Contests: Are They Necessary?

In a culture that snubs team sports and promotes the independent, do we really need contests?

SOD Team said:

In a culture that snubs team sports and promotes the independent, do we really need contests?

It’s been a looooong time since I competed in a contest, but I remember that I never really enjoyed the whole thing. My crew and I would drive to other cities and skate at the park that was hosting the thing, and it seemed, to me at least, that I never got comfortable with the park. Sometimes the vert ramp was ass, but most of the time, there were too many kids in a small area trying to skate. We would have more fun meeting people and sessioning some spot somewhere with locals. I guess I’m just of the school that enjoys skating for it’s creative release. I’d take up figure skating if I wanted to compete for roses and medals. And if I wanted to be gay. Or I could roller-blade.

its not about do we really need contests, its about what kind of person enters a contest. you have people who will enter contests purely for the money, and then you will have people who enter contests because it is just another element of fun in skateboarding for them. without contests skateboarding wouldnt be where it is today, imagine no X-games…. that wouldnt have brought skateboarding into the mainstream sports world, and got us many new skateparks etc… but in a way skateboarding may have become to commercially big,

its all about fun right?

You guys ought to check out the way they run inline skate contests, they’re always really chill. The majority of them any more are actual street contests which is really cool but also really sucks cause we are so poor and cant afford to pay for permits and what not and they end up getting busted or pushed around the city to different spots. Im not sure how popular street skating or biking is in other sports or if they have ever tried this but its always mad crazy to watch. And whether street or park they are almost always session format. Every contest is done differently but there are no runs you just session and they slowly eliminate people until you have a winner. So allot of dudes that have a hard time skating under pressure can still compete and do well. Check out this edit of the windy city riot that just went down in chicago this summer, the editing is kinda discotastic but the skating is crazy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdPt_YnAQbQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoSFZh7tNd0&feature=related this one is a little better

SOD Team said:

In a culture that snubs team sports and promotes the independent, do we really need contests?

The enjoyment of free riding and a game of SKATE with friends will never die, but contests are important. Contests, demos, x-games, etc. are all forms of organization that birth progression, legends, and worthy television. Most of the possible future negative outcomes of these events will be on the shoulders of organizational extremist who will at some point have worked their way into the drivers seats of similar events. Weeding out the sandbaggers and keeping Balance is the key to making sure nothing gets watered down and stupid. Never above you – Never below you – Always with you – This attitude will keep things right and balanced within the contest world.

I don’t really skate much, but i’ve been snowboarding for a while and i’ve seen my bit of the contest scene. They are almost always jam format, overcrowded, over-competitive, and about a third as fun as just riding park or street with your crew. One of the main aspects that pisses me off about snowboard comps is the judging. Loon Mountain in NH is notorious for having locals judge the comps… then everyone thinks its weird when the winners are all from the area.

Basically, contests are progressive and necessary, however proper formating, judging, and planning are essential to making it legit.

Where can I go to get info on setting up a skateboarding contest? My kids are in the process of setting up their own board shop and want to sponser a contest in August. Any info would help!

Some people cant offord decks, they can win em, makes sense to me.