We’re beyond stoked to announce that Michael Brooke – yes, THE Skate Geezer himself – is now officially publishing on the CalStreets Blog!
For those who don’t already know, Michael is the mind behind the legendary Concrete Wave Magazine, a lifelong skate historian, and one of the most passionate voices in skateboarding culture today. His latest project? The SKATEGEEZER MANIFESTO – a deep dive into 50+ years of riding the concrete wave, loaded with wild history, personal stories, and some serious old-school wisdom.
Michael isn’t just any contributor – he’s a good friend of ours, and having him share his dream project right here on our blog is a true honor. Expect raw, honest reflections on skateboarding’s past, present, and future – plus the kind of antidotes (and anecdotes) only a true skate lifer can deliver.
This is more than just content – it’s a celebration of decades of shred, style, and soul. Stay tuned for some seriously epic reads from Michael as he brings his vision of the SkateGeezer life to our CalStreets community.
Chapter 18 – Not the Final Chapter I have to admit something that most of you will find quite remarkable. When I started this manifesto, I wasn’t quite sure where it would take me. But back in May, something happened that took things in a whole new direction. It is vital that you understand what […]
The Wheels Come Off – Chapter 17 If that last chapter has you confused, join the club. The truth is that it’s been over seven years since I sold Concrete Wave Magazine, and I am still processing what happened. In the 2011 edition of the mag, I wrote “statistically, only 10% of magazines make it […]
Career Opportunities Decade of Blur Chapter #16 It’s somewhat difficult to explain my life from about 1993 to 2003 because it was a blur. But this was not a “fun blur” that you might see in the movies – it was twenty years of career mayhem and side helpings of uncertainty, fear and doubt. This […]
Almost Less Than Zero – Chapter #15 As some of you might recall, back in 1996, I decided to host the world’s first “old school skateboard reunion.” Despite getting a listing in a major newspaper and having 10 minutes on Breakfast Television here in Toronto, ZERO people showed up. It was a humbling experience. Three […]
The Power of Print #14 When Nick Pitt of Warwick Publishing asked if I’d be interested in writing a book on skateboarding, I had no idea at the time how much of an impact this question would have on my life. It was quickly decided that within two weeks, I would have to create a […]
I often think about how different my life would have been if Todd Huber had not sent up the four issues of his Skate Trader zine. There was something about what Todd created that rekindled a powerful skate stoke in me. This was now the second time I felt a momentum pulling me back into […]
Chap 12 SkateGeezer Comes Home Five bucks. That’s what it cost me to access the Internet back in 1995. This got me an email address and an opportunity to have my own website. According to an inflation calculator, $5 is about $9.40 in today’s money. In the mid-90s, the Internet was just entering the public’s […]
Chap 11 – Dreams & Nightmares When the skate company owners met up after the Action Sports Show in January 1994 to discuss the future, they were most likely unaware of what sports cable network ESPN was dreaming up. Had they known, the meeting minutes would have been decidedly different. Why do I say this? […]
INTRO: The Skate Geezer Manifesto Chapter 1: Re-Inventing the wheel or back to the future? Chapter 2: The Real Legacy of Warren Bolster Chapter 3: The Power of the Generational Flex Chapter 4: Age -Skateboarding is a numbers game Chapter 5: Joy and Pain – The Paradox of Skateboarding Chapter 6: Minding the Gaps Chapter […]
Chapter #10 – Gentlemen’s Agreement Chances are you’ve probably never heard about a critical meeting of skate industry leaders that took place over thirty years ago. I only found out about it because it was linked in a section of the Dansworld Skateboarding website. As mentioned in a previous chapter, Dansworld was the first skate […]
Chapter 9 – It’s Like Deja Vu All Over Again You didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what would happen to skateboarding once it was showcased in the biggest film of the summer of 1985 – “Back to The Future.” After toiling for close to four years in obscurity, skateboarding EXPLODED […]
BACK TO YOUR FUTURE Chap: 8 As this is the SkateGeezer Manifesto, it’s essential at this stage of the book to reiterate one key point: don’t stop skateboarding. If an injury prevents you, I get it. But longevity and quality of life work hand in hand. Skaters under 21 (aka NOT SkateGeezers) will go out […]