This is a simple blog that turns into a tangent, so if you’re just looking for the update, stop after the first paragraph. so, in case anyone was curious as to why there are no riders on here. We might invite 1 or 2 back when the time is right and they get their ish together, but to put it bluntly, they’re all gone save for one; Dontae “The Snake” Overton our grom rider. You can come up with a multitude of reason (or excuses) whether it be that he has 2 good parents of which his pops, Dale, is heavily involved and constantly sacrificing (as well as his mom). Yeah it helps his dad used to skate, so he knows what it’s like to just go balls deep into a trick you’ve been practicing for days or even months and the, that one perfect moment you get it, hit it and quit it and everything is quite except for the little voice deep inside all of us skaters that’s just cheering “Yeeeaaaaaahh FU#!*ER, you F’ing did it dude!! Man i knew it would be this time….i knew i could do it” – don’t lie to yourself, you know you got him too and yes, sometimes he does have a bit of a mouth, but he just gets way too excited sometimes; it’s cool. Back to Dontae….so maybe it could be that since he’s still a grom, perhaps he hasn’t had the douche bag influences in life that try to pressure him into doing drugs or ditching school or any of the “fun stuff” we did at his age. Don’t get me wrong, i did my fair share too, but maybe that’s why i’m here writing this and he’s out there just killin’ it everyday! He’s a great student, a good role model, cool dude and awesome vert skater (who just happens to rank amongst the best, if not thee best in some areas of vert, in the state of California). There’s no reason this kid can’t be pro in a couple years and he’s not even a teenager yet!
And now the tangent: This isn’t aimed at one of person or group of people or even our former riders. This is a sad observation i’ve made as a trend in our industry. Most of you don’t wanna hear this crap and that’s cool. i didn’t wana hear when i was your age either, so i ain’t mad atcha. But this is more towards those younger skater dudes, those of you as you get older into your teens where you know it all, (which really means you’re just learning how the world works and still don’t have a clue how it really operates), you assume you got a handle on things and that you’ll live another 50 years easy….so you start slippin’, runnin’ ‘n’ gunnin’ with the wrong homies until one day they leave you, rob you or you end up doing it to them cuz somehow you’ve turned into a scandalous crackhead (minus the crack); a bum who will lie, manipulate and con your way through life cuz you’re only trying to “get by”, but hey, as long as your cool right and down with the homies. Problem is, when’s the lat time your homie picked you up to help you look for a job (if he even has a car) or told you to get back to your school work to get them good grades so you CAN go to a good college and get the F outta here? Misery loves company and if you can’t sit down for any amount of time, be honest with your self as to why you’re this way, for whatever reasons those may be, you’re gona be in for a long hard life. But all you gotta do is man up, be honest with yourself cuz there’s no wrong feelings that we have (yes it’s OK to feel those feelings you feel; be it sadness,anger, disgust, bitter, hate, whatever, they are YOUR feelings, so it’s ok) and accept that it’s ok to feel those things, start taking responsibility for your own actions like a real man does (good or bad), take control of your life (cuz no one else is gonna do it for you and 99.999% of people sure as hell ain’t gonna help you unless you give them something back in return and it’ll never change), you got a real chance at having a good and happy life. Otherwise, if you don’t then let me break it down for you quickly right now like this; you see those guys at the off-ramp stoplight when you get off the freeway?
Say hello to your future self cuz if you take a good look at them, they’re doing the same things: having a great time, hanging out all day with their friends, drinking and gettin high….living the life, except their maybe in their early 40′s – early 50′s (50′s is usually when they die). I seen one of them last night in McDonalds trying to get warm from the chilling air. Sitting there with his 1 coffee trying to get warm, except McD’s had the air conditioner on blast right above him and it was colder inside than out. But in 10 minutes when they kick him out for loitering anyways, he’ll just get back in his car and drive…wait no, he doesn’t have a car. He’ll get on his bike and…no can’t afford one of those either. He’ll get on his skateboard that he robbed from some kid earlier & go back to his house…..no wait, he’s homeless. He’ll go back to his spot under the freeway or behind the dumpster or behind some bushes and curl up with his sweater and newspapers and try to sleep through the night in 50 degree weather that’s getting colder. But he’s gotta sleep with one eye open cuz the “homies” that he still kicks it with are, himself included, gone mentally; they fried those brain cells a long time ago and natural instincts to survive far outweigh whatever friendship and loyalty you think you might have.
All this could be yours, but you forgot one thing. That’s only if you make it to live that long. You could be like this chick’s brother, i met her the other day. She just got back from her brothers funeral. He was walking home from a party around 11:30 at night and some guys rolled up on him. He was a fairly big guy, over 6′ and meaty from what she said. He wasn’t saying nothing or doing nothing but walking straight, looking straight and they start static with him and, of course, the smallest one in the group says a smart ass comment to the guy, pulled out a gun and shot him dead…pop pop pop pop pop….granted it was in the 909, but i seen the same thing happen on my block except they kicked his skull in, right in front of my house.
For some of you, you’ll read this and wonder “what the hell is this nut talkin about?” that’s cool, this ain’t for you right now. But you, the other one that’s still reading thinking to yourself “damn, i know i don’t wanna be like one of them old broke-ass bums always asking me for change and ish” – skating is all you know, it’s the only thing that’s helped you deal with hard times, whether it be at home, school or even with your homies. You’re thinking through right now and wondering what each and everyone of them has done for you to help you progress in your skill of skating. Are they passing you the joint or the 40 or that pipe or are they saying that this ain’t for you homey cuz you got something? Take it from a guy who spent the best years of his life beaten down and a slave to his chemical mistress. I only got one other homie that made it out that i know of, everyone else is dead or in prison. Oh, there’s one who’s just gettin out after 15 years and doesn’t even know what the internet is or what it does, but he’s “heard” of it….really?
you got any questions or problems, i know i’m very busy, but i’m here to listen and help if i can. Keep in mind that so many people have burned me this last year, some that were supposed to be my closest friends, that i’m pretty jaded now which in turn ruins it for anyone in the future who actually needed my help and couldn’t get it. These selfish bastards don’t think about anyone except themselves, especially any future forethought for anyone in the coming months or years from now that might benefit, but now won’t, but that’s my personal issue i gotta deal with. It’s just i’ve seen skateboarding start with great pride and a brotherhood comradery, but now look at us. A bunch of uneducated drunk ‘n’ high fools. I hate to say this, but look at the downhill bomber scene. Those guys are out there shredding and they’re not dumb, they’re not faggots and some of those guys party harder than street guys. These guys are encouraging each other, getting laws changed to allow downhill bombing, etc cuz they CARE actually do something about their sport. Do we not CARE about street skating anymore? Are we all just over it or what? And there is The status quo says that if you don’t look like a hood rat or thug, you ain’t down or just a poser and to that i say grow up. Coolness ain’t gonna pay my bills or put food on the table to feed my family or for you guys it doesn’t buy you boards when they break, it doesn’t pass your classes or put money in your pocket. Chicks might go for that initially, but even they get tired of it and if they don’t, you need to ask yourself how many diseases does she REALLY have? no joke….Those of you still in school, you have to things to do with your life, just 2 little responsibilities right now; pass school and skate. If you really wanna make it in skateboarding, you gotta focus which means gettin rid of that whiny, “stop skating and pay attention to me” girlfriend of yours cuz she’s just a distraction and headache half the time. Trust me, you’ll get all the girls you want when you turn pro. And to the other homies out there that are outta school and haven’t figured out what to do yet, so you’re stumbling around through life with no goal or plan, just do one thing, read a book about something that interests you and do me one more favor, don’t be one of these douche bags who gets these younger dudes started on those bad habits, but encourage them not to and save a skater, don’t kill one cuz it sucks….
Stay calm and party on….(think what that implies)
Check out the Fear n Loathing in Las Vegas and Joker/Mad Man decks and more
what do YOU guys wanna see on here?
October 31, 2010So we’re finally picking back up where we left in the middle of our revamp before things came to a halt. But rather than guess and forcing you guys to view, read or see crap you don’t want, i bring the question to you: WHAT DO YOU WANNA SEE ON OUR SITE?
Do you wanna see:
- only products
- more blogging
- more interactive social media such as tweets throughout the day
- more pics
- more videos
- both of the above 2
- skaters doing tricks
- skaters teaching tricks
- chicks who skate
- chicks who model clothing (all seasons)
- dudes who model (no homo…)
- chat room for interactive talks
- weekly or daily chat sesh with someone here
- live feeds for when we go to events
- art/design section for some stuff we’re tossing around and would like you to comment on
- comics
- business and stock news
- world news
- skate industry insider news as we hear it
- polls and statistics from the business point of view
- trends in our industry: good or bad
these are just some ideas i came up with right now. Whatever you got, throw it at us and let’s see what we get collectively. Think f it as a collage
Tags: blogging, comments, concerns, industry, pics & vics, questions, skating, Stand By Boards, trends, viewer, wants, website
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