ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

Hey John, good idea on teams. We could pretty easily include a Team award. Kenny and I already have the Roe vs. Pocket Pistol wager going on the other site. I think that use to be a big part of the ARA series. What teams are there now?

Bahne
BLR
Radikal
ROE
SSS

Some I'm not sure about....
FiberFlex?
Turner SummerSki?
KnuckleHeads?

I know of a couple or regional teams
-COSS (Colorado Org of Slalom Skateboarding)
-Cascade Slalom Association (Seattle Portland crew)
-DC Outlaws (Kimbel, Parsons, Vlad, etc.?)

others?

I'm with you Gary, I think that John's idea is a good one as well.

In case you don't know what the "other site" is, that would be the slalom forum at www.ncdsa.com

RE: Skateboard Slalom Teams, websites and rivalry.

One problem I do see with "Teams" is the "trash talk" that goes along with the rivalry. It get's way out of hand. One only has to take a look at the "smack" (read verbal abuse) going from some of the top level racers (teams). I'm truly an idiot for thinking that skateboarders could police themselves so as an "editor" I will assume this responsibilty.

As a kid, I grew up with the Dogtown attitude, emulating it (swastika's and all) and as an adult, I realized what a impressionable child I was for looking up to these guys and getting caught up in their lifestyle and media hype. Sure, I really like "Dogtown and Z-Boys" the movie and their skateboarding is amazing, as an adult, I am able to see what is right and what is wrong. Enough said.

As an adult, I no longer have an identity issue. I feel it's time to speak out, using my own experience knowing that young people are impressionable. Team rivalry is fine but as we all know, skateboarders aren't always making the best choices with words, symbols, etc.

Live your life in the past and your life is history.

My apologies for going off on a tangent, I do think it pertains.

adam

I think the team thing encourages some of the younger skaters to want to be on a team, which is a good thing. The COSS thing we have going is a regional group. Very supportive, and when we travel to races together, usually in Barker's truck, it's good commraderie. SSS and BLR are sort of the same thing. Not representing a company, just a group with a similar attitude/region.
Manufacturer's teams, like Roe (can't believe no one calls us roe-bots), are equally supportive, but more from an equip. and strategy sense and we're representing the brand, so Gareth is very careful about who he picks to help represent the Roe brand. But it's a lot more like a family than it is like a team. Not that I wouldn't take every opportunity to knock Dong or Gilmour off the podium - assuming I could.
I dig being on these teams, and the smack we talk is all very sane and friendly (compared to a lot of what has been going on of late).

The team concept is funny for skateboarding which I always looked to as an alternative to team sports. In skateboarding as an individual you get recognized for who you are -....Directly.

That being said, however, I think slalom racing teams make sense. Teams give a lasting legacy to skateboarding. There is often cooperative learning within the team- and new members of teams are "quickly brought up to speed". I do feel however in some segments of skateboarding - standup, luge, teams can at times be disruptive, but I don't think this is the experience in slalom.

Getting on a team is just another goal for a kid as opposed to ..."I just wanna get sponsored" as teams can be regional and not just manufacturers teams.

OF course team ranking is a motivating factor for team's performance- and ranking each separate race class and discipline makes it fun for teams to recruit for segments that are missing- and to help any struggling class within the team do better. A set of ceramic bearings from an old pro can go a long way to putting a smile on someones face. (-Thanks Charlie for the PT 7's you gave me at the worlds).

Gary, I was kinda hurt when you didn't mention ICK as a Team. Then you left me out when you mentioned DC Outlaws. So, I got together with a couple of my boys and started a new team.

COSS Killers

Ohm
Heinle
Parsons

See ya in Ole' Miss!

I Love It!

Mike,
My bad, ICK is formidable, and thanks for the reminder. I've lost to Ransom enough times that I should have remembered.

I thought Parsons was Bahne and Heinle was Radikal. I guess that puts them on your sort of east coast anti-coss team. Hate is not a family value as we say here in Colorado.

As for the "COSS killers", it's going to take more than your troika to bring down the COSS. Perhaps if Vlad were to join you.....

Did I mention who is coming to Jacktown to soak up some points?
Chris Barker - Current WORLD CHAMPION. I believe you've met.
David Pirnack -
David Eye -
Phil Plunket -
Jayson Mitchel - 8th at ABQ last month?
Fluitt -

after the dust settles there ought to be about 12 points left for the COSS killers go home with. Savor them.
G

Gary, no hate intended. Just fuel for the fire. Barker knows i'm coming for him and Noah is in the mood to hunt down some pro's. Parson is the nicest guy you will ever meet until you race him. Both those guys had top 4 finishes at the World's. Were coming to win!

Bring it!

Mike,
Your team requires no introduction.

We're looking forward to sending them packing.

Noah has beat me in every GS we ever raced each other (WLAC & JPL) and he's no slouch in the TS as I remember. Luna has a little of both. I fear him, you, and Parsons.

If you show up and race with COSS-killer t-shirts, I would be most impressed.

Fluitt takes out Parsons and then Heinle for the win!

At least Noah got Barker.

Until the next time. Great racing COSS!

the COSS killers did some damage ineed. Couldn't believe when Heinle and Barker got matched up in the 8. Parsons had me trully worried after the first run. Blew me away on the start and beat me to the line. Brian gets faster every time I seem him.
Rematch in La Costa?

TEAM CLAY

RoadKillRacin in the hizzy mah nizzy, heheheheheh

Dont leave out the


LCB

[quote="Gary Fluitt"]Hey John, good idea on teams. We could pretty easily include a Team award. Kenny and I already have the Roe vs. Pocket Pistol wager going on the other site.


who won?

Jeff - you don't really need to ask do you? Joe McClaren - Jr. World Champ, Jason - Overall World Champ. I didn't want to bring it up again, but since you asked...that would be COSS.

I guess there are so many of us we will compete as "The Canucks" ,EH!

we're the bad news bears of slolam

KCR
WE'RE PUTTING THE I IN TEAM




FTW

The Slalom Spot team.

London - Sheffield - Cornwall

All the gear. No Idea.