If I Could Go Into Business With Any Skater

As we’re working on starting the Sublimited skateshop, I’ve been thinking that in the future we’ll want to get some pros on the team. It’s probably a little early for this since we don’t even have the first shop open yet, but it’s just something I’ve been thinking about.

Then I started thinking about actually having some pros come in as business partners or investors with the shop, and that led to thinking about which skaters I would most like to work with and I started coming up with a list and reasons. This isn’t anything too serious, just some random thoughts.

In coming up with a list of ideal skaters who I could stand being business partners with or working with what I think is interesting is that these are not necessarily people I would put on my list of favorite skaters. I’m not a big fan of Kenny Reed’s skating at all, although the cover of the most recent The Skateboard Mag is affecting me a bit.

Although these aren’t my favorite skaters, these are the skaters I think not only get the business side of skating, but have the type of personality I could get along with. Of course I like Koston’s skating and I don’t think he has a bad personality, but I’m not sure I could work with the guy.

Steve Berra. I just see Steve as being someone I could have a business relationship with and get along with. I think he gets the business side of skateboarding, knows how to work hard, and just plain get it, whatever it is.

Jamie Thomas. Jamie is one of the smarter cookies in the skateboarding industry. It’s impressive how good he is on a board and yet he spends so much time on the business side of things and has it all together.

Daewon Song. Not sure what to say about Daewon except that I think he’s been in the industry long enough and has the kind of personality I could work with.

Rodney Mullen. People have told me that Rodney is one of the nicest guys around, and I think I can work ok with nice people.

Kenny Reed. What impresses me about Kenny is that he’s thinking ahead. While a lot of skaters are just having fun, hooking up with girls on tours, toking the Buddha, etc., Kenny is out there traveling the world and taking advantage of his status as a pro. In some ways I think it is hurting Kenny’s career to not be in California taking more photos, but I think he recognizes that one day he won’t be able to travel the world and he’s doing it while he can. I respect that kind of vision and long-term thinking and so I see him as someone I could work with.

Cairo Foster. Cairo seems to be a bit more intellectual than most skaters. I would guess that he and I would disagree on many things intellectually, but I think he’s probably open-minded enough, as am I, that we could get along and have a grand time. Again, I think he gets it and could be someone that would be ok to work with.

Jason Jesse, Jeff Grosso, and Ben Schroeder. Mostly for comic relief and having fun lunch breaks with. Jeff and Ben are easy to beat at pool because they’re always drunk. At least they always were back when I played pool with them at Nash’s house around ‘91. I was the nightmare grom kid always trying to hang out around the pros. Man, I was a total idiot. Sorry guys. I can’t believe Eric Nash never kicked me out of his house.

Kenny Anderson. I think it’s because of Kenny’s behavior in the extras on the Adio video. The guy cracks me up and doesn’t seem to have an ego. Ego = bad news when you’re talking about business and work.

Jeremy Wray. I’ve always liked Jeremy since his part in 411 #1. He wanted to go to Pasadena’s Art Center which was my dream, and just seems like an all-around nice guy who of course has been in the industry forever.

There are probably some more, but that’s the short list.