Vertical Rollerskating

Vert-Skating-Forum

Message 108 (19. Feb. 2002 12:35) (Tree)

chris
Olympics
: : let us have our own olympics during every single session we have together.
:
: That's the spirit!

yesterday a commentary on tv said: "She only got the bronze medal"
Ridiculous istnt it?
We cannot say that, we can say "We had an awesome session together, everyone laughed and it did not matter how high everyones airs were"
This is more important!
  Write reply

Replies

RollerSkater Dave: Olympics (18. Feb. 2002 20:43)
 Dammit!! If half pipe snowboarding is allowed to be an Olympic sport, then so should vertical roller skating.

Just my 2 cents worth.

RollerSkater Dave
  Write reply
Bernhard: Olympics (19. Feb. 2002 00:21)
 : Dammit!! If half pipe snowboarding is allowed to be an Olympic sport, then so should vertical roller skating.

I completely disagree. The Olympics would be very bad for this kind of sport. I think the Olympics are as far from their original ideals as possible. Also, going olympic would mean more reglementation. The athletes participating would be selected and trained from their early years on. Where would the fun be?

I talked to a snowboarder about this subject, not knowing that snowboarding has gone olympic. He first told me that is indeed olympic now and he also had the opinion that it wasn't for the good of snowboarding.
  Write reply
Chris: Olympics (19. Feb. 2002 11:42)
 Where would the fun be?:
: I talked to a snowboarder about this subject, not knowing that snowboarding has gone olympic. He first told me that is indeed olympic now and he also had the opinion that it wasn't for the good of snowboarding.

-- The money destroys everything in my opinion. The snowboarders seemed to have fun in Utah, more than the other athletes and if the commentary was right the snowboard events were the first sold out, but what would have happended if no billion dollar tourist and hardware industry would be behind it? Do you think a rebellious sport which snowboarding was considered in the beginning would have gotten olympic? seriously not.
Lets do our own thing and stay true to ourselves. Like Terje Haakonsen said: "I dont need the olympics"
let us have our own olympics during every single session we have together. let us be there for the fun of it all!
  Write reply
Bernhard: Olympics (19. Feb. 2002 11:49)
 : let us have our own olympics during every single session we have together.

That's the spirit!
  Write reply
chris: Olympics (19. Feb. 2002 12:35)
 : : let us have our own olympics during every single session we have together.
:
: That's the spirit!

yesterday a commentary on tv said: "She only got the bronze medal"
Ridiculous istnt it?
We cannot say that, we can say "We had an awesome session together, everyone laughed and it did not matter how high everyones airs were"
This is more important!
  Write reply
RollerSkater Dave: Olympics (19. Feb. 2002 14:35)
 This is the type of response I was hoping for. As Bernhard knows I have a way of sh*t disturbing to bring out the best in people. Let's keep roller skating a pure sport (although by all means we need to promote it and get some sponsors involved).

RollerSkater Dave
  Write reply
rollerball: Olympics (20. Feb. 2002 11:48)
 Bugger the sponsers.....I did have a couple a while ago(airwalk)....they dont really look after you and try and get you to do crappy demos on crappy ramps..lol...Its not worth it...Kids allways ask me if Im sponsored...I tell them not even to think about it.....they go looking for it....if your good enough it will come to you anyway...Its really not a big part of skating for me at all...
  Write reply
RollerSkater Dave: Olympics (20. Feb. 2002 16:17)
 : Bugger the sponsers.....I did have a couple a while ago(airwalk)....they dont really look after you and try and get you to do crappy demos on crappy ramps..lol...Its not worth it...Kids allways ask me if Im sponsored...I tell them not even to think about it.....they go looking for it....if your good enough it will come to you anyway...Its really not a big part of skating for me at all...

I wasn't really talking about specific "skate" sponsors. More along the lines of "people" type sponsors. Soft drink companies, fast food chains, clothing chains, etc. You don't need to target the skaters. Put up a ramp and they will come out of the woodwork. You want to get the nonskating public out there to develop an appreciation and acceptance for the sport, and to spark an interest in potential new skaters. They can't find you if you're on an old ramp under a bridge somewhere. By all means we shouldn't "sell out" to big business, but unless you bring in new skaters, the companies manufacturing skate equipment won't have a market and will stop producing. Skates don't last forever. With fewer skaters it will be hard to convince local politicians to invest in ramps and skate parks, and the kids will be stuck skating back in parking lots.
If you think promoting is a waste of time, let me give you an example. I have a son with severe autism. My wife and I are members of the Autism Society. She is the former president. A few years ago our chapter of the society wanted to run a "Fun Fair" to raise money for the chapter and increase awareness about autism. The members of the group went to every type of business you can think of for sponsorship. We had beer companies, restaurants, clothing stores, the fire department, even a professional magician donating goods and services. Because of this and free advertising on radio, tv, and newspapers the event was a big success, raising a lot of money and awareness about autism (it's not exactly the most well known condition or charity around). People came out in droves in spite of the fact it literally poured down rain that day.
What is this leading to? Just that if you want your sport to survive, be a goodwill ambassador for it and take advantage of every opportunity to promote it. Run your own little "competitions" in your neighbourhood, do whatever. Just be positive about roller skating. It's healthy, it's fun and it can get some kids off the street.

RollerSkater Dave
  Write reply
rollerball: Olympics (20. Feb. 2002 20:19)
 I agree with you totally....I was just trying to say that getting yourself sponsored and the being told when and where to skate really sucks.....promoting it is different ...
  Write reply
Go to the Vert-Skating-forum