2025 unpopular opinion thread

[Bingyflip]

I think switch is something for pros/people with too much skill/time. I struggle enough with normal stance and keep my focus on it.

Haven’t seen people hike backwards yet just to impress others. But it’s true, some tricks look better switch and I respect people who Master this kinda unnecessary skill on our totally absurd hobby.

Decent cop out, says even more about you that you think skating switch is just to impress others.

Maybe you just suck or skating isn't for you?

[WashingtonNECKTIE]

Skating switch should be used as more of a utility, as opposed to a novelty.

Standalone switch tricks can be impressive, but a line flowing between stances is where switch skill really shines. Reference Herman's part(s) in Stay Gold. Moving from regs and switch for the table lines, and a majority of regular and nollie stance for the bangers

[munchbox]

i didnt skate enough switch in the last few summers
and my hips hate me for it
i can crack these shits on command at this point

[Dwyck]

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I think switch is something for pros/people with too much skill/time. I struggle enough with normal stance and keep my focus on it.

Haven’t seen people hike backwards yet just to impress others. But it’s true, some tricks look better switch and I respect people who Master this kinda unnecessary skill on our totally absurd hobby.

[close]

Decent cop out, says even more about you that you think skating switch is just to impress others.

Maybe you just suck or skating isn't for you?

Moron
Do you think pros film parts not intending to show anybody or sell any product? Just for the love of the game I relearned my entire bag of tricks backwards just for myself and not so anyone could see me. Do you think there are professional dancers who don't perform for anyone? Violinists who will never play a concert

[WashingtonNECKTIE]

This just in, skating switch is simply a cry for attention

[Ourladyoftheflowers]

Does the same switch argument apply to nollie as well? I kind of feel like maybe I can understand an anti switch argument from a ramp skater but for a street skater sometimes you’re gonna land backwards so it’s prob a good idea to know how to smoothly ride switch and maybe have an ollie so you can get up a curb.

Also it can be fun to skate switch cause sometimes your shoulders/legs work better for certain tricks. I feel like I’m not the only one where a regular heel flip would take me all day but a switch one is fairly consistent and very fun

[jorge]

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I think switch is something for pros/people with too much skill/time. I struggle enough with normal stance and keep my focus on it.

Haven’t seen people hike backwards yet just to impress others. But it’s true, some tricks look better switch and I respect people who Master this kinda unnecessary skill on our totally absurd hobby.

[close]

Decent cop out, says even more about you that you think skating switch is just to impress others.

Maybe you just suck or skating isn't for you?

Could be.  OR MAYBE they are so good at skating that there is no need at all to bother i.e. The Grant Taylor.  Maybe you should get so good at skating that you no longer need to hide behind switch.

[PalaceButtPlug]

skating regular your whole life is like never moving out of your hometown, you have no idea what you missed out on

[pizzafliptofakie]

Some people enjoy challenges.

[sagginbaggies]

Switch is an important part of skating and deserves all the respect it gets.

Having said that, I've never been a person who watches a part and goes "bruh he didn't do a single switch trick"
Skate as much or little switch as you want and serves your purposes and style on a skateboard.

Insane take. Switch is just backwards nollie. If I could shoot pool or throw darts with my opposite hand as well, I'd be unstoppable. Don't think there's a benefit to crab hiking though lol.

[alien porkchop]

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Switch is an important part of skating and deserves all the respect it gets.

Having said that, I've never been a person who watches a part and goes "bruh he didn't do a single switch trick"
Skate as much or little switch as you want and serves your purposes and style on a skateboard.

[close]

Insane take. Switch is just backwards nollie. If I could shoot pool or throw darts with my opposite hand as well, I'd be unstoppable. Don't think there's a benefit to crab hiking though lol.

regular stance is just backward fakie

[Lurknopost]

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Switch is an important part of skating and deserves all the respect it gets.

Having said that, I've never been a person who watches a part and goes "bruh he didn't do a single switch trick"
Skate as much or little switch as you want and serves your purposes and style on a skateboard.

[close]

Insane take. Switch is just backwards nollie. If I could shoot pool or throw darts with my opposite hand as well, I'd be unstoppable. Don't think there's a benefit to crab hiking though lol.

[close]

regular stance is just backward fakie

Is goofy more valid than regular?

[let’s go home]

Insane take. Switch is just backwards nollie.

Okay I really would love to see what your switch ollie looks like.

[Magnolia]

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Switch is an important part of skating and deserves all the respect it gets.

Having said that, I've never been a person who watches a part and goes "bruh he didn't do a single switch trick"
Skate as much or little switch as you want and serves your purposes and style on a skateboard.

[close]

Insane take. Switch is just backwards nollie. If I could shoot pool or throw darts with my opposite hand as well, I'd be unstoppable. Don't think there's a benefit to crab hiking though lol.

[close]

regular stance is just backward fakie

[close]

Is goofy more valid than regular?

Not only is it more valid, its also morally and intellectually superior

[Cheshire Cat]

This is the single best concept part that has been made.

[Sick_McCrank_]

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I think switch is something for pros/people with too much skill/time. I struggle enough with normal stance and keep my focus on it.

Haven’t seen people hike backwards yet just to impress others. But it’s true, some tricks look better switch and I respect people who Master this kinda unnecessary skill on our totally absurd hobby.

[close]

Decent cop out, says even more about you that you think skating switch is just to impress others.

Maybe you just suck or skating isn't for you?

Maybe you shouldn’t take internet posts on the unpopular opinion thread on slap too serious or personal.

[alien porkchop]

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Switch is an important part of skating and deserves all the respect it gets.

Having said that, I've never been a person who watches a part and goes "bruh he didn't do a single switch trick"
Skate as much or little switch as you want and serves your purposes and style on a skateboard.

[close]

Insane take. Switch is just backwards nollie. If I could shoot pool or throw darts with my opposite hand as well, I'd be unstoppable. Don't think there's a benefit to crab hiking though lol.

[close]

regular stance is just backward fakie

[close]

Is goofy more valid than regular?

anyone who skates goofy is just doing it for style points

[realbasedgod112]

i'm fucking tired of seeing tre flips. admittedly i can't actually do them myself which probably has something to do with it, but something about repeatedly seeing effortless 360 flips in a video part just comes off as uninspired to me

[ssbsminotti]

Switch is only switch because you are too focused on your normal stance. if you allocated the same time to skating with the opposite feet, you'd almost be equally good at both. But the more you practice your regular stance, the less fun switch is gonna be to practice.

[newMe]

Griptape that comes with designs pre printed on it is ugly as shit and makes me think less of someone for picking it out and spending extra.

Pretty sure this is a popular opinion.

[turdtastic]

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Griptape that comes with designs pre printed on it is ugly as shit and makes me think less of someone for picking it out and spending extra.

[close]

Pretty sure this is a popular opinion.

💯

[breezy_again]

goofy is switch

[Resin]

Idk why we're sitting here talking about the validity of switch skating when AVE exists

[Luddite]

Lol would way rather this board the way it is now than back in 2006. Ever read some of those ancient threads? Yeeeesh.

cmon, let’s all rehash the Jailbait thread.

[elisunday]

This is the single best concept part that has been made.

i could maybe back this as the best concept for a concept part (even though i wouldn't). but "best concept part" should have better skating shouldn't it?* a thread discussing concept parts would be cool. i can't think of any that aren't spot/obstacle or weather based, but i'd love to discover/rediscover what's out there.
*you are of course welcome to your unpopular opinion though

[Cheshire Cat]

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This is the single best concept part that has been made.

[close]

i could maybe back this as the best concept for a concept part (even though i wouldn't). but "best concept part" should have better skating shouldn't it?* a thread discussing concept parts would be cool. i can't think of any that aren't spot/obstacle or weather based, but i'd love to discover/rediscover what's out there.
*you are of course welcome to your unpopular opinion though

It's not the best skating in a concept part, but rather the concept and the "unusual" skating (and by extention the skater that is doing them) combined make it what it is.
I like that it and the soundtrack give it this very easy but not immediate to understand concept (even if I do think some of the zoom ins / extended focus on some letters were unnecessary). It has a very base level appeal in that nearly anyone of any age could potentially see something of its artistic merits.
So much so that even if you didn't know or understand a single thing about skateboarding or what is considered cool / impressive / difficult/ 9 club worthy / an ender, you would also likely pick up on what the concept is and find something about that to or enjoy or appreciate. Some people might reductivley say "it's like Richie Jackson bullshit skating that your aunt sends you on facebook" but that's missing the point of why I think it's one of if not the best concept part overall, rather than the best part that happens to contain some element of a concept.
Like I don't think heavy groupings of tricks from certain countries or spots, or even entire parts filmed in one country / city are concept parts either.

Admitedly I wasn't thinking of or including things like BHerman's table's Stay Gold tables lines because with a definition that loose it would have to be that part but only if considered separate from the rest of his part in that video. Which it is not. As a concept part I was thinking of this part ofc, Mike V's stupid pushing one, and maybe Verso but also maybe not because it's not so much a concept as an editing choice. But then if I was going to widen the definition to  full parts filmed in one spot being called concept parts, I think I would also have to consider tour videos or things like Santa Cruz "Out There" and Selfi$h Skateboards in Barcelona - Mi Amor's parts as concept parts, which doesn't feel right.

[Lurknopost]

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Lol would way rather this board the way it is now than back in 2006. Ever read some of those ancient threads? Yeeeesh.

[close]

cmon, let’s all rehash the Jailbait thread.

People were still posting about “best pubic hair in the game” on the beautiful women thread 3 years ago. Don’t think we’re that far away from the ancient threads.

[elisunday]

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This is the single best concept part that has been made.

[close]

i could maybe back this as the best concept for a concept part (even though i wouldn't). but "best concept part" should have better skating shouldn't it?* a thread discussing concept parts would be cool. i can't think of any that aren't spot/obstacle or weather based, but i'd love to discover/rediscover what's out there.
*you are of course welcome to your unpopular opinion though

[close]

It's not the best skating in a concept part, but rather the concept and the "unusual" skating (and by extention the skater that is doing them) combined make it what it is.
I like that it and the soundtrack give it this very easy but not immediate to understand concept (even if I do think some of the zoom ins / extended focus on some letters were unnecessary). It has a very base level appeal in that nearly anyone of any age could potentially see something of its artistic merits.
So much so that even if you didn't know or understand a single thing about skateboarding or what is considered cool / impressive / difficult/ 9 club worthy / an ender, you would also likely pick up on what the concept is and find something about that to or enjoy or appreciate. Some people might reductivley say "it's like Richie Jackson bullshit skating that your aunt sends you on facebook" but that's missing the point of why I think it's one of if not the best concept part overall, rather than the best part that happens to contain some element of a concept.
Like I don't think heavy groupings of tricks from certain countries or spots, or even entire parts filmed in one country / city are concept parts either.

Admitedly I wasn't thinking of or including things like BHerman's table's Stay Gold tables lines because with a definition that loose it would have to be that part but only if considered separate from the rest of his part in that video. Which it is not. As a concept part I was thinking of this part ofc, Mike V's stupid pushing one, and maybe Verso but also maybe not because it's not so much a concept as an editing choice. But then if I was going to widen the definition to  full parts filmed in one spot being called concept parts, I think I would also have to consider tour videos or things like Santa Cruz "Out There" and Selfi$h Skateboards in Barcelona - Mi Amor's parts as concept parts, which doesn't feel right.

The example that first came to mind was Jordan Sanchez's dumpster part. Now I'm reminded of Daewon's Deca part, and also the Russian(?) guy skating obstacles of snow or ice (both of those i haven't seen in a long time so i may be a bit off). I agree that even I'm a little flimsy with the definition already, as I was about to add Almost's Cheese & Crackers -- but what's the concept there? Mini ramp with some bullshit? Focusing on one specific (/type of) obstacle is hardly a concept, I admit it.

Your response was really good though. I think you're probably right. But here's my personal take anyway. I think the best concept part would look like this: picture a scale with skating on one side and concept on the other. Both would be equally weighted. I think this Melcher part tilts heavier on the concept side -- and it could've been heavier on the skating side without detracting from the concept. I've skated one of those spots and he did the thing that everyone does after being there for 5 minutes. Anyway, maybe an example will come to me later, and/or i'm just being idealistic, biased, idk. Maybe the concept should take primacy, as with conceptual art, where keeping it simple is part of the point.

[Madam, I'm Adam]

The saying "new learn" kind of irks me. Not a big deal, but when a verb is turned into a noun it rarely sounds good (I feel the same about "get play"). If you want to express that you learned a new trick, you could say "learned a new trick" and it would convey the same general meaning. I get the argument that it's longer to write but it's not that much longer. I'm assuming this is unpopular because I'm seeing "new learn" being used a lot recently and really, who cares.

[Dwayne Hoover]

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This is the single best concept part that has been made.

[close]

i could maybe back this as the best concept for a concept part (even though i wouldn't). but "best concept part" should have better skating shouldn't it?* a thread discussing concept parts would be cool. i can't think of any that aren't spot/obstacle or weather based, but i'd love to discover/rediscover what's out there.
*you are of course welcome to your unpopular opinion though

[close]

It's not the best skating in a concept part, but rather the concept and the "unusual" skating (and by extention the skater that is doing them) combined make it what it is.
I like that it and the soundtrack give it this very easy but not immediate to understand concept (even if I do think some of the zoom ins / extended focus on some letters were unnecessary). It has a very base level appeal in that nearly anyone of any age could potentially see something of its artistic merits.
So much so that even if you didn't know or understand a single thing about skateboarding or what is considered cool / impressive / difficult/ 9 club worthy / an ender, you would also likely pick up on what the concept is and find something about that to or enjoy or appreciate. Some people might reductivley say "it's like Richie Jackson bullshit skating that your aunt sends you on facebook" but that's missing the point of why I think it's one of if not the best concept part overall, rather than the best part that happens to contain some element of a concept.
Like I don't think heavy groupings of tricks from certain countries or spots, or even entire parts filmed in one country / city are concept parts either.

Admitedly I wasn't thinking of or including things like BHerman's table's Stay Gold tables lines because with a definition that loose it would have to be that part but only if considered separate from the rest of his part in that video. Which it is not. As a concept part I was thinking of this part ofc, Mike V's stupid pushing one, and maybe Verso but also maybe not because it's not so much a concept as an editing choice. But then if I was going to widen the definition to  full parts filmed in one spot being called concept parts, I think I would also have to consider tour videos or things like Santa Cruz "Out There" and Selfi$h Skateboards in Barcelona - Mi Amor's parts as concept parts, which doesn't feel right.

[close]

The example that first came to mind was Jordan Sanchez's dumpster part. Now I'm reminded of Daewon's Deca part, and also the Russian(?) guy skating obstacles of snow or ice (both of those i haven't seen in a long time so i may be a bit off). I agree that even I'm a little flimsy with the definition already, as I was about to add Almost's Cheese & Crackers -- but what's the concept there? Mini ramp with some bullshit? Focusing on one specific (/type of) obstacle is hardly a concept, I admit it.

Your response was really good though. I think you're probably right. But here's my personal take anyway. I think the best concept part would look like this: picture a scale with skating on one side and concept on the other. Both would be equally weighted. I think this Melcher part tilts heavier on the concept side -- and it could've been heavier on the skating side without detracting from the concept. I've skated one of those spots and he did the thing that everyone does after being there for 5 minutes. Anyway, maybe an example will come to me later, and/or i'm just being idealistic, biased, idk. Maybe the concept should take primacy, as with conceptual art, where keeping it simple is part of the point.

no you're fully right. the concept is smart but essentially wasted with some very weak skating. none of those clips would be in a "regular" video part, it's all cutting room floor stuff

as far as good concept parts go, i liked grant yansura's all boardslide and all 50-50 parts, and jaws' all roof parts were cool too... dug geoff campbells recent "inside ledge" edit even though it wasn't fully fleshed out