The Telescope

Issue Date: 3/15/10

Skating Sell-Outs

Corporate contracts destroy skateboarding's basic principles

By Brian Blakely

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo

Skateboarding is not a sport. According to some of the biggest names in skateboarding, like Mark Appleyard and Frank Gerwer, skateboarding is not even an "extreme sport." Skateboarding is an art, a subculture and a world of its own. It possesses many of the same traits as any sport or pastime but the tie that holds skateboarders together is a tight one. Well, at least it used to be.

In August 2007, MTV single-handedly broke down the skate world's barriers by airing the reality TV show, "Life of Ryan," a show that displayed Ryan Sheckler's oh-so-awful life and times growing up in Orange County - with more money than my family, grandparents and uncle put together - while he skateboards and travels the world for a living.

Boohoo.

As if the label of reality TV isn't misleading enough, the life of Ryan as depicted on the show is clearly far from reality.

I'm not going to say I like Ryan Sheckler because that would be a lie. I will admit that he is a talented skateboarder, and deserves what he has (at least when it comes to sponsors). But do I respect the guy? No way.

Ryan's oh-so-exciting life somehow gained the attention of hundreds of thousands of viewers throughout each season of his show's short career, leaving fans with one thought in their mind: "Skateboarding? Yeah, I could do that." Well, the joke's on you.

Meanwhile, the skateboarding world is blowing up online, in magazines, on blogs and elsewhere.

Sheckler and MTV were the talk of the town.
The real world adores skateboarders like Sheckler. He's been in everything from deodorant commercials to milk commercials. (Yep, he's one of the few to wear the milk mustache, skateboard in hand.)

But who cares?

Skateboarding isn't about being in milk commercials, or winning the X Games.

Skateboarding isn't about having your own TV show or about being famous.

Rather it is about the self-satisfaction of riding the board. It's about skating your surroundings - anything and everything.
I think it's sad that corporations such as MTV weasel their way into these kids' wallets.

What is even more depressing, though, is when your favorite pros change companies they have been on for years just to boost up that paycheck.

They gain money but lose respect.
From a fan's perspective, it's just how you look at it.

Skateboarding is branching into two major directions right now: you're either in it for the fame, money and sponsors who aren't even associated with skateboarding; or you're doing it for the thrill, passion and the feeling of bombing a hill at 6 a.m. to grab a cup of coffee.

Continued...

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