This is in response to all of those kooks & criddlers out there that choose to propagate shit-talking, hatefulness, and ignorance in and around our skate community. Firstly, I’d like to start by saying: “Stop it!” and “Go fuck yourselves!”

Secondly, and more closely to my actual point, I’d like to express my personal belief that positive reinforcement and leading by example are way better policies to employ when trying to impress ideas on your fellow skateboarders.

I don’t really consider myself a “leader” per se. Shit, I know I’m just a skate-rat who’s been plankboarding for much too long, and I too have also made some of the very same mistakes as the negative Nancys I mention above, but you live and ya gotta learn. Also, I own this magazine which provides me with the unique liberty to run my mouth (please pardon the indulgence) from time to time. Ha ha!

As I said, there are some in this corner of skateboarding who continue to focus on: who’s “doing it wrong” or who’s “blowing it”. I’d like to try something a bit more constructive with the focus shifted towards positivity and affirmation. Peep the technique:

You’re Doing it Right!

1. You ride your skateboard way, way more than you run your mouth.

2. You replace the word “longboard” with the word “skateboard” whenever and wherever possible.

3. Style is important to you, but not too important.

4. You strive to go faster no matter what type of skating you do.

5. You lead by example with copious amounts of thrashing & high-fives.

6. People are attracted to your positive vibrations and genuine Cheshire grin.

7. You may not “skate everything” but you respect all forms of skateboarding.

8. You pay homage to those that have come before you.

9. You are D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself); you make sessions and events happen, and you find or build new terrain.

10. You motivate other skaters to go out and shred-the-gnar.

11. You protect and respect local spots & communities.

12. You go to wheelbasemag.com daily, read all the new shit, share it all over the interwebs, and then comment on every single article.

Editorial Post Scriptum: While some will continue to divert, redirect, and dilute skateboarding with hate & misinformation, we here at Wheelbase Magazine will remain focused on the Skating & Creating side of things—I hope this strokes your Stoke Donkey to completion. Hee-haw!! Shredlove forever!



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