Skateshops: The Enemy of Skateboard Companies?

skate shops declared war on skateboard brands years ago when they started offering their store-branded shop decks.

period.

it didn't matter much back then, because the decks were all made in the same place.
and it didn't matter much back then, because the skateboard companies were selling selling selling, anyway.

but now...

the reality is biting.

skate shops are killing off the brands.
the brands can't afford to come to the shops and participate in the community.
and the kids are indifferent, since the quality of all of it is equally low...

and that is the present content of this article. enjoy.

Second Thing: A welcome

welcome to the zinger zone... hate is spoken here,

specifically in regard to the antics of a contemporary skateboard industry that has left the actual community of skaters behind in a mid-90's rush for the dollars...

...dollars that have started to run out, putting the good of the skateboarding culture and history up for sale to the highest bidder...

and by that I mean soft drinks and shoe companies...

So, WELCOME to the MESS!

Here, you will encounter unbridled contempt for cultural sell-out, and unhindered STOKE for what is actually REAL and Happening in the world of Actual and Real, Daily skaters. 

Push ON!

Starting Off...

Okay, we're going to start this thing off right...

Right to the middle of the issue. We'll finish the beginning after we've put a bad taste in your mouth:

Here's today's work:

You get up... You check out Facebook and you find
THIS ARTICLE: 
www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/rapper-lil-wayne-opens-eco-skate-park

telling us that LW has got it in gear and set up the kids of the Lower 9th Ward with a kickass indoor park.

Sweet. 14 platinum records and he's footing the bill... right on... 



So here he is, Looking like a Saint, doing the right thing...


Within 12 minutes, the rest of the story is coming up on some poor sucker's feed after the share...
Here's the NEXT ARTICLE: 
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Lower-Ninth-Ward-Skate-Park-Closes-Just-Weeks-After-Opening-173418901.html




So there we are... soooo ready to forget all about LW's... basically EVERYTHING, and give props... and we CAN'T.

Will someone who loves this guy please shoot him a call and tell him that you don't get to make over a dozen platinum albums, all claiming how great and rich you are,
then turn around and take hometown hero status for helping the kids out...
only to fail utterly on the insurance bill and staffing budget!

And all that with multiple corporate sponsors (second video says)? Its a MONEY issue! Please salvage this situation and just spend the money! Just set it up as an endowment or something and get legit on it! Otherwise, who's going to miss the egg on your face?

Don't forget! This is the guy who says:


Oh. Everyone! Because thrasher and the boyos won't be picking up on this story, will they? Maybe Boardistan might pick it up, or Gary Rogers might poke a joke at it, but not without pulling the punches and assuring us that they don't mean it!

We'd love a subscription to Thrasher that really spent time stinging on this kind of stuff! Till then, we're on Juice and the independent zines...