Skimboarding needs a Steve Rocco

**wardovision** · 02-18-2011, 12:38 PM

Skimboarding as a whole has gotten way too vanilla when the sport has a lot of other flavors worth trying. Sometimes a sparkling clean image isn't the best thing for a sport in the long run. Not being politically correct all the time sure hasn't hurt skateboarding, snowboarding or FMX. Who has had the longterm influence in skateboarding. It's the ones thinking outside the box like Dogtown and to a greater extent Steve Rocco who ultimately influenced a lot more than just skateboarding. Why is this so frowned upon in skimboarding? Why does the whole sport have to pretend they're Kelly or Andy when even in surfing that image isn't the reality?

http://www.themanwho.com/home/

http://www.steverocco.com/

**casual_observer** · 02-18-2011, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by wardovision

Skimboarding as a whole has gotten way too vanilla when the sport has a lot of other flavors worth trying. Sometimes a sparkling clean image isn't the best thing for a sport in the long run. Not being politically correct all the time sure hasn't hurt skateboarding, snowboarding or FMX. Who has had the longterm influence in skateboarding. It's the ones thinking outside the box like Dogtown and to a greater extent Steve Rocco who ultimately influenced a lot more than just skateboarding. Why is this so frowned upon in skimboarding? Why does the whole sport have to pretend they're Kelly or Andy when even in surfing that image isn't the reality?

http://www.themanwho.com/home/

http://www.steverocco.com/

So Basicly what you're saying is... People should lay off the beak dawg, and Jamie for being total deralicts?

**wardovision** · 02-18-2011, 01:09 PM

I actually started this because of other stuff going on but yeah. If the public was offended by this type of stuff then TMZ wouldn't be so popular. America loves trainwrecks.

Look at at the highest paid actor on tv. Nobody seems to care that Charlie Sheen is high on cocaine and banging hookers. As long he doesn't kill himself his career isn't going anywhere. He might even be able to get cast in movies again. Jail did wonders for Robert Downey Jr's career

**casual_observer** · 02-18-2011, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by wardovision

I actually started this because of other stuff going on but yeah.

So then... What's really eating you? You're holding something back. Just go ahead and say it, it's all going to be okay.

**Luff** · 02-23-2011, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by wardovision

I actually started this because of other stuff going on but yeah. If the public was offended by this type of stuff then TMZ wouldn't be so popular. America loves trainwrecks.

Look at at the highest paid actor on tv. Nobody seems to care that Charlie Sheen is high on cocaine and banging hookers. As long he doesn't kill himself his career isn't going anywhere. He might even be able to get cast in movies again. Jail did wonders for Robert Downey Jr's career

ill bite the bullet and take the spot for the overall good of the sport

**Chrith** · 02-18-2011, 01:27 PM

because of this post im going beat elderly tourists with my skimboard. wish my luck

skimboarding could also use someone everyone could really get behind and be the single voice of skimboarding. to really rally the troops up, like germany circa 1933, i vote slotstik to be at the lead of this movement.

**wardovision** · 02-18-2011, 01:35 PM

no, I'm not suggesting anyone start banging hookers but the entire sport doesn't need to be Justin Bieber either

**casual_observer** · 02-18-2011, 01:45 PM

Oh frackin Calm down, the entire sport isnt pretending to be justin biebers.... And You're comparing apples to oranges with the actors.

Rocco started businesses... Successful ones that are still operational today. Deralicts arent the ones that made snowboard or skateboarding household items, it was people like Tony hawk and Shaun white. Neither of those guys are perfect, but they're not doing cocaine on the side of the halfpipe in front of kids and getting arrested for other stupid shit like someone around here who just happen to be the biggest name in the sport. See the problem there?

**devinsegal** · 02-20-2011, 02:46 AM

i like your handle " casual" observer

**devinsegal** · 02-20-2011, 02:48 AM

oh and i do believe its possible to admire the way someone rides or performs while not looking up to them as a role modell too.....i mean cummon anyone with common sense can see that...roethlisberger,kobe,tiger,rose,rodman, need i go on...sometimes people who go big just dont care about rules or laws ...like those of gravity...not condoning any of their actions here but lets air all your dirty laundry out and see how it feels man....try skimming with lest contempt for ur fellow skimmer...beak and jaime have also brought joy to ALOT of other people too ya know

**wardovision** · 02-18-2011, 01:49 PM

Both of those sports would be just as big if either Shaun or Tony never picked up a board. Snowboarding was in the Olympics and X-Games long before Shaun White came along

**casual_observer** · 02-18-2011, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by wardovision

Both of those sports would be just as big if either Shaun or Tony never picked up a board.

A. Not true...
B. Even if it were true, it wouldnt change the fact that the real leaders and inovators of those sports aren't total dead beats.

I'm not interested in arguing with you about A. I would like to hear what you think about B though.

**wardovision** · 02-18-2011, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by casual_observer

., it wouldnt change the fact that the real leaders and inovators of those sports aren't total dead beats.

and nowhere did I imply that. the point of this thread had nothing to do with Beaker or Jaime or accepting that type of behavior. My choice of wording wasn't the best but you're the one who started with that line of logic. The gist of my reply to you was more that I don't think anyone is going to care about today's drama in 2 years.

I'm talking more about the direction of the sport and not any of the individual players. I don't believe all the focus should be placed on the UST while ignoring the rest of what's going on.

**casual_observer** · 02-18-2011, 02:33 PM

while ignoring the rest of what's going on.

examples of things that are being ignored please

**casual_observer** · 02-19-2011, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by wardovision

I don't believe all the focus should be placed on the UST while ignoring the rest of what's going on.

So you're Not gonna tell everyone what's being ignored are you?

**datsme** · 02-19-2011, 10:06 PM

people are ignoring that bill bryan seems to enjoy beating up women, and openly abuses drugs like cocaine even though he has young children.
it's sad that people still idolize him or people like james lovett (who is doing jail time as i write this and will most likely continue to do/sell drugs after he gets out). when will you all pay attention? it isn't "drama," it's real fracked-up lives

**casual_observer** · 02-18-2011, 02:49 PM

Let's go man, people are going to continue to ignore these things unless you point them out.......

**oatmeal** · 02-18-2011, 03:28 PM

ignoring as we speak

**lucasskim** · 02-18-2011, 04:12 PM

you really can't compare skimboarding to skateboarding. different people, different styles, different vibes

**nukka-cp** · 02-18-2011, 05:44 PM

He's saying, quit giving a frack about what other people think, like Steve Rocco did. Even though, if I remember correctly? Steve Rocco lost his share in World Industries and a bunch of shit hit the fan with the team? Maybe something along those lines.

So don't give a frack about the image of skimboarding, do it for your own reasons. And let shit happen naturally.

**lucasskim** · 02-18-2011, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by nukka-cp

He's saying, quit giving a frack about what other people think, like Steve Rocco did. Even though, if I remember correctly? Steve Rocco lost his share in World Industries and a bunch of shit hit the fan with the team? Maybe something along those lines.

So don't give a frack about the image of skimboarding, do it for your own reasons. And let shit happen naturally.

oh yeah that makes so much more sense.

**nukka-cp** · 02-18-2011, 06:02 PM

It does if you're not a retard, no wonder there's so much bitching in every thread. You're signature says the same thing basically.

**lucasskim** · 02-19-2011, 04:13 PM

why so many unnecessary "you're"s?
and i wasn't being sarcastic, i was actually saying you make sense

**Adam Hayward** · 02-19-2011, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by wardovision

Skimboarding as a whole has gotten way too vanilla when the sport has a lot of other flavors worth trying. Sometimes a sparkling clean image isn't the best thing for a sport in the long run. Not being politically correct all the time sure hasn't hurt skateboarding, snowboarding or FMX. Who has had the longterm influence in skateboarding. It's the ones thinking outside the box like Dogtown and to a greater extent Steve Rocco who ultimately influenced a lot more than just skateboarding. Why is this so frowned upon in skimboarding? Why does the whole sport have to pretend they're Kelly or Andy when even in surfing that image isn't the reality?

http://www.themanwho.com/home/

http://www.steverocco.com/

I understand what youre trying to say: There needs to be anti-establishment based companies who are roudy and naughty and show things as they are....and there are.
10th street bros have been portraying things like that since day 1. and there have been others, but it's just hard to see them.

Of course it would be cool to be a lot more expressive within the industry, and only cater to a certain niche crowd, but the reality of Skimboarding is that the sport isn't big enough for that. Sure you can do it all you want, but you can't make a living off it like Rocco did. There isn't some huge over-comercialization of Skimboarding to rebel against. In my opinion, Skimboarding is more of a rebellion against other sports on its own.

Skimboarding is a niche sport, it is not big enough to appeal to niche's within the niche so companies who plan on being successful, plan on marketing to the majority. It's stupid and frustrating but hopefully someday it would be able to cater to something like that.

**Deebo** · 02-22-2011, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Adam Hayward

I understand what youre trying to say: There needs to be anti-establishment based companies who are roudy and naughty and show things as they are....and there are.
10th street bros have been portraying things like that since day 1. and there have been others, but it's just hard to see them.

Of course it would be cool to be a lot more expressive within the industry, and only cater to a certain niche crowd, but the reality of Skimboarding is that the sport isn't big enough for that. Sure you can do it all you want, but you can't make a living off it like Rocco did. There isn't some huge over-comercialization of Skimboarding to rebel against. In my opinion, Skimboarding is more of a rebellion against other sports on its own.

Skimboarding is a niche sport, it is not big enough to appeal to niche's within the niche so companies who plan on being successful, plan on marketing to the majority. It's stupid and frustrating but hopefully someday it would be able to cater to something like that.

Amen!

I would argue that you guys at MOV are doing some of the most if not the most progressive stuff for the sport, at least from a media aspect. I mean your videos, since you started, show the most progressive and refreshing stuff that the sport has to offer and keep continuing to amaze me and everyone else that payed the small membership fee I'm sure.

Too bad I'd bet that more than 50% of people who claim to be really into the sport and want it to succeed probably don't shell out the couple buck fee to be a member and watch the videos though...

..Maybe just maybe if you guys act a little more hardcore like get angrier, more rebelious and/or do some crazy drugs or something like that you will get a broader fan base and skimboarding can succeed.

**nukka-cp** · 02-19-2011, 08:51 PM

You're frackING OUT!

**Jim Gordon** · 02-20-2011, 07:11 AM

I think what (all) sports need............are people that think outside the box. In a good way though.

**samcollett** · 02-20-2011, 12:14 PM

There are some good points here for sure. Sean, I definitely (and friend-ily) do not believe that skateboarding would be in the same position it is today without Tony Hawk. Tony Hawk was an iconic model for that sport to grow on. Snowboarding would probably be nearly the same without Shaun White. That being said, I absolutely think that small sports like skimboarding need Steve Roccos. We need people to think outside of the box. Wakeskating is not much larger than skimboarding...probably about the same size actually. The riders that propel the sport from its progressive plateaus are the riders that just don't give a frack. They ride just to ride. A couple of the guys I ride with are arguably within the 5-10 most talented wakeskaters in the world. They are sponsored, yeah, but I can't remember the last time either of them rode in a contest, or rode for approval. They get just as stoked when I land something seemingly simple (like a back big or a kickflip) as I do when they land something fracking insane (like a back board to front big heelflip off). They just ride because they love it. There are definitely a couple of people in skimboarding like that, but maybe not enough.

Adam, you're much more in the know than I am, so other than 10th street bros, who would you say really just doesn't give a shit about the scene? I think the Lands End crew down in Cabo are pretty off the wall. Seeing Scrappy skim is like seeing progression in itself. He just makes things happen on a wave that others don't...like he sees the wave in a different perspective. At the same time, he's just got an "i don't give a frack" style that just kinda vibes that his only motivation for skimming is because he loves doing it. I'm sure there are many more, but that's just the first that came to my head.

I think casual observer is right to an extent too. Beaker isn't a role model....and let's face it, for many parents to buy their young kids to buy a skimboard and support their entry into the sport, they need a role model. I think Paulo is the most talented "role model" the sport has. It's rare to meet athletes as talented as him that are also humble. However, I think that on the whole progression occurs much more naturally when the majority of the sport just doesn't care as much about progression of the sport, but self-progression and riding.

**L P** · 02-22-2011, 06:37 PM

hmm, thinking outside of the box in skimboarding? you don't say.

**Supermahon949** · 02-22-2011, 07:52 PM

Sean,
I couldn't agree with you more...I touched in on this rather specifically in my latest, and pretty much only, original thread:
Dear SOMB readers and all-around new skimmers.
Which is just a few lines below this in the same forum.
The issue that I have been having is that it's been more so as of late, that skimboarding as an entity has been approaching such a "sparkling clean image" as you said. I know that you personally must recall the 10th St. Bros Videos and their classic Cabo segments. LOST-ish video's capturing the culture of who, at the time were the best in the sport, savored in a lifestyle that was rough and tumble, fueled by the ingredients of destruction, not afraid to have a few beers, and had what looked like to me, one hell of a good time.
Inspiring an entire state(New Jersey) to release semi-similar footage in a continuous platform(NJSkim.com), featuring delinquent behavior with plenty of poop, drinkings, boobies, and skim.
My real question is, WHERE ARE THE MISSING LINKS! Perhaps I just feel this way b/c I'm finally in that age bracket now, but where are the 20-30 year old riders who MUST help pick-up the slack and influence the sport in a positive light. The ones who were grown into such videos and lifestyles. I know growing up I lost many of the most influential characters in the sport to work, jobs, marriage, etc... and are hardly ever around anymore, but if we want this sport to progress, we need to keep these skimmers involved. Otherwise we are leaving our sport in the hands of these younger clean-cut kids who tickle each other and share sleeping bags and floss each others teeth at night.
I'm 24, and I know there are other skimmers out there in my age group who LOVE the sport.
Well get involved with your local skim community! Help influence our younger up and coming participants, before we become a sport for children(which we have been, forever).

Adam:
I couldn't agree with what you said more as well. I think that Sean, the real complaint you are having isn't that we don't have this element in our sport, it's that we simply can not make the same impact on the industry as a whole that Steve Rocco did, b/c we just don't have enough people, money, companies in general, to rock the boat. I don't think it will damage the sport, but during the time of Dogtown, we had entire states skating slalom style through cones. Such is capitalism, we fuel off of the competition.

In terms of Tony Hawk and Shaun White, the sport would still be the mainstays that they are if these 2 were never involved... They became role-models for their precise fundamental skills, and for taking them continuously to the next level, and as they got noticed, they chose to be proper role-models. They didn't choose to GIVE UP doing drugs or drinking or banging hookers to become famous, they just never were that way. But if it wasn't them, there would certainly be someone else behind them pushing the limits without their help. And if you're going to tell me that skateboarding would have never been popular, or snowboarding would have never made it to the olympics, you need to get your facts in chronological order, because you are obviously mistaken.

As for you "casual" observer:
I'm not even going to dignify any of your bs with a response...

**Colin Tracy** · 02-23-2011, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Supermahon949

Sean,

Inspiring an entire state(New Jersey) to release semi-similar footage in a continuous platform(NJSkim.com), featuring delinquent behavior with plenty of poop, drinkings, boobies, and skim.

This. http://www.foreverskimthemag.com/fsmtv/Toeknee01.shtml