On Wednesday (July 14, 2010), when news began arriving that Mike Vallely was leaving Element Skateboards (and becoming one of the few objects to escape Billabong’s gravitational pull in recent weeks) we were too caught up in agreeing with Boil The Ocean’s take on the new company to get the official word from the man himself. And what a disservice that was. Here’s what Mike said on his blog:
You see, I still love Element and the people who I worked closely with there but unfortunately those people are ultimately powerless to steer the ship that is the conglomerate that owns Element. And it has become clearer and clearer to me that the parent company of Element is only looking to build their business and improve their bottom line on the backs of people like me. They can buy admiration but they can’t buy achievement. They can own skateboard companies but they’ll never be skaters. And this really bothers me. It bothers me so much that I can no longer give one ounce of my energy or another second of my time to their cause. Thus, I’ve started my own thing because I simply can’t and won’t be apart of their thing anymore.”
No one ever questioned Mike Vallely’s commitment, nor his ability to march directly into battle. We just hope he can live By the Sword, and not the other way around.
[Link: Mike Vallely via The Skateboard Mag]
Bravo Mike! It would be great if all the creative folks working for the parent company of Element opened their collective eyes and recaptured the industry… Billabong is the Walmart of action sports. Very similar biz model. Paul is doing a superb job of flashing cash, utilizing Chinese labor…
All you shit talkers make me laugh. Talk to the guys at DaKine, Sector 9, Nixon, Von Zipper or Excel and see what they have to say about Billabong. Paul is one of the few people out there who actually understand in importance of giving their brands the freedom and autonomy to prosper. The fact that PM Tanore sold RVCA to them speaks volumes.
If Mike V was so concerned with authenticity, then why did he whore himself out to Affliction? Truth is that Mike V, talented skater that he is, is a joke in pretty much every other aspect. A jock rocker fucking hockey goon who takes himself way, way too seriously.
divorce is always messy
The feeling is mutual. I’ve been in this industry for 5 years now and it bothers me that a lot of companies that are in the industry have turned so corporate. When I was at Burton i hated how so many people didn’t snowboard. It’s hard to find companes these days that were built by skaters for skaters. I on the otherhand want to keep the soul and heart of this industry that I grew up in the hands and hearts of fellow riders. Keep up with that mentality and screw eveyone else
To Nig. I’m not a huge fan of affliction nor any of that other MMA bullshit but if you knew anything about mike v you’d know he’s a fighter. Maybe he’s a fan of MMA. Look in your closet and see what brands you rep and hen someone who is as legendary ad Mike V I doubt the word “whore” should ever be used. You wouldn’t understand Cus you’re probably a no body and have never been asked to be sponsored so act like a man and bow out like a man
Uh huh Jonathan…and Affliction gives back to skateboarding how?
Say what you will about Quik and BBong, but they’ve got 20 years of skin in the game – supporting skaters from Hosoi, to Hawk, to Lasek, to Hassan, to dozens more. Mike V can talk all the shit he wants about the corporate blah blah, but at the end of the day the reality is that his jock-brawler persona is so pathetically played out that no one legitimate wants him.
In a world where guys like Cab and Chris Miller continue to stoke and inspire, Mike V is dangerously close to becoming a punchline; a cliche made up of 80’s skate moves and video-taped fistfights.
I will agree with you that Mike V is a huge liability but you also have to give credit where credit is due. Brands like BBong and Quick, Hurley , Volcom have capitalized this industry and are now mindless babel designs with corporate funding. The industry started off as troubled bored kids that spray painted on shirts and boards etc. Where as now their buckets hold no water. They don’t represent anything that was core (as to what i think Mike V is getting at) maybe he is jealous or maube he is bitter that he isnt looked at like Hawk and Hosoi but again to your point…he is a liablity (i wouldn’t go so much as a punchline) Maybe Hawk and Hosoi had a better marketing team, i dunno. But it will also support the fact that Mike V was so CORE that he didn’t want to be marketed, he just wanted to skate and thats the mentality that boomed this movement.
So although you might not like the guy or whatever your personal reason is behind your hatred, just know he is quite legendary and was a slient forefather in some aspect. he grew up in this industry when it was full of heart and fresh, not what it is today with it being sold in Costco and Macy’s. He saw brands start up what represented a lifestyle, a statement, not what it is today and if anyone is the whore in the industry, its your precious BBong and Quicks that have money to slap on good surfers and skaters etc. It should sponsor mindsets not trophys.
Everyone talks about the halcyon days of skating, but if you actually lived though it you would know that it was pretty tough. That whole “troubled bored kids” thing sounds great as long as you don’t plan on skating past the age of 18. The reality is, if you wanted to stick with it, or (gasp) even try and make a living at it, there’s got to be some money chasing it.
The smart guys like Rocco, Lance Mountain, Jim Thiebaud, Tony Hawk and Chris Miller had the foresight to grab the bull by the horns and carve out their own slice of the pie. But for every one of them there are about hundred guys who got left behind. What does Eric Dressen, Billy Ruff, Monty Nolder, Jason Jesse, etc do now? Skaters today can actually make a living – and if they’re smart retire – because skating has successfully commoditized itself. No other action sport discipline even comes close to to bankrolling their athletes like skating does (with the sole exception of snowboarder Shaun White). Even Kelly Slater, who is far and away the highest paid surfer, makes peanuts compared to Rob Dyrdek, Ryan Scheckler, and Tony Hawk. Who do you think is kicking down for all this cash? Not the skate companies! It’s all from non-endemic sponsors. So I ask you – how is it that Quik and BBong, who’ve both been around supporting skaters for nearly 20 years, get called out for “capitalizing” on skating while the majority of pros today are getting paid by Mountain Dew, LG, Target, Monster, etc?
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