November 11, 2005
Cashing In On God
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business April 2003
Imagine if Jah got a commission on all the Supernaut, IPath, and Satori goods sold? What if heaven received royalties from Zero and Manna on every Jesus, Virgin Mary, and cross graphic released? Does the Devil own stock in World Industries and 151?
November 11, 2005
Urethane Recycling: Examining what is and isn't done with wheels
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business January 2003
“That's going to be a short article isn't it?”
—George Powell
You would assume that with all the technological advancements in this world, finding ways to recycle all of the materials we use to make our lives fun and exciting would be a cinch.
November 11, 2005
Wood Recycling: Can old decks be recycled?
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business January 2003
The idea that wood can be recycled or reused and not hauled straight to the landfill makes sense—and it's not entirely uncommon, either. Across the country, many municipalities offer special pickup services, or recycling centers—or both—for yard waste and other wood materials, enabling wood waste to be reused in a range of ways. Applications include being ground up for mulch or landscaping materials, burned for energy, or reformed into particleboard or other wood-based products.
November 10, 2005
The Long And Short Of It
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business October 2002
It's no secret that longboard skateboarding has been around since at least the early 70s, but only in the last decade has it become popular enough to support its own industry. More and more skate/surf/snow shops are regularly stocking longboards and accessories, which doesn't really surprise the longboard industry too much'they knew that eventually the skaters, surfers, and snowers would crave the ultimate cross-trainer for all three sports. Or maybe the time has come for the masses to just kick back and "cruise."
November 10, 2005
French Kicks: Link doesn't fear hard times or international barriers
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business November 2003
Link is another skate shoe company that barely got off the ground before getting itself canned, making this article somewhat pointless now. Or maybe that much more interesting...
The History
Launching a skateboard footwear company in the post-9/11 economy is a potentially risky thing to do. However, launching a skateboard footwear company from France during these times might be even bolder. But Link footwear doesn't see it as so and isn't afraid to brave the turbulent skateboard-shoe market.
November 10, 2005
Dyrdek Talks Skateparks At ASR:
DC holds a press conference aiming to take skateparks to a new level
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business October 2003
In a press conference on Friday, September 5, the first day of the San Diego ASR trade show, Seek pro Rob Dyrdek and his shoe sponsor, DC Shoes, unveiled their plans for building "Skate Plazas" nationwide-beginning with the first plaza in Kettering, Ohio.
November 9, 2005
Skate Shoe Science: Sole Technology presents STI
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding Business June 2003
Sole Technology, manufacturers of eS, etnies, Emerica, and ThirtyTwo snowboard boots, has created a first-of-its-kind "lab" to research the biomechanics of skateboarding. Studies are currently being conducted at the University of Massachusetts, using their biomechanical research equipment, but will be moved to Sole Technology's testing facility in August.
November 8, 2005
Is There Life After Seven-Ply?
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business January 2005
For nearly 30 years, seven-ply hard-rock maple skate-deck construction has been the standard for manufacturers and skateboarders alike. The reasons are many: seven-ply maple is relatively inexpensive, wears well, and is widely believed to have a superior feel while riding compared to other materials tried. It's also strong and structurally impressive. For the most part, it's what the consumer and industry know and accept. Perhaps the old adage, “If it's not broken, don't fix it” applies here, too.
October 28, 2005
Almighty Dollars: Big corporations offer big-bucks contests.
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business September 2003
Boasting the largest purse in skateboarding's history at 250,000 dollars, Boost Mobile hosted its Pro of Skateboarding contest from June 27 to 29 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
October 28, 2005
Shop Kids
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business August 2005
Since the dawn of skateboard retail, shop sponsorships have been vital to skateboarding. Even the recent film Lords Of Dogtown—as mainstream as it is—revolves around the core belief that a skate shop and its team can accomplish amazing things. Ask almost any pro, ex pro, or amateur skateboarder who their first sponsor was, and they'll most likely tell you it was a local skate shop. In the last decade or so, shop videos like Coliseum's P.J. Ladd's Wonderful Horrible Life, FTC's Finally, or Sub Zero's Real Life have been wildly successful—even legendary.