Why Small?
Bob and I were driving around while skating different spots one day and the idea came into play of how exactly do you define what kind of skating we do?
Bob the ever consummate flatlander and freestyler, and myself, a self described bank hound. I'm always on the look out for the perfect ditch. But it's also the love we've had as a friendship based on these small arts for over 30 years now.
Thats when it came to us - we practice what could be defined as "the small arts" of skating - that is, the styles or elements we gravitate to are things on more of the basic or the smaller side of skating - curbs, banks, ditches & freestyle. As opposed to the big, of pools, vert and big staircases.
But it’s also you and your bro’s, your small scene, and there's larger scenes made of a bunch of smaller ones. There is a longing for our past and its usually made up of just a core few that are close to your heart.
We are skaters born in a time in-between skate parks. We had them, then we didn't, then we made what we had, then we didn't, now we have them again.
So really we only had our own imaginations and the limitations of the urban planers creating a world not for us but defined by us in a different way. The ever rolling waves of concrete expanses of the city's landscapes.
We of our ilk, still scour business parks, loading docks and warehouse areas, our eyes catch glimpses between buildings and off the side of freeways, for any area that fits the criteria. A ridable accessible bank with a good approach, an undiscovered curb with fresh paint or the holly grail - a perfectly formed, ridable, drainage ditch with good lines
Our childhood visual scanning obsession pays off to many a cherished secret spot, leaving an indelible imprint in our cortex database for future sessions.
The of the small idea has culminated into a zine and became a decision. To share this obsession with everyone else who shares the same passions.
The passion for the small.
Dale