Filed under: General | Tags: bmx, clothing, etnies, fashion, shoes, skate, wakeboarding
I was having a chat with a friend of mine early today about boardsport clique’s culture and subcultures.
This stemmed from a conversation about Etnies shoes and where the name came from. Being a bit of a brand nerd I gave him the lowdown of this brands conception – Enties shoes was originally called Etnics (Ethnics) which seamed appropriate for the skateboarding small tribes/subcultures that were created from groups of guys out on the streets finding new places to ride through the early to mid 80′s from America to Europe.
Enties has now gone on to create some wicked shoes for skateboarders, surfers, wakeboarders and BMXers all inspired by being part of their own subculture in the larger industry culture. In todays world what you wear as a person says a lot about you! And on your feet even more!
Surfing has probably the most well known culture due to its underlying size, Etnies clothing and shoes quickly spread through the skating culture and into surfing. Surfing and skateboarding carry a similar culture and influence.
Surfing does also benefit from one its age two its green credentials/links with the soul of the sea and the elements but also its global presence. Apart from the locals culture in surfing which can be rife and slightly agressive on the whole surfers are a very social and accepting of new and old water users.
Our conversation stemmed from Wakeboarding a younger and newer sport that tends to carry a slightly younger and more cliquey front.
This appears to come out in its media and icons. Recent developments within the sport have taken it into urban zones which I think has helped it to shed its clique subculture and take boat riding to the masses in the form of cable tows and winches! This is only a benefit for wakeboarding and the action sports industry as a whole which has been dominated by skating, BMX and FMX.
New sports/disciplines help keep things fresh. Shawn White did this with skate boarding and snowboarding. I can wait for this from skaters, snowboarders and surfers, wakeboarding in city competitions. It is this new culture of urban events that is helping to help our culture grow worldwide.
Check out some items I found where summer meets winter. and Red Bull Wake the line.
Hardcloud has skated around the Etnies warehouse to bring you the latest shoes and clothing. Find out more here.
Filed under: Events, Videos | Tags: christian heise, dc shoes, etnies, globe, nass, nass 2009, relentless nass, skate shoes, wakestock
The Relentless NASS & Wakestock Music and action sports festivals have now come to a close for 2009.
Early reports are that they were great events despite the weather, good work to all for turning out. If you werent at NASS a skateboard and bmx orientated event, you may well have been up at the Relentless Wakestock event at Abersoch in Wales – where I hear the weather was even worse. (Tents flying around everywhere). The music and party atmosphere pulled everyone through and its only rain. Wakestock also celebrated its 10th birthday this year so congratulations to all involved with organising the event over the years, for turning it into a great rave in north Wales.
If you couldn’t make it to Nass below is a little snippit of pro skater Christian Heise and his flatland freestyle skateboard routine from this year.
Hardcloud and the team scower the world for the best styles and designs in skate shoes/footwear. We currently have 90 styles in stock for you to choose from in every style and colour. So whether you are perfecting that first ollie or need some treads to head down to the beach, check out out hand picked styles from DC, Etnies, Globe, Macbeth, Odessa and more.
The next big Relentless event is the Boardmasters in Newquay next month, which from past experience has been awesome, fingers crossed we get the waves like last year. Make sure your dressed for it. Forcast is sunshine and waves.
