Skim Central News

[skimcentral]

I know people are starting to wonder what is going on with us so here is the real scoop. That way there won't be any unwarranted rumors as to what is going on.

Looks like we are going to be shutting down Skim Central. But not for the normal reasons that a business goes out.

Skim Central actually did better than we expected it to do. We did not make any money yet but it was on the path to do so this year. That is pretty good when you consider what kind of money it takes to start something like this.

The real issue for us has become time. As most of you know we took in 2 more girls a year ago. They are ages 3 and 5.

It was apparent to us that they both have some physical problems that we figured were due to their mothers drug and alcohol use during pregnancy.
As it turns out we were right. They both have been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

It appears to be more severe in the 5 year old. She has some definite learning disabilities and she has not gained any weight in the entire year that she has lived with us. She weighs the same as her 3 year old sister. Plus she has serious eyesight issues.

The 3 year old has some serious speech and motor skills problems that we know of so far.

So for a while now we have been working on getting things arranged in our lives to allow for more time to work with these kids. We have sold our present house and are moving north of hear to a place where we will have no house payment anymore and various other changes.

We have known that we were gonna be doing something with Skim Central since about November of last year and all our team riders have known since then as well.
[For those who remember the post I made a while ago about surf shop sponsors--I knew then I was going to be getting out of this business one way or another. So those who assumed I was fishing for business with that thread were wrong]

A friend of mine was gonna buy it from us and keep it going with my help but his financing fell through. So that didn't happen.

I got laid off from my job as well and started to have to use money that I would have been putting into stock for living expenses. That is why the stock has been lower on the site.

So, we need the extra time for the family and as it turns out we now do not have the money to replenish the stock if we wanted too!!

It is a shame in a way though because the name has become known and we have had great support from great team riders and sales have been fine....but priorities are priorities.

In the meantime, and I guess this might be advertising but, we sold out all our boards to local shops [needed money] but if we have any pads that you are interested in please keep us in mind.

Thanks for all your support---Mike Cole

[Benji]

Hope things are goin' better Mike.

[gulfcoastskimmer]

Sorry to hear that, but family always come first. Good luck.

[skimcentral]

Things are going fine and will be even better soon--thanks

[ZapBulletRider]

you are a good person.

[skimcentral]

ZBR--I hope to skim with you this summer. Will you be in VB?

[narwhal]

It will get better Mike.

but you're really a good guy.

[undertheradar]

Then let me just say, it was a total pleasure and honor to be able to buy my skimboard from such a great company, before it was gone. Props to you for having your hearts and priorities in the right place.

[kerka]

gonna suck to have to take skimcentral off my favorites list but u guys have your priorities in the right place, good luck with your family!

[727bryon]

Sorry to hear all that, Mike. You've got your head on straight, and your heart in the right place. Good luck with everything.

[skimcentral]

Everything has a purpose. I feel I am blessed to have such opportunities to help kids.

[solvenskim]

Mike you are a great man ..its people like you that keep the world from completely becoming corrupt

[Chris S]

mike is the man...but we knew that all along...hey mike call me up!

[SeanS]

it hurt to hear that this was happening a while back, and i dont think i will stop repping SC for a long time.....

[veniceskim4]

Mike, it's awesome to know that you're doing things like this. We can live without skim central but those kids would have it much worse without you being there. I'm going to skim with you one day when everything clears up for you.

If you have some left over shirts I'll be happy to buy a couple and some stickers to keep skimcentral alive.

[paddymack]

mike your a great man...you juggled what you do for your kids, your real job and skimming...

not everyone can do that and live happily as you do...

parents are god in the eys of a kid...and what better person to be that for them then you...

good luck, hope to see you when i visit home

[Blak_skimmer220]

Mike is the only guy to send me a free t shirt on my birthday. that already sets him high in my book.

Dude your an awesome guy, i seriously envy your humility and devotion for you family.

I hope everything gets better soon, cus you deffinatly deserve it.

I wanna be like mike cole when i grow up!

[Luff]

ZBR--I hope to skim with you this summer. Will you be in VB?

You two better let me know if you end up skimming in VB haha.

Good luck with everything. I'm sad that Skim Central will be no more :(. I think I'll live though, haha.

You rock dude, keep it up.

[Scrub]

Good luck with everything Mike, glad i could support the cause while it lasted. Hopefully one day it will be back, I'd be proud to bye my stuff from someone like you again. Keep livin'.

[Walruz996]

Don't worry luff, you'll have a baseball game or soemthing like that.

Too bad Mike, I really appreciated the free t-shirt as well.

[Luff]

I probably will.

[flskimboarder]

i love you

[ZapBulletRider]

ZBR--I hope to skim with you this summer. Will you be in VB?

every day (pretty much). PM me if you're coming in town.

[skimcentral]

I will be there some time this summer ZBR.

Thanks for the nice words everyone.

[Mac Na Bow 101]

sorry to hear mike...you are a great person for taking in kids...i really hope you have a happy life and get everything you deserve which we all know alot...im glad to say ive bought 3 skimboards from you since youve been up...and helped the bus by telling many local people to go through you...

hope you still have time to skim....let me know when u wanna

[skimcentral]

I will still have time to skim. I actually plan on doing more skim trips but with the whole family.
Little get aways for us all.

[Richard]

God bless you Mike.

[aaronfuj]

It truly is terrible news that Skim Central is closing their doors but the reason is well worth it and I'm so glad that you not only know what is important in life Mike, but you follow through with it and help out where you can. Amazing. I wish the best of luck for you and your family, and I will pray for you/them as well.

[dan.nj]

Ditto to what everyone has said so far... youre rad. Keep the family safe and healthy, but never lose that skim stoke.

[vbskimer]

Mike,

You are a wonderful person and a great asset to the Skim Comnunity.
Thanks to you for all your help with the VB SkimSeries last year.
Can't wait to skim with you when you come to VB!
I applaud you for steeping up and helping kids.
Skim Central will not be forgotten.
Karma will be on your side for eternity!

Thanks-
Patrick T.

[ZapBulletRider]

pat how's the healing coming? You gonna be ready for the spring?

[noah lane]

Mike, thanks for supporting the sport of skimboarding. I wish you the best in these adversities you are facing.

Best regards.

Noah

[amosb72]

it's a shame i'm gonna have to take SC off my favorite's
and if you have any shirts left i'll order some

[samcollett]

Mike -
i know we already talked about this, but i wanted to say this publicly as well. you are the main reason my drive for this sport has remained so high. to have someone backing me up and helping me out with such optimism and openmindedness was incredible. you were a vital asset to everything i've gotten done around here and i won't be able to repay you for all the help you've given me. you're a great person and you have your head facing the right way, something that the world forgets about sometimes. you've always had your priorities in line and kept the right things first. to have a person like you back me up and support me in every way you possibly could is an honor, and i thank you for that. i'll be down there during summer and we will definitely ride. thanks for everything.

[i skim compton]

Props for putting the kids first.

[SeanS]

its sick to see people still wanting to buy stuff with SC on it and the company is one....its love

[i skim compton]

I wouldnt mind picking up a shirt or two either.

[dan.nj]

or some stickers.

[amosb72]

i'm gonna order them tommorrow

[Luff]

its sick to see people still wanting to buy stuff with SC on it and the company is one....its love

I went to order another shirt but my size is sold out :(. I'll rock the one I have now all the time though.

[rideaskim]

i just went and bought 2 more shirts and i will wear them proudly. good job mike by making the decision to put family first

[amosb72]

i ordered them a second ago

[i skim compton]

I just looked no mediums damn.
:[

[amosb72]

i just got a large and figured i'll grow into them soon enough

[hobo]

guess ill have to pick up a small grey :)


and new beaks cause im retarded.

[amosb72]

i got traction too just b/c i figure i'll cut it up or something

[rideaskim]

i almost got new traction but i figure ill wait since its not that much cheaper but i got a large grey and brown shirt

[skimcentral]

Sam--thank you very much. That means a lot to me.
We will def meet up this summer--here in FL and in LA.

[anmaisle]

best of luck mike and God bless you. you're a great man and i'll be praying for ya'll.

[emt239]

sorry to here the bad news, but as you said family first. i've never ordered from SC but you seem like a very stand up guy and the sport could use more shop owners like yourself... Good luck

[MDskimmerMAtt]

Thanks for supporting the sport of skimboarding Mike. I wish you the best to get through these difficult times.

Matt

[volcom of doom]

Your family is in my prayers and I appreciate what you have done for everyone, grom to pro. Just try not to be so awesome.

[J. Saunders]

goodluck, hope things straighten out the way u want it

[jesse]

mike cole,
i don't really know you, but you sure sound like a nice guy haha
best of luck to you, and i really respect your priorities.
and i went and bought new pads from the store after reading this, so ya.


i'll be praying for you and your family

[skimcentral]

Things are going pretty good with the girls.

The thing that is a bummer about all this is that these kids are this way because their real mother did not care enough about anyone but herself. It is a reminder that what we do or don't do effects others....this is more of an extreme example but the saying is true just the same.

[J. Saunders]

Good Point...

So what did we learn here today children?

"Dont Smoke Crack"

[skimcentral]

It is also dumb how a lot of people expect their kids to "do what I say not what I do"

More often kids will end up doing what they have seen their parents do--good or bad.

[snapcase skimmer]

hey mike those shirts you gave me the brown ones that logo still looks like brand new and shirts i paid 25 for fade in the second wash

[Chrith]

Mike as cheesy as this will sound you are one stand up guy and from what i hear i hope to be half the man you are when im older. someone get him an award.

Still reppin my skim central shirt and just orderd a hat. Next time im over your way we should skim. I think easter time i should be in sarastoa area.

[amosb72]

yea i ordered a hat an archbar and some shirts to help u out
so good luck
edit: oh yea and they look bad ass

[skimcentral]

We had to go to court today about the girls--it is a hearing to try to terminate their parents rights. It seems to be an open and shut case but it won't be done until friday.
If all goes well we will be able to adopt them after that

[live2skim]

good luck.

[skimcentral]

And thanks for all the orders guys--it has come in real handy right now!!

[MDskimmerMAtt]

i just ordered 2 shirts.
Mike if you have any stickers left could you throw some in please?

[kndy]

Thanks for the service over the years. Wish you the best and it takes a lot to take in two children but the fact that you have sacrificed for them shows great heart. Best wishes to you Mike!