This generation needs its own Animal Chin. There’s a whole segment of the skateboarding population painfully detached from the values of doing it for its own reward. Corny, I know, but hear me out. An army of 12-25 year olds who tag their selfied switch nosegrinds on the park box with inspirational statements like “Never quit until you win!” and “More sweat during practice means less during battle!” are clueless to the knowledge of self gained from confidently ollieing up a curb carrying groceries in both hands.
Then they @ NikeSB or adidasskateboarding like a shoe conglomerate is just waiting, lurking in the social media shadows for the kid with just enough heart, enough drive, to emerge from the din so they may carry him the rest of the way to stardom.
These kids genuinely feel like they’re earning something, though. They want their hours spent at the park after school getting bloody knees and sore ankles to count for something. They want the win, the glory of battle. They’re doing something, after all, when they could have been playing video games or chasing girls, or getting high. It’s not their fault their expectations are so out of whack. They’ve been sold championships and stardom where there is none, only the satisfaction of personal achievement, or at best, that in addition to some hoots and hollers from your bros for a job well done, for making fun manifest from the barest of ingredients, for unpacking the unexpected and slightly magical. This generation needs a reminder that as corny and pointless as “the destination is in the journey” can sound, it’s not nearly as bad a look as “personal branding” and waiting for validation from a cold machine masquerading as a lifestyle promising to love you back as long as you work hard enough, but in reality only wants your money.
