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An Essay on the History of Freestyle Skateboarding by Bob Staton: Difference between revisions
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An Essay on the History of Freestyle Skateboarding by Bob Staton (view source)
Revision as of 14:44, 3 November 2016
, 7 years agoText replacement - "Daryl Grogan" to "Darryl Grogan"
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In 1996, [[Stefan "Lillis" Akesson]] went on-line with the International Network of Flatland Freestyle Skateboarding. The [[INFFS]] became the place for the remaining freestylers of the world to gather, and soon a small but steadily growing forum developed. By 1999, a few of the top freestylers in several countries were again doing demos and appearances. This was a flicker of new energy so [[Bill Robertson|Dr. Bill Robertson]] decided to put together a World Freestyle Skateboard Championship and Reunion. This historical event was held on the evening of November 11th 2000, in a dark damp warehouse on the docks of San Francisco Bay. Twenty or so proud, but somewhat rusty freestylers competed in several events that night. Only one light burned and a funky radio was the sound system. What little light and warmth there was seemed to come more from the skaters that the feeble equipment. | In 1996, [[Stefan "Lillis" Akesson]] went on-line with the International Network of Flatland Freestyle Skateboarding. The [[INFFS]] became the place for the remaining freestylers of the world to gather, and soon a small but steadily growing forum developed. By 1999, a few of the top freestylers in several countries were again doing demos and appearances. This was a flicker of new energy so [[Bill Robertson|Dr. Bill Robertson]] decided to put together a World Freestyle Skateboard Championship and Reunion. This historical event was held on the evening of November 11th 2000, in a dark damp warehouse on the docks of San Francisco Bay. Twenty or so proud, but somewhat rusty freestylers competed in several events that night. Only one light burned and a funky radio was the sound system. What little light and warmth there was seemed to come more from the skaters that the feeble equipment. | ||
The energy and excitement generated by the 2000 San Francisco Reunion led to the founding of the [[WFSA]], World Freestyle Skateboard Association, in January of 2001, by [[Bob Staton]] with [[Stefan "Lillis" Akesson|Lillis]] and [[Daniel Gesmer|Dan Gesmer]]. The [[WFSA]] was the pro-active extension of the [[INFFS]] and was intended to be a vehicle for the revival of the freestyle world. As the [[INFFS]], [[WFSA]] and the F-forum grew the revival picked up momentum. A new generation of freestyle activity emerged as numbers of both young and longtime freestylers began to again produce modest contests around the world. Demos and jams sprung up as new freestyle based companies such as 360King, [[YOYO Skates]], [[Reverse Freestyle]] and [[Casper Industries]] began to play a more significant role in the expansion and re-popularization of flatland freestyle. By 2002 a number of freestyle web sites had come on-line to further fuel the growing interest and meet the demands for more knowledge, imagery and comradery. The production of new freestyle videos by [[Lynn Cooper]] of [[Reverse Freestyle]] and [[ | The energy and excitement generated by the 2000 San Francisco Reunion led to the founding of the [[WFSA]], World Freestyle Skateboard Association, in January of 2001, by [[Bob Staton]] with [[Stefan "Lillis" Akesson|Lillis]] and [[Daniel Gesmer|Dan Gesmer]]. The [[WFSA]] was the pro-active extension of the [[INFFS]] and was intended to be a vehicle for the revival of the freestyle world. As the [[INFFS]], [[WFSA]] and the F-forum grew the revival picked up momentum. A new generation of freestyle activity emerged as numbers of both young and longtime freestylers began to again produce modest contests around the world. Demos and jams sprung up as new freestyle based companies such as 360King, [[YOYO Skates]], [[Reverse Freestyle]] and [[Casper Industries]] began to play a more significant role in the expansion and re-popularization of flatland freestyle. By 2002 a number of freestyle web sites had come on-line to further fuel the growing interest and meet the demands for more knowledge, imagery and comradery. The production of new freestyle videos by [[Lynn Cooper]] of [[Reverse Freestyle]] and [[Darryl Grogan]] of Casper Industries began the process of developing the new image of flatland freestyle by blending stars from the past such as [[Pierre André|Pierre Andre]] and [[Rodney Mullen]] with emerging stars like [[Tim Byrne]] and [[Terry Synnott]]. New national freestyle organizations and groups are now forming like the [[British Flatland Skateboard Network]] and the [[German Freestyle Skateboard Association]], to assist the development of local freestyle activities and bring attention to top emerging international freestylers and activists such as [[Boris Schwemin]], [[Lele Barbato]], [[Lewis "Gingerbred" Hand|Lewis Hand]], [[Bernhard Kuempel]], [[Paul Bakker]], [[AJ Kohn|A.J. Kohn]], [[Uffe Hansson]], and others. Because of the dedication of many new freestylers and the introduction of the world wide web as a means of instantaneous communication, and just because it's a great art form, and is so darn much fun, the dynamics, creative possibilities, stylistic variables from classical 70's to contemporary flatland, will insure that the art of flatland freestyle will become a much wider spread and practiced activity than it ever was before. | ||
FREESTYLE LIVES ON! | FREESTYLE LIVES ON! | ||