The roots of this magazine go all the way back to 1975. That’s the year I started skateboarding. I must thank Frank Nasworthy for having the creativity and mental fortitude to release Cadillac Wheels in 1973. His idea launched skateboarding’s second boom and sowed the seeds for the magazine you hold in your hands. Frank exited skateboarding a few years later and wound up working on developing inkjet printers for HP. Leaving your mark on one industry is something most people would envy. Leaving your mark on two industries is nothing short of incredible. Thank you, Frank Nasworthy!
Fast-forward two decades to 1995 and I am still skating. I get reacquainted with longboards thanks to Todd Huber’s Skate Trader magazine. I purchase a Sector 9 pintail at a Toronto distributor named S&J Sales. Thanks to a brand new technology called the World Wide Web, I find myself intrigued by the possibilities. With my brother’s help, I create the SkateGeezer Homepage. In 1996, I find myself at Xerox trying to sell photocopiers to book publishers. I happen to mention to Nick Pitt of Warwick Publishing that I have a website on skateboarding. He replies, “That’s interesting; we’re looking at doing a book.” My book The Concrete Wave hits in 1999 and spawns the documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, a 52-part Concrete Wave TV series and eventually the magazine you are now reading.
By 2003, I quit the day job to take care of CW full time. My hobby becomes my job (jobby) and I am able to travel around meeting skaters and sharing my vision of inclusion with the world. In December 2010, I wind up in Venice, California, with my friend Neil Carver. Without going into too much detail, I begin to view things differently. I see more than just the world of skateboarding.
In March of 2011, Concrete Wave holds the world’s first Longboard Expo in New York City. It’s held at the Longboard Loft, and over 35 companies showcase their products. I meet up with Noel Korman, founder of Shralpers Union. His message of high fives and positive vibes leaves a lasting impression. Inspired by the Union, Skateistan and Surfing for Peace, I launch Longboarding for Peace in 2012.
Our first mission is to the Middle East. Thanks to the generosity of a number of our advertisers, 30 boards and helmets are airfreighted to Tel Aviv and we begin the Search/ Spark/ Stoke Tour in July. We visit a number of places including Jericho, Jaffa and East Jerusalem. Upon my return, Grant Shilling contacts me. He lives out on Vancouver Island and wants to bring the Longboarding for Peace program to Ahousaht. With the help of Landyachtz, things start to happen. The fairly isolated First Nations community falls in love with skateboarding. Five years later, a skatepark opens on the island.
As things are starting to heat up in the longboard market, I launch an initiative called “Blood from Boarders.” Four years later, we are still working very closely with Canadian Blood Services to encourage all skaters over the age of 17 to blood bank their karma and donate blood. Huge kudos of Rick Tetz of Cal Streets/Boarder Labs of spearheading the initiative in Vancouver.
In 2013, I attend my first ISPO in Munich, Germany. If you think Agenda, Surf Expo or Outdoor Retailer are large shows, imagine an exposition with 14 buildings, each larger than a football field. ISPO gives me an amazing opportunity to meet up with some pretty incredible people. Alex Lenz of 40inch Longboard Magazin allows CW to be part of the Longboard Embassy. Thanks to Don Tashman of Loaded, I meet Jeremy Sochin of Number One skate shop in Lucerne, Switzerland. Through Jeremy, I meet Daniel Iseli of Rocket Longboards. By the way, if things get bad with North Korea, we’re moving CW to Switzerland!
Longboarding for Peace continues to roll, and thanks to the genius idea of Neil Carver, we begin our gun buyback program in San Pedro, California. Working with the police department, we encourage people to trade in their guns in exchange for skateboards. Harvey Hawks and Dennis Martinez become integral to the program, and it spreads to San Diego. Our next gun buyback is set for December 2017.
In September 2016, I come face to face with the reality that time can play tricks on you. At Board Meeting in Toronto I run into Chris Barrett. Chris is a talented slalom skater whom I met when he was in high school. At the earlier part of the decade, I drove Chris, Adam Winston and Mike “Smooth Chicken” McGown to Top Challenge in Montreal. If you want to hear more about those times, be sure to visit Longboard Haven in Toronto. Be sure to say hi to Rob too.
In 2014, I see my first portable pumptrack at ISPO. By July, 2015, I am with my family in Brooklyn testing out North America’s first Velosolutions pumptrack. I begin to realize that pumptracks combined with skateparks are the perfect combination. I decide if I ever win the lottery, I will build pumptracks everywhere I possibly can.
In November 2016, my family embarks on a move. I decide to give Luis Bustamante my collection of skateboard magazines, books and other media. Luis comes on as designer for the magazine. As time progresses, we realize we are on the same wavelength. Plans are under way to create a brand new strategy for the magazine including Concrete Wave TV on YouTube.
In July, I head out to Kona Skatepark for its 40th anniversary. Dan Levy, the editor of Juice magazine, joins me and we enjoy Jacksonville together. I managed to meet up again with Dan and publisher Terri Craft at their 75th- edition party in Venice in August.
In the summer of 2017, CW hires Don Fisher as our sales and marketing manager. Don and I spend a great deal of time together in Huntington Beach. We launch something called CW Live and Direct.
Throughout the last four decades or so, skateboarding has remained my one true passion. I have made the decision that the next four decades (if I live to 90-something) will be dedicated to spreading a message of peace, balance and justice powered by skateboarding. The “magic of balance” isn’t just a program I developed for kids and adults, it is my entire worldview.
The issue you’re holding now was greatly supported by Bud Stratford, who truly embodies the soul of skateboarding. Luke Ayata and Ray Korman of Shralpers Union have been there at every twist and turn, ensuring that things move forward. There are many more people I’d love to mention and thank in this editorial, but space doesn’t really allow it. I’ve already gone past 1,000 words, and I can visualize Luis preparing his bamboo stick to hit me.
I have always maintained that inclusion, fun and freedom to ride what you want are important to skateboarding. I am the first one to admit that some of my ideas have not been met with enthusiasm, and some ideas didn’t turn out exactly as I had planned. I also admit that it has taken me quite some time to figure out a path for the future. No matter what happens, Concrete Wave will always be about taking you back and moving you forward. We invite you to join us on the ride. The next wave of this magazine is going to be quite a ride.