What's with all the Element Skateboards hate?

[floop]

I don't understand all the hate people have of Element. They've always stood up for skating and none of the other bullshit that other companies (cough, Deathwish, cough) will associate with.

Yeah, they sponsor Bam Margera, but what are they supposed to do? Drop him just because the dude is a weirdo?

Which other company has retained so many of their skaters? Chad Tim Tim, Ray Barbee, Levi Brown, Darrell Stanton, and Nyjah have been with the company for a long time.

I don't think these skaters would stick for such a long time with Element if they weren't doing something right.

Especially Ray Barbee. That dude could be on any skate company.

Element Elementality Part 1

the intro to that video pretty much answers the question of why Element is cheesy

cringe-worthy

[tictac]

No, I do not work for Element or have I watched the Element DVD. I used to skate with an Element rider in the early 90's sometimes though. He was from Atlanta and his name is Daniel Powell. He turned pro for Experience but that's another story. I did read the history of Element on their website and find it to be a bit misleading and incorrect. Andy Howell was the founder of Element back in 1992. It was not a collaborative company. Andy was in total control. Johnny got involved a year after it's inception as an assistant. I do not want to put Johnny down but I feel Andy Howell does not get the credit that he is due. Johnny did not take the "Underworld" out of the name Andy did before he sold it. Johnny did turn the company around which is impressive but Element would not be around if it wasn't for Andy. Take care

[Pavementi]

Yeah, they're so loyal. Like when they kicked Jake Rupp and Tosh Townend off after they both left their old shoe sponsors to start up Element footwear, leaving them basically sponsorless. Same thing with Dallas Rockvam and Brent Atchley (well, with Brent, they randomly dropped him from Element footwear a little while before dropping him from the board company). Or kicking off Colt Cannon after he refused to leave Circa for Element footwear. Or, despite continuing to make and sell shoes, pulling the plug on sponsoring people for Element footwear. That's true support for your team riders if I ever heard it.

That's flat out wrong. We've already been over this in another thread. Colt stopped being a pro because he had a heart condition similar to Tim Brauch's that could have killed him had he kept skating. http://coltcannonblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/explanation.html

[bakedRice]

fuck element, rock that shit if you want to look like every other 12 year old getting into skating

[LOU.502]

dude i'm just gonna say i wouldn't mind some new bam footy. not bullshitting stunts and whatever i just always like the way dude looked on a skateboard. not really relevant. drunk. sorry.

[oyolar]

Yeah, they're so loyal. Like when they kicked Jake Rupp and Tosh Townend off after they both left their old shoe sponsors to start up Element footwear, leaving them basically sponsorless. Same thing with Dallas Rockvam and Brent Atchley (well, with Brent, they randomly dropped him from Element footwear a little while before dropping him from the board company). Or kicking off Colt Cannon after he refused to leave Circa for Element footwear. Or, despite continuing to make and sell shoes, pulling the plug on sponsoring people for Element footwear. That's true support for your team riders if I ever heard it.

That's flat out wrong. We've already been over this in another thread. Colt stopped being a pro because he had a heart condition similar to Tim Brauch's that could have killed him had he kept skating. http://coltcannonblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/explanation.html

Makes me think you have no factual basis to support your other assertions either.

Huh. Sorry about that. I never heard that Colt Cannon story nor saw that thread. I also didn't know that he started working at Element as a rep. If I did, I wouldn't have wrote that. That was just the impression I've gotten from talking to other people. I'll edit my first post accordingly. Meanwhile, several of my other assertions you really can't argue against while others that is the impression I've gotten from how I've heard it, on here and other places.

[BlackEye77]

Roger is PS Stixx, if I'm correct?, and their boards are great.

It should be noted that not all PS Stix boards are of equal quality. I've also heard great things about Roger so it's quite possible that their boards come from the Mexico factory, not from China like a majority of PS boards. The discrepancies in quality within a single brand is confusing. Element might have some Mexico made boards, I don't know, but a lot of their stuff comes from China. Just like with Alien Workshop, you can not always assume quality based off a brand name, or even a manufacturer for that matter.

No matter what, Element is no longer like the sick company of the early 90's, Underworld Element. It is a little kid's brand at best. Good for them if that's what they want to be, but I don't care to support a company that I don't identify with in any way.

[layzieyez]

No, I do not work for Element or have I watched the Element DVD. I used to skate with an Element rider in the early 90's sometimes though. He was from Atlanta and his name is Daniel Powell. He turned pro for Experience but that's another story. I did read the history of Element on their website and find it to be a bit misleading and incorrect. Andy Howell was the founder of Element back in 1992. It was not a collaborative company. Andy was in total control. Johnny got involved a year after it's inception as an assistant. I do not want to put Johnny down but I feel Andy Howell does not get the credit that he is due. Johnny did not take the "Underworld" out of the name Andy did before he sold it. Johnny did turn the company around which is impressive but Element would not be around if it wasn't for Andy. Take care

Too funny.  I traded some Underworld Element product with Daniel Powell for some classic hang-ten shirts I bought from a boutique in North Highland earlier that day when I met him in Atlanta.  We were supposed to go skate together later, but I only ended up meeting up later with Brian Chung and Jason Guthrie if my memory serves me right.

By the way, wherever you are Jason Guthrie, I hope you still rip it hard and you're as friendly and cool as I remember.

Torque Promo 2 Jason Guthrie	Small | Large

[Rutger Hauer]

Yeah, they're so loyal. Like when they kicked Jake Rupp and Tosh Townend off after they both left their old shoe sponsors to start up Element footwear, leaving them basically sponsorless. Same thing with Dallas Rockvam and Brent Atchley (well, with Brent, they randomly dropped him from Element footwear a little while before dropping him from the board company). EDIT: Or kicking off Colt Cannon after he refused to leave Circa for Element footwear. This statement was proven wrong. Or, despite continuing to make and sell shoes, pulling the plug on sponsoring people for Element footwear. That's true support for your team riders if I ever heard it.

Dallas never agreed to rode for the shoes and he left the company by his own decision.

[oyolar]

Yeah, they're so loyal. Like when they kicked Jake Rupp and Tosh Townend off after they both left their old shoe sponsors to start up Element footwear, leaving them basically sponsorless. Same thing with Dallas Rockvam and Brent Atchley (well, with Brent, they randomly dropped him from Element footwear a little while before dropping him from the board company). EDIT: Or kicking off Colt Cannon after he refused to leave Circa for Element footwear. This statement was proven wrong. Or, despite continuing to make and sell shoes, pulling the plug on sponsoring people for Element footwear. That's true support for your team riders if I ever heard it.

Dallas never agreed to rode for the shoes and he left the company by his own decision.

I remember seeing a Dallas Rockvam footwear ad.

[BlackEye77]

Do people actually skate in Element shoes? I got a free pair of omaha's and I couldn't skate in them. They are nice soft leather and make alright office shoes, but I can't feel my board at all through the heel so I don't even consider them to be "skate shoes." Just another example of how shitty their products are.

[few123456789]

Honestly no one under age 30 I'd say has any good reason to dislike the company. 

[Riverside]

it's a t shirt company that makes skateboards

like zero was/is

[Skate Edge]

Most or all of this lameness stems from Element being some corporate bullshit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Element_skateboards

"It is a subsidiary of Australian clothing giants Billabong International.[2]"

[1dxxxx]

Most or all of this lameness stems from Element being some corporate bullshit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Element_skateboards

"It is a subsidiary of Australian clothing giants Billabong International.[2]"

Soooo....
http://www.branchdistribution.com/

[cletus the slack jawed yokel]

i have the element tim tim shoe once, they were great and i don't know why

[Chocolaterain]

I met an element kid at the skatepark yesterday... had the nerve to say element has the best boards, griptape and trucks
he was annoying as fuck to

[phillipjayfry]

im not going to lie. ive always really liked this graphic, just beacuse it was so simple http://www.amazon.com/element-Element-Section-Black-Deck/dp/B004OOJ3OC

Ditto.

[Filip]

Their boards are great, and this is the best shape I have ever rode:

Element Skateboards Flatlight Construction	Small | Large

[barkeep11]

Never had an element that I didn't like.

[mooraga]

Yeah, they're so loyal. Like when they kicked Jake Rupp and Tosh Townend off after they both left their old shoe sponsors to start up Element footwear, leaving them basically sponsorless. Same thing with Dallas Rockvam and Brent Atchley (well, with Brent, they randomly dropped him from Element footwear a little while before dropping him from the board company). Or kicking off Colt Cannon after he refused to leave Circa for Element footwear. Or, despite continuing to make and sell shoes, pulling the plug on sponsoring people for Element footwear. That's true support for your team riders if I ever heard it.

That's flat out wrong. We've already been over this in another thread. Colt stopped being a pro because he had a heart condition similar to Tim Brauch's that could have killed him had he kept skating. http://coltcannonblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/explanation.html

Makes me think you have no factual basis to support your other assertions either.

Huh. Sorry about that. I never heard that Colt Cannon story nor saw that thread. I also didn't know that he started working at Element as a rep. If I did, I wouldn't have wrote that. That was just the impression I've gotten from talking to other people. I'll edit my first post accordingly. Meanwhile, several of my other assertions you really can't argue against while others that is the impression I've gotten from how I've heard it, on here and other places.

thats wrong too, he initially stopped skating cause he had an ankle injury, he had already quit element and was looking for a board company, while filming in that time he blew his ankle so fucking bad he needed surgery (at least twice... I think) and haven't recover from it. In the mean time he was trying to heal his ankle he got the heart surgery. He had to sell his house, his BMW and some other things... hard times

[The Ghost of Lenny Kirk]

let me put it this way.... nike is actually a mega corp and they somehow manage to look less corporate and greedy than element does. i know that everyone needs money but there is a limit. element just goes above and beyond selling out. they dont have an image and theyre not about anything. just money. they even had a guy come on the shoe board and asked everyone to tell him what they needed to do to make their shoes better. its pathetic. they have a skate team but even that seems like they're only doing it because they have to. not because they have any vested interest in good skateboarding. element sucks. its only a matter of time before they go out the way adio did.

[dankradschwag]

i remember when mike barker quit element he posted a rant saying that element and that johnny guy only care about making as much money as possible and all that kinda stuff so yeah

[Benny Hanna]

I bought some element jeans the other week, they looked cool and were comfy and the price was right, also the only ones in my size I liked. I was bummed I would rather not support element.

Other then the fact theyre corporatley owned, the team is so fucking random. Im not saying the team is bad by any means its actually sick as fuck. However I like companies like Girl where you know everyone is friends with each other outside skateboarding and skate with each other on a regular basis. How often do you see Nyjah with Appleyard or Stanton with Nick Garcia...Never ? The team is based off marketing and Im sure they never see each other unless its on tour.

The ONE good thing about element is that they support veteran pros, something skateboarding defenetly does not do. However you could be sure that if skateboarding was so popular in the mainstream media element would drop theyre entire skate team and just focus on clothing and accessories.

[The Magnet Man]

I bought some element jeans the other week, they looked cool and were comfy and the price was right, also the only ones in my size I liked. I was bummed I would rather not support element.

Other then the fact theyre corporatley owned, the team is so fucking random. Im not saying the team is bad by any means its actually sick as fuck. However I like companies like Girl where you know everyone is friends with each other outside skateboarding and skate with each other on a regular basis. How often do you see Nyjah with Appleyard or Stanton with Nick Garcia...Never ? The team is based off marketing and Im sure they never see each other unless its on tour.

The ONE good thing about element is that they support veteran pros, something skateboarding defenetly does not do. However you could be sure that if skateboarding was so popular in the mainstream media element would drop theyre entire skate team and just focus on clothing and accessories.

Bill Pepper is a security guard in the napa area. Apparently he's super good at World of Warcraft

[Benny Hanna]

I bought some element jeans the other week, they looked cool and were comfy and the price was right, also the only ones in my size I liked. I was bummed I would rather not support element.

Other then the fact theyre corporatley owned, the team is so fucking random. Im not saying the team is bad by any means its actually sick as fuck. However I like companies like Girl where you know everyone is friends with each other outside skateboarding and skate with each other on a regular basis. How often do you see Nyjah with Appleyard or Stanton with Nick Garcia...Never ? The team is based off marketing and Im sure they never see each other unless its on tour.

The ONE good thing about element is that they support veteran pros, something skateboarding defenetly does not do. However you could be sure that if skateboarding was so popular in the mainstream media element would drop theyre entire skate team and just focus on clothing and accessories.

Bill Pepper is a security guard in the napa area. Apparently he's super good at World of Warcraft

And also a huge pos from what I understand. I shouldve said it gives back to pros that have given more to skateboarding then the fucking munchkin flip..

[Beeda Weeda]

i used to ride nothing but elemnts during the late 90s, the boards felt better than alot of the competition at teh time.

[Skate Edge]

Most or all of this lameness stems from Element being some corporate bullshit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Element_skateboards

"It is a subsidiary of Australian clothing giants Billabong International.[2]"

Soooo....
http://www.branchdistribution.com/

Soooo....

"The big news dropped last week that Element and Plan B are teaming up to start Branch Distribution beneath the Billabong Group umbrella. Element has already been working with Billabong for some time "

http://espn.go.com/action/skateboarding/blog/_/post/4976316