Dawn patrol

Thrasher Magazine, Nov, 2009 by Brian Blakely

The skateboarding world just trickles along every single day. Riders leaving companies they've been on for years, companies burning out all over, and new, shitty companies coming out and taking over the skateworld. To the riders it might just be "Whatever, it's a bigger, better check in our pocket," but for the outside onlookers, the "fans" if you will, we are noticing this and are getting worried. It's like the professional/fan relationship in any sport (I fucking hate calling skating a "sport" but you catch my drift). It's just so stupid to me. These dudes are put in these mags and videos and get worshipped by kids, when in reality the pros don't give a fuck about them. And the pros are always trying to act like they're more modest than one another, but I can name maybe five pros out there who are just some kids down for the movement of skateboarding, not the fame. Now, I've been in the skate world for about nine years, which I admit isn't that long, but I've been influenced by my friends who grew up skating in the '80s and early '90s, and they'll all tell you it's so different now. We have a bunch of Gatorade ads in our magazines, we have pimple cream and shit. All that is is money! That's just a big, gay company that has nothing to do with skating advertising their shit in our world because they think we all need it and can relate. And what is up with dudes like Sheckler and Lutzka and P-Rod being all over MTV? I'll be sitting at my house with my chick, and she'll have MTV on and some Axe Body Spray commercial will come on with Sheckler skating and ollieing over some truck, with a shit load of special effects--and his shirt off? If you've seen the commercial I need not explain but, dude, keep that shit out of our world. For the industry as a whole, fuck all these reps at companies that wear their plaid shorts and Hurley gear straight from PacSun while trying to sell skateboarding shit. They turn it into a corporate job, which I guess is what it comes down to, but at the same time not every company is like that--so fuck gay-ass reps. I think to be a rep at a skate company you should have to know how to skate, and at least kind of like it. This used to be "our thing;" now I walk down the street and I see more kids pushing mongo, trying to tre flip than I ever have. And it's a fair r argument to say "Well, at least they're skating, at least they're out there doing it "--blah-blah-fucking-blah, dude. I don't buy it. They don't love the culture, they aren't trying to improve the skate world. They're just like the other 80-percent of kids who don't give a fuck and are doing it just because it's cool. I remember when Guy Mariano said in his Thrasher interview something like, "It's not about the dudes who are trying to get something out of skateboarding, but the ones who are doing something for skateboarding." See? I have full respect for him because he as a person did make changes in skateboarding. All I'm saying is that if everyone tries to act so hardcore about skating, then don't be hypocrites and make moves for money. And don't say shit, because I do understand that a lot of these dudes are older who simply need financial support, and more money is always good. But is it going be that extra grand a month to be a puppet for some mark-ass new company who has no background in the culture, or are you going to understand that it's about respect from your peers, your fans, and making your real sponsors happy? I have been ashamed to even call myself a skateboarder lately. I just wish the skateboarding world could stop turning every kid pro, and I wish it wasn't about some image each company has to portray. But seriously, it kind of is. Again, this isn't any kind of hate mail whatsoever, just a personal thing I had to do to not drive I myself totally crazy. And I mean absolutely no disregard to you guys, because Thrasher is the most ripping magazine out there. It is more that I'd rather have my voice be heard here than on some Transworld website or something. I would've loved to end this with a positive, exciting ender, but I'm not motivated with the shred world right now. I'm flat bummed. Adios, mvarks--and to the true believers, keep that flame burning, because you know who you are.

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Brian Blakely

San Marcos, CA

Living well is the best revenge.

--T-ed