An open letter from Mr. Bennett...

[BOMBHILLER]

[Welsh Dave]

Wow - Some bold statements there from Mr. Bennett.
Let's see whether the goods measure up to the hype.

It seems like a lot of the old names are coming out of the woodwork, due to the renewed interest in downhill/ slalom/ just cruising around:- Simple pleasures which have been largely marginalised since the original rise of vert skating and the subsequent dominance of 'street'.

I'm not sure yet whether these old names who disappeared from our scene are following the stoke or just the money, but I reckon the time is right for a couple of things:

1. A return to the good-time vibe that I remember from simpler (purer?) forms of skating. To me, skateboarding is NOT about kids popping stationary ollies and tiny wheels that don't roll, but is based on style, speed and flow:- Something that the average kid will never achieve on a modern popsicle board.

2. The return of the technical innovation that abounded in the mid-70s, when brands like Bennett, Turner, G&S, Cadillac and Independent facilitated huge evolution within the space of a few years.

Since then, I think the development of mainstream equipment has stagnated - With a few exceptions like Paul Schmitt's concaves or Fausto & the Indy crowd. Of course, the ability of vert and street skaters has progressed immeasureably since the 70s, but I think this is largely in spite of their equipment, rather than because of it.

The speed/ slalom & longboard fraternity is fortunate to have the likes of Chaput, Wefunk, Kebbek, Seismic etc. producing innovative, high-quality equipment. Let's hope that the high-profile return of Bennett etc. brings that kind of innovation back to the 'mainstream'... And that the 'mainstream' skate industry re-embraces the stoke of:

fast wheels,
steep hills,
dodging cones and
big grins.

Hope that makes some sense.

Cheers,

DM

[EBasil]

http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/article.php?story=20060614114840835

[Mile_High_Mark]

My question is, "Why now?"

[broken only once]

I agree with Dave completely. I've found a few boards in the closet that were made so long ago, it cracks me up. The wheels are hard as rocks, huge, and the board is about as wide as a slalom water ski. Sure it sucked to ride, but it was FUN! Remember that? Sure you can cruise and and have a great time on LBLs and Loadeds and what not, but this board was made in my garage out of plywood.(!) What about those days. This is probably a soap box rant, but being someone that refuses to listen to music made by artists that appeared after about 1985, I think I validate Mr. Bennett's opinion, at least a little. And also, for the first time in my life I regret just putting down $40 some-odd bucks on a new set of ZigZags.. Now I dont have any money for these new Gator wheels.. Not to mention the fact that all I CAN do is go around (and over) cones and sweep in and out of alleys and driveways down big hills. I cant "shuv it, ollie, bam handstand, kickflip, etc"

[Welsh Dave]

My question is, "Why now?"




[cough] Market conditions? [/cough]

I honestly think Peralta's film has a huge amount to do with fuelling the nostalgia and also raising awareness amongst younger skaters (younger is a pretty relative term at my age) that's there's more to skating than they may have seen on the X-Games (although those skaters are mind-blowing)

I think the other, less tangible reasons are illustrated perfectly by Jay's style and attitude in that picture.

(On a shonky board that I probably couldn't ride in a straight line)

DM

[Mile_High_Mark]

I see someone saw through my question.

Indy and Tracker have been here through good times, bad times, and inbetween. To show up now--when once-dead companies are making comebacks--casts aspersions on what may be something that's entirely well intentioned.

[atomictiki]

Motivational aspects aside, I've got a credit card
and know how to use it. Can't wait to try the new
design "Truks"and finally get the Vectors and the
Alligators I've waited 30 years for. Consumerism
on the brain !!!NHS bring back the RR 6's & OJ's!!!
Retro : "It's just not for kids anymore".

[Welsh Dave]

Motivational aspects aside, I've got a credit card
and know how to use it. ...

For me, Indy, Powell-Peralta and the other companies that stuck with skating through the dark days of the early 80s will always deserve recognition for the way they continued to prop up what was a tiny niche-interest.

Not that I ever thought the Powell decks were great quality, but very little skateboard equipment even existed at that time. Being one of only 2 skaters in my school & having to travel 2 hours on the train just to drool outside the nearest skateshop (Rollermania, in Bristol), even the inflated import taxes weren't going to put us off.

I'll reserve judgement on Mr. Bennett's motivation for now. I might be warming up the credit card, but not just for nostalgia's sake. Only if their new stuff is as good as what's being produced by recent innovators like Chaput, who has led the way in developing some great kit.

...Retro : "It's just not for kids anymore".

Agreed. It's mainly for those who've earned their way to a large disposable income. Did I dream it, or was there a quiver of NOS Fibreflex decks on Ebay recently with opening bids of $800 each... Or was it just $600?

DM

[klen]

Gee, I sure hope he brings back those black plastic baseplates that I used to crack one a week, and those axles that would bend on impact from a monster vert arial or acid drop.

Sorry, but those trucks sucked. As soon as Trackers, Indys, and Gull Wings came out, everyone bailed on Bennets.

If he sells any at all, it will be for nostalgia's sake, not for performance......

[Voyce]

what do they cost? didn't I see postings all about these months ago and still no new information?

[skategeezer]

the more things change, the more they stay the same...

[crawdad62]

Gee, I sure hope he brings back those black plastic baseplates that I used to crack one a week, and those axles that would bend on impact from a monster vert arial or acid drop.

Sorry, but those trucks sucked. As soon as Trackers, Indys, and Gull Wings came out, everyone bailed on Bennets.

If he sells any at all, it will be for nostalgia's sake, not for performance......

Sadly I have to agree here. Bennett's were cool looking and in theory (well Big Red Rubbers were) but for the most part they weren't that great IMHO.

[Crappysurfer]

see ya later randall

[CRASS]

im sick of hype BS.

Gimme some info that someone actually gives a flying **** about...

you can take your empty sayings & shove em.

anybody else with me?

(Now dont get me wrong, im totally stoked on these trucks finnally coming out.. im just fed up with a whole bunch of these companies building hype with nothing to show for it..)

[ShaggyIan4]

it's messed up that he is only coming back because of all the dogtown ****. I mean **** that ****. Sure I might get a pair, but i'll download them. **** that ****



CONCRETE KAHUUUUUUUUNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BASTARDS

[Slob-air]

I interveiwed the Bennetts last week.

Why now? Simply because life is allowing him to do so at this moment. It's also something he and his son can do together—his son was the reason he started making truks in the first place.

Dogtown flick? Documentary? I don't think so—Bennett wasn't even represented in either despite the fact the Z-boys did ride Bennetts.

Klen - I've ridden Bennetts since not long after they came out. Never bent an axle or broke a kingpin. And the aluminum baseplates that replaced the bullet proof glass variety rule. A lot of people still ride Bennett. Why? Because they out-turn everything else.

[V1RG1N14 L0NG804RD3R]

Is Bennet gonna have some dh trucks? Cuz I would be interested to see what those would look like. He did mention something about carving and bombing trucks, but I think it might just be a more longboard style carving truck.

[EBasil]

At the costs involved, and the timetable for production, I think we should focus on the "reguilar" trucks before we start wondering too hard or too eagerly about "downhill trucks" from Bennett.

[CRASS]

word.