2015 marks my 40th year of skateboarding. It is the one thing that connects me to my past and keeps me young. Believe it or not, I started with clay wheels in 1975. Looking back, those early times were a pretty rough ride, but something about skateboarding captivated me. As skaters we’d wait for a long time to get our hands on product or the latest news (via the magazines), but waiting made it that much more sweet.
As with most things, however, nostalgia and reminiscing must be balanced with the present and the need to look forward. When Concrete Wave first started, it combined a number of genres. Over time, we sharpened our focus to cover longboarding. As skateboarding continues its metamorphosis, we decided to continue with the focus on longboarding and add to the mix a drop of transition skating. Not only do we see many riders truly embracing the quiver theory, many of our advertisers embrace it too.
Our vision is one of inclusion. No matter how you define yourself (and keep in mind this is just a partial list!) – longboarder, downhiller, freerider, transition skater or just skateboarder – this is a magazine that both respects and celebrates your choice of ride. At the core of Concrete Wave is a magazine that truly believes the philosophy that the ride is the reward.
We will continue to calibrate our editorial to ensure that it resonates deeply with you. We hope that the stories and imagery inspire you. For those in colder climates, who are dealing with cabin fever, we hope this issue gives you some ideas for how best to deal with winter’s grip.
This issue also features two pieces on travel. As longboarding has exploded in popularity around the world, it has opened up opportunities for skaters to explore new terrain, and to forge new friendships. No matter where you ride, or the types of terrain you skate, we wish you the very best for 2015.
Enjoy the issue,
Michael Brooke Publisher/Editor