1)Skateparks – There are a lot of skateparks out there that charge money. You know why these skateparks charge money? Well, its because parents think that they are paying to have their kids babysat all day like it’s a daycare or something.

2)Fashionable Skateboarders – Skateboarders are all about fashion these days. They have to get their Sunday best on to go out and skate. Why would you put on your new kicks and clothing to just go and get all dirty and sweaty and damage all of the above. Personally, I have the same gear to skate in when I go skateboarding. I might change shirts but I have the same old holy shorts, and the same old beat up shoes with duct tape on the laces from knee-sliding out of bails.

3)No Union – Skateboarders don’t have a union! Skateboarders wreck themselves, become popular, and sign their rights away and their likeness when they enter the X- Games. When they get hurt (and they will for sure) there is no health care, and the veterans that got this sport going have no pension or retirement for helping make the sport as big as it is. Chris Gentry is working on forming a union called the Pro Riders Association, but it is very hard to start a union when everybody is just looking out for themselves. This goes for the skaters and the corporate sponsors alike.

4)Shop Decks – Skate shops found out years ago that they could print their own boards for cheaper than that of the pro skaters that keep their shops open. To make it even worse, they are getting these shop decks made in china for cheap, and importing them in by the thousands and its all about profit not about supporting the sport.

5)Security Officers and Cops

Cops and Security guards hate skateboarders! Their whole mission in life is to ruin your day. Next time one of them comes up to you with an attitude and asks you to leave, just be polite and do it. They are expecting you to make some kind of smart ass comment and then they can escalate the situation. Now there are exceptions to this rule. There are security guards that will creep up and grab you, I guess it’s because they think you are going to run. I remember one time I was filming and a security guard came up and started harassing the skater I was filming. We were on a 12 set and I was lying low on the bottom to get a good angle, so the security guard didn’t see me at first. After a little harassment to the skater I walked up and asked him what the problem was. The 150 pound 21 year old Security Guard wasn’t so froggy when I walked straight up to him with all 230 pounds and explained to him that all he has to do is be polite and we will leave. If you want respect in this world you have to gain it, you don’t automatically get it because of a uniform. Especially a Security Guard uniform