“Skateboarders, Please Stop Ruining Skateboarding” - an open letter
I should state right at the opening here that I have no ties to the skateboard industry whatsoever. I've been a skateboarder for nearly 20 years; I'm not pro, am, on flow, never have and most likely never will. Beyond close friends I've never spoken out about the influx of big business corporate skateboarding till now. I know a lot has been researched and written on the issue so I'm only going to concern this letter with the things that are affecting myself and others who may feel similar without an outreaching voice. I'm not one to preach my values, I've always just done my thing, but I feel this specific issue has gotten to a point that's so out of control that I can't just stand by and watch a culture I'm proudly a part of continue to disseminate itself.
I can only speak from my own present outsider's perspective, if my past had shaped itself differently and dreams of making a career out of skateboarding had become a reality, who knows, maybe I'd have a different stance on what's happening. As it stands, my choices of who I support weigh solely upon which brands have the same interest in mind as myself; skateboarding through and through, make money or don't. Maybe I'm undereducated on the topic and the reasons so many well-respected skaters as of late have turned to these sport shoe companies is for something other than a larger paycheck and contractual security. I can't believe it's because they make "better shoes," because I'll admit I've experienced them and they skate just as well and rip up just as quick as anything else, they just cost more to do so. Are they clean? Sure. Have they reinvented anything? Nope. Are they homogenizing a lifestyle that was once unique? 100%. We once stood out and were proud of it. Sadly, that time exists no longer. Based on shoes, you can't tell a skater apart from a razor scooter to a jock to a juggalo these days.
I get it, some people wanna make more money, some people need to make more money, and some people don't give a shit and just wanna rep something they think is tight. However, I don't care, knowing what many of us know and seeing right in front of our eyes how damaging it's proven to be, well, to carry on is just an absolute disgrace. Let our skater-owned brands succeed, you fools! They're the ones that brought you up, brought kids into your shops, and sold your magazines. They're on the brink of what feels like total elimination and while many bitch about it, very few do anything substantial about it! Open your fucking short-sighted eyes! From pro to flow why are these teams so colossal?? Because they can afford it and know that it takes big money to crush the competition and make bigger money. Will it take an utter collapse to realize what's going on here!? I mean, skateboarding is more popular than ever, people are going to continue buying shoes, right? These mass-market companies helped make the industry massive, so why don't we use them for once and take it all back, let our tenured brands thrive, and open up opportunity for new companies to break out, be original, and grow. Above all, keep skating where it belongs! There's no need to let companies in that, bottom line, will not give a shit about the skateboard culture once the industry no longer makes them money. It's a fact, do your research if you don't feel that. You want contractual security, a bigger paycheck, this can all be had without giving up what is ours, and to speak selfishly, without limiting my options as to what shoes I wanna skate in, flyfish in, wear to goddamn work, and talk to chicks in.
It's damn bewildering when you hear of highly regarded skaters fervently speaking about their perennial support of core brands and then just a few years later giving in to these mass-market brands, however, assuming they're not completely full of shit, it makes you realize how fucking difficult the decision must be. It's a sacrifice of integrity directly regarding the thing that's truly made them who they are today. That's heavy, man, but as I see it, sacrifice entails giving up something for the betterment of another, and as far as I can tell the only thing that's benefitting is that person's self-preservation. If that's what you're all about, then go fuck yourself cause you're causing some of us major problems. If you don't give a crap about any of this then continue to do your thing, support yourselves, your families, your excessive car payments, or whatever the fuck through jock shoes and energy drinks, but know that you're accountable for whatever ensues from your actions. You're paid to help create an image and sell product, make these choices wisely for once you're gone people like myself and millions more are stuck with what you've helped in succeeding and what you've aided in destroying. Laconically speaking, I do give a crap, a whole lot of crap, so don't fuck this up for us. Realize your actions now, be a role model and teach the younger generations how to live with integrity. This goes for magazines and shops alike, if you're going to promote it, sell it, and make money off of it, then you're part of the problem as well. You claim you care? Keep lying to yourself or do something about it.
Yeah... the topic is exhausting and I honestly detest talking about it. I just want it to stop or at least chill the fuck out. I am hopeful though, maybe even foolishly so. Somewhere deep in my ever-faithful heart I'm hoping there's a top secret long-con playing out and these are merely ephemeral decisions serving a sacrifice that will be beneficial to the whole. Ah, who knows though, I'm just one normal ass skateboarder who can't do anything besides speak my thoughts and continue to support the people and companies that I respect, but maybe if the whole lot of us stood up, or the decision-makers were to man-up, we could put an end to it. Maybe even make skateboarding cool again.
Sincerely, Elias Blood