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| Q&A: Michael Brooke - Publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine (7141 Posts)
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Our ultimate responsibility is to our viewer, and our viewer is a male teen
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On 7/26/2006 NYC Asphalt Surfer
wrote in from
United States
(70.18.nnn.nnn)
Assuming that those "male teems" are heterosexual and not gay men, I would think that they would LOVE to see women.
I love to watch women surf! Also, in Japan, the bodyboarding magazine "Flipper" features mostly female bodyboarders.
Anyway, I can't believe that in 2006 we are still dealing with blatant gender discrimination.
$5,000 versus $50,000? What kind of bull$#!t is that?
The pay should be the same for ALL competitors -- regardless of gender -- and the competition standards should be equally the same as well...
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NY Times women and skateboarding article
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On 7/26/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.94.nnn.nnn)
July 26, 2006
On a Mission, and Rolling
By MATT HIGGINS
A year-old group of professional female skateboarders is looking at ESPN’s X Games early next month as a chance to take a step toward its goal of improving the status of women in action sports.
The pay for female skateboarders has been a fraction of what their male counterparts receive, and the women’s events did not air on television last year.
Equalizing matters could be a daunting struggle for the group, the Action Sports Alliance, a not-for-profit organization founded in 2005 to look after the interests of professional female skateboarders.
“When you’re on television, you’re seen by a lot more people,” said Jen O’Brien, a board member of the alliance and a 2003 X Games silver medalist. “The more coverage you get, the more you’re worth.”
To get ESPN’s attention, the female skateboarders threatened a boycott of the 2005 X Games. A showdown was avoided when both sides agreed to talk after the games, and ESPN acceded to some of the alliance’s requests.
O’Brien and Cara-Beth Burnside, the president of the alliance’s board of directors, have been added to the X Games selection committee, which had been exclusively male. In addition, the winner of the women’s street and vert events will make $5,000, up from $2,000 a year ago. The men’s winner made $50,000.
“Two thousand dollars for first place, for being the best in your sport,” Burnside said of last year’s top prize. “Maybe if I was 16 that would be cool.
“We don’t want what the guys are getting,” she added. “But we want something respectable.”
But the female skateboarders face obstacles more challenging than the ramps, curbs, hedgerows and benches they are accustomed to vaulting. Nothing resembling Title IX’s federal legislation promoting gender equity in sports exists in network boardrooms, where the skateboarders face television executives who are focused on ratings.
Chris Stiepock, general manager of the X Games, which will be conducted Aug. 3-6 in Los Angeles, said ESPN cannot afford adding more programming for women’s skateboarding without suffering a ratings decline.
“There’s only room for so many sports,” Stiepock said. “Our ultimate responsibility is to our viewer, and our viewer is a male teen.”
Stiepock said ESPN’s studies show that women’s action sports lag far behind men’s in popularity and participation. The exceptions are skiing and snowboarding, two events featured at the Winter X Games.
Stiepock said ESPN would like to add women’s surfing to the summer offerings and broadcast the event on television, but it would require eliminating another sport.
After last year’s X Games, some members of the alliance sought support from the Women’s Sports Foundation, an organization that promotes the causes of women and girls in sports. Donna Lopiano, the foundation’s chief executive, said that representatives from her organization have talked to their counterparts at the X Games about the alliance’s concerns. Although she said she does not expect immediate results, Lopiano said she intends to keep pressing ESPN with recommendations to improve opportunities for women.
“ESPN has done a lot for women’s sports,” she said. “Going forward, when they see these recommendations, we hope there will be change.”
Change is what the alliance, which has about 30 members, is seeking. In the 39-year-old Burnside, the alliance seems to have found a leader. An action sports icon, Burnside competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics in snowboarding halfpipe, finishing fourth, and she has won a slew of medals at the X Games and Winter X Games during the past 10 years.
At the 2005 Games, she won a gold medal in the skateboard vert event, where riders pull maneuvers on a massive halfpipe ramp.
“When I started skateboarding, the only girl I saw was Cara-Beth Burnside,” O’Brien said. “She was an inspiration to me.”
Although Burnside receives a salary from sponsors, she estimated only a half-dozen other women worldwide earn a living exclusively from skateboarding. Sponsorship money and contest winnings do not amount to much in a sport where the idea of gender equity has just begun to gain traction.
Still, members of the alliance are mindful that in recent years other action sports where women feature prominently, such as inline skating and wakeboarding, have been dropped from the X Games.
“I don’t want to be too gnarly on the X Games,” Burnside said. “I don’t want them to say, ‘Forget you.’ ”
Acknowledging the vulnerability of her sport, Burnside said, “Should I skate for nothing and just feel lucky to be there?”
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Conversation piece
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On 7/23/2006 Chris Olden
wrote in from
(71.155.nnn.nnn)
hey David,
Steve's running a BDS Super Pig(44" x 11") with
Webb Mike SMith trucks(9" wide) and BDS Mellow Yellow
DubCons(64mm).
chris olden
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Conversation piece question
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On 7/23/2006 David V.
wrote in from
United States
(24.119.nnn.nnn)
For Chris: Any idea on the set-up Steve is enjoying in that ditch pic? That is a sweet looking ride! BDS set-up, but any particulars? Thanx.
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great ditch...great converstation..and a mystery...
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On 7/23/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.93.nnn.nnn)
What a ditch that looks like...fun!!
good speaking with you too
and F, I am puzzled...please email me and fill me in
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ditch
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On 7/23/2006 chris olden
wrote in from
(75.26.nnn.nnn)
hey Farid,
hit me at chrisolden at hot mail dot com
it'd be fun to skate with you!
maybe AFTER it cools down!!!
chris olden
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ditch
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On 7/23/2006
Farid
wrote in from
United States
(4.246.nnn.nnn)
That's my home ditch just a couple minutes from where I live. The nicest thing about it is that hardly anyone knows about it (hint.) I hope you guys had fun. Next time contact me when you are in the area.
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coversation piece
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On 7/23/2006 chris olden
wrote in from
(75.20.nnn.nnn)
hey Michael,
As per our conversation on Thursday.
Steve Holt(Team BDS) surf-style in 108 degrees...
co
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koston
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On 7/22/2006 hc
wrote in from
United States
(71.139.nnn.nnn)
http://www.solecollector.com/news/2005/09/intv_rk_erickoston.html
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For good.
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On 7/22/2006 F
wrote in from
Canada
(70.48.nnn.nnn)
For good.
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Ciao sponsoring...for now!
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On 7/22/2006 F
wrote in from
Canada
(70.48.nnn.nnn)
Michael,
I left Gravity. It was a good decision.
Take care.
-F
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Good Causes
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On 7/22/2006
Bud
wrote in from
United States
(68.57.nnn.nnn)
No, frankly, I would not do this. Not out of not wanting to; but, out of not being in a position to be able to. Y'know, bills, job, wife, kids, mortgage, sports cars....
But, it's also somewhat unnecessary. We can all contribute to all sorts of things, in small ways, here and there. And, sometimes, those small things add up to quite a bit. I'm way more of a tortise than a hare. But, the tortise won. So, there ya go.
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Go Strike!
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On 7/21/2006
Steve C
wrote in from
United States
(65.19.nnn.nnn)
Bricin is pretty damn cool. I am not sure I could do that, but it has to do with the rediculous amount of stundent loans I have to pay. I would put someone up for a night or two for sure! I help as best I can, I try to be active in youth oriented projects and what not. I try to be a mentor for kid(i know many of you laugh at that but it is not saying much. I just try to make friend with and talk to youngsters.) But man dropping it all. I did that when I was younger, but not to help anyone besides myself.
Go Strike!
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Coast to Coast
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On 7/21/2006 David V.
wrote in from
United States
(24.119.nnn.nnn)
Michael, I would love to do the "Forest Gump goes skating" thing! Unfortunately for me and all the good causes out there, I can't seem to win that #$%&* lottery to afford me the time off from bill paying and child rearing! Until then, I've gotta keep my wheels within earshot of the dinner bell! *SIGH*
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ok, new topic...
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On 7/21/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(67.70.nnn.nnn)
I just had lunch with Bricin Lyons and his buddy who are skating across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
Bricin was instrumental in getting longboarding going in Vancouver and beyond.
My question is this:
would you do this?
would you skate across your country to raise money for a good cause?
if you wouldn't, why not?
if you would, what's stopping you?
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Kids
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On 7/21/2006
Steve C.
wrote in from
United States
(168.103.nnn.nnn)
If you are an adult then you are an example to a kid. Believe it or not, kids are super observant and pick up on so much more than you would ever think. So as a skateboarding adult, the kids are watching you. Don't blow it. Otherwise you will end up like Bud, Gay. I mean, you admitted it right Bud:)
Seriously though, the kids are watching and even if you don't care you are an example.
And I want to reiterate! I only brought up PRS as an example, I could have used any company really. I used them because they have a theme to the majority or their boards. I know they have a kick ass team, Christ! The have Kevin Staab riding for them! I have nothing personal against them, read my stuff again and it is pretty clear.
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new issue
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On 7/21/2006
cfav
wrote in from
United States
(216.21.nnn.nnn)
picked up the latest issue at the local borders.subscription is cool,but nothing beats walking into a newstand and seeeing the new issue,especially on a warm summer night.solid issue,congrats on five years.cf
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examples!
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On 7/21/2006
wearvans
wrote in from
United States
(71.105.nnn.nnn)
are we examples to our kids?
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Shut up and Skate
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On 7/21/2006
Rob H.
wrote in from
United States
(199.181.nnn.nnn)
Hey, just wanted to commend you guys for the Cab interview in the last issue. I actually put off reading it until last, not that Cab doesn't rip, but I've been reading interviews with him in skate mags since I was 8, and its always the same "how did you invent the Cabelliarieal, blah blah" questions. The writer took a really cool and different approach, and I dug it.
As far as the haters, your always going to get guys who want nothing but pool skating, nothing but street, guys who are punker then thou, guys who didn't "sell out", blah blah blah. Best advice for them is go start your own thing. Isn't that the true meaning of Punk-D.I.Y.? That and not giving a fuk, which is why I'm typing this without reading half of the crap slung below.
Thanks for putting out a mag that covers all aspects of skating for real skaters like me who skate everything. I get two of the other "major" skate mags in the mail, and those go in the garbage when I'm done reading them. Concrete Wave is the only one I save and put in a box. I figure if I ever screw up and have a kid, one day I'm going to want to show him all the types of skating I did back in the day, and your mag is the only one that covers everything.
Sincerly,
The fat kid in the karate uniform.
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what's with July?
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On 7/21/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.95.nnn.nnn)
I am not sure if it's "somebody pissed in my wheaties month" or "I wanna piss in other's Wheaties" but something is up...
or maybe it's just the heat....
The internet provides folks with an ability to communicate all kinds of things...not everything you read is accurate and the way something comes off in writing can be quite another when said face to face.
I haven't responded publicly to a number of the comments made at other sites. I have responded to a few people directly but my sense it is way easier to take pot shots than to actually dig for the truth.
My friend Brad sent over an email that ran something like this: "don't explain yourself - your supporters don't need to hear it and those who don't agree with you won't believe you anyway."
There is more written in one day on the internet about skateboarding than I could ever publish in TWO lifetimes. The internet is significant...but there is something to be said for print. Like The Demics (one of the world's BEST punk bands) said "talk's cheap."
I judge people first by what they say but more by what they do.
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fashion
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On 7/21/2006
Buddy Rawls
wrote in from
United States
(152.163.nnn.nnn)
The 8-16yr olds are extremely fashion concious. But not in the sense that you are assuming I meant. It is extremely critical for them to fit in with their friends. Probably about 10% or less have even rode a skateboard (but they own one). They like the look and the late teens are always the bigbrother type role models. In order to find acceptance, they are totally into the skateboard softgoods. this is not a theory.
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Ummm...?
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On 7/21/2006
Bud
wrote in from
United States
(68.57.nnn.nnn)
"Third off, the only resurgance in punk and pool skating was by guys that started skating again and thought the world stopped when they stopped years before, DUH! Surprise, there was plenty of us that continued on and there was a whole scene going on that some people new nothing about, because, they had no part of it..."
I'm confused, now. Is this guy saying there was a resurgence, or not...? Is the New School cool? Are the geezers lame...? My burning question, as always, is: If I defend the wrong side, will someone think I'm gay...? I'm truly worried about that last one, because I care so much about what others think of me and all.
Let's recap: Steve C. made a point, using PRS as an example. Sumdum defended PRS's legitimacy and motives. Steve C. agreed in principle. Everyone was getting along just fine.
Then, someone mentioned sandwiches, and all hell broke loose...
Fingered blindsided Sumdum, The Truth half-nelsoned Fingered, and Sumdum clocked Fingered. All are more concerened with PRS's imagery, street/scene credibility, and marketing then the quality of their boards- which, I might add, are really quite good. But, I guess that sort of thing doesn't really matter at all, anymore, now does it? That seals it: I'm gay. Dammit!
And, Buddy Rawls tried to tell us that only 8-16 year olds worry about "fashion"........! Yeesh...............!
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well
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On 7/20/2006
Steve C
wrote in from
United States
(168.103.nnn.nnn)
All I really said was image and fashion was a major selling point for any brand. PRS I mentioned cause they are doing something that is not all that new: selling boards with band logos on them. Image=part of marketability of a product. I am sorry if I offended someone by calling out a brand they like. I personally think it is a pretty good gimic to sell stuff. I am not sure where "clueless" is coming from. I hear what he is saying but it has nothing to do with any of the stuff I said.
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Re: The Clueless Ones
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On 7/20/2006
Sumdumsurfer
wrote in from
United States
(71.107.nnn.nnn)
An anon source fingered:
"Third off, the only resurgance in punk and pool skating was by guys that started skating again and thought the world stopped when they stopped years before, DUH! Surprise, there was plenty of us that continued on and there was a whole scene going on that some people new nothing about, because, they had no part of it.
There is nothing funnier then the clueless people that had no part of a a scene trying to claim they created one when they started skating again. Maybe had these people not been stuck in a hole they would have known that punk and pool skating never died. Nice of you to climb out and notice what we all been doing all these years."
HAHAHAHA!!! Too funny. Shows how much you don't know. But, please... go on and keep thinking what you wrote is actually true. Oh and thanks for the laughs.
SK8/SURF 4 LIFE!
Sumdumsurfer
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clueless??
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On 7/20/2006 The truth
wrote in from
United States
(66.116.nnn.nnn)
You are kidding right? Do a little background checking before calling someone clueless. They grew up with many of those bands and continue to have friendships that date back to 1980. Thats a newcomer? Why are you so against something that you know nothing about? Talk about clueless. lol
It is very clear that you are jealous or very angry. Go skate.
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