Proto Facebook Contest Winner Announced!

Congratulations to the Proto Scooters Facebook winner! Everyone else, make sure to enter the Proto Scooters Instagram contest for the same winning package which will be announced this Thursday! Follow the Proto Scooter Instagram @protoscooters and tag a scooter related photo #protoscooters for your chance to win!

Proto Week Day # 3: Jackson Manzie Interview

Jackson Manzie is Proto Scooters newest rider and we couldn't be more pleased to have him be a part of the team. Jackson is one of the few Australians who approaches riding and filming with the street mentality and he fits right into Proto with the rest of the team. With the Proto Week underway, we thought it would be good to get Jackson's take on being a part of Proto, his injuries, and his upcoming plans coming out to America to film for Armageddon 2012. Interview by Kris Anacleto

You've been riding for Proto for over half a year now, but this  interview kind of marks the official announcement. How does it feel to be the first new rider added in the past few years and what's your overall take on being on the team now?

It feels good, obviously. I'm very grateful. My overall take would be that it's exactly where I want to be. The wheels are the best, the team is the best to ride with, I feel very lucky.


I know everyone else on the team is stoked to have you, and they're all stoked to ride with you when you're supposed to make your way here this summer for 2 months to film for the video. But last week injury seemed to hit you pretty hard, care to explain what's going on with that?

3 of my vertebrae are squashed, probably just from the many years of riding and bad posture. So the nerves inside those vertebrae are being squashed, making all the muscles in my back and chest tight. So right now I'm seeing a chiropractor 3 times a week and doing heavy stretching 3 times a day as well. So far it hasn't improved much so I'm pretty depressed. Can't really do anything physical at all.


That's some heavy stuff. I know Dylan Kasson is out staying with you in Australia right now, are you cruising out with him at all telling him trick ideas trying to live vicariously through him?

Uh nope, haha. Right now I'm pretty much his chauffeur, he just made a big list of spots he wants to go to and I'm just driving him around and filming him with the gang.


Just bring him to all the skate parks and say "Here, just film at these parks, that's how the Australians do it!"

No. Just no. Haha.


Fine, have it your way. With that being said, what made you and the Friendly crew gravitate to street riding and filming rather then the park stuff? I feel like it's a pretty obvious answer to a lot of people, but the park riding is just such a big part of the Australian scene.

Yeah, it is. And we're cool with that, after all that's where we all started. Someone asked us about this exact thing about a week ago. I think we got to a point where we were watching a lot of skating and wanted our videos to be like theirs. Their videos actually have a feel to them, you get a sense of that crews culture and their city from watching them ride street. I don't know. That's why I like it. We just got over hanging out at parks and decided to go explore more.

What skate videos get you specifically stoked the most? Do you think scooter videos will evolve and have that skate video feel some day, or do you think they will continue to have the feel they generally do nowadays?

For me i really like those really tight fast skate flicks like the Far East Skate Network and there's a great one from Ohio called Windows and Doorways. The filming is on point, all the lines are fast and they always come up with creative stuff. I'd love to see scootering become that but i think that's a while off.


Well put. Australia has one of the biggest scooter scenes compared to all the other countries, which means big scooter business is going on out there. You're managing one of the ScooterHut stores now correct?

Correct, it's nice. I get to sell what I know most about. I want to make it have the same vibe as a skate store. A place where you can actually come and relax, read a mag and hang while you look at parts.


When you aren't working at the shop or out riding, what's your week consist of?

Nothing right now, at the moment I'm driving Dylan around and working to get money for the states. Trying to get my back better I guess. Day to day, if I wasn't riding and if i wasn't injured I'd probably start the day sleeping in and watching the Simpsons re-runs with a huge cup of tea, then maybe see what my friends were doing and go fishing or something. Or hiking. I've been getting into that too.

Assuming you'll be better by the time you actually get here, what are you looking forward to the most while here for 2 months? Got any specific spots you're trying to get heavy on?

I'm just looking forward to drinking 5 watermelon arizona's a day, and going to wherever Tyler Wheeland wants to go. I'll spend a fair bit of time at the Proto shop too I guess. And we're hitting up the Chicago street jam so we're gonna have a nice road trip through the states to get there. Oh yeah and eating Mexican food until I die.

Proto intends to have all it's riders have signature parts at some point that reflect their way of riding, what are you looking to have signature wise? And are you gonna push that the most at ScooterHut or what!?

I haven't even thought of signature parts because I haven't been on the team that long. But some long black socks with green proto logos would be pretty dankkkk. Maybe a deck that was my favourite color and length. That'd be cool. I don't know, I think I'd have to discuss ideas with Andrew first. I'd probably want a wheel actually, with a cool design and colorway the most actually.  I guess if I was to have a part that reflected me, I'd want a long ass deck. Like really long. Probably 22' and 4.65 wide with an 83º headtube. That'd be perfect. I have size 11 feet and the only deck I've ridden that's long enough is Peasely's Addict so I'd go with something like that.

Anything you'd like to close with? Shout outs, thank yous, care to mention your favorite Australian park to do fly outs at?

Probably just all to Andrew for including me in an awesome company, for helping me get to America this year and to all the Hatgang for not giving one single fuck ever and being awesome.

Proto Week Day # 2. Win a Complete Proto Package!

Odds are if you're reading this, you have a Facebook, and you like Proto. Well they are giving away one hell of a package for Day #2 of Proto Week on Inside-Scooters. How do you win the package? It's simple. Go to the Proto Facebook, Like the page, and follow the directions provided to be entered to win a Complete Proto Package. For more information check the image below.

https://www.facebook.com/protoscooters
https://www.facebook.com/protoscooters
https://www.facebook.com/protoscooters
https://www.facebook.com/protoscooters

Proto Week: Andrew Broussard Interview

Proto week has officially kicked off, and there's no better way to get it going than with an in depth interview with the owner Andrew Broussard. Andrew fills everyone in on issues from the past that have plagued Proto, what's going on now and what's being fixed, and what to expect in the future. And don't forget to check the completely re-vamped Proto site at www.protoscooters.com


 We haven't seen much come out from Proto since Catalyst 2010 came out over a year ago. What's been going on since then?
Andrew Broussard:  A few months after Catalyst 2010 was released I went on tour with Nitro Circus Live again down to New Zealand and Australia which was an incredible experience and opportunity to promote my industry but my absence for nearly 2 months at the beginning of 2011 took a heavy toll on the business which was much smaller at the time.  Since then I have been restructuring and restaffing the entire company to stay competitive in what has now become a rapidly expanding industry.  The day after I got back from those tours I rented the industrial space next door to our old shop and doubled our square footage which only lasted us about 9 months.  In January of this year (2012) I signed a lease on our new warehouse which is about triple the size of last years expansion complete with offices, loading docks, toilets and a retail store front; non of which we had before.  The new facility has allowed us to massively increase production, inventory and distribution capabilities under our newly formed umbrella company TGE Distribution to make sure our shops and our loyal customers are able to get the brands and products they want when they need them.  We did fall behind on reviewing warranty claims with all the other changes that have been going on during the moving/upgrading process which is a problem when you boast the most comprehensive warranty in the sport (which it is) but we were simply swamped and had no one to check that stuff.  Fortunately we have a new PROTO website which should be live while you are reading this with a totally new automated warranty submission system that will allow us to track and update all warranty claims.  For those of you who submitted older warranty claims that never got responses or a conclusive answer, we still have all your information on file but you will have to resubmit through the new system to get those going again.  Sorry for the delays or confusion!  On a personal note, the last show I rode with Nitro was on June 4, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for their 3D movie coming out this year and we got to set up the PROTO tent right inside the venue with Catalyst looping on a TV which was awesome.  Unfortunately that was the last time I have really ridden "competitively" or in top form because of the amount of time I have been dedicating to the business but we are also in the middle of filming for the next PROTO DVD entitled "Armageddon 2012" right now with a slightly different rider lineup than you will remember from Catalyst 2010.  I started to film for the new video but broke my hand on April 1 on something really really stupid, no joke, and am just now getting back on a scooter.  All work and no play makes Andrew a rusty boy... but it's worth it knowing that PROTO is holding down the "rider owned" scene and continuously showing the sport how the best products in the industry are made!




Speaking of products, what new parts are in the works? Can we expect more signature products from different riders?
Definitely you will see more signature products this year but let me break it down by category on our regular releases: 
BARS:  reTro and slaYers are classics and will not be going anywhere.  reTros are now 20" wide and slaYers are now 22" wide, both are 24" tall all heat treated 4130 chromoly.  We will also be bringing BUFF bars out of retirement with an all new redesigned stem and we have plans for one more style of one-piece bars 24" wide with backsweep called "Boomerang" Bars!
FORKS:  Strikers and SenioRs (110mm & 125mm) are classics and will not be going anywhere they will however be offered with integrated crown races, integrated star nuts (threaded inserts) and will be heat treated 4130 chromoly along side the classic standard steel models.  All forks will start to come with a half inch shorter steerer tube to accommodate 3" (Baby) SCS builds with less modification!
WHEELS:  More colors, signatures and 125mm!
CLAMPS:  More colors!  Design will remain the same classic Knuckle!
DECKS:  New sizes of the Orion will be available and will be available in silver and black.  4"Wx20"L, 4.5"Wx21"L & 5"Wx22"L.  ALL decks will be peg compatible!  Signature decks with special dimensions and colors will be available as well!  All decks will still be 125mm compatible.
NECKS:  TDI Necks will be available standard and integrated, 81.5* and 83* and all neck geometry will allow for proper peg usage.  Necks will be available in Silver and Black.
BRAKES:  Dubb Step flex fenders will be made out of thinner guage stainless steel to allow for an easier flex and use larger 4mm hardware.  "Tri-Force" UBS brake mounts using 4mm hardware and "Press On" brake levers will be available for more compatible and customized braking setups.  125mm brakes will be available in all configurations.
PEGS:  "Slug" pegs will be available for use with all PROTO forks and decks.  Compatiblity with other brands will vary.
COMPLETES:  PROTO Complete Scooters available Winter 2012.
PACKAGING: We have been developing some pretty extensive packaging for all of our products to make distribution easier to control without damaging products on their way to you.  It also looks cool which has got to be a worlds first for scooter packaging.
We also have tons of small accessories and apparel in the works right now some of which may be released in 2012 some may wait til 2013: Wax, bar ends, bearings, headsets, grips, grip tape, socks, hats, beanies, hoodies, more stickers, more shirts, keychains, buttons and probably some other stuff that I'm forgetting.  You know, just everything you need to rep PROTO to the fullest!

Rumor has it of an additional wheel brand coming out, care to shed light on that?
That is correct.  We have another wheel brand "by PROTO scooters" coming out under TGE Distribution this year.  We decided that since the PROTO wheel was the first freestyle scooter specific wheel and is still regarded by most to be the best wheel in the industry there is absolutely no reason to change it.  I do, however, want to experiment more with different cores and compounds so we are forming a new brand to see if we can't take wheel technology to an even higher level without effecting the classic PROTO wheels.  It also allows us to bring on a new team of riders who are already on board to start a new signature wheel series.  The brand is called River Wheels and the goal is to keep you flowing... get it?  More info on this topic when it's not a PROTO interview.



What's up with the Proto team? It's slimmed down quite a bit and how do you feel about the newest addition Jackson Manzie?
Yea, we lost a few riders to various circumstances whether it be deciding other sponsors were a better fit, switching sports or simply not riding/filming anymore like they used to (which includes me).  Either way there is no bad blood and I'm still psyched they were part of PROTO.  I think it's just a natural evolution of life, business and sports... no team can stay the same forever or it gets boring.  The current team consists of:  Brandon Kilbury, Dylan Kasson, Elmer Ferrieras, Alex Steadman, Chema Cardenas and Jackson Manzie.  I am really hyped on the dudes who are still on the team though.  They are killing it harder than ever.  Jackson is currently the only Pro rider to get picked up since Catalyst and I couldn't be more amped to have him on the team.  He's one of the most stylish riders ever and he's connected with some of the best street dudes in Australia so I fully support him and their cause to bring street awareness down under!  He is currently working through a back injury and we have the clock ticking on the next video premiere already but I'm pretty confident if he takes care of himself and gets in front of that camera (Sony VX to be specific) you will not be disappointed with what you see.


Chema was living with you for 6 months helping in the warehouse and filming for his next part, how'd all that go?
Soooooo good.  I love Chema.  He is like a needle in a hay stack and PROTO was like a giant magnet that pulled him out without looking.  If you don't follow what I am saying, I mean there is no one else like him and he found US because he was drawn to what PROTO was doing and PROTO alone.  The relationship has been perfect.  It was a nightmare arranging his travel Visa to come to the United States because Mexico and the US don't exactly have the best relationship but it was completely worth it.  He was a great help at the shop, an amazing rider and a totally awesome dude to chill with at the end of the day.  He quickly became one of my best friends because we share the same passion and dedication.  His footage for the next video is definitely going to blow minds.  I personally am rooting for him to have last part in the next movie but last part in a video has to be earned and we have a few people really putting in work so it's anyones game right now.






How's Armageddon 2012 looking?  Any trips planned or a release date?
Everything I've seen so far is getting me extremely hyped to release the next video.  Basically the entire team is going to be in Southern California this summer finishing the DVD.  Dylan is in Australia right now with Jackson then both of them are flying to San Diego next month for two more months then Chema will be coming up from Mexico late June then were gonna get Elmer out here around the same time.  BK will be living out here in Los Angeles all summer anyways building rocket ships for some company because he is literally a rocket scientist in real life and Steadman lives close enough to drive from Arizona to be here whenever we get some filming trips going... which we will have a lot of this summer between San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City.  Some people have more footage than others so certain people are going to be on a pretty strict filming regimen this summer to complete their parts.  Regardless we will be renting out the Avo Theatre in downtown Vista, California on Friday, November 2, 2012 in the PROTO hometown for the premiere so mark your calendars because you will not want to miss it!

Is there any significance to the title?
I decided that if the world really did end in 2012 (armageddon, as "predicted" by the Mayan Indian's calander thousands of years ago) that I really wanted the PROTO series to be a trilogy because everyone knows all great films come in 3 parts.  Catalyst 2010 (the beginning), Intermission 2011 (the middle) and Armageddon 2012 (the end).  Intermission 2011 obviously did not happen due to circumstances with the business and the team last year but since it was intended to be more of an experimental film project based around scooters rather than a "traditional" riding video and they just discovered more Mayan calendars so it looks like the PROTO series will become a trilogy sooner than later, just a little out of order, before we move on to the next real video... if anyone wants to try to guess that name!


Proto started small and out of your pocket and is still ran that way basically, how hard is business not having a financial backer, especially when you see how large some of these other companies are?
It can be tough at times but I would never sacrifice the freedom and control I have with the company and the products by having partners or investors dictating what I should or shouldn't be doing.  That is what has allowed me to develop an entire line of products so extensively and branch out into distribution and other brands through TGE.  I focus on quality over quantity even if that means not making as much money as I could if I did certain things differently.  There are a lot of seriously awesome things I could be doing with products, designs, distribution, etc if I had more financial backing but I figure if I don't have the money to do it then I'm not ready to take that on until I figure out how to make the money with what I have established now to finance the next projects on my own.

Anything else you'd like to close with? Work Hard.  Ride Hard.  Chill Hard.  Press On.