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| Q&A: Michael Brooke - Publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine (7141 Posts)
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You....Skateboard????
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On 4/28/2003
Geezer-X
wrote in from
(149.2.nnn.nnn)
Awesome forum. I love it. I still haven't seen an issue of CW for which I purchased a subscription the same time I joined Skate Club, but I order enought PT bearings that Ed always hooks me up with a copy. I was so proud to see our DC outlaw group in a magazine. A rare instance of being happy to be a member of a club that would have me. Anyway. I'm 43, race slalom, occasionally skate parks (badly), and longboard to the bagel shop. I have a business doing custom offset trucks and 8mm axle conversions, and carbon/glass/foam/epoxy decks. I skate as much as I can, and love it at least as much as I did in high school. I work for a biotech concern as an engineer/manager, and the scientists in the R&D group, who are my closest colleagues, are utterly baffled by by the whole skate thing. Last summer I had a few weeks off, and was going to the Vans park a lot. Most mornings, I was the only person skating who'd driven themselves there. One day, I'm sitting there before the 10:00 session, on like a Wednesday, finishing my coffe, about to put my pads on, kids all around me padding up and skating, and a mom sitting on the bench by me asks "which one's yours?". Of course, I don't make the leap that she wants to know which *kid* is mine, so I proudly hold up my new Bulldogs Shogo Kubo and say "This one!". She looked perfectly perplexed and said "You....skateboard?" Anymore, usually I feel my width more than my age.
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That monkey....
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On 4/28/2003
Stubbs
wrote in from
(209.117.nnn.nnn)
...has better hygene than Mike Moore. Mike also has more grooming issues.
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Dream Ride?
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On 4/28/2003
Mike Moore
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
My dream would be having the Pflugerville ditch (R.I.P) channel into the Nude Bowl (R.I.P.) from the Nukeland pipes (buried).
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thassa one vert rippin' monkey!
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On 4/28/2003 snoball
wrote in from
(65.32.nnn.nnn)
Ah, my skate idol! thanks ocatane michael...i hope
that lil' guy bites some fingers off for having
to ride on those little rocks..
i'd like to do the bear as well...anyone wanna
pay my plane ticket?
first class only please.
oh, and the monkey too...
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Destination UK...
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On 4/28/2003
michael Brooke
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
Well, as someone who lives in Toronto but was born in Leeds, England, I have a vested interest in making sure that we cover all areas of skateboarding.
We have a great piece on the history of slalom in the UK. I know that readers will enjoy this....even if they live 6,000 miles from the UK. Look for it in an upcoming issue.
The new tag line for concrete wave is 100% skateboarding. This means we want to show EVERYTHING that is skate related from ALL OVER.
Here' s another question....
What's the one place you'd love to skate that you haven't yet?
Me, I would love to skate in New Mexico's ditches.
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UK stories
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On 4/28/2003
Mike Moore
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
How'd you get my picture? Actually I'm not that tall.
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Monkey business
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On 4/28/2003 Michael (Octane)
wrote in from
(195.92.nnn.nnn)
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co-workers, oh yes, them
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On 4/28/2003
leo
wrote in from
(146.18.nnn.nnn)
well, all of my co-workers laught at what i do
" i dont uderstand why u want to suicide yoruself like that"
"aren u a little bit old for that?" DOH no!, most of my friends in the US are older than me (25yo)and skate twice fast!
"are u going to grow up?" "u are so inmature"
"oh i remember when i skated i always fell, thats why i found it too dangerous for me"
those are a few sentences i have heard at work
they dont know nothing!
leo
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give the people what they want
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On 4/28/2003 snoball
wrote in from
(65.32.nnn.nnn)
All that's good but what I REALLY want to see are
more skateboarding monkeys!
the door has officially been left wide open...[ ]
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UK stories
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On 4/28/2003
Mike Moore
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
PoolHog-
The ball's in your court. Send us something! We are constantly seeking submissions. Now's your chance!!!
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Quetion for Michael Brooke
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On 4/28/2003 PoolHog
wrote in from
(62.255.nnn.nnn)
Michael, firstly can I say how much i've enjoyed CW (the book as well) and ILB. My question is more of a request really, how about doing something on the scene over here in the UK? There is great scene of "older" riders as well as spots that are as "historically important" as anything over there. I understand that based in Canada we're quite a way off, but SoCal gets a lot of coverage doesn't it?
There are slalom riders, long boarders, pool "heads" and a lot of people who just love to rip around no matter what or where. Events happen periodically around the country where people take great effort and travel 100's of miles to attend. Being a relatively small country it means the same faces show up and so it's a freindly scene. Also in the last year or so we've seen more younger skaters taking more of an interest in other disciplines of skating rather than the normal "stairs and rails" and i'm glad to say that we're starting to see more teenagers and younger in the line up. It's publications such as yours that can nurture an interest and encourage people, older as well, to be a little more open minded about their skateboarding and maybe try new things. I'm constantly getting asked by kids where they can buy an "old skool" deck like mine (a 9.5in Alva) where as 2 years ago it was frowned at! As i said there are some classic spots over here, some of which have been around since the '70's. Rom in Romford, Solid Surf at Harrow, Southsea, Livingston to name but a few. Many pro's (particularly Americans) always try to pay a visit. My local spot has been on the list of dozens over the years since it's opening in 1978, from Shogo Kubo and the Alva team, through to Jason Adams & Chet Childress last week!
It'd be nice to see the Uk get some coverage for once and i'm pretty sure there'd be loads of people willing to lend a hand.
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age old secret...
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On 4/28/2003 psYch0Lloyd
wrote in from
(198.160.nnn.nnn)
While conversing with a coworker about music and other interests including skateboarding a 19 year old I worked w/some time ago made the comment, "How old ARE you? I didn't know you were that old... and I thought you were one of us!"
That's when it dawned on me how alien it must seem.
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Co-Workers etc.
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On 4/28/2003 Gaz
wrote in from
(217.196.nnn.nnn)
My (younger)co-workers just cannot get their heads around it that I skate, and especially that I just did a 600 mile round trip to meet like minded(middle-age-shred.com) skaters.
However my older boss thinks its great- except when I had 10 days off with a torn knee ligament......
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the question...
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On 4/28/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
The question is this...
How do your fellow co-workers react when they out you skate?
Disbelief?
Shock and awe?
Incredulousnes?
"So thost bruises are not from golf?"
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just call us skategeezers...
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On 4/28/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
Welcome Jack!
For those of you haven't seen the new bahne ad in CW, you are in for a real treat.
Headed into my office...decided to post this question after the following dialogue took place 10 minutes ago...
CO WORKER: "Hey, your face is really tanned...I guess you were out skateboarding this weekend?"
ME: Yep...took my son too.
OTHER CO WORKER: You have a son?
ME: Actually I have to sons...and a daughter.
CO WORKER: oh...that's unbelievable...and you skate?
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Bahne Team Captain
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On 4/28/2003
Jack
wrote in from
(66.52.nnn.nnn)
Good try...no cigar. Keep trying!
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Bahne Captain
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On 4/28/2003
Arab
wrote in from
(24.24.nnn.nnn)
Shufeldt?
Bob Mohr?
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Skateboarder Mag with a Bahne
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On 4/27/2003
Jack
wrote in from
(66.52.nnn.nnn)
Hey Chuck,
Great story.
When Skateboarder Magazine started publishing again in 1975 they came to Bill and Bob Bahne and worked out a deal where Bahne would include a copy of the mag with every board they sold. This, at a time when Bahne was making 1,000 complete boards a day and couldn't keep up with the demand.
Hey Nick,
Didn't you see the disclaimer about Bahne employees being ineligible for winning the contest? Just kidding, I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Here's another trivia question for a Bahne tee...
Who was the team captain of Bahne Skateboards in 1975?
Sorry Nick, you're not eligible for this one.
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1975 Bahne-Cadillac Nationals (aka Del Mar contest)
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On 4/27/2003
Nick
wrote in from
(66.87.nnn.nnn)
Here is the flyer:
Here is a picture of the 5 Summer Stories soundtrack on LP (from my personal collection).
Do I get enough bonus points to qualify for a Zephyr Competition Team t-shirt?
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Dogtown, skating "low", and today's image
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On 4/27/2003
Chuck
wrote in from
(199.183.nnn.nnn)
I still remember my first copy of Skateboarder Magazine...it was issue 2, came free inside the box of my first skateboard, a Bahne with Chicagos and Cadillacs. I still have the deck, and the magazine. It was clear to me after that first issue that I would need to get all subsequent issues. Not unlike most of you who post here...you know the story. The Dogtown articles were a big influence...I wanted to skate like those guys, even if I knew I didn't want to be like them necessarily (I was a "good" kid, it was pretty clear they were "bad"). I rode the hardest wheels I could get (never did get a set of Tunnel Rocks, though), and put my hand down to slide. I kept skating through college, known to the entire campus as "the guy with the skateboard and the leather jacket".
Cut to the present. I guess skating had a "rebellious" image then. It's still around. Now I'm a 40-year-old engineer and everytime my coworkers hear about skateboarding they jokingly say things like "isn't that illegal?" My coworkers come back from weekend ski trips with broken wrists they got snowboarding and no one bats an eye, but when I mention I spent the weekend riding a skateboard down hills and wiggling between cones they look at me like I mentioned having sex with a 12-year-old. It's just not on their radar. What's it gonna take to be accepted as a life-long pursuit? I have no idea, but it ain't here yet, and it really doesn't make sense to me why.
As far as buying at the local skateshop, I'd love to BUT...the first time I tried was to get wheels for my new longboard a little over a year ago. After checking several local shops and finding nothing but tiny little plastic rocks that look like they're already worn out, I had them order me a set of Kryptonics. A week later the wheels came in...a set of Sector 9's. WTF? "Well, they were out of Kryptonics, and these are green too so we got them". It wasn't long after that I looked online and found what I needed. Now I get it all online.
A side story..I walked into a different shop with my Roe and the guy behind the counter said "Wow, that's a really old school board!". They just don't get it...
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1975 Bahne-Cadillac Nationals (aka Del Mar contest)
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On 4/27/2003
Nick
wrote in from
(66.87.nnn.nnn)
Jack -
The band that played at the Saturday (April 26, 1975) night party at the 1975 Bahne-Cadillac contest was Honk, famous for the "Five Summer Stories" soundtrack.
You know how to get ahold of me.
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Delmar festival
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On 4/27/2003
CKnuck
wrote in from
(66.185.nnn.nnn)
I don't have a clue but for a Classic T, I'll say the Beach Boys,lol.
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The Lords of Dogtown
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On 4/27/2003
Jack
wrote in from
(66.52.nnn.nnn)
Conratulations on the new forum, Michael.
I am a consultant on "The Lords of Dogtown" film. I have been working with the producers, art director, wardrobe department and casting agency.
Right now the film is on a two week hold due to a couple of factors. There is a hang-up with the Mexican government regarding permits for the building of a replica of the POP pier. Fincher wants to build it in it's broken down state.
The original script was written by Stacy, the re-write was done by a fellow named Roger Avary, it is currently in the process of being reviewed.
From what I understand, Steve Olson's son will be playing the part of Jay Adams.
David Fincher is a stickler for accuracy. I have been working mainly on the Bahne-Cadillac Del Mar Nationals, (which was part of the Del Mar Ocean Festival) section of the film. An exact replica, and I mean exact, of the Bahne slalom ramp and freestyle platform will be built.
I was able to track down the original measurements of both. And was lucky enough to even find a photo that showed a can of the finish that was used. Another interesting find was the slalom course layouts, they changed from qualifying to finals. The slalom ramp was 15' tall, 30' wide, 100' long and had 50' of flat after the down slope.
The attention to detail is amazing, the t-shirts that were created by Bahne-Cadillac for the 1975 event were 50/50, and that's what they will be for the film. We just sent them a bunch of replica long sleeve t-shirts, some with an "Official" pocket logo on the front and some without.
Both will be available soon at www.bahneskateboards.com.
I'm very stoked to be working on this film. The Bahne-Cadillac Del Mar Nationals was my very first contest. My partner Stan even found a photo of the finals bracketing that showed both my name and John Krisik's, who would have known that almost 30 years later John and I would be putting on slalom events.
I'm also happy to report that quite a few of the production crew are tooling around on Bahne Classics, Fincher even has one in his office.
One final story. I remember being in the Dennys next to the Del Mar Fairgrounds the morning of the first day of the event. In walks this group of scruffy looking skaterats wearing Zephyr t-shirts and Vans. At this time the only Zephyr I ahd ever heard of was a hang glider company. I thought it was strange that a hang glider company would be sponsoring a skateboard team. I didn't give that crew of skaters much thought, until hours later when I saw skateboarding history in the making. I didn't know who these guys and girl were, but I did know I wanted to skate like them. When I got back home to Morro Bay after the event I tried to explain to the local crew what I had seen, it took awhile for us to figure it out.
A free Bahne tee to the first person who posts the correct answer to the following question...
Who was the headliner band that played on Saturday night at the Del Mar Ocean Festival?
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What brought me back...
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On 4/27/2003
Tom M.
wrote in from
(12.222.nnn.nnn)
(one more long post, and then back to a week at the salt mines)
Not sure I was ever "here" to begin with...
I sidewalk surfed in the mid '60s for a short while on metal wheels and -- later on -- some clay wheels... But, it was really my son's enthusiasm that got me into modern-day skateboarding.
I remember for a long while, I drove him around looking for nice sidewalks to skate (smooth, downhill, extended runs, etc.). I didn't have a clue. Nice K-mart boards, though... <g>
When he finally got a real board, he started trying ollies (by this time, THPS#1 was the rage & I guess he caught that "wave"), and other tricks. I still didn't have a clue.
My first skate park experience (October of 2000) left a lasting impression on my psyche. The adrenaline of bombing down the ramps created a gap (in me) that needed to be filled.
My first longboard experience (September of 2001) left an even greater impression. The feeling of surfing (even though I've never surfed), the wind blowing in my face as I 'sliced' against the 'waves'... The only thing I can compare it to (in my limited experiences) would be sailing a one-person rig on a smooth lake with a decent wind. This was even BETTER than skateparks in that I could do it within a 10 minute drive of my home (rather than the hour+ to the nearest park).
My first bowl experience (May of 2002) was a disaster! I wanted soooo bad to whip through the bowls, but I was skating them as though they were ramps or quarter/half pipes. The bowls just didn't 'feel' right.
Then, my next bowl excursion (July of 2002) netted me a reward. I finally figured out the balance necessary to front/back side through/around/over the 'waves' in the bowls. Holy-moly, what a RUSH! <g>
My first slalom experience (September 2003) was an eye-opener. It is harder than it looks! I enjoy it (something about racing against my own time and the immediate gratification and realization of quantifiable improvement, etc.), but without anyone to slalom with, I'm only doing it on occasion (usually in my garage, when the environment doesn't permit other boarding).
Maybe someday I'll catch the slalom wave in much the same way that I caught the longboard and parks/pool waves.
What brought me back? I'm blaming it on the WAVE. <g>
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Team Mike
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On 4/27/2003
Mike Moore
wrote in from
(66.196.nnn.nnn)
We were gonna call the magazine "Team Mike" but were afraid we would be exluding too many "Non-Mikes" (poor bastards)
Trujillo for Alva
Kristian Svitak for Stacy
CGI for Jay Boy
Maybe that's the ticket...turn it over to Pixar to make!!!
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