IASC Industry Summit 2008
Posted
on
on Tuesday, April 08, 2008
by Ryan
It might not be the most skate-exciting trip of all time, but I made my way out to Woodward West…
by Ryan clements
It was a last-minute type deal. I already had plans with Dylan Perry and Rob to go to Phoenix Am early and spend a couple of days skating around. Things didn’t happen quite like that because I was invited to speak on a panel at the 1st Annual IASC Industry Summit at Woodward West.
To explain, IASC is the International Association of Skateboard Companies. It’s a cool thing that has a lot of members that truly do care about what happens in our skateboarding industry. A “summit” is basically a gathering of so-called experts in a certain field, this time being skateboarding. I say “so-called” because I was asked to be part of a panel. And as much as I participate in skateboarding and our ever-changing, sketchy industry, I feel as if I’m very far from being any type of expert.
I’m not trying to bore you with the details, but for two days I sat through several meetings, round-table discussions, and panels. We covered all types of skateboarding-related subjects and it was an honor that Skatepark of Tampa was invited to input our two-cents worth. Each night we did something fun like bowl, socialize, and oh yeah…skate. Sorry for the crappy pics, but when I don’t have my Asian with me the photos just aren’t quite as proper.
The food was great, the booze was flowing, and there were some great ideas exchanged. I’m looking forward to this being a yearly outing. Thanks to IASC, Woodward, and all of the participants for the good time.
Ryan
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Extra-budget rental car |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008I stopped for lunch in Palmdale and got lost trying to get back onto the Interstate when I saw a county park and someone skating around, so I though there might be a skate park there. This is what I found. By the way, it was on lock-down. No one was permitted to enter. Sweet |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008They still build stuff like this, huh? The designer of this obstacle should be stoned to death with skateboard wheels. On my way out of the park I asked a mom how to get to the Interstate. I must have looked extra-sketchy because she wouldn’t even talk to me |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Windmills never get old. Woodward West is located just outside Tehachapi, CA, about three hours from LA. The landscape is amazing out there |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Is Emerica now making horseshoes? |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008The cradle that not one of us old fools grinded |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Vert is alive and well with a signed pic of Mike Frazier on the wall. That photo was taken at Skatepark of Tampa by the way |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008That’s Timothy from Emerica. He does some brand management stuff over there and I’ll be hanging with him on the Wild Ride |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Salman Agah was there representing one of his many ideas via SkateCoverage.com and the Skate Book |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Heavy hitters L to R: Marty Ramos – owner of Kona in Jacksonville, FL; Paul Schmitt – if you don’t know what he’s done I’m not telling you; Tom (can’t remember his last name) who is the founder of Zumiez (whoa) |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008The view from one of the meeting rooms. Not a bad background |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Miki Vukovich, president of the Tony Hawk Foundation and all around good dude, hosts a round-table discussion about getting a public skate park in YOUR neighborhood |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Class is ‘in’ with Professor Schmitt. I was stoked that I finally got the chance to take the Create-A-Skate class and make my very own skateboard. Check out CreateAskate.org for info on how to get it in your school |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008After conceptualizing, picking a shape, doing math, drawing it out, cutting, and rough sanding, I was ready to take it down to some fine-tuning |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008The finished project – my personalized Ybor Cruiser. Paul Schmitt is on his way over to check it out. My sanding technique got his nod of approval |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Industry dudes that you might not care about that deserve some recognition – L to R: Skin Phillips – TWS, Michael Furukawa – Powell, Paul Schmitt – PS Stix, Jim Gray – ABC, Bob Denike – NHS, John Menards – IASC, Bod Boyle – Dwindle, and Tod Swank – Tum Yeto. These dudes make things happen |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Me speaking on the panel – aw g’s |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008They got one of these things at Woodward West, too |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008This is called The Enterprise. It’s HUGE and fun to cruise, but definitely a bit gnar |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008This street plaza-type section was a little more my speed. There’s tranny back there, too |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008Four cool-ass dudes L to R: George from Modern Skate & Surf, Clements (me), Todd from ZJ Boarding House, and Tod Swank from Tum Yeto |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008More industry goons for you to make fun of, but at least the background is proper – L to R: Matt Sharkey from Sole Tech, Tall-Ass-Christian from TWS, and Timothy Nickloff from Sole Tech |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008I left the mountains and made my way into the desert, but those windmills never cease to amaze me |
 IASC Industry Summit 2008The chill cam cannot properly do this amazing landscape any justice |
To explain, IASC is the International Association of Skateboard Companies. It’s a cool thing that has a lot of members that truly do care about what happens in our skateboarding industry. A “summit” is basically a gathering of so-called experts in a certain field, this time being skateboarding. I say “so-called” because I was asked to be part of a panel. And as much as I participate in skateboarding and our ever-changing, sketchy industry, I feel as if I’m very far from being any type of expert.
I’m not trying to bore you with the details, but for two days I sat through several meetings, round-table discussions, and panels. We covered all types of skateboarding-related subjects and it was an honor that Skatepark of Tampa was invited to input our two-cents worth. Each night we did something fun like bowl, socialize, and oh yeah…skate. Sorry for the crappy pics, but when I don’t have my Asian with me the photos just aren’t quite as proper.
The food was great, the booze was flowing, and there were some great ideas exchanged. I’m looking forward to this being a yearly outing. Thanks to IASC, Woodward, and all of the participants for the good time.
Ryan
