After 30 years of being involved in this sport, I have observed a lot of things. The social media input has definitely changed things for what I believe to be the better. However as with anything there is always a downside. I am not posting to start shit or target anyone individual so please do not misread. I believe that controversy is needed in its own way. There are several people that we all know love to put their opinion out there and stir shit up. Sometimes as childish as it seems their comments can be funny and sometimes it goes too far. Recently for me it has gone too far. My issue is this: as a pro you try to encourage the younger generation to ride. I have had numerous times where I meet a kid that is excited about flatland, gets a bike and wants to ride with me. Although I try to encourage his or her riding they feel a certain level of intimidation in the fact that I can do so much and they struggle with what is deemed easy. Flatland is not about the best trick unless you want to be competitive and as we all know it is not a lucrative sport. In a sense we are all starving artists. I have seen incredibly talented riders reach the top spot on podiums and vanish years later because they did not ride truly for the love of the sport. I do not care what your level of riding is, if you are having fun that is good, if you are progressing at your own level that is epic riding is about having fun and for me it is a passion. When someone flat out says someone sucks and is no good at riding a bike I personally feel that is wrong. We are as Sean Fontenot said a small group of people. We need to encourage riders to grow in their own direction and let their natural abilitys for certain styles evolve. Example what is happening in Japan. No one should be told they suck because they cant do what is deemed a difficult trick. A trick is a trick and it all takes time to learn. We should respect everyones effort. I am not innocent of judgment in the past and their are riders I would not wish to have a beer with but I would never publicly say someone sucks at riding. I can respect a persons effort and still not like them. This is my opinion and you can view it as you wish, I respect riders and anyone that puts in the hours in that parking lot, courts or garage to get that moment of satisfaction when you first hit something new. No matter what level this feeling is what drives all of us to return the next day and try try again. Everyone that knows this feeling is a true rider.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 19:56:30 +0000
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