Really Pathetic Ads With Skateboard Theme...

**skategeezer** · 08-29-2006 05:55 AM

What is it about skateboarding that attracts some of the most outrageously bad mass market advertising? I think I might have stumbled onto one of the world's WORST ads using skateboarding in the history of print advertising...but I am SURE you guys can find even worse...

This ad comes courtesy of a magazine called ur. What is ur? It's a publication put together from Rogers Media Inc-one of the chief architects of Canada's media oligarchy. Sure, they tried hard to showcase cool things people are doing with cell phones but this ad seemed to flush all their hard work down the toilet.

How bad is it? Well, it starts out in a positive light and seems to go downhill pretty damn fast. Speaking of downhill, it would appear the creatives behind this ad have not one shred of understanding of what is happening in skateboarding right now...and it's doubtful they have one iota of understanding as to what drives folks to skate.

For those of you who are having difficulty reading the ad here's what it says:
"Encourage each other. We're all a family. Save your hate for something else, focus it into your skating if you want, ride your way and enjoy it all. It won't be too soon before you're too old, or too broken, or skateboarding has evolved and your style has been left in the dust."

Yes, you read that piece of drivel correctly. Basically, you can skate for a little bit more, but now it's time to start considering "proper alternatives" before you get left in the dust.

It reminds me of the scene in The Graduate where one of the friends of Ben's father keeps telling him "plastics Ben, the future is in plastics."
The skater in this pick just looks pathetic. His body language is saying "geez, I should just blow off the session and call HBI and become an accountant."

Fear, uncertainty and doubt are the cornerstones of many ad campaigns. By trying to scare the bejezus out of you, advertisers hope you will respond. In this case, I think this ad provokes more of a backlash than anything else. It's a pathetic ad...

But now it's time for YOU to share what you think is the WORST ad using skateboarding...tell us why...just scan, post and comment...

**pavedwave** · 08-29-2006 06:20 AM

That guy looks like he's never dropped in and crappin his pants (kinda defeats the message of the ad) or recovering from a hangover.

But seriously the other day I was in the park and this dude said "hey man, what do you freestyle?" then I came back with "show us your signature move"... we say this all the time in the parks, you know...

**Momona Boe** · 08-29-2006 06:22 AM

NOBODY better dis the Kool Aid commercial!!!!!!!

**worldridr768** · 08-29-2006 08:41 AM

naughty naught kool-aid............

**Mile_High_Mark** · 08-29-2006 08:50 AM

Transworld gets my vote.

**nervous ned** · 08-29-2006 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by pavedwave

That guy looks like he's never dropped in and crappin his pants

HAHA, reminds me of a funny story:

Last fall, we inherited a professional halfpipe from a production company that was hired to shoot a hi-budget tv commercial for a children's hospital (they had to get rid of the ramp after the shoot so they just gave it away). The idea was a "green screen" commercial where kids would be flying through the air on skateboards, and it would look like they're just floating magically against a backdrop.

So, the production company hired a casting agency to hire skateboarder talent, but instead of going to a skatepark to source skaters they used a modeling agency and asked for models who could "skateboard." Apparently, not one of the kids that showed up could drop-in on a six foot aggressive ramp with 6 inches of vertical. They said kids would just stood at the top, staring down ("crappin their pants"). They apparently ended up settling for shots of kids doing ollies instead, after spending several thousand dollars building the halfpipe.

**MrCokesNSmokes** · 08-29-2006 09:08 AM

I have yet to see a good, mass-marketing ad campaign featuring skateboarders. They're all pretty damned cheesy, if y'ask me.

God help us all.

Remember last week, when I wished that the public at large would just up and forget that we exist? I was reminded to be careful what I wish for, 'cuz I might just get it. Well, one week later, and I'm still wishin' away.......! Here's another great example of why (as if I really needed one).

**Joe & Nick** · 08-29-2006 09:08 AM

I think those Longbords by Fatboy ads in Concrete Wave are pretty crappy.

**Momona Boe** · 08-29-2006 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Joe & Nick

I think those Longbords by Fatboy ads in Concrete Wave are pretty crappy.

jealous, 'cause your son is cooler than you?

**BergaLiden** · 08-29-2006 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by pavedwave

That guy looks like he's never dropped in and crappin his pants (kinda defeats the message of the ad) or recovering from a hangover.

But seriously the other day I was in the park and this dude said "hey man, what do you freestyle?" then I came back with "show us your signature move"... we say this all the time in the parks, you know...

What a shitty ollie, with his backfoot off the board and all.

**Sensei** · 08-29-2006 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Joe & Nick

I think those Longbords by Fatboy ads in Concrete Wave are pretty crappy.

I know the newest one with the picture of me looking totally GNAR threatens your manhood Joe. Its okay.

**skategeezer** · 08-29-2006 01:25 PM

here's another very lame piece...from an insurance brochure!

**Rabid Skunk** · 08-29-2006 01:41 PM

I don't think anything can repair the damage from the fall that would have followed that picture.

**SweetCatarina** · 08-29-2006 04:32 PM

Geezer, That HBI college ad is the WORST! I'm surprised they didn't put a pint of Old Crow in one of the dude's hand & a crack pipe in the other. Hell, he should have been holding a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-auto to his temple. What a bunch of knucklehead ad execs. Fire the whole bunch!