupid?) or wear lycra. I also use to race on the velodrome and wear lycra. But then again, I was hitting speeds above 40mph on a bike w/ no brakes and a fixed gear, no freewheeling. I wore a helmet and had no other safety gear (standard.) Some people call that "gay". The ugliest crashes of any sport w/o a motor happen on the velodrome. I see a lot of people carted of in an ambulance each year from our track.
In all the sports that I've enjoyed the most, there has been one common factor: speed. Skating, biking, blading, surfing, etc. I'm in it for the "rush". It even seems a little primal in the pure joy of the sensation, almost like a fist fight. Chest thumping, snarling, teeth and fist clenched "ARGH!" Pumped so hard that it feels like you can run through a brick wall.
But there is still one thing that started it all: Skateboarding. Did it before all the other sports. Still doing it after the other activities have been pushed into the corner of the closet.
Skateboarder for LIFE!
Now I'm feeling gay.........
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TO Park action
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On 6/19/2003
Claude Regnier
wrote in from
(66.185.nnn.nnn)
Hey Mike. Any hotel names near the park you could name. There's a small possibility of making the drice from Ottawa.
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Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy....................
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On 6/19/2003
Farid
wrote in from
(158.252.nnn.nnn)
I really hope everyone here has a really gay day!
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Tolerance
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On 6/19/2003
Geezer-X
wrote in from
(149.2.nnn.nnn)
I love to skate slalom, parks, ditches, parking garages, anything. I love Road, BMX and mountain bicycling. I've enjoyed inline skating for nearly 15 years, and find that it complements all the above activities. I think that the adherants to "Chips" era quad rollerdisco skating are pretty kooky, but amusing, and I think that inline skaters in parks absolutely need to have their own sessions, like the bike guys. I've been plowed by a full size person who dropped in on top of me at Vans one night, and I'll wager he didn't feel half as bad as I did the next day, and he (being about 25 years younger than me) bounced back alot quicker.
BUT.
Who made me arbitor of other peoples pastimes? Do it, have fun doing it, and apprecite the fact that at least someone has something that they're passionate about, and that they're not just sitting in front of the tube, or worse yet playing "Tony Hawk Pro Skater"...
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Vegetable Booter
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On 6/19/2003
Mike Moore
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
How 'bout "Veggie Booters"? No wait...it might offend the comatose or brain dead amongst us.
Although I'm steadfastly against intolerance...being 100% P.C. isn't on my agenda either.
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"fruit-booters" intolerance etc
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On 6/19/2003 Espie
wrote in from
(135.214.nnn.nnn)
Thanks everyone for the feedback (even the people I don't agree with)-it's all about dialogue, so that's cool. I say live and let live.
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1 vs 2
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On 6/19/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.29.nnn.nnn)
First things first...there will NEVER be any articles on in line, snowboarding, wakeboarding or bmx or acne cream in Concrete Wave...
However, I really like what Nick just wrote...perhaps there is room for an article about this in CW?
I like that this topic has supercharged (!) the forum...
Arab - I really feel for you...having your child whacked by a huge guy must have been a horrifying experience.
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Strapping Things on Your Feet
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On 6/19/2003
Nick
wrote in from
(66.87.nnn.nnn)
I have a theory that goes something like this: You're either a one-board or two-board person.
One-board person: Skateboarder, surfer, snowboarder, wakeboarder/freeboarder, single waterskier, etc.
Two-board person: Rollerskater/inliner, skier, ice skater, double waterskier, etc.
I cannot rollerskate, ice skate, ski, etc., to save my life (It can also be argued that I can't skateboard, surf, snowboard, etc., to save my life, either). But the single-board activities come naturally to me. I know people who can tear it up on skates, but can't skateboard.
Kooks exist in all sports, but I think the percentage is higher among inline skaters.
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