Kid Am vs. Man Am
Versus: Kid Am vs. Man Am
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding August 2005
Simple evolution—progression: Skateboarders are getting better and better at younger and younger ages. The proof is all around us: Nyjah Houston winning Tampa Am 2005 at ten years old, Ryan Sheckler being one of the youngest pros ever, and grom companies and scaled down board designs are now a staple in shops.
The result of this evolution has left us with a bundle of “kid ams.” While their on-board time may be limited, just like a three year-old on a computer, they pick the basics up quick. And before you know it, they're doing extraordinary things. For the sponsoring companies the kid ams are a sure bet—the public perception is still one of: “How can be so good being so little and at such a young age?!”
With immediate focus and immediate name recognition you get immediate sales, something the “man am” hasn't generated in years, if ever, so it's no wonder the man am is starting to become a thing of the past. And some may say he should—after all, he should be pro by now, right? Ultimately yes, but we still have love for the man am. Where the kid am knows nothing about looking comfortable or whittling down his trick selection, the man am knows everything—even if he should be spending more time “knowing” what his potential career choices may be.
But in the end, it doesn't really matter, both the kid am and the man am are in it for the love—something us writers and editors are in it for too. And while we may have our future planned out to some extent, we'd be lying if we told you we wouldn't trade places with the man am (in the least) any day.
Age Range
Kid: 15 and under
Man: 24 and older
Hairy Situation
Kid: Pubic Hair
Man: Facial hair
Go-To Tricks
Kid: Kickflip melon, feeble, anything on a handrail
Man: Back tails, 360 flips, anything on a bank
Preferred Terrain
Kid: Stairs, handrails, and skateparks—only
Man: Ledges, company training facilities, and Barcelona—only
Chaperones
Kid: Soccer moms and/or “the big brother they never had” team managers
Man: Girlfriends, wives, dogs, and their own kids
Shoe Sponsor
Kid: Flow or no company claiming them on the team
Man: Flow or no company claiming them on the team
Besides Skating
Kid: Home school
Man: Day job
Steelo
Kid: Fall down on to it style
Man: Get up on it and over it style
Props
Kid: Little kid points
Man: “Veteran” or “he'll always be part of the family” points
Video Part
Kid: Anticipated
Man: Expected
Management
Kid: Agent or parents—often one in the same
Man: Team manager
It's The Final Countdown
Kid: Mercedes, tattoos, partying, pro model shoe, knee surgery, career destruction
Man: Retirement—as in working in the warehouse or sales department of the former sponsor or going back to school to start a new career path
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