Hey, this is Fos.
So Gou wanted to retire his pro board shortly after Video Nasty came out (2013)
I convinced him that he should still have it for a couple of years and then he bowed out of having a board in 2016 I think. It was on great terms and we still send him board if he needs them ever. He has his own reasons for not wanting a board anymore, nothing to do with Heroin, you’ll have to ask him personally what they are, but I think that having a daughter and wanting to spend more time with her factored into it a little. Like I said though, I can’t speak for him. We’re on great terms and he had an Alumni board last year on our 20th anniversary.
As far as other folks leaving, having 24 riders was definitely a factor for some of them I think, they felt disconnected and wanted to be part of a smaller brands that were starting up. You have to think that with lots of new companies starting up and our rider being friends with a lot of the guys that are starting them, that it’s inevitable that they’d want to be a part of those new things that are happening.
I’m huge fans of everyone who rides for us and has ridden for us, that has been a lot of people over the years, there’s no animosity to any of them and I’m on good terms with everyone whose left, I had breakfast with Casper Brooker the other day when he was in L.A. and speak to a lot of older riders on social media a lot.
I feel like people decide their own path and if they have a portion of time of their career or whatever that is a part of Heroin skateboard then I’m grateful to them for being a part of it.
You’ll have to ask the riders directly what their exact reason for leaving are, i’m sure each one is a very different reason, I can’t speak from anyone’s perspective but my own, but there’s certainly no animosity on my part.
When I started this thing in 1998 it was spraying boards in my back yard in New Cross, I gave stuff to a couple of riders at the start. I don’t think it’ll ever get back to that, but if it has to then it’s cool with me.
Like I said in my other reply, all is good right now, we did just have one of our best months at Baker Boys, the Spring drop and all the shaped boards are going really great for us, Texas Chainsaw Collab was a huge deal for us too.
I’m working towards having a smaller more focused team for 2019, which is what the riders all wanted from the feedback on a recent trip we took and I understand that.
We also have some exciting stuff planned for later in the year, that I can’t go into just yet but I’m pretty stoked about it all. I’m working on a new Chet Board right now as it goes, he just wanted to take a break from having a pro board for a little while.
Oh, and the Shimizu retirement party was one of the funnest things that happened last year, it was such a rad way for him to wind up his career.
Thanks for the chance to explain things, I’ll try and answer any questions you might have too, I’m at my cabin right now though, so internet access is definitely spotty up here.
Is this a good time to “Shalom” ?
Topic: What's going on with Heroin skateboards? (Read 16700 times)