|
If you would like to submit a letter to Real Skate
with the intention of getting it published, this is the place to
do it. No guarantee all submissions will get published and they
are subject to editing. Names must be included and will be published,
however out of courtesy to you in our anti spam campaign, we will
no longer print your e-mail addresses.
Clarkie
Submit
to: editor(at)realskate.com
Letters and articles
reflect the views and opinions of the writers only and not necessarily
those of Real Skate or its staff.
From Neal Hendrix 9/7/03
How's it going, just read the "Nebraska we have a problem"
story on your site and wanted to let you know what the "vert dawgs"
that you were referring to really think about skateboarding in the
Olympics. We, just like you and Dave Carnie and everyone else in
skateboarding, are appalled at the thought of skateboarding in the
Olympics and we know how evil the IOC and USOC are and have heard
all of the horror stories from snowboarders and everyone else. That
being said ever since we heard that a roller skating organization
was designated as the governing body by the IOC we wanted to make
sure that someway, somehow the skaters would have a voice. We don't
(as UPSA) necessarily want to be an organizing body or a sanctioning
body we just want to have a voice. It's one of those things where
if it's going to happen it's going to happen and all you can hope
for is that the skaters and people that do know what's up could
help make something like that be a positive thing and maybe even
help grow skateboarding rather than butcher it like I'm sure these
fools in Nebraska would do. Thanks, I really enjoyed the article
as well as the rest of the site.
[Editor's Note: Neal's letter is also posted on
the Articles page concerning USA Rollersports under "Nebraska
We Have a Problem."]
From Tom Miller, 9/16/03
An open letter to Andy Macdonald from Portland skaters
Re: Bad Pro Endorsement Deals
BULLSHIT ON BAD ENDORSEMENTS—Every American has
a Constitutionally protected right to earn a living in a manner
he or she sees fit within the boundaries of law. Skaters that companies
deem appropriate to serve as spokespersons for certain products
are certainly free to endorse any such product, however ridiculous.
The question of endorsement savvy, then, is not one of law but something
subtler. It's called tact.
Andy Macdonald is a skater of inarguable
tenacity and skill. I, myself, will never match his lines. Like
most readers, I'm among the mass of nameless, faceless skaters who
continue to ride, in part, because of inspiration derived from guys
like Andy. We're the people whose passion for skateboarding keeps
his paychecks coming and this entire industry afloat. I fully defend
Andy's right to represent himself as a skater in any situation he
deems appropriate. But it's time to have a word with Andy and his
ilk.
Every time you guys endorse a product
it reflects on the revered way of life we all share as skateboarding.
Andy, you guys are so good you make a living at it. A damn good
living. When I say "damn good" I don't mean to imply a
certain sum of money. Any amount of money earned through pursuit
of passion like skateboarding is damn good. If you guys need a lesson
you can trade places with me any day; I sit behind a desk for 40
hours/week.
So what's up with endorsing pathetic
product that we all know disserves the long-term interests of our
revered way of life? Let's just focus on one such product: prefabricated
skatepark set-ups generated by playground companies. Andy, you guys
know the session ain't on at some bogus plastic setup. Is it just
a paycheck to you? I appreciate your desire to earn a living through
skateboarding. It's an incredible opportunity, and yes, you should
make the most of it. But it's not just about you. You
need to understand you're ruining our session—the sacred altar,
the only thing that matters in skateboarding. When you
guys endorse this stuff, duped city officials buy it. They distrust
and disrespect the experience of guys like me who have been skating
for 25 years imploring them to hire a design/construction team comprised
of people that skate. Do you guys get it?
While you travel the globe getting
paid to session with friends experiencing what we can only dream
we're slugging it out at home with the bureaucrats who know nothing
about skateboarding. We're just everyday inconsequential skaters;
they don't trust us like they trust a pro-skater endorsed sales
pitch from a bankrolled playground equipment company who recognizes
profit to be seized in the current surge of city skateparks. Your
paycheck sells out the session for all of us. You run off to the
next stop on the celebrity skate parade while we get stuck with
4-foot prefab nonsense. If you weren't jet setting and had only
your local prefab park to skate you too would curse the name of
the professional skater who endorsed it. Hard feelings, then, are
inevitable, but I'd rather be productive about this.
I write this humble plea asking for
mutual respect, foresight, and yes, tact. Andy—all of you—think
about the repercussions of what you endorse before you scoop up
a check. We're spending literally years of our lives begging for
real skateparks. We need your support. You're rolling the high life
in a serious way—thanks to us. Show some respect already and
ditch these profiteers who care not at all about the quality of
our session. Are you guys cool enough to respect that?
Skaters for Portland Skateparks
pdxskaters(at)hotmail.com
http://www.pdxskaters.org
[Editor's Note: This letter is also
posted on our Skateparks page see "Toy Skateparks."]
From
Deniz 9/27/03
What's Up Guys? I really don't care about what
people say bout me. I'm fat but I'm still a good skater and just
don't care bout the shit what they say. The only reason why I don't
care is cause Skating is always fun for me. I'm skating in my Holidays
and just street no pipes. Skating could never get anything really
serious for me. But I want to Skate as long as I can in my life
because it's the best sport on the world. In the past never were
such a good sport and in the future won't be something better I'm
sure bout that. That's it guys now ya know what's on my mind bout
Skating. You got a be free and never listen to somebody that's the
way how I do it. Stay in Peace.
[Editor's
Note: Right on Deniz! You are a real skater. People who insult other
people have problems themselves. Sometimes they are jealous, sometimes
they are just not happy about themselves so they try and make others
look bad. But it doesn't work, it backfires on them and makes them
look like fools. Keep on skating and thinking the way you do, and
peace to you too and thank you for your great letter.]
From Becky Taylor
11/25/03
Hi. I'm an 11 year old girl who got into skateboarding last month.
I love your site and think it's sweet. The memorial page is sad.
The Dogs on Boards and Girls on Boards is cool though. Keep it up.
Well, I want to be a good skater someday and an artist maybe. Well,
I already am but still I'm not recognized. If I send you a picture
will you post it on your site? I'm thinking of a dog skateboarding
on it's hind legs with clothes on like a human. Well, I'll send
it to you after I draw it. C Ya around!
[Editor's
Note: Whew, I was worried you were going
to make a real dog do that! Sure, I will post it on Dogz on Boardz.
Thanks for writing, Becky, we appreciate your nice compliments.]
|
