Instead, perhaps the discussion should be directed toward an issue that could actually affect the industry: the rise and ramifications of webisodes and the lifestyle/attitudes/behavior they promote. Also, this guy. If anyone would like me to explain further, drop a comment and let me know and we'll get a real conversation going.
Showing posts with label opinion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opinion. Show all posts
Thursday, March 3, 2016
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCMENT
Can we just stop talking about SMX already? There’s so much misinformation spreading on a subject that will ultimately NOT AFFECT YOU IN ANY WAY. I’m not going to add anything else other than please stop bringing this up because there isn’t anything new to say any more; ya’ll are beating this horse to a bloody pulp. It'd be cool to see actual scootering in my social media feeds again.
Instead, perhaps the discussion should be directed toward an issue that could actually affect the industry: the rise and ramifications of webisodes and the lifestyle/attitudes/behavior they promote. Also, this guy. If anyone would like me to explain further, drop a comment and let me know and we'll get a real conversation going.
Instead, perhaps the discussion should be directed toward an issue that could actually affect the industry: the rise and ramifications of webisodes and the lifestyle/attitudes/behavior they promote. Also, this guy. If anyone would like me to explain further, drop a comment and let me know and we'll get a real conversation going.
Friday, January 8, 2016
TOP TRENDS 2015
2015, for myself at least, went by in a flash. A lot of big things happened, starting with another great competition at SD, numerous street jams, a ton of amazing videos, and overall growth of the sport. Take a look back at the trends that made the year 2015 stand out from the rest:
1. The 2015 “Street” Uniform:
-Hightop Converse
-Dickies (slim straights, cuffed)
-Dad hat
-Coach jacket
-Polo shirt
Not too long ago this instead used to comprise of Janoskis and five panels. Instead, another Nike owned brand, Converse, took the scoot scene by storm, with riders everywhere lacing up a pair of hightops. Dad hats have been in vogue as well- spurred in part by Sky High’s limited release of a few different dad hats, and by secondhand shoppers everywhere. Or maybe it was an attempt to pull off the “dad bod” everyone was talking about like eight months ago. Clothing trends do stay for quite a while so I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of dad-fashion continuing into 2016.
2. The Sex Change
Probably my least favorite trend of 2015 has been the on purpose sex change. Into grinds, out of grinds, in spins, kids everywhere do them as if it adds any real value to a trick. These Caitlyn Jenners, as I call them, require little to no skill. It’s fine if you think they’re fun to do, but don’t act like a boardslide to sexchange out is any cooler than a plain boardslide. It’s a gimmick, and will surely die out. I have to admit though, Brian Chavez’s half cab sexchange to switch front board was an amazing use of a sexchange. Will it continue on in the new year? I’d say it’ll mostly die out, but keep living on through at least a few people.
3. The Feebzer
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| Nathan Flemongo ia Root Industries |
Already the topic of many discussions were “feebzer/hanger/feeble” and their smith counterparts. Tying into the “zeach” as well, the merit and actual existence of these tricks were debated widely over Instagram and Facebook. Regardless of what you call em, it seems these are here to stay. Lets hope the conversations about them are over, now that we semi-officially have proper names for them.
4. The Full Whip
Yet another trick with a big year is the full whip. Full whips have been utilized by a few riders for years, but it wasn’t until the past couple years that the average rider started throwing them. We’ve seen them thrown into feebles, 50s, out of grinds, manuals, in spins, in flat combos, switch...it even has its own hashtag, #fullwhipfam. Don’t expect to see these lose popularity anytime soon, they’ve definitely become a bread and butter trick.
5. Rider Owned Companies
A big growth in rider owned companies also highlighted this past year- out of the UK, companies like Elite and Revolution made waves on Instagram, especially after arriving in the US due to another new rider owned company, a distribution called Forefront Supply. Established rider owned companies like TSI, Proto, and Tilt had huge years as well- TSI moving into a new shop, releasing the Paramount, generally being the street deck of choice, Proto with the Intermission video dropping, as well as finally putting out the Orion deck, and of course Tilt with Tilt2 and all the new parts they produced. Affinity has grown by leaps and bounds as well, producing one of the best T-bars right here in the USA. Have to mention Hellagrip too, easily the most-ridden griptape out there. I'm definitely missing some here, but make no mistake, these companies will continue to flourish in 2016.
6. Rise of Crews/Crew Videos
7. Webisodes
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| Thumbnail Via Capron and Corey Funk's Youtube |
A few scooter riders started making webisodes this year. In a time where riders have more followers than their own sponsors, it’s been becoming less important to make actual edits and instead project a lifestyle out there that the scooter market (young kids) can relate to. Lucky’s Tanner Fox has found huge success with his webisodes, currently sitting at over 200k subscribers to his Youtube. These webisodes document the day to day life of scooter riders- from chilling around at home, riding hoverboards, going to the park, and generally just dicking around. The kids love it. This is so far fairly contained to SoCal riders, but as more realize the importance of connecting with their audience in a way that plain riding videos can’t achieve, We've already seen Jake Hershey take a more mature approach via his "Mondaze" series, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty more webisodes in 2016.
8. Overall Progression
The best trend, however, has to be the continued progression of scootering in general. People are doing pegless tricks like nothing, and pushing what can be done on various obstacles. One of the coolest spots people have hit this year are wall-rails. These are perfect for inside 50s, and 2015 has seen a lot of crazy wall-rail variations. On the park side of things, you got dudes throwing 540 double flairs and insane tricks over the mega (shoutout to Rwilly). It’s getting so hard to keep up, with people dropping bangers on Instagram like it’s nothing (“chill clips”). This is another trend I’m sure will keep going!
Honorable mentions: 5050 grinds, loose scooters, foot fenders, bs half cab manual fs 180, using Hollowsquad/Xavier Wulf/Bones in videos, charging 500 bucks to make an edit, and talking shit on the internet.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
The Crew Video Comeback
When it was just Razor and Micro in the scooter industry, the only videos that existed apart from solo minivideos were crew videos. It was practically a miracle when a group of riders would live close enough together to progress and make something worthwhile. But as luck would have it, several areas across the US would develop scenes large enough to result in legitimate crews- The Philly Crew, Scooter Insanity, The Baboons, DXG, NBS, RAD, and so on.
Right as the industry slowly began to take off, lots of crews were popping up and making full length videos. You had the 951 team, Nukk Scooters, and the OG TPC guys were at their height. But as time went on and the industry began to expand, the crews who were making videos got sponsored. Nukk became Lucky, 951 turned into ScooterZone, and many others ended up like TPC- half the guys did become sponsored, and others simply faded away.
The sport did a complete switch- the majority of videos coming out were to promote a scooter company, rather than just because people were doing it for the love of it. Seeing “Welcome to [insert company] made the whole thing just feel like a cookie cutter “This is what I’m supposed to do” move. Not only that, but you wouldn’t really see many full-lengths in general because members of that crew were filming for other purposes- their sponsors. So they simply wouldn’t have footage to use in a crew video.
So now, at nearly 3 AM, having just rewatched Sam Thomas’s inspired, gem of a part in the Fat Cat Crew’s DC Diaries, I psyched. To me, full-length videos are the highest level of scooter related achievement. Not only are they the most rewarding projects a rider can work on, it’s the best way to watch scootering (anyone who has attended a Tilt premiere will agree). DC Diaries was preceded by What’s Hilary Duff Doing? a video by a bunch of riders from Imnotsurewhere, Pennsylvania (spoiler: you don’t find out what Hilary’s up to). This video features a bunch of riders who do seriously have amazing talent- but sadly their production value is severely lacking. But what they’re missing in production value is made up in heart and soul. These are dudes who aren’t doing it for a sponsor. They’re not getting money for the footage, there’s no coupon codes to push or clip quotas. They fall, they bleed, they rip their clothes, they spend exorbitant amounts of money on gas and fast food. All to experience the feeling of traveling somewhere new with their friends, challenging themselves in both a mental and physical capacity, risking the possibility of injury, and the ever-fleeting, insatiable high of landing scooter tricks- and of course, documenting it in audiovisual form. Their fisheye is scratched and has shit all over it, steadyshot is on, but who cares, they’re filming scootering because it’s damn fun.
The FatCat Crew and the WHDD? guys aren’t the only crews working on videos. The Bay Area Concrete crew is currently filming a video in full HD- contrasting the raw, SD style of the East Coast with some of the best filming in scootering. Peachy is also working on a follow-up to Honey and Jenkem called Flaccid Flop. And let’s not forget probably the most anticipated crew video ever, Friendly’s LUX, dropped earlier this year. It really is an exciting time in scootering- scooter riders are growing up, becoming more dedicated and serious with how they present scootering. The riders in these crews will be the stars of teams for companies that don’t even exist yet. They will be the trendsetters of the future, and in some cases they already are. They are the crews of scootering today, and they are the heart of our culture.
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Check out Sam Thomas' DC Diaries part below:
Monday, February 23, 2009
About Californian Riding
The following was written by Tommy Napolitan, and posted on SR. I am reposting because I agree with him, and want people to read this.
Ok first off i dont want to start an argument i am just stating my opinion because its been bothering me for a while now.
From what i've seen upon finding SR is that almost every single kid from California rides EXACTLY THE SAME. There are seriously only 5 riders in my opinion that ride different and unique. Everyone else rides with the same "style" as another. I honestly cant stand to watch vids put out from there unless its from those 5 riders whos riding i like. Because i know i am just going to see the same stuff except maybe with an extra whip or bar into it. Or see the same skateparks that are in every other vid.
Also there is no street put out from Cali except from Addy and Ostrom. Everyone else tries to put out "street vids" but its generally just some little spot and the kid is wearing shorts and a helmet. I wish they would close all skateparks in Cali to scooters so people could go out and learn there ticks on kickers, flat, street instead of just saying "Well what park do you wanna ride today?" Also theres really no ballsy riders out there, maybe 2 or 3 but other then that no one is taking necessary risks to try to push the limit on tricks and such. Like i said before not throwing an extra whip or bar after your insane scooter flip at a skatepark. But rather people trying to do bigger rails, sets, and adding stuff to them. Like honestly what So Cal rider is throwing down dope street vids?
Idk the vast majority of the "California scooter scene" is all the same in my opinion. The sunny weather, wearing shorts, doing bri flips, wearing helmets everywhere, not being able to hit a legit rail, having atleast 37 concrete skatepark clips in a vid.
Once again just my opinion.
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My 2 cents- I honestly think nearly every Cali vid is the same. It gets rather boring, actually...the part that bothers me the most is that they live in Southern California, THE place for street riding. And they don't take advantage of that...I know if I lived there I would be riding street all day every day. I think that a lot of those guys take what they have for granted, and if they were put into a different environment, where there aren't any parks, or street, they wouldn't be riding much longer.
Ok first off i dont want to start an argument i am just stating my opinion because its been bothering me for a while now.
From what i've seen upon finding SR is that almost every single kid from California rides EXACTLY THE SAME. There are seriously only 5 riders in my opinion that ride different and unique. Everyone else rides with the same "style" as another. I honestly cant stand to watch vids put out from there unless its from those 5 riders whos riding i like. Because i know i am just going to see the same stuff except maybe with an extra whip or bar into it. Or see the same skateparks that are in every other vid.
Also there is no street put out from Cali except from Addy and Ostrom. Everyone else tries to put out "street vids" but its generally just some little spot and the kid is wearing shorts and a helmet. I wish they would close all skateparks in Cali to scooters so people could go out and learn there ticks on kickers, flat, street instead of just saying "Well what park do you wanna ride today?" Also theres really no ballsy riders out there, maybe 2 or 3 but other then that no one is taking necessary risks to try to push the limit on tricks and such. Like i said before not throwing an extra whip or bar after your insane scooter flip at a skatepark. But rather people trying to do bigger rails, sets, and adding stuff to them. Like honestly what So Cal rider is throwing down dope street vids?
Idk the vast majority of the "California scooter scene" is all the same in my opinion. The sunny weather, wearing shorts, doing bri flips, wearing helmets everywhere, not being able to hit a legit rail, having atleast 37 concrete skatepark clips in a vid.
Once again just my opinion.
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My 2 cents- I honestly think nearly every Cali vid is the same. It gets rather boring, actually...the part that bothers me the most is that they live in Southern California, THE place for street riding. And they don't take advantage of that...I know if I lived there I would be riding street all day every day. I think that a lot of those guys take what they have for granted, and if they were put into a different environment, where there aren't any parks, or street, they wouldn't be riding much longer.
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