You know what would be cool...

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Dani on September 25, 2011 at 15:50

Interesting but not sure how much is has to do with this thread? I shant be doing shit because I'm in FInland...

 

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Skittles on September 25, 2011 at 16:28

We deffinately need better recognition with the government and possibly some funding from them too, but a pro Aussie race or sets of races would be awesome as well.  I know a couple of shops that would love to get on board, but would have to actually sponsor their riders properly...

 

It would give those shops supporting people properly huge advertising and other shops will notice and hopefully see the benifit in doing so.

 

Besides, there are enough amature races anyway, this would just be extra.  Gives a chance for the younger guys to just sit back and watch techniques, see how to race safely and also gives a chance for the pros to battle against pros straight off the mark instead of having to fight through a bundle of dim-witted groms!

 

I think that the Hopkin team might have to fight for their place at the top if it does go through...

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on September 25, 2011 at 19:57

a little thing about the kids 'going un-noticed' is that the reason they are un-noticed is because they are not doing anything. if someone is serious about being a professional and taking bigger steps within this sport they need to set out to do just that and work hard for it. kids of today seem to think that sponsorships just get thrown around the place and that everything comes for free. they seem to think if they can ride their wheelyboard pretty good then that means they need to be given free stuff and get paid. sorry guys but it just doesnt work like that!

when you look at a team such as the Hopkin Team, every single member on that team has earned their spot within the team, they were all hand-picked as individual admassadors for the sport and were able to be active within it to promote not only the brand Hopkin but the sport itself and help pave the way for the rest of you. this is some thing that people seem to be lacking in today. they figure that since they are a part of the scene, and they can skate good, the scene owes them something in return...

 

Dani when you say something like we need these sort of events to help those unrecognised people to gain higher levels and make money bla bla bla what would they learn from such a thing? a shop puts on a race for them, they win, they get money, how did they work for that rather than doing nothing but skateboarding? it just doesnt make sense to me at all... there is no such thing as a free lunch, and if you REALLY want something you will make it happen, not wait around for someone else to do it for you.

 

I do like the train of thought on this topic i really do, its positive and will help people, however i believe that this energy needs to be directed into a different direction. If the shops use their precious time and money to throw together some random outlaw events just to see who is the better skater from each region and then hand them money, i dont see how that would help the skaters grow as people like you think it would. i mean fuck yeah it would be a sick idea, im not saying its wrong and will be bad for everyone, i just think that these efforts could be put into a different more efficient use like putting on events of a more grand scale, and setting the stage for the rest of the world, raising the bar of whats already been done and stepping it up and giving people something to WANT to work for.

 

If there were to be events for each region to see which crew were the best, it should be organised by the CREW who are within that area, not the shops.

James said:

I agree with everything discussed in this thread. Idea is boss. Hopkin are a boss shop with a boss team. Getting more support behind outlaw races would make for boss outlaws, maybe not to the extent of excluding other non-shop organised races though.

 

I certainly think that if this was to take off it would become somewhat of a proving ground for Australian riders so that the best get noticed, not just the dudes lucky enough to ride for Hop (not saying they aren't the best mind you ;)). I know there are fast dudes out there that aren't getting the recognition they deserve because no one really knows they're there and I think something like this may help get them recognized and grow the scene more. Not to mention a unified body of legitimate and successful businesses with some money behind them would have more chance of getting a road closed for a race than some dude or what ever.

 

My 2c

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Skittles on September 25, 2011 at 21:05

We had something quite close to that in Noosa with the team races, it makes for an interesting race format, should be done more

 

If there were to be events for each region to see which crew were the best, it should be organised by the CREW who are within that area, not the shops.

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Permalink Reply by James on September 25, 2011 at 21:22

I'm sick and not thinking properly but here goes...

 

Who says I'm talking about kids? I admit Canberra crew aren't as fast as the rest of the country, but we do have some talented dudes here who I'm sure could take their skating much further if the had a bit of a hand from the bigger scene supporters, which we don't really have in the capital. As it stands we have one shop that will even consider supporting an event (but certainly don't think they'd bother on a rider, let alone a whole team) and that probably won't be for much longer anyway (its becoming a wakeboard store as far as I know). Ultimately we're pretty much alone down here relying on support from outside to get anything other than a casual skate happening. If we hold a big event we rely on support from outside cause not many people here know what a longboard is other than something a hipster carries around. Some crew are stepping it up and trying to get shops started and organizing rad events (like the raffle race in august) and jazz like that which is rad. I honestly think a set of races like this would help out a great deal in getting our scene really going. If it happened, maybe in 2 years time people won't think of politicians and porn when they think of Canberra but rad hills and events along with some of the fastest dudes in the country AS WELL as porn.

 

I'm not saying "give so-and-so a free ride" or that getting sponsored is the ultimate goal of skating and what we should all strive for. It certainly doesn't matter to me and I really don't think that was the overall intent of the thread/idea either. I think it was intended more along the lines of a) giving people that have put a lot into skating (shops, riders, whoever) a bit of recognition that they may not other wise get b) help grow the scene and maybe even gain the sport some positive mainstream/international recognition c) get people stoked.

 

I see what you're saying and agree with your last two points (in Canberra the shop pretty much is certain crew).

I'm not sure if what I just said makes sense. Oh well.
Jacko said:

a little thing about the kids 'going un-noticed' is that the reason they are un-noticed is because they are not doing anything. if someone is serious about being a professional and taking bigger steps within this sport they need to set out to do just that and work hard for it. kids of today seem to think that sponsorships just get thrown around the place and that everything comes for free. they seem to think if they can ride their wheelyboard pretty good then that means they need to be given free stuff and get paid. sorry guys but it just doesnt work like that!

when you look at a team such as the Hopkin Team, every single member on that team has earned their spot within the team, they were all hand-picked as individual admassadors for the sport and were able to be active within it to promote not only the brand Hopkin but the sport itself and help pave the way for the rest of you. this is some thing that people seem to be lacking in today. they figure that since they are a part of the scene, and they can skate good, the scene owes them something in return...

 

Dani when you say something like we need these sort of events to help those unrecognised people to gain higher levels and make money bla bla bla what would they learn from such a thing? a shop puts on a race for them, they win, they get money, how did they work for that rather than doing nothing but skateboarding? it just doesnt make sense to me at all... there is no such thing as a free lunch, and if you REALLY want something you will make it happen, not wait around for someone else to do it for you.

 

I do like the train of thought on this topic i really do, its positive and will help people, however i believe that this energy needs to be directed into a different direction. If the shops use their precious time and money to throw together some random outlaw events just to see who is the better skater from each region and then hand them money, i dont see how that would help the skaters grow as people like you think it would. i mean fuck yeah it would be a sick idea, im not saying its wrong and will be bad for everyone, i just think that these efforts could be put into a different more efficient use like putting on events of a more grand scale, and setting the stage for the rest of the world, raising the bar of whats already been done and stepping it up and giving people something to WANT to work for.

 

If there were to be events for each region to see which crew were the best, it should be organised by the CREW who are within that area, not the shops.

James said:

I agree with everything discussed in this thread. Idea is boss. Hopkin are a boss shop with a boss team. Getting more support behind outlaw races would make for boss outlaws, maybe not to the extent of excluding other non-shop organised races though.

 

I certainly think that if this was to take off it would become somewhat of a proving ground for Australian riders so that the best get noticed, not just the dudes lucky enough to ride for Hop (not saying they aren't the best mind you ;)). I know there are fast dudes out there that aren't getting the recognition they deserve because no one really knows they're there and I think something like this may help get them recognized and grow the scene more. Not to mention a unified body of legitimate and successful businesses with some money behind them would have more chance of getting a road closed for a race than some dude or what ever.

 

My 2c

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Dani on September 25, 2011 at 21:54

What do the shop owns think of this? They are ultimately the ones to please at this stage. Cheers for being devils advocate Jacko, making some good points. Especially groms wanting everything for free without putting in any hard yards. I think it can be quite hard for some people though, especially kids with no income of their own and don't have parents who are loaded up with cash. Traveling to events can be tough, even if you are working full time. We have some killer kids down in SA, Charlie Harris, Grombard and Gaydos come to mind. Grombard made it to the snowies which was rad. Others can't afford it though. I think shops should be looking at their riders and their intentions for sure and as you said, hand picking people to ride for them.

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ASRA AdminPermalink Reply by bernie on September 26, 2011 at 12:05

James says....(good posts by the way)

I think it was intended more along the lines of a) giving people that have put a lot into skating (shops, riders, whoever) a bit of recognition that they may not other wise get b) help grow the scene and maybe even gain the sport some positive mainstream/international recognition c) get people stoked

 

a) whoever = The idiots that bother to put events on, and expose themselves to public liability risk, so that the sport exists in the first place.

b) help grow the sport  (the same idiots noted at (a) need YOUR help)  Do that and you might find shops wanting to sponsor you not because of some over developed sense of self entitlement, but because YOU actually put in the hard yards to grow the sport and if you grow the sport properly there will be sponsors with way more cash than all of the skate shops put together.

 

And James while we are on the subject of Canberra and helping grow your sport.

You are actually in the best place of anyone to make a difference. 

ACT has a good skateboard association that would benefit from active involvement from Longboarders.  get active and you will make a positive contribution to YOUR SPORT, through joining a recognised association that does have a voice that the ACT Government and Police can hear, so eventually you can get roads closed.  ACT is also the home of the Australian Sports Commission....thats right, the controllers of the big fat pile of tax money waiting to grow YOUR SPORT.

Also the Conehead Cup is on this year at Mt Stromlo, and Scotty and Dave Pang would really appreciate your help in running the event.   You might also like competing in the Ainsle ditch races, which happens to be made for longboards.

 

Ask not what Longboarding can do for You....Ask what You can do for Longboarding!

 

Like Jacko says......help pave the way!

 

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