Longboards in the media

racer128 · Longboards in the media

Check this out-

http://www.silverfishlongboarding.../Sector_9_Sold_to_Billabong_Surf/

I will die if longboards become the promoter of the next kids tennis shoe or fast food restaurant.

But then I realized- we may get a few more surfers on boards, and maybe a wakeboarder or two, but the majority of people and advertisers will stay away (especially from LDP!!), for this sad but comforting reason: Longboarding is way too much work for the average, or even above average American (or human being). Thats why Ripstik and Waveboard are so popular, because they provide a surf like feel without having to obtain the balance and strength to pump and push (push for real, not hobble).

just thought I'd put that out there, it was kinda bugging me. p.s.- kinda funny, but I have always had less "mainstream" boards, and the fifth one I bought (came yesterday!!) was a Sector 9....

Parson Adams

Like anything good, the media and mass consumption that drives the US were bound to go there eventually. I have always seen S9 as the "Powell" of Longboards. So, in this sense, it doesn't bother me as long as Roe, Sk8kings, Gravity, Loaded (another company that has potential of going this route), Subsonic, LBL, et al are still kicking ass behind the curtains and keeping things real for those who are not so much media influenced. There is enough ad hype to thread through already in skate mags and sites. Luckily for me, I was taught to purchase and use what I like and not what "they" tell me to like. I feel this is one reason I let skating go for 12 years during the 90s and early 2000s. Fashion, fashion, fashion. I still get a kick out of kids wanting the latest Nike skate shoe model or the newest graphic. I'll take the old graphic any day since they are usually cheaper. Thank goodness for LDP.

racer128

very true. your last few lines remind me of a friend asking me about getting into skating. I told him I am not that kind of skater (i.e. kickflipper), but that I could recommend components for his board, which is what he was asking in the first place. He had his heart set on a 60 dollar plan B deck. I told him save a bunch of money, and go with the lighter board, which was a blank (minilogo). You end up paying tons of cash for a graphic and the fact that Ryan Sheckler or Bam skate that deck. I mean, look at them, I think that now 3 or 4 kickflippers have their own mtv show!!!

I know exactly what you are saying. One of the things that attracted me to longboards years ago was the fact that it wasn't a media centered sport full of posers.