
The days of skateboarding being a possible fad are long gone. With ongoing coverage of events such as the x-games, and the Dew tour. Skateboarding has finally made it onto a world wide sports stage. Addidas, Nike, Converse, and Puma have all invested large sums of money in building competitive skateboard teams with professional athletes making professional incomes. Almost every small to mid sized city now has a quality skateboard park, and the industry has grown to four billion dollars.
Not only are we at a point where the sport is finally covered on sports channels with exciting young skateboarders like Pedro Barros. But with the national push for a healthier lifestyle and the ever present availability of longboard equipment we are seeing an influx of people either getting back into skateboarding or just starting as a cost effective and easy workout. Nothings better than a Sunday morning surf on the bike path with a long-board and some soft ‘cruzing’ wheels. Believe me the feeling of freedom and the perfect carve is second to none.
Dave Clark who was originally from Coquitlam BC and living in Cornwall Ontario has been skateboarding for 30 years. He has worked in shops, for magazines, and as an entrepreneur ran his own skateboard and snowboard companies. He now works in tournament and event software and business development.