Firstly, 3 things you probably were aware of:

1. economy-wise, it's not super great out there..in fact, some predict a recession
2. oil is going through the rooof...and we could be way over $4 a gallon
3. the shortboard market is undergoing some severe challenges and some are very concerned

Now, 3 things you might be aware of:

1. I see huge potential in niche skateboarding - I am redoubling my efforts to get the word out. I will embark on a number of advertising and marketing initiatives that I hope will really shake things up

2. Over the course of the next several months, I will be releasing back issues of the magazine. These will be available at no charge and we aim to increase readership at least 20 times.

3. As Seth Godin wrote on his blog:

Opportunity of a lifetime

So, there's plenty of bad economic news floating around. From the price of oil to Wall Street to bailouts to the death of traditional advertising.

Which is great news for anyone hoping to grow or to make an impact.

Change (and the fortunes that go with it) is almost always made during the down part of the cycle. It might not be fun, but it's exciting. (Where do you think Google came from?) The opportunity is to find substantial opportunities (in any field) that deliver real value and have a future. Those jobs/investments/companies/ideas are undervalued right now, but not for long.





I am convinced that skateboarding will follow the same pattern it has always gone through: recessions have brought immense changes.

CW is going to be there documenting this change and with your help, a key player in fomenting this change.

One rider at a time
One reader at a time
One subscriber at a time*

It's going to be a helluva year!!

*read the buyer's guide fine print - you don't have to actually subscribe to concrete wave to be a "subscriber."