SkateStage Dads

[elementalzoo]

There he is. The middle aged guy with the expensive video gear, running around the park after his young son yelling,"Go for it!!" and,"OK...Go!".

Maybe he even skates himself. But he's too old now to be a famous skater. He doesn't have the time to devote because he's got a straight job. Skateboarding didn't pay back then like it does now.

But, he's got a son. And if he devotes all his free time and resources to the kid, maybe..just maybe..he'll have his own little Ryan Sheckler. And then Dad can quit that low paying job with the pr*ck of a boss. Yeah. A famous kid with tons of sponsors and contracts getting waived around. That's a Skate Dads dream come true.

***
These guys exist. Here's some trivial proof of that. Feel free to search YouTube yourself for more.

YouTube - Amazing Skater

I've seen these jackazzes in parks all over the place. They're grooming their kids like the maniacal, neurotic, over the hill, glory days all gone, desperate dads that they are. And little Jesse or Jamie or Johnny or Janey's skin and bones are literally offered up in pursuit of their goals. They're stage dads really, nothing more or less.

What responsible, loving, concerned parent is willing to let their very young kid - nine or ten years old - attempt things that can result in broken bones and serious injury ( and time out from their education as a result )? Only the boneheaded father with big, big Shaun White dreams for their kid would provide evidence for their ambition by filming these kids 'sponsor demos' minus padding.

Listen, if you're over 18 you're an adult. Personally, I could care less what broken bones and brain damage mean to you and wether you want to risk it. But kids? No way. They deserve the chance to get to 18 with bodies that are not damaged by a parents desperate ambitions for them.

And btw aspiring videographers everywhere. Do us all a favor and nix the lengthy titling intro explanations regarding what the film's about. That's what AUDIO in your video camera is for .

[Momona Boe]

/\ I've seen it as well - sad

Either skate yourself or shut the F up! I used to see it BMX racing too - Dads screamin' at their kids.

My Dad helped us build our first ramps - cool! And then left us alone - cooler! He would watch us every once in awhile, shake his head when we slammed and got back up and did it over and over again. He had NO idea what the hell we were doing, and didn't care - we weren't bothering him!

One of the reasons that so many of us started skating was to avoid adult confrontation.

[Wells]

I can't believe I just wasted 2 minutes reading that pompous introduction to transcendently mediocre skating.

Hint: if you want to get sponsored; try to actually make the tricks in your sponsor-me video. And make it all bangers, not skatepark flat-bar boardslides.

Who's going to call the number?

[07boardrally]

Originally Posted by elementalzoo

And btw aspiring videographers everywhere. Do us all a favor and nix the lengthy titling intro explanations regarding what the film's about. That's what AUDIO in your video camera is for .

dear god... not to mention the totally crap angles, and not even having your subject in a shot when he's doing a trick... WTFOMG!~!!!!

[rawls]

I was at a park one day and there was this father (standing on the flat, low on the tranny) that would his hold his son's hand and pull him thru an elevator drop. Pretty neat at first, still I really started listening and watching what was going on. The father was being a total goon yelling at him that he would never be able to make it if he could drop in by himself. The father would even take the board and throw it real far out of the bowled area when the son wouldn't do it by himself.

You could just see the little league parent mindset coming thru, even at the skatepark.

When my son skates, I let him do what he wants. He carves, and kickturns, and fakies in low stuff. If you ask him to try dropping in, he wont ablidge. His only attempt was at on a 4ft mini, in which he didn't even really fall. He just progresses at his own pace. He has been in a real swimming pool, he has been in sketchy neighborhood terrain with the adult skaters, has been in big park bowls/pools, he has been in backyard ramps and seen nasty injuries. I keep him in quality gear and upgrade his friends stuff too. But he skates how he skates, I dont have a problem with, nor do I think he will never make it as serious rider. OT me skateboarding is an activity. It consumes more of my being that than many, but still its just an activity. there are infinite levels of riding, just the same as there are many ways to skate. He cruises cones occasionally too.

the tables turn at the ice rink. I ask him why he didn't commit, or backed off, he will come up with some reasoning like , so-n-so had him and I had to cover the open spot, etc. We pay lots of money to play travel hockey, and if he is not going to (or no desire to) play at the "higher" level we need to back it down a notch or two, to a far more casual league. All the while asking him if he still enjoys it.

Anyway, We never yell, telling him he wont make it. We do tell them that he needs to play at the level required, or try something else. In a game situation, in the crowd, we do yell our butts off though.

The NAshville Parent gave no alternatives, or even let him try riding any other terrain. Everyone is different. Everyone has their own pace. As much as parents want their kids to be stars and pros, it is very typically not going to happen.

[littlebrain]

OK... I've been lurking on this forum for awhile and thought I'd pipe in on this one.

I'm a dad... 38. My son is 5 and skating is his life. He loves it. I take him to the park probably 2 times a week - so he skates maybe 4 - 6 hours / week. I don't know what other 5 year olds can do on a skateboard but my son can ollie, can drop in on various half pipes and more. I take my $4000 canon XHA1 to the park every so often to film him - but not as a 'sponsor me' video. I want to be able to show him how he's progressed over time. I am not trying to live vicariously through him... I had my days when I skated and when I rode bmx... they're long gone and I accept that. I don't push him to do anything and I never yell. He's there to do what he wants to do and to learn at his own pace. I'm proud of him - wanting to be a part of something and I support him. Even though I'm a filmmaker (not just a you tube wannabe), by profession I do multimedia work which entails professional video shoots and web development... I won't shoot a sponsor me video of him because he's A) too young, B) not good enough to be sponsored and C), I honestly don't think I'd like him to turn pro. I read a lot of skateboard magazines and there are constantly stories about pros filming here or there and how drunk they were or how high they were... or how they like this particular ethnicity of women because they're easy. I don't want my kids to aspire to be that. I want him to have fun and get out and move around and not sit in front of a tv all day turning into a fatass. Skateboarding is an awesome sport and yes, it does have it's fair share of pricks that push their kids to do stupid crap jsut so it'll look good on tape - but it also has it's fair share of dads that are proud of their kids because they are out doing something positive and learning new skills. I just don't want you guys thinking that all dads that show up to the park with expensive gear to film their kids are all living vicariously through their kids. Some of us are just proud and want a record of our kids' achievements. I wish my dad gave enough of a crap to support me in all of my wacky endeavours as a kid. but that's another story!

[wilder]

Interesting thread. I got a dirtbike for christmas when I was five, Just like both my brothers did before me. My dad enjoyed teaching me how to ride it, taking the family on riding trips every other weekend (My mom also rides). He never really pressured me into becoming amazing, he was just concerned about me having a good time and trying my best.

Now I dont dirtbike so much anymore, but I seem to have replaced that with skateboarding. When i have a kid, I want to put him on a skateboard as soon as possible! Now am I gonna go chase after him in skateparks, or make sure he knows how to land a nollie heel by the time he's 5? No, I just want someone to share what I love doing, and maybe even love it as much as i do. Not only that, but keeping a kid focused on a sport or activity is healthy.

I can totally see this backfiring if the parent is too aggressive and selfish. Becoming to overbearing and ruining skateboarding for the kid. And in my case, I probably will be showing him more styles of skating than just street like in that video.

[Corbin]

Whats even worse than the video is all the people making fun of him. Cant believe people waste time making fun of 10 year olds. At least be constructive when you comment on his video. He may not be the best but Iv seen worse get good by practicing.

[skategeezer]

well, as someone who lives this from both sides of the lens, I can tell you it's just plain pathetic when I see what the pursuit of sponsorship leads to.

a few thoughts..

1. we have a section in the magazine called the Next Wave...It's totally random...we take kids (and young adults) from everywhere....my son, aged 11 is BEGGING me to be in there..but there is no way. He's not at the next wave level. Maybe one day.

2. I once witnessed a truly gifted skater with an overbearing father. When I asked for a photo and a write up for my next wave column, the father said "he was waiting for bigger/more prominent" skate media to do a story on him...and didn't want CW to give his son any coverage. Sad, but true. I hope this kid still skates in 10 years, but I doubt it.

3. I have 3 kids...my daughter, is not interested in the least in skateboarding. My 6 year old and 11 year love it and it's a great feeling to skate with them. But that's about as far as I want to take it....I have seen what "going pro" actually means...not fun for most of them. Sure, a few get the glamour and $$$, the vast majority, not a heck of a lot...

[ssaldumbide]

"What responsible, loving, concerned parent is willing to let their very young kid - nine or ten years old - attempt things that can result in broken bones and serious injury ( and time out from their education as a result )?"

If the kids wanna skate, let em' skate! Better than TV or video games, especially for a growing youth.

[sk8norcal]

I haven't seen too many overbearing dads at my local park (I try to avoid weekend mornings). But I don't see anything wrong with enthusiastic dads filming their kids.

That video that Elementalzoo posted, I don't see anything bad about the video. The dad wasn't yelling at his kid or anything. The kid probably asked for a sponsorship video to be made. Kids are kids, they are often times have unrealistic goals.

Now that video is posted on youtube, and a bunch of jackasses are on there posting negative comments. That kid is probably crying and feeling humiliated.

the funny thing is tat kid probably rides park better than 95% of riders on Silverfish...

[sk8norcal]

Originally Posted by elmentalzoo

"What responsible, loving, concerned parent is willing to let their very young kid - nine or ten years old - attempt things that can result in broken bones and serious injury ( and time out from their education as a result )?"

yeah I find that comment and the pad comment kinda of lame.
who is he to call them unresponsible?
there are ten year olds doing pretty amazing things these day and most wear no pads (pad police alert)