Angelika: The next time your parents tell you to get a job, why not open a skate shop. I am Angelika with watchmojo.com and today I will chat with Brandon about how a formerly slacker culture has transformed itself into one of the heaviest headers of high fashion. Let' talk a little bit about the evolution of skate style.
Brandon O'Dowd: Its still a very young sports, it has become much more commercial over the last let's say ten years and the style in the actual sports TV, magazines it's become a very large industry, back in the day it was no big wall shirts huge 24 inch pants. It was kind of a little more sloppy if you want, there is a definitely a culture that's been built around it, the companies have aroused from this type of occasion and it's now an industry that's huge -- billion of dollars.
Angelika: Let's start it off a little bit about the slacker culture and now it's become high fashion, so where do you separate the style from the actual sport?
Brandon O'Dowd: There is a functional side of certain garments such as the fashion side, when you are actually riding skating or snowboarding it's important to have both as both sports have become more commercial. The fashion side of it has taken over to a certain extend. Today customers coming in are not only skateboarders or snowboarders with people I like the style and it's more of a way of life than just enjoying skateboarding or snowboarding.
Angelika: So it's kind of like the barb is on models, either you are one or you just look like it.
Brandon O'Dowd: Yes and I would say there is way more people that look like it now than there are actually real fans of the sports, there is always the core roots of the sports the leaders and the trend setters those are the real people that drive the industry and then there is the commercial side of things that makes businesses roll with the money coming.
Angelika: So if you are just starting out as a skater what are some basics of the play?
Brandon O'Dowd: On a learning level try and skateboard with people or snowboard with people that are better than you, so you can become better faster, if you are skateboarding or snowboarding alone it's going to take a much longer time for you to get better or get to it. When buying product it's important to buy in specialty stores. Now that the sport has become so commercial you can find a skateboard or snowboard or in a zillion places, but you won't get the proper service, you won't get the proper knowledge, the staff that's on the floor won't give you the right information.
So its important whether it be an Empire store or another specialty store buy at a specialized store that know what they are talking about.
Angelika: Are skaters super hot or what?
Brandon O'Dowd: There are a few girls that are very hot, through out stake boarding there are some cute girls for sure. Thank you.
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