The 'Fish Reports: Best of the Best, Best of the Worst

[Consortium]

Check out more fruits of our labor: Malakai Kingston's Best of the Best, Best of the Worst article about some of the things we saw at ASR.

Of course, if you haven't waded through the hundreds of sneak-peek photos uploaded to the ASR Gallery, you're missing out. How will you know what color Fender shoe to buy for the Holidays or how to recognize Peggy Oki in the line at the grocery store?

[Directive0]

I'm starting to think those GFhurley cats are in cahoots with silverfish.

[Gimp Skool]

Anyone want a Bagel? They can be Fun with cream cheese.

[GFHBoarder]

I'm starting to think those GFhurley cats are in cahoots with silverfish.

Haha, that would be great perhaps then I wouldn't have to pay for my advertising spots.
I think the real thing is that I have made an effort to spend time with these guys and get them my product in their hands. I have also skated with them.

[Directive0]

right... cahoots... thats what I said... All I'm saying is, the GFHurley paradgim is a pretty common one. Surf style longboards with simple graphics and a website full of flash animation and style based pictures. And for some reason, everytime I read silverfish their mentioned somewhere..

Sorry if I'm bringing the mood down.

Kudos for getting your stuff out there and trying to get your slice of the skate-pie though, nothing wrong with that. I'm just saying what I feel!

[Nickle]

right... cahoots... thats what I said... All I'm saying is, the GFHurley paradgim is a pretty common one. Surf style longboards with simple graphics and a website full of flash animation and style based pictures. And for some reason, everytime I read silverfish their mentioned somewhere...

... usually by themselves. Or that how it seems anyway.

[EBasil]

Yeah...I kinda feel like you should work on your vocabulary if you're not trying to be stupid and insulting. If you read about GFH, then you read about Kryptonics, Abec 11, Seismic, Longboard Larry and Mile High Skates in the same place. Some of those people have shown a level of participation in our electronic village, some skate with others here and some are responsive to requests for stuff to review that people have been asking about.

I'll tell you this: I was at ASR. There was absolutely ZERO new stuff from Sector9, Dregs, etc... and Kyrptonics, Abec-11, Seismic, Longboard Larry, Kebbek, Fibreflex, Insect, et cetera weren't even there. If you're seeing a lot of Revenge Trucks, Barfoot boards, and mini-boards, that's because those were the new things out there that generated interest. There's a photo out there with Dave Hackett and Khiro Bob in the GFH booth...why did that happen? Why shouldn't we report that?

Oh, and no free ads for GFH. We spent all that money on his bail.

[Mile_High_Mark]

I wasn't at ASR. I'm saving my tradeshow dollars for the Spice Girls Fan Club Convention.

[Directive0]

Yeah...I kinda feel like you should work on your vocabulary if you're not trying to be stupid and insulting.

ouch, feels like I struck a nerve. I guess I'll just keep my opinions to myself in the future.

[EBasil]

Hey, opinions are free. It's the whining that annoys.

[Mile_High_Mark]

The whole tradeshow thing is weird.

When I worked as a journalist in the bicycle industry, I covered Interbike, which dwarfs ASR by comparison. Much of the same vibe, and all us journo's would crowd around the same booths to take pics of the same products. Depending on the pecking order, some folks get more/better access, whereas the folks lower on the food chain got scraps. Some of the biggest names in the industry decided that spending a ton of dough on tradeshows wasn't a wise use of their money, so they "boycotted" the show(s). Personally, I'm glad to see folks like Gravity not attend ASR, as I think they're doing just fine w/o the show (and associated costs).

[Directive0]

Problem is, ebasil, like most things; its the observers job to identify between the two. I'm not the only person who's whining, so feel free to shoot me down, or get aggresive, or whatever it is people need to do. I'm not saying hurley's getting any free meals or anything, I've just read alot of stuff about them recently, and I thought I'd comment. I've never been one to rock the boat here. And I'll leave this subject alone if thats what everyone wants.

Silverfish is a powerfull influence on a large section of the LB community right now, its focus tends to be the community's focus..

I'm certainly not saying silverfish, or the people involved are doing some dirty pool, shady deals. The article was tight, Malakai wrote an excellent piece AS ALWAYS. And since I don't want to spend my whole time praising Malakai's assets I thought I'd mention something that was concerning me.

[EBasil]

Yeah, Interbike makes ASR look like a backwater. It's a much smaller community, particularly among the skateboard exhibitors. They're both put on by the same group, so the flavors are similar, albeit with very different scales. I've been to Interbike as media, manufacturer and retailer...very different experiences in those different modes.

Thankfully, when I got crazy enough to spin the Manitou wheel of chance, I scored a Ti-spring fork instead of a head-shaving and a smack in the ass... one of which would have been harder to explain the following week!

Directive, commentary is always cool. It's the meritless conspiracy theories and aggression that just come across as a stone bummer and whining. I think some people see it as: you can either add positive energy or just drag things down. You pick, bro.

[hiller1]

.

[Mile_High_Mark]

"meritless conspiracy theories"?

I believe he was pointing out what he thought to be a greater percentage of photos covering GFH items than other gear/companies.

[Directive0]

for sure man, I'm not TRYING to be a downer... and I wasn't TRYING to put down SF or the GF people. Thats just the way everything turned out.

Hiller! I will take you up on that skate if I'm ever down your way! I meant no bile.

Andif I was to speculate that there was a conspiracy happening it would be that the people who made this are conspiring to make us all look like douchebags.

I'm gonna write now what I (evidently) should've written in the first place:

Hey malakai, wicked article brother. When are we gonna see you in toronto? Ever? Never? Sometime?

[GFHBoarder]

Problem is, ebasil, like most things; its the observers job to identify between the two. I'm not the only person who's whining, so feel free to shoot me down, or get aggresive, or whatever it is people need to do. I'm not saying hurley's getting any free meals or anything, I've just read alot of stuff about them recently, and I thought I'd comment. I've never been one to rock the boat here. And I'll leave this subject alone if thats what everyone wants.

Silverfish is a powerfull influence on a large section of the LB community right now, its focus tends to be the community's focus..

I'm certainly not saying silverfish, or the people involved are doing some dirty pool, shady deals. The article was tight, Malakai wrote an excellent piece AS ALWAYS. And since I don't want to spend my whole time praising Malakai's assets I thought I'd mention something that was concerning me.

Tell you what if we are ever in your neighborhood or you are down here we will put a session together. But I will disagree with you on one major point. The only area we can be grouped in with the surf style companies is that they; for the most part make quality product. No one has ever used our stringer system, and I know it does not affect the performance, but it is a different look. Our mini's however are the most unique. We have the smallest boards out on the market. I made my first 8 years ago and have been chomping to get them going. They are a sick little board with the mini trucks.
And if anyone tries to come out of the woods to support us it is because we were hit or slammed hard in the begining when Justin was posting or learning how to post. We are a solid group of guys and are trying to do something here. Just talk to the other manufacturers out there, I have acutually been paying my dues for a while.
And MileHighMark gets a lot of praise here, most likely because he does a great job at what he does. Can't blame someone for trying.
Garrett

[EBasil]

That two-wheeled ski-skate thing, that IS a conspiracy of the worst sort.

[Directive0]

a long post

Dude.. no worries. Your stuff is ill to look at (never ridden one, sadly), and I too know what its like to make boards and try to get a foothold in the market (maybe not so much, or not at all, the last part). Don't let my or anyone elses posts strike you personally, we're all somewhat weary of new companies, especially ones that seem to spring up overnight. I don't think I would've been as turned off if we had seen some GFH boards that were a little more unique, but thats my problem. Stay strong, skate well, peace.

[MalakaiKingston]

Hey malakai, wicked article brother. When are we gonna see you in toronto? Ever? Never? Sometime?

Thanks man I appriciate the comment, I can't wait to come up north man. Times are tight right now, but hopefully I will be able to make it up there at least by summer of next year.