I love this earth. I love skate road trips, waking up inside my tent, unzipping the door, breathing in salt air, studying the furrowed bark of a redwood tree and the sound of sea gulls debating. I enjoy these experiences of nature before I push off on my skateboard to go get a cup of strong coffee and ride the local skate spots.

About eleven years ago, I picked up a book called “The One to One Future.” In this ground-breaking work, authors Don Peppers and Martha Rogers examined what happens when technology allows companies to market to customers on a one to one basis. The book originally was published in 1993 and a decade and a half later, it’s incredible to see how on point they were. I couldn’t help but think about the one to one future while I was preparing this article on skateboard customization. It is my belief that skaters all over the world will pick up on the benefits of having skate gear that is uniquely created for them. This article examines three areas of customization: deck construction, board graphics and grip tape. I am sure it’s only a matter of time when we see truck and wheel customization. Until that moment arrives however, there is still a tremendous amount to explore.

As a magazine publisher, a number of skate videos cross my desk each year. While each one has a unique quality, I had a sense there was something truly special about “Livin Free.” Little did I realize, when I started to investigate the story behind this video, that it would turn into a four-page story. While “Livin Free” is on its way to becoming a hit in the longboarding world, the story behind the film turns out to be just as intriguing. Turns out that reality doesn’t bite after all.

It's the cover, download it.