November 10, 2005
The Long And Short Of It
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business October 2002
It's no secret that longboard skateboarding has been around since at least the early 70s, but only in the last decade has it become popular enough to support its own industry. More and more skate/surf/snow shops are regularly stocking longboards and accessories, which doesn't really surprise the longboard industry too much'they knew that eventually the skaters, surfers, and snowers would crave the ultimate cross-trainer for all three sports. Or maybe the time has come for the masses to just kick back and "cruise."
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November 10, 2005
French Kicks: Link doesn't fear hard times or international barriers
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business November 2003
Link is another skate shoe company that barely got off the ground before getting itself canned, making this article somewhat pointless now. Or maybe that much more interesting...
The History
Launching a skateboard footwear company in the post-9/11 economy is a potentially risky thing to do. However, launching a skateboard footwear company from France during these times might be even bolder. But Link footwear doesn't see it as so and isn't afraid to brave the turbulent skateboard-shoe market.
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November 10, 2005
Dyrdek Talks Skateparks At ASR:
DC holds a press conference aiming to take skateparks to a new level
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business October 2003
In a press conference on Friday, September 5, the first day of the San Diego ASR trade show, Seek pro Rob Dyrdek and his shoe sponsor, DC Shoes, unveiled their plans for building "Skate Plazas" nationwide-beginning with the first plaza in Kettering, Ohio.
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November 9, 2005
Skate Shoe Science: Sole Technology presents STI
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business June 2003
Sole Technology, manufacturers of eS, etnies, Emerica, and ThirtyTwo snowboard boots, has created a first-of-its-kind "lab" to research the biomechanics of skateboarding. Studies are currently being conducted at the University of Massachusetts, using their biomechanical research equipment, but will be moved to Sole Technology's testing facility in August.
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November 8, 2005
Is There Life After Seven-Ply?
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business January 2005
For nearly 30 years, seven-ply hard-rock maple skate-deck construction has been the standard for manufacturers and skateboarders alike. The reasons are many: seven-ply maple is relatively inexpensive, wears well, and is widely believed to have a superior feel while riding compared to other materials tried. It's also strong and structurally impressive. For the most part, it's what the consumer and industry know and accept. Perhaps the old adage, “If it's not broken, don't fix it” applies here, too.
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October 28, 2005
Almighty Dollars: Big corporations offer big-bucks contests.
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business September 2003
Boasting the largest purse in skateboarding's history at 250,000 dollars, Boost Mobile hosted its Pro of Skateboarding contest from June 27 to 29 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
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October 28, 2005
Shop Kids
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business August 2005
Since the dawn of skateboard retail, shop sponsorships have been vital to skateboarding. Even the recent film Lords Of Dogtown—as mainstream as it is—revolves around the core belief that a skate shop and its team can accomplish amazing things. Ask almost any pro, ex pro, or amateur skateboarder who their first sponsor was, and they'll most likely tell you it was a local skate shop. In the last decade or so, shop videos like Coliseum's P.J. Ladd's Wonderful Horrible Life, FTC's Finally, or Sub Zero's Real Life have been wildly successful—even legendary.
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October 21, 2005
Gasbag: Real men ride 60s—centimeters, that is.
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding December 2005
One day, maybe three years ago, a kid cruised into the skate shop I managed in one of the most high-tech wheelchairs I've ever seen. Since he was obviously handicapped and not more than twelve years old, I couldn't believe how well he was navigating the tight arrangements of racks and tables. There was an older kid with him, walking perfectly fine and dandy—his brother I gathered.
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October 20, 2005
Limited Edition Shoes: Following footwear's hottest trend
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business October 2003
Dunk-mania has catapulted the appeal of "limited edition" shoes to skateboard-shoe companies. Now the concept is bombarding the skateboard industry. Limited runs of styles and colorways for skateboard shoes is hardly a new concept, and while Dunks are selling for ridiculously high prices on eBay, most skate-shoe companies are doing limited shoes in their lines, too. As to whether it's safe to say interest in skateboard footwear is at an all-time high—it's all relative, isn't it?
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October 20, 2005
Rubber, Canvas, and A Little Spit
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business August 2002
"Less is more" is what I keep hearing. And it seems truer than ever in the world of skateboard footwear lately. I mean, how often do you hear complaints from kids about a skate shoe looking too tech, too b-ball, too dope, or whatever? And if they don't say it, you can see it in their faces or in the fact that the whole size run is still in inventory while all the simpler, less expensive shoes are flying out the door. What about when the reps come into shops or the retailers show up at trade shows? Nowadays, more often than not, people are wincing at the übertech, and companies and riders are embracing simplicity, history, and respect for consumers' wallets.
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