Words and quotes all written by
Doug Brown. All postings copyright 2002-2013 Doug
Brown
"I'm attracted to dreamers, people that think
outside the box of the normal. That outcast, that person
marching to the beat of their own drummer has a spark.
When I'm at a skatepark and I see someone doing something
original and expressive without following the mundane
trick selection everyone else is, that individual gets my
respect. I love creative individuals. Heart is involved
in original thought. Followers and clones can't bring
change or individuality. Whether it be skateboarding or a
painting. Let's be artists in this life, it's everything.
Be yourself."
"In life if you have a goal or dream the word
"can't" should never be spoken. Creating your
own path and luck can be done by piggy backing on choices
you've made in your past. Those day to day choices create
your future. Optimism, tenacity, and drive have shaped my
choices, the word "can't" was never in my
vocabulary during my journey, which still
continues."
"It's good to think outside the box in life and
skateboarding. Make a statement, don't be the follower.
Take pride in originality and individual expression. The
more open our minds are the more compassionate we are to
our fellow human beings. Believing gossip and being
uneducated on something or someone that you are judging
is one of the most common and highly visible forms of
ignorance."
"You can live and dwell in the past or be consumed
by the unseeable illusive future. I'm completely obsessed
with the here and now, it's all we really have."
"If anyone calls you odd or different, they've
confirmed their own imprisonment of normalcy, take it as
a compliment."
"I found my voice through being in theater, my
guitar, piano, writing, and speaking but my skateboard
took me there."
"Sometimes you have to put yourself out there to be
criticized, misunderstood, and ridiculed to be someone's
hero, it's totally worth it."
"You can find a family in the people you reach, your
friendships, and the people you surround yourself
with."
"The only person you should try to be better than is
yourself"
"I grew up watching Mr.Rogers. He
would always say, "I like you just the way you
are." Kids don't hear that today in our society.
They are raised with fast gadgets and touch screens. Slow
down, talk with one another, learn from one
another."
"There
is nothing worse than a man who verbally or physically
abuses a woman. I think it's disgusting and repulsive.
Women are incredibly beautiful inside and out. They
belong on that pedestal and should be treated with
respect, dignity, and honor."
"Everyday should be Sweetest Day. Get the door for
someone, pat a friend on the back. Tell the people you
care about that they mean something to you. The little
things in life carry the most weight, they do matter and
they add up."
"Art
is everything. Life is art. Movement is art, an
expression, noises, and views. Art should not be just
viewed as just a painting on a wall. Life is art and art
is life."
"A hater will always downplay your success only to
feed their own insecurity and jealousy."
"There is magic in motion. There is energy in
change. There is something in all of us to make a
difference in anyway, everyday."
“Your eyes should be open to dream becoming
reality”
"If one hates everyone this includes themselves
therein lies the problem"
"Education, intelligence and compassion illuminates
ignorance"
"Love is the currency to embrace whereas money and
fame are a tangible false importance"
"To hate ones differences is rooted by insecurity
and selfishness. To be accepting of it is rooted by love
and selflessness."
"An empathetic open mind is a sign of maturity and
acceptance. To disagree with skin color or sexual
orientation is a sign of hate and bigotry"
“A mentor's voice can be reborn and reused within
the admirer at hand”
"We all have some screws loose,
common sense and intelligence can diminish that"
"One that judges those in the spotlight often hides
behind the curtain of no courage"
"We
should always learn from our experiences, the good and
the bad. Its how we grow as people"
- Doug Brown
DREAM CHASER
When chasing a dream remember, no one is
entitled to just have success fall in their lap. Things
can take years of sacrifice, discipline, tenacity and
extreme drive. I've been a professional athlete for over
ten years now. I remember standing on the top of a ramp
competing in the pro event at the AST Dew Tour in 2007.
Here I was along side some of the best skateboarders in
the world. I was on national TV, I had paying sponsors,
tour dates, I had been in the magazines. Rewind to the
beginning of 2002, I was essentially a nobody. After
being discovered at the Gravity Games in 2002 I got my
first big sponsor and began making connections. I
remember my first trip to San Diego I booked a flight
with my own cash to attend an industry trade show where I
got to skate and meet team mangers and industry people. I
was making my own waves and hookups, on my own. I asked
nothing from anyone. I took risks, I made phone calls, I
hustled, I bled. I didn't get paid a dime in the
beginning. I went through the rumor mill subjecting
myself to criticism and so forth. I was going to move
forward but on my own terms never sacrificing who I was
or what I represented. I did loads and loads of
competitions and industry events. I put myself out there.
Fast forward to 2013, my credits now speak for
themselves. My point? When chasing a dream remember no
one owes you anything. If you are chasing fame and money
as your destination you are setting yourself up for
disappointment. I believed in myself. I knew what I was
doing ultimately in the end would reach and inspire
people. Money was never ever the objective. Chase the
dream, but do it for the right reasons. In the end all we
have is each other.
SKATEBOARDING AT 40
I've been shredding faithfully for over 27 years. When
you reach my age you have nothing to prove on that board
and those four spinning wheels. The only competition I
have is with myself to keep riding for the reasons that
made me fall in love with skateboarding in the first
place. When someone has been skateboarding over half your
life you can't show them up. Doesn't matter how many
tricks you have in your bag or how many stairs you can
ollie. If someone has been skateboarding before you were
born they should have your badge of respect. They've been
a part of a movement that has paved the way and played a
part in your skateboarding. The clock ticks fast and the
years add up in a blink, before you know it you will be
that old guy at the park and you will have carried the
torch to the next generation while skateboarding. Skate
for life
RESPECT YOUR PARENTS AND OTHERS
What's with all the "I hate my mom, my mom is such a
this or that" posts on Facebook? To see these posts
in a news feed saddens me. A few years ago I was having a
skate session with my friends and I heard a disturbance
at the far end of the skatepark. A crowd began to circle
around a shaken father and his teenage daughter. She was
yelling and cursing at the top of her lungs being
completely irrational. I took a leap of faith and walked
into the middle of her rant. I began by telling her
someday she will regret yelling at her father like this.
I told her how my mother passed away when I was her age
and I live in regret for a lot of the things I said to
her. I asked the girl, "Who paid for the water for
your shower today? Who paid for your breakfast this
morning? Who bought your shoes?" Her silent reply to
my questions were apparent on her stunned face. I backed
away and her tone towards her father completely changed
and their rant became a discussion appearing to end in
resolve. My intervention took courage, right or wrong I
was glad I did it. I've been there. We tend to hurt the
ones we love the most sometimes. When I was a teen I
would lash out to my mom, I see it now that it was a hug
in disguise. We were so alike and stubborn in our ways.
My parents put me through a lot, boot camps, private
schools, institutions, and more. As an adult I don't hate
them for putting me through that. Whether it was right or
wrong it has made me who I am today. Adversity makes
strong people. So to the kids posting how much they hate
their parents I ask you to question your intentions.
Remember what they've done for you and given you, not
what they haven't done or haven't given you. Respect your
parents and others.
FREEDOM SKATERS
On this Martin Luther King Day take a moment
to realize the importance of his being and direction. All
cultures have energies of unnecessary hate and ignorance.
Embrace diversity and respect your fellow skater, biker,
blader, scooter, or whatever one chooses to ride. So jump
off the message boards, put down your camera, and go ride
for freedom. No rules, no limits, right on, ride on...
To hate another on the basis of their
differences is rooted by insecurity and selfishness. To
be accepting of our differences is rooted by love and
selflessness.
THE HATE IN SKATE
Skateboarding is what you make it. Don't let
anyone tell you what tricks you should or should not do.
The measure of a skater is through attitude more than
maneuver. People that spread hate in skateboarding are
filled with insecurity and fear. To invest so
much time in ones dislike is a waste of time and energy.
Skateboarding is an art community filled with diverse
individuals which each posses a unique style. We should
embrace different approaches and not stray from
diversity. Blues music consists of three basic chords but
each person plays them differently. Bringing forth hate
to the table displays an immaturity and ignorance which
shouldn't belong in any culture. I stay clear of rumor
mills and message boards. The only board I'm on is the
one under my feet, my skateboard.
THE SKATEBOARD BULLY
Today I received a concerning email from a
young man. I had seen him a couple times at the same
indoor skatepark in my home state. It was obvious he had
his own style and we always talked about being original
with our skateboarding. His email started with, "I'm
thinking of quitting skateboarding." He was being
bullied and other skaters were poking fun of his tricks
and were discouraging him from skating the way he wanted
to. The depression underneath the paragraph was apparent.
To me this wasn't just about skateboarding. Although it
sickens me that something representing freedom and
creativity has a population of people conforming and not
accepting diversity in people. When I got into skating at
the age of twelve it was to be an individual, to be part
of something that had no rules or creative limitations.
Being a big advocate of keeping skateboarding creative I
encouraged him to never stop and to focus on what skating
does for him personally. We should never change ourselves
because someone or a group wants us to conform to their
narrow definition of what cool is. As compassionate human
beings we have a responsibility to accept and understand
our differences. Innovation should be celebrated in any
art form and not discouraged. A bullier or hater doesn't
understand empathy and there's something within
themselves causing them to be insecure and ignorant.
Stand strong and be free to be yourself. It's a big world
out there, so get out there and skate it... not hate it.
RESPECT
This is targeted to the lost skateboarder
trying to find their way in the skate universe or those
in the dark about the evolution of skateboarding. Much
like learning about your parents and where you came from
the same can be said concerning our skate forefathers. It
blows my mind that lots of kids don't know who Christian
Hosoi or Steve Caballero are. Names like Eric Dresson,
Bill Danforth, Jeff Phillips, the list goes on and on. Or
the kids who openly say Tony Hawk sucks. That's just
wrong and they've been mislead somewhere along the way.
Especially when the kid saying this can barely stand on
his board. Tony was such an influence on my skating and
millions of others. In the mid eighties kids made fun of
Rodney Mullen. I remember going to a skateshop and the
shop owner fast forwarding Rodney's part in a video. And
today Rodney now has a sea of fans and is getting the
much deserved respect. He was indeed ahead of his time.
I'm optimistic that this new younger generation will
learn to appreciate the roots of skateboarding through
all the decades while accepting diversity. As true
skateboarders we are all part of one long chain. It's
what you contribute to the skate culture that counts.
Learning your roots brings weight to this theory. There
is some amazing young talent out there but too many of
these kids are disrespecting the pioneers of the sport.
These forefathers helped pave the way to make
skateboarding what it is today. If it wasn't for them you
wouldn't be hitting up the streets, rails, stairs, pools,
skateparks, or anything in-between. Respect the older
dudes shredding at a session. They were skating before
you were born. I've been so fortunate in my travels to
meet and spend time with pioneers like Tony Alva, Peggy
Oki, Shogo Kubo, Gordy Lienemann, Skip Engblom, Lance
Mountain, and countless others. Skaters like myself were
skating in the early nineties when it was considered very
uncool to ride. I remember people I went to school with
asking me if I still skated with a chuckle under their
breath. I realize in what I say ages myself and I'm sure
the day will come when the popular skaters of today will
come and go. I have been skating since 1986 and I've seen
the trends in skating wax and wane in popularity.
Skateboarding is so much more than how many stairs you
can ollie. If you haven't figured that out for yourself
yet, then let me repeat what my dad told me years ago
when he said, “You haven't lived long enough"
If you truly love the sport and have fun doing it thats
great. Just don't forget that the skaters of today were
all influenced some degree from somewhere. So jump on
ebay and check out the old Bones Brigade videos. Track
down H-Street's Hokus Pokus vid. Lots of these videos
have been reissued. Rent the original documentary Dogtown
and Z-Boys and Christian Hosoi's Rising Son dvd. Check
out the book The Concrete Wave by Michael Brooke. Educate
yourself and pass it along.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
I'm doing something different. I'm bringing
something to the table. Being creative and original is
important to me. I'll take the backlash of sticking out.
I'm having fun skateboarding the way I want. Conforming
to what someone's idea of what tricks a skateboarder
should do is not something I'm willing to subscribe to.
There is too much hate and unnecessary competition in
skateboarding today. I just want to encourage kids to not
be afraid to be themselves. It doesn't matter what other
people think about you. Believe in yourself. I'm living
proof that sticking to your guns and being original and
positive has paid off. Had I chose to do only
standardized mainstream tricks throughout my travels and
the Gravity Games I would of just blended in with all the
other people. It was taking a stand in doing what I
enjoyed that I believe people react to. I don't think you
have to kill yourself doing an ollie over an 80 stairset
to prove anything. After skating for 21 years I know the
real tricks don't lye in the size of your balls. I've
taken risks and pushed the envelope while competing with
myself. I always try to pay attention to my limits. For
people who hate or skate for the wrong reasons ask
yourself... what have you contributed to the skate
culture? With all that said I can't help but wonder why
some people get into skateboarding. For me it's provided
an amazing creative outlet filled with friends, travel
and adventure. I always appreciated the simple things
from catching air to rolling down the driveway. I'm now
in a great position to positively influence and mentor
kids across the world.
SKATEBOARDING INTO THE AGES
A question that seems to land on my plate often is
"What do you plan to do when you can't skate
anymore?" Typically it's the question that comes
from the concerned parent or programed suit and tie guy.
Asking a skateboarder when they plan to stop skating is
like asking Monet or Picasso when they plan to put down
the brush. Society has always tagged skateboarding as an
adolescent fazing pastime. Meanwhile in the heart of
skateboarding is a vast variety of ages and diverse
individuals. It's not uncommon to see a whole family of
skaters particularly father and sons. I've met skate dads
that have discovered the buzz of skating because they
wanted to join their kids while skateboarding. Back in my
father's day it was father and son throwing the football
after dinner. Today you will see father and son on the
deck of a ramp ready to drop in. Will you see a seventy
year old man smith grinding a rail? Or your grandpa
ollieing a twelve set? Doubtful. Skateboarding has always
been what you make it. Knowing your limitations and
listening to your body is key. It's like saying someone
over forty can't ride a bike. The world of skateboarders
is a big one. We see street skaters, vert skaters,
freestylers, old schoolers, bowl shredders, long
boarders, and people who are just stoked on simply
skating for transportation and exercise. There are plenty
of professional athletes in their late forties and up in
football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer. Yes
the rules change as we age as far as our limitations but
the spirit remains. Skate magazines like Juice and
Concrete Wave are great on representing the population of
skaters that aren't hand rail bound. We don't see the
legendary Z Boys playing Erik Koston in a heated game of
skate. However I know first hand after meeting many of
the Z Boys they still skate faithfully. In North Carolina
I skated a pipe with Tony Alva (age 51) He had nothing to
prove and just shredded at his own pace. A couple years
back in San Diego I spoke with Peggy Oki (age 50) and she
expressed skating was still very much a part of her daily
routine. I've skated the globe. I've been through the
looking glass and I've experienced several different
skate cultures. If you subscribe to what you see in
skateboarding from a Mcdonalds commercial or even the
Xgames as representation of all skaters you've been
misled. I'm going on twenty-three years of skateboarding
and have no plans to stop pushing forward. The older you
get the less important tricks become. I had a pretty bad
slam at the Dew Tour last summer which was a wake up call
to my skate mortality to enforce this theory. For me I
look back to what originally made me attracted to
skateboarding to begin with. It was the simple pleasures
like rolling down the concrete street. Feeling free from
the outside world. The sensation of my feet planted on
grip tape. A creative outlet that chased away the
troubles of the day. All these qualities are ageless
whether you are eight or seventy-eight we can keep
skating forever and I plan on doing just that.
ENJOY THE RIDE
I've
had some loves in my life, none i would regret or forget.
The past is easy to remember and swim in, but not to stay
in. I'm carrying moments and memories into my present.
What I miss in my past makes me hold onto my present.
Hold onto the one that makes you grow as a person. Today
will turn into tomorrow so cherish what you have. Cherish
the one that is choosing to spend all their time with
you. Notice and compliment the littlest details. The
things that seem insignificant are actually the hidden
treasures you might someday miss. Those eyes you are
looking into are trusting you. The responsibility in
loving is in the giving. Love is just a word but with
actions and gestures you can speak volumes to the those
you care for. If you have a significant other put them on
that pedestal they deserve to be on. After all they are
the ones who make your cloudy days turn sunny. They take
your imperfections and see them as your perfections. Hold
on tightly and enjoy the ride that is love.
MY JOB
Yes my job is to skate, promote my sponsors,
do events, and travel. But all that is secondary compared
to my real focal mission. To pass the torch, to inspire,
and to positively influence individuals. I've helped
thousands of kids across the globe fall in love with
skateboarding. I sleep well at night knowing I've given
something back. I try to be the best skateboarder I can
be, for me. However on the human side the real tricks are
reaching people and helping those in need. I don't see a
shortage of amazing skateboarders. I do see a shortage of
mentors and good role models in skateboarding. I've taken
the time to get engaged in conversations with the kids in
my travels. I've given boards, shoes, and product to
those kids who have a spark but are less fortunate. I
remember the first time I met a pro skater nearly twenty
years ago. There was electricity and I was truly
inspired. If I can provide that feeling to someone I know
I've done my job. My mentors have helped shape the man
I've become. They've taught me values and insight about
the world. If I can do the same for someone I know I've
done my job. Even if it's just a short transaction while
signing a poster, teaching a trick, or sharing a short
conversation. These are moments I can make a difference.
NO RULES REPRISE
What triggers a post like this is when some
15 year old kid emails me saying I shouldn't do original
tricks in skateboarding or has a jaded opinion about this
or that. Some of the youth today have been terribly
misguided on the soul and true spirituality of
skateboarding. Throw hate in the mix and you now have a
mixed up teen skateboarding living and breathing that
skateboarding is all based on the game s.k.a.t.e Sad,
sad. I cant help but correlate life and skateboarding. A
lot of kids get into skateboarding to join a cliche or be
a rebel, but inside the community instead of having an
open arms policy its "can you do this trick or that
trick? Or do you skate this company or that? Or its gotta
be tight pants or else. Again, sad sad. I'm not an angry
guy and nothing will stop me from skating my own style.
If a dude wants to just carve a parking lot with no
tricks and that's his thing, I say right on. I surround
myself with positive thinkers and I like skateboarders
who think outside the trendy box. Express yourself
however you chose on your board. If you wanna spin the
board on your head or do a back flip while riding I'm not
gonna stop ya. Attitude is everything. Someone might be
the best skateboarder in the world but if you're a prick
and can't handle a smile or a good vibe what's the point?
I prefer to just skate. Usually at every skatepark you
see a kid that just sits around and talks smack about
everyone, Don't be that guy. I don't have time to talk
smack, I'm to busy skating. Ride on.
MY MISSION CONTINUES
Summer 2010 handed me so many great opportunities. Events
ranged from skate comps, demos, libraries, skate camps
and book stores. My book was released in national book
store chains in late May. A book about skateboarding? No,
about my life, trails and tribulations and how I found
myself through skateboarding. I've shared my life story
and have put all my energies into making a difference in
peoples lives. This continues to be my mission. I'm often
misunderstood with people who don't know me or understand
my direction. The skateboard industry has its place in my
life and my sponsors do provide me an income but its not
my focus. I'm not longing to be in skateboard magazines
and I'm not trying to kill myself on a rail to prove
anything. I've always stuck to my guns on being creative
and original with no intentions on being anything but the
best I can be. My skateboard has led me here. The book
has been a tool to reach people but more importantly my
program Skate Straight has given me this amazing
opportunity to reach out. It's not just about staying
clear of drugs, its about believing in yourself,
achieving your dreams, and overcoming the odds to gain a
personal pursuit of happiness. I get a great deal
of feedback from people about my program. Just recently
while on the road in a desolate small town a mother took
me aside after my program. It was a sincere thank you of
gratitude for what I've done for her son after he read my
book. Her son was fourteen and going through some major
depression to the point of being suicidal. She said it
was my book that caused him to do a complete 180 and
change his outlook on life. A simple report like that
from a thankful mother sums up my purpose in my efforts.
We all have the power to inspire, to influence and to
give back, that's the whole point. Am I trying to prove
anything with my skateboarding? Heck no. Tricks are
irrelevant, at my age I'm not out to prove anything or
out do anyone. What I do while I'm off my skateboard is
more important than any trick I could possibly do. People
always ask me, what do I talk about for an hour or two
during my program? I give and give... I share my life
story, the good, the bad. I've learned a great deal in my
travels about people, sociology, drug and alcohol abuse,
and ways to outreach for positive change. Skate Straight
isn't about me, its about you, its about us. It's about
recognizing our resources and bettering ourselves,
families, and the world. We're all in this together and
communication is everything. Communication, responsibility, compassion
for one another. These are components for true
success.
BEING SPONSORED: TO BE OR NOT TO BE...
This up front is a silly question as what skateboarder on
the planet wouldn't want to get free product to support
their love for their favorite hobby? Some free wheels now
and again? Some shoes to keep you fresh? So yes it's a no
brainer on that level. However it seems today kids focus
is to be sponsored more than what is actually happening
beneath their feet on that seven ply wooden toy. I feel
lucky that when I was growing up and skating the thought
of being sponsored or pro never entered my adolescent
brain. It was music, skateboarding, and girls that flowed
through my veins. The vibe of skating in my neck of the
woods in the late eighties was solely fun. Skating was
simply a positive creative outlet for me to express
myself instead of the narrow minded mainstream of
organized sports. With this said the subject of being
sponsored is a double edged sword. First off I feel
extremely lucky to be in this position I've found myself
in. Gravity Games 02 started my career by chance and now
here I am. I've never changed my vibe on skating for the
21 years I've been riding. I've had the chance to reach
thousands of kids doing events at schools, libraries,
detention centers, contests, demos, appearances, and
everything in between. Its a blessing and I wouldn't
trade any of this for anything. I've made loads of people
happy through my skating and the positive feedback has
been unreal and highly outweighs the bad. Whether or not
I am riding for any companies I still know I can make a
difference. Sadly today the focus on being sponsored has
clouded the vision and growth of many skateboarders.
Especially the younger generation. Is the focus now to
have a great time riding or have a shoe sponsor? I've
seen both ends of the spectrum. I've seen first hand guys
that are sponsored and have negative attitudes, egos, and
could care less about their fans. And I've been around
riders that have embraced their position in a positive
manner. I strive to preach the positive side of doing
what I do. Yes I ride for a few companies but these are
people I've invested time in and they have helped support
my travels and dreams. Age and maturity plays a part in
the responsibly of being sponsored or pro. Would I rather
work 3rd shift in a factory or skate the world, get paid,
meet my heroes, and have a few logos on my website? So it
all boils down to opportunity and responsibility. The
industry needs more positive role models and skaters with
original unique styles. When I talk with kids in my
travels its never about sponsors or product, rather I
talk about tricks, skate adventures and the fun that is
skateboarding. For those seeking sponsorship I say skate
from your soul for the right reasons. It can be a cruel
world out there much like the music industry. In the end
it all adds up to your true love for the sport. With or
without sponsors I will continue to skate. I will
continue to pass the torch to the younger generation and
teach the positive sides of skateboarding. I found myself
through skateboarding and I know others can to, with or
without being sponsored.
TRICKS THAT MATTER
It was a Saturday afternoon and I was
invited to join a demo team in a performance for Kid's
Day. I met this nice kid that showed up to the event with
my board in hand. He nervously approached me asking if I
would sign his board. I had told him yes but we should
skate first. I could tell he was excited and we went to
the far end of the course away from the skate traffic.
Shortly after I could hear the snickers and giggles
coming from the immature demo team. "How old do you
think I am?" the kid asked. I said twelve. He
securely said he was sixteen and had leukemia. Then I
said, "How old do you think I am?" He replied
with nineteen. I told him I was thirty-one and we both
had something in common with people guessing our ages
wrong. Bonding on that fact I showed him how to do a few
basic tricks. The demo skaters making fun of him had no
clue he was the exact same age as them. As he was skating
the leukemia was absent from his universe. This small
transaction with this young man left an impression on me
how people are quick to judge those they don't know. He
was very thankful that I took the time to skate with him.
He had soul and skateboarding was lucky to have him
involved. Being sponsored and winning competitions means
nothing compared to the fulfillment that influencing
someone in a positive manner can bring.
COMPETITIONS GOOD OR BAD?
Now I've received so many emails asking my opinion on
several subjects. Are skate competitions good or bad? I
would say yes and no. I've done countless comps in my
time and have acquired some sponsors as a result. It's a
great way to meet other skaters, see other styles,
promote the sport, and be seen. If you join a team and
perform demos, it's very important for you to become
comfortable skating in front of large groups of people.
For me, I tend to skate better with an audience to get my
adrenaline going. The down side? Unfortunately most
organized comps don't lend themselves to creative
skating. Judges are often looking for standardized tricks
that have names and are copied by everyone. It's not
healthy for a skater to just copy what he or she sees in
videos or magazines. I see this way too often. One good
thing about skateboarders' competitive drive is that it
seems to be much healthier than that of a basketball or
football player. If you watch a skateboard event you see
everyone cheering one another on, feeding positive vibes.
When was the last time you saw a football player say to
his opponent, "That was a sweet field goal, good
job"?
HELP THE LITTLE GUY
To often while I'm at a skatepark I see
skaters making fun of little kids trying tricks. These
kids are the future of the sport. Take the time to help
them out and show them you are supportive. All of us were
there at one time when we first stepped onto a board. If
someone is trying a trick and giving it their all, cheer
them on. Skateboarding has no rules and there shouldn't
be restrictions on who enters the skate world. If you see
an older skateboarder that has just jumped into skating
stop and lend them a hand. If they wanna wear Nikes from
87 who cares. Everyone has a different style of dress and
skating. Don't make fun of these differences but embrace
them. That's the beauty of the skate community. It's
incredibly diverse. I'm always fascinated with the
variety of people that ride.
SKATEBOARD AND SOCCER?
Since when is skateboarding soccer? I just got an email
from a kid saying he hates skateboarders who use their
hands. Does skateboarding really have that many rules?
When I first jumped on this thing way back in 1986 it was
a sense of freedom I felt right away. No rules, no
regulations. It was up to me and my brain to do whatever
I felt was fun. In the history of skateboarding touching
the board for a finger flip or mute grab would not send
you to the electric chair. If anything I enjoy doing
tricks other people aren't doing. Sh*t yeah. I want to
have a sense of originality to my riding. When I
watch skating I like to see people doing something
different. I have yet to figure out why so many skaters
have the mentality that they have to copy all the tricks
everyone else is doing? Are we stuck in a future where
everything is flatland and games of skate? I'll take a
pass to that. Tricks are like different styles of
skating... halfpipe, street, skateparks, and everything
in between. Why limit what you skate? Same goes for
tricks. It's ok to do anything. If you want to do a
headspin on your board while going down a rail so be it,
rock on. Its up to you and your imagination.
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
So there is a biker or a rollerblader
sharing the session with you. I travel everywhere and
it's common for skaters to diss people that don't skate.
I've had sessions where I was having a better time jaming
with the bikers than the skaters. It's all about people
and attitude. A biker is wanting to have some fun and get
gnarly the same way we are. Stop and talk to other people
riding. Cheer them on when they do a cool move. We all
have one goal and that is to have fun and shred. It
doesn't matter how we achieve it. Some bike, some blade,
some scooter but the goal remains the same. So cheer each
other on once in awhile. At pay parks bikers and bladers
pump money into the business by keeping these places
alive. We are helping them and they are helping us. It's
symbolic of our society as a whole.
SKATE
STRAIGHT MOTIVATION
You may ask what I get out of doing my Skate
Straight program across the nation at schools, libraries,
detention centers, and events. It's the sense of purpose,
of giving back, being pro-active, positive thinking, and
leading a drug free life. People of all walks of life
attend sharing their stories of how drugs and alcohol
have effected their lives. Doing skate demos and contests
have their purpose in my life. However getting the
opportunity to share my life story and inspire people for
positive change is most rewarding. I'm about humanity and
compassion. We all go through tough times. Its adversity
that makes strong people. My skateboard has become my
microphone giving me a platform to reach people. I
encourage people to find their nucleus and embrace their
talents. Implementing a drug free message can allow
people to achieve their dreams. The essence of Skate
Straight is to motivate individuals to make good choices
throughout their lives. www.skatestraight.org
SKATE
STRAIGHT
I'm not a policeman walking into a classroom
telling kids to just say no. I'm a skateboarder who is
living a dream because I chose to stay clear of drugs and
alcohol. I have no problems preaching this message even
with the backlash it can entail. I've seen people throw
their life away because of substance abuse and it's no
laughing matter. While home from touring a couple years
ago I met up with a skater friend of mine from back in
the day. He wanted to bring along a friend of his they
called "drunk Tim." I thought this should be
interesting. So we picked him up at his ex-girlfriends
run down apartment. He entered the car and completely
reeked of beer. With missing teeth he was showing us
pictures of his son that he lost custody of. I had
figured he was in his mid forties but soon found out we
were the same age. All I could think is that this could
of been me had I chose to turn to drugs and alcohol. We
went to a nearby ramp and skated for a few. He was
falling and stumbling about while people laughed and
cheered him on. I didn't find the humor in what was
taking place. I actually felt sad and unstoked to skate
around him. The overwhelming feeling of keeping on the
right path in life consumed me. Yeah, it might seem funny
when someone is being a clown but it's what's underneath
the surface of the activity that isn't so funny. I've
carried this memory with me in my travels. I've been to
events where I've been offered to do things and have
always stood firm and confident in my beliefs. I get
emails daily from kids asking about getting sponsored.
Companies want someone that will show up on time and that
is reliable. There is a very serious side to this
subject. Getting involved in drugs is a dead end path,
period. When I get down or depressed I jump on my board
and moments later I'm in a different place, a healthy
place. Find your natural highs in life. They're
everywhere.
SKATEBOARDING IN THE OLYMPICS?
It's now the 2006 winter olympics and snowboarding is now
an official event. Attendance and ratings are reported
much lower than years past. Was snowboarding added to
generate higher ratings and to reach a new younger
audience? Some speculate. Which brings me to the topic of
skateboarding and the olympics. I'm often asked if I
think skateboarding should be in the olympics? I would
vote no. To me skateboarding has always been about
originality, creativity, freedom, individuality, and most
of all fun. Submitting the activity to the olympics
instantly subjects one to regulated rules, restrictions,
and standardized tricks. From the "no rules"
sport now becomes a mainstream and commercial event. The
skateboard industry is already saturated with images of
what they think skateboarders should be doing from
magazines to videos. In my travels I see so many trends
of tricks that kids have copied from these sources. I'm
optimistic the future of skateboarding brings an
acceptance of all styles and most of all creativity. Soul
skating comes from within. Not from what a panel of
olympic judges deem worthy. The Xgames and Gravity Games
have generated a lot of interest in skateboarding and
this topic is a double edged sword. However the white
collar strictness of the olympics would bring
restrictions on expression and creativity in
skateboarding. In the respect of the fine tradition of
the olympics it just goes against the reasons most of us
got into skateboarding in the first place. It's not about
competing with anyone other than ourselves.
SKATEBOARDING IS NOT A CRIME
First and foremost I want to mention that I
have the utmost respect for law enforcement and the
police. Unfortunately there has always been a cops verses
skateboarders mentality in the skate culture. I can
understand how this has happened. I was once thrown in
the back of a cop car for simply crossing the street on
my board on a college campus at a crosswalk. I had to pay
a seventy dollar fine and it counted as a traffic
violation. Just last week I was skating the local
skatepark and it began to pour down rain. So we all went
to the neighboring pavilion and moved the picnic tables
so we could skate, bad idea. A police car sped over and
told us to leave. One spectator spoke up and the cop
grabbed his arm and tossed him into the grass. Most
transactions with the police are usually done in a proper
fashion of "please leave the premises there is no
skateboarding allowed here" and the skaters move on
to skate somewhere else, end of transaction. But there
are many cases where things get out of hand and end up
badly. Just google search "police abuse of
skateboarders" As skateboarders we do have a
responsibility to let society know we aren't all convicts
and criminals. Thats really the point of this article.
Talking to police, making eye contact, and being mature
is key. Running or back talking only escalates the
tension. It is ok to just move on and skate elsewhere
when asked to leave. You will never hear them say
"ok guys its cool just stay here and skate here all
day" The dialog should be of us letting them know we
didn't mean any harm and we were simply out for a fun day
of skating no harm. Having a positive relationship with
your local police can help your skate scene. Some cities
are actually trying to make skateboarding illegal.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/686491359 If
skateboarding becomes illegal by all means bike riding
should be as well. There is an injustice when people on
bikes, rollerblades, or scooters can spend all day
rolling the streets but skaters are put aside as the
destructive bandits. More than 70 percent of children
between the ages of 5 and 14 ride bicycles. Next to motor
vehicle-related injuries, bicycles injure more children
than any other consumer product, according to the
National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Skateparks can be a great
asset to skaters and can give us a designated area to
ride free of harassment. Unfortunately most communities
aren't blessed with these tools and our uneducated on the
positive sides of skateboarding or skateboarders. The
only solution is communication. Communication with your
police, city officials, parks and rec. departments, and
even the public. Let the world know skateboarding is a
positive creative outlet. Skateboarding is not a crime.
SKATEBOARDING IN MY WORDS
Skateboarding is an art form. It has and
always will be forever changing. There will always be
followers and there will always be innovators. I
personally never subscribe to the herd and what's
considered cool. To me skateboarding is about body
movement, expression, and complete creative control. When
I started back in eighty-six my style was considered new
school and technical. Today it seems if a skater stands
out or chooses to be an individual they are subject to
question and criticism. I love to skate. I'm proud of my
original tricks and style. I'm not into what they look
like rather how they feel. Somedays I simply like the
sensation of rolling down a hill. In the late eighties we
never counted stairs or followed each other with video
cameras. My friends and I were all about progression and
originality. I'm very proud of that and I encourage
skaters to be creative. Today I appreciate all eras and
genres of skateboarding. I'm a performer by heart and
spent many years in music reaching for the summit. The
transition switched slowly over years of skating and
juggling my music endeavors. My professional career began
by chance at the Gravity Games 2002 when I caught the eye
of two paying sponsors. I never set out to be in this
position. Looking back I created a great deal of my own
luck traveling to countless demos and entering contests.
I wanted to get involved in the skateboard community, not
the industry per se. This road has given me self worth
and a purpose. I can connect with people of all ages and
race through my board. The travels, the people, the
sessions. I wouldn't trade any of that for anything.
Sending videos out and studying magazines didn't get me
where I am today. Being an individual and persevering in
a belief that one can make change through a hobby has.
I've had unbelievable highs and unreal lows. But one
thing remains, when I wake up I wanna skate. I skate with
good intentions and skate everyday as if it were the
last. Influencing people in a positive manner means more
to me than any sponsorship, trick, or trophy. It's
connecting with the crowd that makes this journey worth
while.
Doug
Brown books available at www.beyondtheboard.net
Words and quotes by Doug Brown. All
postings copyright 2002-2013 Doug Brown
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