#SUPPORTLOCAL

Warning: The following rant you are about to read is purely my opinion of a situation, you can agree or disagree with my words, but i don't really care because they are MY words. Oh and it has nothing to do with birdsonboards I just feel like it needed to be said. 


One of the most widely spoken phrases in the Australian scene is #supportlocal - which simply means support those who support you. These two words together get thrown around so much that the actual meaning behind them has been lost and misinterpreted.

I skate first and foremost because I love it and because I get to be apart of loving and supportive 'family' of longboarders. There is nothing better than having a local shop that has that same motivation as you. A shop that loves skating and wants to support the family of skaters by providing them with quality products at quality prices - a shop that gives back to those who support them. They may give advice, they may give free product, they may give friendship, they may give you a safe place to voice your opinion, they may give hi fives, they may give skate lessons, they may give laughs, they may give you time when no one else does. It doesn't matter what they give you, all that matters is that they support you one way or another, which in turn make you want to support them more. #thecircleoflife

Find a shop that does more than just take your money in exchange for product, because what's the difference between that and shopping online where you can get the product for cheaper. If you are going to #supportlocal why not ask your local how they actually support you? What are they doing directly or indirectly for the family you are apart of? Why not be proud to plaster your local shops sticker on your helmet because you are so stoked on how they support you that you want everyone to know about them?

You'll be interested to find out that some of the stores that pride themselves of supporting you, actually to jack all for the scene. Sometimes the shops who talk the most are over compensating for their lack of love for skating and for the family. Don't get caught up in all the crap a shop can talk, what if it is just a front to get you to spend your money with them. As the old saying goes you can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?

I hope that the next time I'm in a shop I hear a grommet ask the owner, 'What are you doing to support the scene I'm apart of?' I hope that you take the idea of #supportinglocal a little more serious. And i sincerely hope we see more and more skaters supporting local shops and local companies who do it the right way!

less talk more tuck,

ceebee.



Here are some local shops/companies who I think are doing it right.

Glyde Longboards
Wrighty's Speed Equipment
Cre8ive Sk8
Concrete Lines
Sk8er
Shredders Board Store
Daddow Skateboards
Early Skateboards
Skatement Speedboards