INTERVIEWS

What’s Wrong With Skateboarding According to Alex Olson

Alex Olson delivered his 2020 state of skate during his latest interview with No Comply Network. We missed this bit of Q&A when it dropped last week due to the coronavirus media blitz; but it contains some valid points that have been a consistent theme when discussing skating over the past few years.

For sure. What’s your favorite skate video?

I tried to watch a skate part two days ago, I couldn’t finish it. I dunno, it’s one of those things. We’re at a boiling point. I think skating needs to change, everyone is so talented now but they’re not doing creative tricks or they are creative, they do really hard tricks but it’s still not enjoyable to watch.Skating definitely took a big turn in 2014-2015, tricks, the boards, people, a lot of skaters started getting sponsored who weren’t naturally talented. But we’ve hit a wall where you know that guy can go down the biggest rail or on ledges but it all just looks the same, there’s something missing, it’s a generational thing too.

How do you mean generational?

I realize each generation has a particular style of how they hold their bodies, and this new generation, they’ve learned to square and hold their weight so well, and so many other things, everything is achievable nowadays it seems.

It’s hard to be truly original now.

I would say everything’s kinda washed out almost, oversaturated I meant. Everyone is good, everyone deserves product and to be pro and there is endless media of new content, so you don’t get to to sit with anything or learn anything. I remember when an album came out, back in the day you were forced to listen to the bad songs, you paid 20 bucks so you had to listen to all of it and you started listening to the bad songs because you became accustomed to them. Nowadays it’s like an echo chamber of ideas and tricks and trends. It’s different to the 90s it’s not as simple as it was but still things are mundane. It’s hyperized.

Time will tell what, if anything, will usher in the change in skating that many have been waiting for. For more on Alex, revisit Episode 09 of Mission Statement.

Image Via Ben Colen

INTERVIEWS

‘Good Work’ Episode 2 Now Playing on Redbull Skateboarding Channel

Alphonzo talks about how his past time of photoshopping images of celebrities skateboarding and sharing them on social media turned into a full-fledged business in this episode of “Good Work”.

Good Work episode 2 features Alphonzo Rawls and his #EVERYBODYSKATES and Savalé Footwear brands.

Alphonzo talks about how his past time of photoshopping images of celebrities skateboarding and sharing them on social media turned into a full-fledged business.

#EVERYBODYSKATES brand sells shirts, hoodies, hats, boards, and accessories.

He also had been involved in designing shoes for international footwear brands.

After 25 years of working with other companies, he decided to launch his own luxury footwear brand, Savalé.

Alf was also a pro-skater back in the day.

He started skating when he was 10 and turned pro when he was just 16 years old.

He thinks that skateboarding has somehow helped him be successful in business.

“Skateboarding, it’s for the most part, a really inconsistent sport, which means you definitely have to have some patience and some perseverance…It’s allowed me to think outside the box and apply that ‘out of the box’ thinking to run my business”

Redbull’s Good Work Series features skater-owned and skater-operated businesses.

You can watch the first episode here or on the Red Bull Skateboarding YouTube Channel.

INTERVIEWS

‘My War: Gabriel Summers’ Now Playing at Thrasher Magazine

Watch “Gabbers” Gabriel Summers as he narrates how the story behind the “Damn It All” part where he got a broken collarbone while trying to conquer a massive kink handrail.

I will think about that forever because that’s something that’s like, took me so hard, and it’s so hard to accomplish and that I actually did it.

The gnarly goofy-footed Australian Skater has been a member of the Zero team since 2019.

Watch the “Damn It All” Zero part below.

INTERVIEWS

Skate Tales Season 2 is Coming

Skate Tales Season 2 is coming on Red Bull TV starting April 20.

Madars Apse’s documentary series takes us through skateboarding underground to share life experiences and ask more skateboarding mavericks to find out what skateboarding means to them.

You can also watch the series on Red Bull Skateboarding YouTube Channel on these dates: