411 is a DVD video magazine publication dedicated to boarding - whether it be skateboarding, snowboarding, or surfing. With three distinct magazines dedicated to each area, it's biggest fan following comes from subscribers to it's skateboarding section.
411's monthly features pack the most exciting articles, like interviews with both pro and up-and-coming skateboarders and video coverage of most major skateboarding events. The directorial style of each video article makes good use of camera angles to give skateboarders the best experience possible watching them.
For most major competitions, they also make a point of higlighting the turning points within each event that led to the winner's victory - as well as showing those occasional splashes made by fan favorites to show how flukes and errors cost them the matches.
One of the more attractive monthly features done by 411 involves chaos exhibition skateboarding, where several famous pro skateboarders are invited to just rip and show their best stunts off. These are pure adrenaline-fests with loads of eye candy that generally leave the audience wondering how the skaters pulled those stunts off, as well as giving inspiration to aspiring skateboarders.
Their interviews with pro skateboarders tends as much to the informative as to the personal. They focus not only on the backgrounds and lifestyles of the people they interview, but also ask for tips and demonstrations from these professionals to help their viewers improve their own skating styles. Not always, though. Sometimes these interviews are purely demonstrative, where the pro is asked to do just one thing - strut his stuff and show off how he kicks butt on a board. Like the chaos exhibition matches, these video clips are focused purely on viewer entertainment.
Perhaps one of the most in-demand interview articles from 411 involve a feature on 14 year old Bam Margera, a young icon in skateboarding. This video is a good example of the quality of 411's articles, showing Bam at home, on tour, being drowned in a bathtub, and strutting his stuff on a skateboard at his favorite practice arenas. Some of his skating teammates also make cameo appearances in segments of the article.
Occasionally, 411 also features documentary-style video articles whenever there are new advances in skateboarding technology that they feel will make a huge impact on the skateboarding world. For these feature articles, they go straight to the developers of the new technology to make sure that their viewers get the most accurate information.
Aside from the quality of the information they provide, however, the other half of the formula for 411's key to success is the wackiness of their video articles. They're definitely entertaining to watch - a bit abnormal sometimes, but hey, normal's boring right? The video clips are all done with a sense of humor bordering on the warped that keeps viewers laughing half the time, when they aren't busy oooh-ing and aaah-ing over the stunts of their favorite skateboarders.
Currently, 411's fans have even taken to posting some of their favorite video articles on free video streaming sites like ifilm and youtube. These videos, submitted and sponsored by fans of 411, show just how much people have been enjoying their offerings. The overall mix of exciting video presentation, combined with an emphasis on facts and information tempered with a wacky sense of humor, all conspire to make 411 one of the best choices to get in skateboarding video magazines.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
All About Skateboarding
Skateboarding is one heck of a craze, especially for the young ones. A recent study estimated that over twelve million people all over the world is involved in skateboarding, and more than one-third of all skateboarders are 18 years old or younger.
Skateboarding is technically defined as an activity wherein one interacts with a skateboard. A skateboard is a platform with wheels which was originally conceptualized during the 1950s where skateboarding became a pastime for surfers when the waves in the seas were too low.
During those days, surfers disassembled roller skates and took the wheels and attached them into wooden planks. This idea evolved from the use of what they called the crate scooters, which was basically a transportation and a pastime equipment made from a wooden crate that is attached to some kind of handle bars.
In the 1960s, skateboarding started to become a craze. Manufacturers sold millions of skateboards which literally resembled surfboards. They marketed skateboards back then as an alternative to surfing. In the 1970s, skateboarding took a more serious turn as the materials for the skateboards were upgraded from wood to more durable and flexible materials. Today, the skateboard is far better than ever before, as millions of dollars flow into researching the best materials and designs to be used in producing them.
Skateboarding is such an enjoyable and a challenging activity at the same time. Some people use skateboards as a means of transportation. It is a relatively practical way of getting around town because skateboards are so cheap and small as compared to bikes and scooters. One can buy a skateboard at a ridiculously low price, even a kid can buy one from his allowance savings.
Some people see skateboarding as a serious sport which entails lots of skills and talent. Several international competitions such as the X Games provide venues wherein the best skateboarders in the world can show their stuff. Skateboarding can be easy, but when it comes to executing tricks and stunts, it’s a whole different world all together. One needs the proper training and experience to be able to pull some tricks off.
If we look deeper into the world of skateboarding, it is definitely more than just a pastime or a sport, there is a culture that seemingly comes along skateboarding. Back in the olden days, skateboarding was primarily associated with the “rebel” culture. Skateboarders were often given the image of being dregs and rebels. However, as time passes by, skateboarding has been considered as a serious activity rather than a manifestation of rebellious angst.
Learning how to skateboard is usually done in the streets. Most of the successful skateboarders that we have today began their careers spending countless hours of practice on the streets. It’s not that they want to get good at skateboarding, it’s just they enjoy being doing their thing.
If you, or someone whom you know is interested in skateboarding, there’s really nothing wrong with trying it out. However, there are some serous precautions that need to be taken before engaging in the activity. Having the right protection such as helmets, elbow and knee pads are a must when skateboarding. They may look a little bit bulky, but they will prevent one from having serious injuries in skateboarding. The dangers of the activity are real and should not be taken for granted.
Skateboarding is technically defined as an activity wherein one interacts with a skateboard. A skateboard is a platform with wheels which was originally conceptualized during the 1950s where skateboarding became a pastime for surfers when the waves in the seas were too low.
During those days, surfers disassembled roller skates and took the wheels and attached them into wooden planks. This idea evolved from the use of what they called the crate scooters, which was basically a transportation and a pastime equipment made from a wooden crate that is attached to some kind of handle bars.
In the 1960s, skateboarding started to become a craze. Manufacturers sold millions of skateboards which literally resembled surfboards. They marketed skateboards back then as an alternative to surfing. In the 1970s, skateboarding took a more serious turn as the materials for the skateboards were upgraded from wood to more durable and flexible materials. Today, the skateboard is far better than ever before, as millions of dollars flow into researching the best materials and designs to be used in producing them.
Skateboarding is such an enjoyable and a challenging activity at the same time. Some people use skateboards as a means of transportation. It is a relatively practical way of getting around town because skateboards are so cheap and small as compared to bikes and scooters. One can buy a skateboard at a ridiculously low price, even a kid can buy one from his allowance savings.
Some people see skateboarding as a serious sport which entails lots of skills and talent. Several international competitions such as the X Games provide venues wherein the best skateboarders in the world can show their stuff. Skateboarding can be easy, but when it comes to executing tricks and stunts, it’s a whole different world all together. One needs the proper training and experience to be able to pull some tricks off.
If we look deeper into the world of skateboarding, it is definitely more than just a pastime or a sport, there is a culture that seemingly comes along skateboarding. Back in the olden days, skateboarding was primarily associated with the “rebel” culture. Skateboarders were often given the image of being dregs and rebels. However, as time passes by, skateboarding has been considered as a serious activity rather than a manifestation of rebellious angst.
Learning how to skateboard is usually done in the streets. Most of the successful skateboarders that we have today began their careers spending countless hours of practice on the streets. It’s not that they want to get good at skateboarding, it’s just they enjoy being doing their thing.
If you, or someone whom you know is interested in skateboarding, there’s really nothing wrong with trying it out. However, there are some serous precautions that need to be taken before engaging in the activity. Having the right protection such as helmets, elbow and knee pads are a must when skateboarding. They may look a little bit bulky, but they will prevent one from having serious injuries in skateboarding. The dangers of the activity are real and should not be taken for granted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)