rant .......effin kids on scooters

so,just had a week of work due to workplace shutdown. glad of time off with the family,was also looking forward to a few good sessions. did i get 1 ???? hell no,why ?BLOODY 12YR OLDS ON SCOOTERS, ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH. the pesky critters are everywhere. a few i can deal with but when they all set off in a skatepark at the same time then go in every effin direction its just rediculus.i know i have been optomistic been easter and all but i never expected it to be so bad. made sweet f.a proggresion and dont even mention the shite weather.looks like its back to 8am on a sunday morning. one more thing,i will make dam sure when my son is big enough to skate that he never rides a chuffin scooter. rant over. d

Dartford skatepark has become like that now, like bleeding rats going in all directions at the same time. Have to do the early morning shift to get any chance of a skate.

Scooter kid at Radcliffe today (who like most, couldn't do any tricks.)

"This is how I ride!"

The other day I took one out bigtime

SLAM!!!!

Poor kid was in a bad way...crying etc

I had a massive bruise where he headbutted my leg

50 year old + 12 Stone + dropin speed > 10 year old 5 Stone kid + crossing my path

TBH they have won

I won't skate now if they are about.... they wont learn and when I slam into em I'm always in the wrong...... so now I only skate before they get out of bed.... I just dont want the hassle

shame really but there are just too many of em

Part of me wants to kill em
Part of me thinks "at least they are getting out and about"
I don't shout at them when they snake me - I have a quiet sweary word
Sometimes they move over to skateboards

At least they arn't football types n maybe will progress

Not all 12 year olds are into scooters

Check out Tom

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just barge. It's a skatepark not a playground.

yea,good on that kid,if only they were all like that. sat/sun morning from now on for me ,or skive work .....subject to undesirable uk weather....wont start on that rant ....

That was what killed off skating for a lot of us towards the end of the 70's. Clueless little bleeders whose parents had paid a fortune for skateboards they couldn't handle and were chuffed to bits they could dump the kids for 4 hours on a Sunday morning so they could nip back for a lie in and a Sunday morning quickie.

Admittedly they weren't on scooters, otherwise we'd have probably happily gutted the little shites, but were boarders so we let them get on with it. We went home when the parks opened officially and just visited them when he were shut. Rats describes them perfectly - no clue, no manners, no park-sense. You couldn't even walk through them as they skated like they play football, in one big lump with no-one actually getting anything done.

I think all that mad money being dropped on the retailers and the subsequent crash when the little gits moved on to whatever their next fad was is what really killed the UK scene.

I still get sad when I think about how it was ruined for us.

I went to my secret spot last night to find it over run with chavs on scooters, bloody great, not so secret anymore. I set about a carve session which did put the wind up em a bit tho they still managed to shaft my runs up. They just got no manners or sense.

we went to stockport the other day, i wasnt skating and im glad i wasnt...the whole place was fuckin commotion...i know that they can be annoying, if the park would go some way to addressing it then the place would be great for everyone as it is its turned to shit....real shit....shame really as im sure that with a bit of attention to the situation then everyone could have a much better time but as it is even the scooters are having a shit time everyone just cuts everyone up...................wank

I got back on the board only last summer so this whole scooters thing is pretty new to me and I'd like to ask a question to those who have been actively skating for the past few years: How long has this plague been going on? Basically what I'm trying to figure out is this: Have the scooters just boomed or are we likely to see their demise pretty soon? I'm already bracing myself for the probable bad news...

2 years ago there were a few but last year they started getting more numerous until this year it's just got plain stupid

Right... so we are right in thick of it... hmmm... may be (fairly) good news? Let's bloody hope...

[Weirdo]

I am sure the fad will end.

However, ( I am prepared to be shot) are they putting money into parks and shops so that they can keep going.

Would skate shops survive with just selling skateboards. I would be interested to know the % split of sales in a shop.

Also councils will feel that parks are worth while.

Hopefully, lots of new parks, shop owners make some cash, scooter fad dies, parks become empty.

Only issue is if then shop close down and parks shut as they make no money

All I know is that someone somewhere is making a killing from the things. Have you seen how much they cost? Some of the wheels are £20 EACH

Plenty of shops survive without selling out into other markets. Note, endemic, lost art, welcome, slam to name a few. We need to support these stores, and not those that give in and sell whatever the current fad is - blades, scooters etc. Quite a few shops abide by this moral code, and any that doesn't will never see my money.

Plenty of shops survive without selling out into other markets. Note, endemic, lost art, welcome, slam to name a few. We need to support these stores, and not those that give in and sell whatever the current fad is - blades, scooters etc. Quite a few shops abide by this moral code, and any that doesn't will never see my money.

I really do admire those shops however I have a friend that has had to "sell out" just to keep the shop open.
It's his livlehood, his income and he has to pay the bills.
He also sells BMX bikes and bits which isn't too bad as the local scene see a lot of bikes and boards getting on well and supporting each other.

Nice and sunny yesterday so I stupidly went to my localish park thinking I could put up with a few scooter rats. At least 30 of them there. Any more than 10 people (even skaters) makes it dangerously busy the way it's set up. Oh well.

Plenty of shops survive without selling out into other markets. Note, endemic, lost art, welcome, slam to name a few. We need to support these stores, and not those that give in and sell whatever the current fad is - blades, scooters etc. Quite a few shops abide by this moral code, and any that doesn't will never see my money.

I really do admire those shops however I have a friend that has had to "sell out" just to keep the shop open.
It's his livlehood, his income and he has to pay the bills.
He also sells BMX bikes and bits which isn't too bad as the local scene see a lot of bikes and boards getting on well and supporting each other.

I think there are too many shops these days anyway, the majority of which don't do a good job. I bet Sussex has far more than it needs. Take Manchester for example. It has 3 shops in spitting distance of each other, and only one is any good. Is it a wonder that this is the one that hasn't sold out?

Areas with big scenes like Leeds and Liverpool both have the one shop and neither has sold out. I think people are just used to having too easy these days. They've got a park on there doorstep so feel there should be a shop too. As a result they are happy to put up with any shit shop rather than travel for quality.

You also don't have to be in a big posh city to have a great shop. Look at endemic in huddersfield. Definately one of the best shops in the country, and they haven't sold out and doubt they ever will.

For me the minute you start selling scooters etc your no longer a true skate shop whether you are skater owned or not. In fact I have more issues about those that are skater owned and blab on about being S.O.S when essentially they're no better than route one etc

Note, endemic, lost art, welcome, slam to name a few.

They may not sell scooters, but they all (I'm not sure about Welcome) sell Nike sporting goods.

I don't see anything wrong in good skater owned shops selling scooters to help stay in buisness, I'd rather see that than see them get on their knees and start sucking Phil Knights cock ... if your gonna talk about "selling out", you should concern yourself with those actively seeking to take ownership of skateboarding, and mold into what THEY want.

Scooters, rollerblades, etc, are just products ... Nike are something much more sinister.

Nike have been around skating for years, just see how many people are rocking Jordan 1's in the early powell videos. Nike SB has been around since 2002 has a ridiculous team and puts out ridiculous videos and good product, just as adidas does. Yes they might be a major corp, but so are vans etc.

And how is nike trying to mold skating to be the way they want it to be? Could you explain this please.

Do you take the same dim view of riders sponsored by nike?

Plenty of shops survive without selling out into other markets. Note, endemic, lost art, welcome, slam to name a few. We need to support these stores, and not those that give in and sell whatever the current fad is - blades, scooters etc. Quite a few shops abide by this moral code, and any that doesn't will never see my money.

I really do admire those shops however I have a friend that has had to "sell out" just to keep the shop open.
It's his livlehood, his income and he has to pay the bills.
He also sells BMX bikes and bits which isn't too bad as the local scene see a lot of bikes and boards getting on well and supporting each other.

I think there are too many shops these days anyway, the majority of which don't do a good job. I bet Sussex has far more than it needs. Take Manchester for example. It has 3 shops in spitting distance of each other, and only one is any good. Is it a wonder that this is the one that hasn't sold out?

Areas with big scenes like Leeds and Liverpool both have the one shop and neither has sold out. I think people are just used to having too easy these days. They've got a park on there doorstep so feel there should be a shop too. As a result they are happy to put up with any shit shop rather than travel for quality.

You also don't have to be in a big posh city to have a great shop. Look at endemic in huddersfield. Definately one of the best shops in the country, and they haven't sold out and doubt they ever will.

For me the minute you start selling scooters etc your no longer a true skate shop whether you are skater owned or not. In fact I have more issues about those that are skater owned and blab on about being S.O.S when essentially they're no better than route one etc

You would be surprised about the lack of decent shops in Sussex.

Take Brighton for instance, that bastion of Culture, Pig City!
The last SOS shop "Another SkateShop" run by Stevie Thompson (Please correct me someone if I am wrong) shut down last year.
What a shame, I wasn't a regular customer but I did buy a few DVD's and bits for a bit of support. (The reason I wasn't a regular customer is because I didn't need much, I don't break boards and have all the kit I really need).
All we have now is Route One.
Oh and Buzz in the Punker Bunker Record shop who gets a few Death bits in.
The only other "shop" is Ocean Sports and Jamie has done a good job of getting stuff in but I don't think it has taken off like he wanted as the skate stock is being reduced.

There just isn't the decent shops like Re-al anymore and it's the friggin internet that has killed it, I'm sure of it.

I want a real skate shop full of skate bits that smells of urethane and wood. That's what we had when I was a kid and I want it now!

Nike have been around skating for years, just see how many people are rocking Jordan 1's in the early powell videos.

Yeah, they've been around ever since it became a viable business opportunity
As I'm sure you know, Jordans weren't made for skating, they where basketball boots adopted by skaters, mainly because there wasn't much else around back then.
Nike had no interest in skateboarding at the time, as it was such a small market ... same with any corporation, if there's not enough potential profit in it, they're not interested, it's their only motivation.

Nike SB has been around since 2002 has a ridiculous team and puts out ridiculous videos and good product

Well, I don't see how the length of somethings existence has any bearing on its character?.
They tried to get into skateboarding for a good while before 2002, but skaters saw them for what they are, and didn't let them in. They even tried sneaking in under the Savier brand (and more recently with Converse).
I've not seen anything in their vids that got me very stoked (I don't think I've seen all of them tho), I did like the slow-motion shots in the first one, but that was just a novelty really.
As for the quality of their footwear, I wouldn't expect anything less than great from a company as big as Nike, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they make crap stuff ... but peoples disliking of Nike is based on other considerations besides the quality of their product.

Nike are trying to systematically dismantle everything that skater owned shops, skateparks, and local scenes have built up over decades.
They are using skate shops as a tool to gain a market for their product, and once they've got people buying into "Nike SB", they'll take their products out of the skate shops and back into the huge chain stores where they can make more profit. They'll probably start making decks and wheels and everything else you could need too (just like they do with golf, basketball, football, etc).
Plus, they'll probably try to lure other struggling skate brands to sell through their distribution and chain stores with them ... so skater owned shops will lose customers, and many will probably disappear

And how is nike trying to mold skating to be the way they want it to be? Could you explain this please.

I believe Nike want skating to be a mainstream sport, just like football, basketball, golf, etc ... the more mainstream they can make it, the bigger their market, the more stuff they can sell, the more profit they can make ... and just like anything that gets huge sums of money thrown at it, it becomes nothing more than a business, so in the process skating gets dumbed down to its lowest common denominator. We've already had skate teams, skate cheerleaders, spin to win, an audience of people watching purely to see someone get hurt *cough* Jake Brown *cough*, etc ... if you like that stuff, fair enuff, but I hate it.

So, fuck Nike ... or maybe I'm just paranoid

Nike have been around skating for years, just see how many people are rocking Jordan 1's in the early powell videos.

Yeah, they've been around ever since it became a viable business opportunity
As I'm sure you know, Jordans weren't made for skating, they where basketball boots adopted by skaters, mainly because there wasn't much else around back then.
Nike had no interest in skateboarding at the time, as it was such a small market ... same with any corporation, if there's not enough potential profit in it, they're not interested, it's their only motivation.

Nike SB has been around since 2002 has a ridiculous team and puts out ridiculous videos and good product

Well, I don't see how the length of somethings existence has any bearing on its character?.
They tried to get into skateboarding for a good while before 2002, but skaters saw them for what they are, and didn't let them in. They even tried sneaking in under the Savier brand (and more recently with Converse).
I've not seen anything in their vids that got me very stoked (I don't think I've seen all of them tho), I did like the slow-motion shots in the first one, but that was just a novelty really.
As for the quality of their footwear, I wouldn't expect anything less than great from a company as big as Nike, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they make crap stuff ... but peoples disliking of Nike is based on other considerations besides the quality of their product.

Nike are trying to systematically dismantle everything that skater owned shops, skateparks, and local scenes have built up over decades.
They are using skate shops as a tool to gain a market for their product, and once they've got people buying into "Nike SB", they'll take their products out of the skate shops and back into the huge chain stores where they can make more profit. They'll probably start making decks and wheels and everything else you could need too (just like they do with golf, basketball, football, etc).
Plus, they'll probably try to lure other struggling skate brands to sell through their distribution and chain stores with them ... so skater owned shops will lose customers, and many will probably disappear

And how is nike trying to mold skating to be the way they want it to be? Could you explain this please.

I believe Nike want skating to be a mainstream sport, just like football, basketball, golf, etc ... the more mainstream they can make it, the bigger their market, the more stuff they can sell, the more profit they can make ... and just like anything that gets huge sums of money thrown at it, it becomes nothing more than a business, so in the process skating gets dumbed down to its lowest common denominator. We've already had skate teams, skate cheerleaders, spin to win, an audience of people watching purely to see someone get hurt *cough* Jake Brown *cough*, etc ... if you like that stuff, fair enuff, but I hate it.

So, fuck Nike ... or maybe I'm just paranoid

So come on then what skate shoe brand isn't guilty of that? Hell vans opened skateparks in shopping malls, and there's a Vans store in pretty much every city in the country! Nikes popularity as a skate shoe has been going down hill for a good few years now, and the dunk boom died a death a long time ago. I don't think them selling there product in big chain stores will put any decent skate store out of business.

Sounds like you've been listening to Birdo's rambles a bit too much.

And I'm surprised your not stoked on the video stuff Nike has put out. Thought the likes of lance mountain, grant Taylor, Chet Childress, Peter Hewitt and al partanan would be right up your street.





Out of interest what shoes do you skate?

I don't know how many skate shops are in Nottingham, I go to one (don't want to mention which) from time to time just to get mags and nothing else... Why? It looks like a fucking boutique! They don't sell scooters (kudos to that I admit) but it's racks of shoes and clothing (and hats, belts, headphones... you know, hipster paradise...) with a small glass cabinet with a few selection of wheels/trucks and even less boards behind the counter... I remember skate shops used to be the opposite: Loads of gear and few clothing racks... and if they had loads of clothing, they certainly made sure to have even more gear! It's difficult to say no to buying on the internet when you have shops like that...

Bullet why not name them if you're not happy with the store?
Forty two looks good from what I've heard so maybe you should start going there. It also looks like a boutique but it has the product to back it up.

I don't want to name them because, in the end, they are just people trying to get by and the fact that they don't sell scooters/blades is already a point in their favour (EDIT: also they are pretty active... when a new park opens they always seems to be involved and throw in prizes and goodies on the open days and stuff)... it was just my opinion... and yes, is not 42... never been there, I'll give it a nudge...

I think you'll be impressed. Very good selection of product including massive boards, old school shapes and big soft wheels. S.O.S not a scooter or blade in sight, or a nike for that matter. Looks that good I'm thinking of a visit myself.

Check out there site and let me know your initial impressions. Wouldn't be surprised if you visit tomorrow!

[Weirdo]

I have no issue with shops selling scooters or anything else. What I would like is shops nearby.

At the moment it is a 40 mile trip to a store. As a result Internet is the option of choice.

If a shop opened in Chester that sold scooters I would go

Chester to Liverpool is about 30 minutes drive. Is that not worth it to support a good shop and check out what your spending your money on? I don't get how you could buy a board online unless it's one you've skated before. There's also a lot to be said for supporting a shop, they'll sort you out and get you whatever product you want. You could also fit in a skate while your over there. Same with manchester which is about 50 minutes drive.

Sorry but i dont agree with some of this shite that ive just read on this thread.
My local skate shop sells scooters, they also sell a fantastic selection of skate gear and give one HELL of a lot back to the skate community.
The thing is tho,if they didnt sell the scooters, the trade would NOT be there. Well it would be but not to the extent it is at the mo with all the extra cash getting generated buy the sale of scooters and the extra hardwear etc.
Ive been in one of the shops on a weekend and it is full to the brim of the scooterisms buying bits via their parents credit cards etc etc and you actually have to queue up.
Now the last time i had to do the same in a skate shop was probably in Split Skates in the late 80s at the peak of the boom.

It keeps the shop alive, it keeps the parks alive.

Its also basic commercial sense for a shop to do it.Why do you think petrol stations also sell snacks, coffee, drinks etc? To make extra money.
The skate trade in this country just is NOT as big and certainly not as LOYAL as you think. Im not having a pop at anyone on here as i know that nearly everyone will support their local SOS but do you think every skater in your area does the same?
Like fuck they do!
A shop cannot survive on people talking about its stock, only by people purchasing the stock.

Theres also another shop in the opposite direction fro where i live. He also does well but he aims at the fashion markets. Does that make him less of a 'sell-out' because he doesnt sell scooters but sells 'streetwear' (...whatever the fuck that may be! )

and as for Nike.....
DON'T DO IT


http://www.dontdoitfoundation.org/

Sorry but i dont agree with some of this shite that ive just read on this thread.
My local skate shop sells scooters, they also sell a fantastic selection of skate gear and give one HELL of a lot back to the skate community.
The thing is tho,if they didnt sell the scooters, the trade would NOT be there. Well it would be but not to the extent it is at the mo with all the extra cash getting generated buy the sale of scooters and the extra hardwear etc.
Ive been in one of the shops on a weekend and it is full to the brim of the scooterisms buying bits via their parents credit cards etc etc and you actually have to queue up.
Now the last time i had to do the same in a skate shop was probably in Split Skates in the late 80s at the peak of the boom.

It keeps the shop alive, it keeps the parks alive.

Its also basic commercial sense for a shop to do it.Why do you think petrol stations also sell snacks, coffee, drinks etc? To make extra money.
The skate trade in this country just is NOT as big and certainly not as LOYAL as you think. Im not having a pop at anyone on here as i know that nearly everyone will support their local SOS but do you think every skater in your area does the same?
Like fuck they do!
A shop cannot survive on people talking about its stock, only by people purchasing the stock.

Theres also another shop in the opposite direction fro where i live. He also does well but he aims at the fashion markets. Does that make him less of a 'sell-out' because he doesnt sell scooters but sells 'streetwear' (...whatever the fuck that may be! )

and as for Nike.....
DON'T DO IT


http://www.dontdoitfoundation.org/

Note. the above details about the shop might not be accurate but thats the way a lot of people see it and will continue to support them no matter what they do.

Lots of interesting points being made here.What I am wondering is what are shops that depend on income from scooter sales going to do when it all crashes? Is there going to be something equally as lucrative/annoying to take its place? My argument against selling scooters is not the fact that shops are diversifying,it is that they are fuelling something that has a negative impact on skateparks.Back when rollerblades were what kids were riding,were skate shops selling them?Of course,chain stores were but I don't remember them being in so many skate shops.Is there really nothing else that money could be invested into to generate income? From my own perspective,I have a vintage clothing business that allows me to minimise the financial pressure I put on the skate shop.This allows a certain amount of freedom in what we stock too,although this is subject to demand (within reason).
As for Nike and Adidas,they make it as difficult as possible for small shops to benefit from their 'benevolence'.Vans,at least,have always been easy to deal with and do not only have their eyes set on big margins.

Well hotrod 99% of street wear brands have come from a skate back ground and have a skate team so yes that does make him less of a sell out. I've already said that I'd rather have less parks and shops than have the scooters. These shops that sell scooters will just die when the scooter boom does.
And as for birdo, he's always been full of shit.

And as for talking about stock I merely pointed bullet in the direction of a good s.o.s in his hometown. Hopefully he'll shop there now. So yes word of mouth is a very good thing.

Less parks and shops??
So tell me, where will people buy their equipment? where would kids wanting to skate buy their gear? and once the health and safety laws take over the planet like they have in most US states, where exactly would you skate then?

How long have YOU been skating by the way?
And if you owned a skatehsop, how would YOU maker it continue to turn a profit??

Brilliant because I'm younger than the majority of people on this forum and i have these views you insinuate I've only been skating for 2 minutes. I've been skating for 25 years! Yes there have been a couple of breaks but i've never lost touch with skating. How in touch with skating have you been over the years, and how in touch with the current skate world are you?

What would my shop do? The same as welcome, endemic, lost art, note, slam and all the other good shops. It would sell good product that people want to buy. Yes it would sell street wear because as I've said they are all skate related. Lets take the current biggest names in street wear: supreme, obey, diamond, rebel 8 and huf - do you really need me to explain there links to skating and why they have a legit place in the skateshops of today. There is nothing wrong with shops selling decent clothing, not all of us want to look like a fucking 12 year old.

Where would kids buy there gear? They'd get up of there arse and travel to buy just like I had to.

Where would kids skate? If it weren't for a lot of these parks cropping up then street skating would be in a healthy state, and not what it is today. Lets not forget that a lot of what councils build is absolute shit and then clamp down and street skating because there is a park available.

Went into London the other day to Slam City Skates.. WTF happened to them??? a small collection of decks hanging in one corner and they had about 4 sets of wheels for sale!! that shop which was/is 'Skater owned' has turned into a fucking clothes shop for all of the fashion victims that want to to wear 'skater branded clothes' ( yes Nike as well) but have never, and will never ride a skateboard.
And guess what.. I was looking for some Nike shoes ( am I a sucker then?? ), Slam City didn't have my sons size and their prices where fucking OTT. A few shops away from Slam City was a Nike store, we went in and asked if they sold any of the SB or 6.0 range. they said "no because there are skate shops in the area and it would be bad relations to do this" and told us that there main store on Oxford street had and has a sale on so we went to have a look.
I bought a pair of Nike 6.0's for £26!!!

As for the scooter rant ( isn't this what this thread is about???) there will always be some little cunts getting in the way. Be it BMX, Skateboards, Fruit boots etc etc is ok for skateboarders to get in the way or snake you?? In fact if you skate my local park at 'the wrong time' it will be stolen motcycles that will be getting in your way.

If you want a nice empty park then set your alarm clock and get out there nice and early. also hit some of the parks that do Old Man's nights and support them. If no one goes then we will loose these nights. Unit One does this and only around 10 or 12 regulars turn up. In fact only 7 people went last month!!

Stop fucking moaning about scooters and shops and just go out and fucking skate.

The Sun is out now, the kids are at school and I'm going skating! ( in my adidas shoes )

Highest price of £65 is ott? Slam also carries plenty of decent stock, you have to remember they have 2 shops so there stock maybe split across the 2.

The argument is still about scooters. If shops didn't cash in on the boom there would be less of em about.

I dislike Nike because of the chav image that goes with the majority of their clients. I dislike most sports they are associated with as well so for me it is a no go.
However I sometimes forget that Vans are no longer a small local buisness dealing with skaters.
But for me at least they have the right image through my rose tinted spectacles.

I like / want more parks to be built.
As much as I'd like to I don't skate street, I'm just not good enough!
For me it's all about the bowls and ramps.
If that means skate shops sell scooters then I guess that's what will have to happen.
Doesn't mean I like it though.

If anything is to blame it should be the internet for making it so easy to buy whatever we want from wherever it is sold.
If we had to go to real shop everytime maybe there would be more SOS.
But you will never get that now so it's no use wishing it.

Hate to crack your rose tinted specs but vans are on the feet are more chavs than any other trainer these days.

That's what I mean!

The latest fashion for the kids round here is the old school vans.
My daughter laughed at mine.......... now she wants some because everyone else has them.

And the next craze thats well and truly on it's way is the big vert tube socks. So this forum is going to be more fashionable than it thinks.

The argument is still about scooters. If shops didn't cash in on the boom there would be less of em about.

so if newsagents and petrol stations didnt sell pornographic magazines, there would be no pornography??

Chris K...just dont read this 'nightmare of a post'

Again, I have a few pairs of the tube socks and my daughter laughs at them.

I'm going to be the coolest dressed dad for a while now!

Oh and I still think Nike is shit

Again, I have a few pairs of the tube socks and my daughter laughs at them.

Im not fucking suprised... youre not auditioning for 'Fame' now!

The argument is still about scooters. If shops didn't cash in on the boom there would be less of em about.

so if newsagents and petrol stations didnt sell pornographic magazines, there would be no pornography??

Chris K...just dont read this 'nightmare of a post'

Ridiculous response, and i said less not none. Also interesting that you haven't commented on my response to your post questioning my skate history.

Who's side are you on anyway you fuck?

The argument is still about scooters. If shops didn't cash in on the boom there would be less of em about.

so if newsagents and petrol stations didnt sell pornographic magazines, there would be no pornography??

Chris K...just dont read this 'nightmare of a post'

Ridiculous response, and i said less not none. Also interesting that you haven't commented on my response to your post questioning my skate history.

i thought i had but i mustve not sent it!
I never commented on your age, i just asked how long you had been skating. that is all.

yes maybe a ridiculous response but the general idea is still the same is it not?

Does the length of time really make a difference?

I would put more emphasis on how you put something back in, whether it be on the council of an orgainsed park commitee or whether building DIY spots completley off the radar.

Not having a pop just a swerve on opinion...........

The age things come from my views on knee pads but thats a whole different story. As for porn of course it's different. The net is now the home of porn, and not the news agent. Why spend £5 on a jazz mag when you've got xnxx for free?

This whole argument started because people bitch and moan about scooters in there parks yet they support the shops that sell them. It's ridiculous.

Hotrod you seem to share birdo's views, what do you think he would make of skate shops selling scooters? And I'm still interested to hear why brands such as huf, diamond etc don't have a legit place in skateshops?

So come on then what skate shoe brand isn't guilty of that?

I'm not a huge fan of Vans or Adidas either, but it's only Nike that appear to be making such a huge play for power ... and of course Nike are the biggest, and so naturally the worst.

I don't think them selling there product in big chain stores will put any decent skate store out of business.

Why? ... Why would skate shops be any different to any of the other small independent businesses (grocers, bakers, iron mongers, music shops, etc) that have been shut down when big corporations have moved in on them?

Sounds like you've been listening to Birdo's rambles a bit too much.

Nah, sounds like you've been listening to the Nike marketing pitch a bit too much

That Grant Taylor clip was great, thanks, I've not seen that before ... the pool service clip I have seen before, and it's horrible, great skating, but it's just a really cheesy Nike advert, the product placement isn't exactly subtle is it ...



Action shot, cut to Nike logo, action shot, cut to Nike logo, action shot, cut to Nike logo, on and on ... this kind of blatant manipulation shows Nikes true colours, it's just business.

And as for birdo, he's always been full of shit.

How so?

Stop fucking moaning about scooters and shops and just go out and fucking skate.

The winner.

Right Naus

As I've previously said Nike's massive popularity in skating is now over, and thats why you won't see decent skate shops shutting down when nike sell there skate shoes in chain stores. As for the product placement, you can't blame them thats what adverts are for. I merely picked that as it's nike related skating that I thought you would be stoked on, I could have posted countless other videos without the product placement that you would have also been stoked on.

As for Birdo well I could go on for days.

Brido famously kicked off half of the con team because they got sponsored by nike. Why didn't he do the same in the 90's when he had team members sponsored by puma? Hell Scott Bourne even had a pro shoe on Puma.

Look at this footage of Jason Jessee skating the old vert ramp in the con warehouse....



Anyone notice the puma banner on the wall?


When he kicked off these riders con's glory days were over. For years the brand had been surviving on the legends of it's riders, as they were slowing down so was the company. The only thing it had going for it was the best graphics in the game. Though that went to shit when he spit his dummy out over Todd bratruds first dunk. The problem birdo had was Todd used a white, black and blue colour scheme and birdo wasn't impressed had a big fall out with Todd and booted him from doing any work for con again. He also fucked himself even further following this. Todd's dunk was originally know as the "send help" dunk, but after birdo's melt down it became known as the "con dunk" and demand for it went up. Since that day whether he likes it or not his brand has become synonymous with nike and the dunk, this probably wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been such a knob.

At this point con had turned to shit, and birdo turns to another woeful brand in osiris to produce the "bullshit drunk" which essentially a very badly made con dunk with a banana instead of the swoosh. This however was mainly bought by shoe collectors and not skaters, and therefore back firing. Whats also amusing here is the "don't do it" stand of by the skaters for the skaters doesn't stand for shit when it comes to osiris who have teams in fmx, mtb, and bmx. Since the drunk there have been other shoes that have been equally bollocks. His latest attack being at Vans. With all this don't do it shit Birdo has simply jumped on a band wagon to sell product from his dying company.

From that it should be pretty clear to see why he's full of shit. Shame too con used to be an amazing company that I loved. Kyle Berrard's a ripper that i'd like to see on another team so maybe we'd see more of him.

didnt think i would have to join in this rant but this morning made me angry , went to a skatepark in the next town first thing few scooter kids there who were good as gold and helped my son whos 6 go down the flatbank then a few kids on skateboards showed up who i showed how to drop in and they even said thanks. good times . decided to go to my local park a bit later and turned up too some 16 yr olds saying " omg a fucking skateboarder ... how much you bet he snakes everyone " i was mega shocked . so my boy was keeping himself to himself riding the small kickers and overheard one say im gonna jump over him. i was fuming and ready to wrap the scooter round his head , anyways they were being very disrespectful to me and my "old man board " until 2 kids who seemed decent said " hes been probaly skating here before you was born " which was true i spent my teens there. anyways i spent the day getting snaked and being called too old. i enjoy a bit of banter and piss taking but they were horrific. cant wait till they are back in school next week .

so , what the fuck happened to the respect and where did all the skateboarders vanish too ?

16 and old enough to know better, You should have barged and taken them out. No way they would have gotten away with making threats towards my kid.

Wow, there's a lot of issues on this thread!

In relation to scooters, the numbers of them seem to have got seriously out of control recently. I went to Hebden Bridge the other week and I've never seen so many.

I do think it's slightly cynical for skateshops to suddenly start selling scooter stuff but we've all got mortgages and bills and if it's a case of selling a bit of scooter kit or going out of business then it doesn't seem much of a choice to me.

As to park's killing off street skating, I'm not sure about that. It was never all that much fun continually getting chased off places and hassled by security, which used to happen even when there were no parks involved. The end of Sunday tradings laws and town centres and trading estates which closed at 5.30pm in the weekday evenings probably affected it more in my opinion.

In relation to Nike, I think they probably just got wind of how many shoes they could potentially sell to the skate market and it was a bit of a no-brainer for them to get involved, with all the manufacturing and marketing infrastucture they have. I may be wrong but I can't see them getting involved in making decks, wheels trucks, bearings etc. Camo Pete makes some good points about them being difficult to deal with and I suppose the risk is that they and Adidas may drive other companies out of the market. I'll stick with my battered ES Square Two's (currently being stockpiled for when no longer available) for the time being.

Anyway, back to scooters, I can kind of understand why they have become popular with kids. Skateboarding now seems to have become really focussed on executing difficult tricks - and I'm not knocking that as some of the stuff out there is mindblowing - but for the average young kid picking up a skateboard for the first time and wobbling down the street that must seem unattainable. Far easier for groups of young kids to get themselves scooters and be dropping in and tail-shipping within hours. Ultimately less rewarding, yes, but understandable. I suspect older 'scooterists' may move onto skateboarding when they realise the limitations of scooters (really just a poor skateboard with a stick on the end) but I reckon with younger kids they'll be around for a while unfortunately.

I suspect older 'scooterists' may move onto skateboarding when they realise the limitations of scooters (really just a poor skateboard with a stick on the end).

- Check the Skootboarding thread out its mint!

Yes these little shits are annoying but what can be done about it...

Its just another phase/craze (as with wearing Vans as a fashion accessory) that will be superseded with something else - First it was Micro then Razor, then JDBug and now MGP & Pheonix (dont get me started on the spelling of that!) are the must ride scoots to be seen on. My two are 9yo and have suffered from the affliction but are already getting bored of it and surprisingly winge about other scooter riders getting in each others way as much as us MASers (though with perhaps a little less venom) They see me and other 'olds' sk8ing and realise where its really at and has been 'Since day One' and will be even when scooting is no more.

I think the comments about skating getting too technical or even (dare i say it) stunt orientated and putting would be boarders off may have some weight. Theres no denying some tech skating can be eye wateringly amazing to watch, but to someone like me, an average joe, completely unattainable. What happened to just getting out there and carving it the f*ck up.

We just gotta be thankful that all these parks are getting built for these little brats who've parents have more money than sense.. then when it dies a death get out there and claim whats rightfully ours Though in fairness I will probably be too immobile by then but until then sk8 or die

I wear Nike and Vans btw - bite me - stop the in-fighting, get over it, support your local shop and just bloody skate

Was at the local recently (been raining since innit) and had about 20mins before the scooter hordes began to arrive.
I know what you're thinking - just another f'ing scooterist bashing

Anyway, there were 4 of 5 of them (quite young) at the lip, just me and another skater and I overhear them discussing that they 'should' take it turns to ride the bowl because that's what it says on the rules board in the park (WTF, these kids can read?) and proceeded to have a nice little session for 20 mins or so. They were pumping, trying, talking about tiles... ... it was actually kind of alright.

Soon enough, the local scooterking arrives with his entourage and proceeds to drop in and roll out the whips and that crazy axeman move all over the place. From then on it was bedlam; As if despite best intentions, the scooter groms are pulled along with the outright ignorance of the older scooterists and they're all in there... crashing into each other, lying on the trannys* filming each other slowing down with each wall. Business as usual.

Anyone getting ANY indications that the kids are even aware of what they are doing?
Am always tempted to ask them to ask their mum or dad what 'ignorance' means....might just get a punch on the nose from an irate parent though of course

Our nice quiet Friday at XC was ruined yesterday when thousands of the brainless idiots turned up and proceeded to get in everybody's way. On the plus side one of them did get carted off in an ambulance so I suppose that's one less to worry about for the next couple of weeks.
It was hilarious though, watching two of them drop in from opposite sides of the mini only to crash head on in the middle. When the XC Lifeguard came over to see if they were alright he ended up chucking them out for overstaying the morning session.