RASK THE DOCTOR
With Dr. Rick Blackhart
DRB at the Devils Pit
Dr. Rick Blackhart, Ph.D., S.K.A.T.E.R...
I'd like to correct some of the narrow
views given by Micke Alba in his interview,
and would like to hear your frequencies on
the subject. He said that the Dogtown days
were more radical than now. He also said
today's moves were so mechanical. Maybe
for him that's true, but he shouldn't worry
about how many lame skaters there are
now, because there always have been.
those types, and there will be in the future.
Moves and tricks don't matter at all-only
the attitudes of progress and aggression
matter in true skating. He could learn from
me, a more time-exposed skater, that your
skating is completely up to you and no one
else, and that because of this, skateboard-
ing gives what nothing else gives, freedom
anytime, anywhere.
Sincerely, A Fellow Skatehound
First of all, there are no lame skaters.
Only lame kids that just happen to ride
skateboards, right? Those kids would
probably be considered lame no matter
what they're into.
Secondly, how do you propose to cor-
rect someone else's viewpoint? An indi-
vidual's personal opinion is a prized
possession and a way of expression,
like boardin'. Basically, it sounds to me
like your attitude about skateboarding
is on the right track, but your interpreta-
tion of Micke's ideas is a little bit dis-
torted. I think the point that Micke was
trying to get across is that the Dogtown
days were definitely more energetic and
enthusiastic skatewise, mainly because
everything was fresh and new. Up until
the first Hester Series you didn't see
many skaters with set routines that
were followed move for move like you
do today. Back then the skating was
more gut level. After the onslaught of
contest skating, and the emphasis on
the Pro and park aspects by the media
at the time, most skaters just started
copying each other and you weren't
seeing as many widespread, outstand-
ing styles and maneuvers. In other
words, robot skaters were in abun-
dance.
Now it seems that skaters have re-
verted back (or have been forced) into
taking a more spontaneous under-
ground approach to the skate attack
syndrome. We're talkin' generation after
generation of skaters, each one adapt-
ing their own style to the available, skat-
able terrain around them.
Which brings us back to Micke Alba.
Having gone through a few generations
himself, and skating more hours than
most, I'd have to say that his views are
fairly reputable. You're talkin' about a
kid that practically grew up skating at
Upland Pipeline, the most radical park
ever, and then went on to become one of
the winningest vertical skaters ever. For
him to come back and talk about the
Dog days says a lot about keeping en-
thusiasm for skateboarding, even after
you've reached the top.
Blidikit
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