It’s been a while! Hope you all had a chilled out holiday season! Straight into it.
Uncle $cam
It seems as though the nominations for the very first New Zealand SOTY have ruffled a few feathers, huh? I guess it has to be expected. I’m in this kinda weird head space where I’m thinking people need to stop running each other down so much. Why you gotta be all tall poppy about it? At the same time I’m also shocked that some dudes are bent out of shape because they didn’t get a mention? That’s kinda out of it, eh? I mean, it’s about being recognised by your peers is it not? You can’t force your way to being popular.
To illustrate, I read a status on Facebook from one of the homies getting upset because he doesn’t feature on the list, which is all well and good, but as I understand it, it’s Skater of the Year, not of all time. Shouldn’t we be judging this on what happened between 01/01/12 and 31/12/12? Can people honestly say they themselves stood out over the last year? If so, they’re probably already on the nominee list.
Some people seem to have this idea that skateboarding owes them something. I dunno about you guys, but I owe pretty much everything to skateboarding. As Jason Morice would say, perhaps we should all chill the fuck out for a minute. Just because you got down and got some recognition doesn’t give you a lifetime pass, and if you never got the recognition you feel you deserve, then you probably didn’t deserve it, right? I dunno, maybe the jury is out on that one. Also, I’m not opposed to self promotion, but inviting all in sundry to vote for you seems kinda weird. Shouldn’t it just be the skaters voting? It’s not a cute puppy competition after all. I mean, what does your Aunt’s hairstylist know about your ledge game and does your boss understand that you only won that amateur competition by chance? It kinda takes away from the title/award or whatever you want to call it if it’s just a Facebook/Twitter/Instagram popularity exercise. Am I right or is that kind of carry-on legit in 2013? Either way, relax, have a beer or something wholesome like avocado on toast and just let it all wash over you.
First rant of the year over, here are some pics, please feel free to comment and tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about, but don’t forget to Vote Barbs. I need this.
Karl Truell, Backside 50-50, Sydney as seen in the SLAM Photo Issue.
Jarrad Carlin, 360 Flip, Sydney as seen in the 15 year Anniversary Issue of MANUAL.
Rob Kenworthy, frontside boardslide, Sydney as seen in the latest Skateboarders Journal.