Words from BenBro: Bigger than Tracey
A recent report by channel 9 ACA program concerning longboarding on public streets has sparked a lot of discussion and debate amongst the Australian longboarding community. Members of the longboarding community have been stating their frustrations and disapproval in the wake of the unfair, one-sided and poorly researched report that went to air. Some like myself are claiming a storm in a tea cup, others referring to a public backlash with big implications ahead for longboarders and gravity racers. Organizers of a legal race to be held in the snowy mountains have postponed their event claiming relevant civil authorities have suspended further granting of relevant permits. Maybe we are about to see a shift for the better and are in early stages of a plan being developed to accommodate for our sport in the way of maybe road closures being easier to obtain and red tape surrounding holding legal events cut to make the process easier. Wishful thinking maybe!? Or will nothing change? Sweeping us under the rug or into the 'too hard basket' further stamping us with the title of outlaws and hindering our progression toward being an accepted legitimate sport that draws positive media attention where professionalism is respected. Either way, longboarding and skateboard racing is here to stay. The grassroots will never change, we as a community will continue to hold organised sessions and events away from the public media as a means to enjoy our sport. Getting stoked when the pros come to town for the World Cup races or simply gathering together on an isolated hill in the countryside for a skate or controlled freeride. No one can change who we are or what we do. If in the process of gaining acceptance we are forced to remain underground then so be it, at the end of the day we are skateboarders and not criminals. Skateboarding is bigger than any politician, media personality (Tracey) or individual, we can't lose at skateboarding, the stoke machine grows strong therefore it will always be there for us no matter what happens.