Skating Sell-Outs

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.

I hate to admit it, but Sheckler does love skateboarding. He is a professional, and deserves his title. I just don't agree with advertisements in skateboarding magazines showing a kid posing for the camera like a model, without a skateboard in sight.
Skateboarders used to make money by skateboarding - strictly and solely. They would take photos (yes, of them skateboarding), which would be published in skate magazines, and they would get paid for ads.

Most professional skateboarders in the 1990s and even into the 2000s lived in crammed apartments, with six or seven friends, skating to survive. They didn't drive around in Mercedes or BMWs, let alone shoot skateboarding ads flaunting them. A skateboarder's life was as raw and as exciting as you could imagine.

Unfortunately, this was before industry-heads realized they could make a few bucks to be corny and ride for sellout companies. Many of them jumped on that wagon without thinking twice, although a fair share of professionals and skateboarders of all ages remained humble, and underground.
MTV called Tim O' Connor, a pro for Habitat skateboards, more than three times to set up meetings and get a show started. He denied them every time.

That is exactly how it should be.

source:
The Telescope