Dancing with the Pros

[wakeskate sml]

integ, and i agree with cary as well, gib gibbons is good

[feelnjstfine]

Oh yeah, can't forget the freak bodied lllongneck, Keith Wilson. But hee'ss OLD, but then again maybe that makes it cooler, haha

[JAM]

canalskater, you cant be ruled out. Like I have been saying, I cant wait till next year. I think there are going to be some kids that no one has heard of before that just kill it. I am convinced that there is something magical about btown and the island putting out talent, and dont get me started on those crazy Pastura kids. Thats just what I have seen here in Fla. Who knows what else is going on on some little lake in some little unkown town in America, or any country for that matter. I know for a fact though that there are some unnoticed riders out there that could probably hold their own against some of the pros. They just havnt been discovered yet. Cant wait to see it all unfold.

[islandtime]

JAM, haha

[feelnjstfine]

JAM, You couldn't be more true. The sad thing is is that most of them will never get their due because the industry will still be up the same few guys asses. Wish it wasn't that way but that's how it seems to work

[LKNKampus]

if people have enough fun and progress the sport and do well at contests, they will get their due....no matter who THE INDUSTRY is

[Lollar]

LKNKampus, werd

[Jama]

Steve McMurtry is an underated dude. Stuart Shinn is starting to get to recognition he deserves.

[JAM]

Jama, true. LKNKampus, also true. Thats why I like taking pictures of people who just love the sport. Its a great feeling to be able to capture that. I hope that over time, my photography can be used to help riders get the recognition they deserve.

[NaRC-P rider]

GOOD THREAD!!!

so stoked the more and more i read this. Esoteric is all about this type of vibe.

JAM, i love your purpose behind your photography. you're a good guy JAM!! haha. when the hell did i say that thing on your signature by the way?

feelnjstfine, i hear that and it's LAME. here's what i see how it should be happening: obviously the companies that sponsor all those big names are gonna be defensive to their riders, but competing companies need to start picking up these young guns and BLOWING THEM UP in the faces of the big names. i can't wait for stuff to be shakin up (and to think it's been gettin shook up now )

LKNKampus, the fact you have to do well at contests is completely lame in my opinion. it's sad really think about how not important contests are in skateboarding: board sports in themselves are not really competitive centered, it has always been more about creativity and flow. so it's sad it's so based on competition. video parts and photo coverage (of new creative stuff - NOT jetski flip tricks and poked ollies) to me have always been the most important part of displaying talent to the public.

i rode twice in the past two days and my knee hasnt hurt yet so im' pretty much extremely stoked on wakeskating right now

[mck'n'shuvit]

NaRC-P rider, word

[El Diablo]

[feelnjstfine]

NaRC-P rider, the sad thing is is that it has gotten soo much harder these days for a small company to really blow up deserving riders now that the action sport industry is a multi-billion dollar a year thing( of which wakeskating only makes up a very small percentage) controlled by the huge companies with giant budgets. Yeah these guys will definately get hooked up with boards and hopefully some travel and contest money from the actual wakeskate side of things. The thing is is that some of these guys are dedicating their whole life to riding and many deserve more. Understanablly, the wakeskate companies, no matter how big, can't really afford to give these guys their worth because in reality they aresmall companies. It's outside sponsors that have the $$$ to give these guys the funds to do it for a real living. Appearal, shoes, etc. But those industries are even tougher to make a mark in because they're controlled by multi million dollar companies with a huge marketing budget needed to push riders.. Hell, for a small company to run full page ads in just Alliance and Wakeboarding you are looking at close to a hundred grand a year alone. Sure makes it tough for the little guy ya know.

[Frye]

Summer Hamadandan

[David_Roehm]

feelnjstfine, thats how it is with anything. i am learning about it in economics. For example think about how hard it is for someone who has invented a new OS or something to compete against microsoft. Or a new shoe company against nike or some other big name company. My point is its not just the wakeskate industry but its everywhere.

[col101]

ME!!! haha ...not!

i can hope! ha

[Jama]

NaRC-P rider, seeing how I am not at flip trick level yet, I hope there is not a rising backlash against them behind the jetski! Jetskis make wakeskating very accesible to many people. You're right about competitions. That's where wakeboarding has gone wrong. If Alliance Wakeboard doesn't save the freeriding aspect like they're desperately trying to, we are going to see many more wakeskaters in the coming years!

[PrimeO]

yeah Fortenberry kills it.

[wakesk8nkate]

Frye, lmao hamadeh and i agree

[Fur]

Travis Doran and Andrew Fortenberry rip