Longboard Athlete Michael Brooke asked the questions you were wondering about.
Could you briefly introduce yourself to us? Where were you born and what are you doing as a profession?
Michael: My name is Michael Brooke and I was born in Leeds England in 1964. I came over to Canada in 1972 with my family. I spent a number of years working in many different jobs. I've held positions in the music industry, the printing business and publishing. In 1999 my book The Concrete Wave the history of skateboarding was released. It's spawned the documentary Dogtown in Z Boys along with a 52 part television series and a magazine (concrete wave) In 2018, I sold the magazine.
I'm just completing 5 years as a funeral directors assistant. I'm now going back into publishing. I am working rking on a number of different projects including www.concretewaves.com This new website is a re-imagination of concrete wave magazine. It is put together by Billy James who has a massive amount of skate stoke (and is a technical genius and great video editor)
What influenced you to start longboard sport?
Michael: I've always love skateboarding ever since I took my first ride back in 1975.
I love carving. I love cruising and love the flow and energy of skateboarding. I started longboarding back in 1976 on a clay wheel board But it took until 1988 before I picked up another longboard. It was the 36-inch Yardstix from Schmidt Stix In 1995 I discovered that longboarding had started to come back and I went out and purchased a Foundation 48" This led to me getting a Sector 9 longboard in 1997. From here I just kept acquiring more boards. I love surf skates, slalom boards, pool boards, freestyle boards.. my whole philosophy is to skate everything
What advice do you have for newcomers to longboarding?
Michael: Just enjoy it. Don't worry about what other people are riding... Don't worry about what people are wearing …Just get out there and skate. If you want to stay with skateboarding for your entire life know that it is possible.
You don't have to bomb down the hill at 100 kilometers an hour. You don't have to do 40 stair ollies All you have to know is the ride is the reward. It might be a bit challenging at first, but it will be worth it!
What is your favorite Longboard move?
Michael: I just love riding and carving.
What are your favorite longboard spots to skate?
Michael: I love taking my longboard into a bowl at a skatepark about 40 minutes from my home. I love taking my surf skates to a school that is buttery smooth asphalt.
Which Longboard move was the most challenging for you?
Michael: Trying to do a kickflip.... Old school kickflip where you flick your foot and the board rotates
What other sports do you do besides longboarding?
Michael: I love snowboarding but it only get out once here because it's very expensive and the hills are too small where I live so you have to drive far.
What is the biggest longboard project that you have ever dreamed of?
Michael: I guess back in 1999 when I launched International Longboarder magazine. I felt a sense of urgency. I knew when I started the magazine that we had to explain to the skateboard world that longboarding was amazing. But back then a lot of people didn't understand it. The project took years and years but eventually we wound up making longboarding a worldwide phenomenon. The reason why I say we is because there are so many architects of this incredible change within skateboarding. I believe I played a small but significant role and I'm stoked to be a part of the change that happened within skateboarding. And I'm really proud to continue my work in this field. There are so many sides to skateboarding. They variety keeps it moving forward. Skateboarding is too good to be kept as one myopic vision. Sadly, most of the media focuses on what males under the age of 25 are doing…which turns out to be mostly street skateboarding.
To sum it up, what would you like to say to Turk Longboard members about Longboarding?
Michael: Stoked that you have built such a terrific scene. You have a lot to be proud of. Keep rolling have fun.
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