Concrete Wave Articles

It was early May in Colorado, and it was supposed to rain all weekend. The Buffalo Bill Downhill on Lookout Mountain, organized by Comet conspirator and Pagan pioneer Justin Dubois, was slated for May 9-10. Lookout Mountain was paved in 1917. The road was graded to accommodate Model T cars, so the average grade is 7% and is littered with hairpin turns – albeit flat hairpin turns – but we’ll get to that later.

We spent two weeks in California enjoying the sunshine and skateboarding. We even got a chance to surf and closely explore the beauty of the state. There were numerous people that made our trip very special. Our sincere thanks to all those who made us feel so welcomed. We started out in San Francisco and drove all the way down to San Diego. That Highway 1 is something to behold! For those readers who live far away from California, we hope these photos inspire you to plan a visit soon. We know we’ll be back!

INTRO
There is nothing like it: the moment when you’re offered a sponsorship from your favorite company. Imagine the opportunity to have a company you support actually endorsing your unique way of riding while you promote them. With a bit of work and a lot of persistence, you can do this. The following is a basic rundown of what you can do as an individual to get yourself into a position to be sponsored.

DEFINITION OF SPONSORED VS. PRO
Before we get into it, I just want to go on record and clearly define the difference between pro riders and sponsored riders. “Sponsored riders” can expect to get gear and eventattendance support. They might get some costs covered and be reimbursed for things they spend money on to do the activities the company is paying for. A “pro” will be receiving money directly from the company, be it for boards, ads or just straight-out payment. Often, a pro may have a side job that also supports them to supplement their income. The basic distinction here is the sponsored rider gets gear and event costs covered and the pro just gets paid huge, fat sacks of cash. The following is a guide on sponsorship. Once you’re sponsored, then you can worry about how to become “pro.”

Well, with the terror of one of the most damaging economic downturns almost behind us, longboarding is taking off. Manufacturers that were running lean to make it through the crisis are finding stock flying out the door. Small shops that have been forever losing money on shop decks are putting more and more orders into manufacturers and distributors of “longskates”. Some shops are ordering 20 decks at a time and word’s getting around the retailer networks, more or less crediting longboarding with helping keep the numbers high during the slow period. Except now, it’s not just “beer run boards” of any ilk proffered by clueless popsicle stick hawkers looking to cash in, but shop owners realizing the world of options and stoke you’re out there skating in… and Summer is here! With momentum building, companies are starting to take effort to make it into new technologies and materials. While Big Corporate is preparing to roll out a “Fall Line” of soft goods and image products that will bring a new meaning to “mallboarder”, the hardcore board companies see the next wave of recognition coming for longboarding, old-school fun and new decks, wheels and trucks using innovative materials and design. The question is, however, is there really a market for all of the new gear?