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by: Roussel
22/12/05
Roussel: So how are you greco busy for the Xmas time?
Greco
: Yeah very busy. It seems skiboarding is continuing to grow without any real advertising or support from the mainstream...all word of mouth, people telling other people how much fun it is.
Roussel
: Where and how would you like to the sport grow in the future?
Greco: I like how it's going right now. Underground, out of the mainstream, steadily growing and building a community. Even though SBOL would benefit if it were to get huge it would corrupt a lot of what I love about skiboarding right now, the riders and how everyone feels a connection because we're doing something we love that is not what everyone else is doing. None of the riders go to events to win prizes or money, it's because they love skiboarding and hanging out with other riders who feel the same way. Snowboarding and even newschool free skiing used to be like this but of course greed, success and money can mess up a lot of good things.
Roussel: True to the underground. Now for some of us who weren't here back in the day, tell us a bit of history about SBOL, why did you start it?
Greco: The reason why I started SBOL was because I wanted to be a part of the sport, I loved it and still do. The idea for SBOL was conceived by myself and Dave Rees back when I was living in San Francisco and skiboarding in Tahoe (1997). Dave and I used to inline together and before we even met we both saw a [Kniessl] Big Foot video in a shop window in Palo Alto. The video sold us on the idea of trying skiboarding and neither he or I haven't skied since. It turned out Dave didn't have the time to start SBOL and I ended up opening it on my own August '98.
Roussel: So the Revel8's are out this season, tell us a bit about them. The Revolts are 105cm long, what do you have to say to those people who won't accept them as skiboards because they are 5 cm longer then the 99cm rule of the ISF?
Greco: Well first I should officially announce that Revel8 was created by SBOL. it's our own skiboard company we created because we wanted to guarantee we would always have quality skiboards to sell since, as you know, there has been some problems with small, core companies staying in business and be able to provide boards. that "rule" on the ISF's web site is really old and served a purpose at one time but really isn't accurate anymore.
Roussel: Do you think that if the gap between regular skis and skiboards close that it would endanger the future of our sport?
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Greco: The only way it could endanger it is if riders stop thinking they are skiboarding and start thinking they are skiing. when you ride skiboards it feels different then riding long skis and that's pretty much how I determine if I'm skiing or skiboarding. I think we're approaching the limit now with the Spruce 120's but if someone rides the Icelandic boards and feels like they are skiboarding and wants to call themselves a skiboarder that's up to them but I don't think SBOL will be selling them because I have to think they are skiboards because after all it's Skiboardsonline.com not SkiboardsandSkisonline.com. Over the years I've gotten a lot of pressure to sell skis and other non skiboard related gear but I've made the conscious decision that I'm in this for SKIBOARDING not to make the most money possible.
Roussel: so what can we expect from SBOL and Revel8 in the future?
Greco: I'm not completely sure just yet but by the end of the reason I'll have it decided, the sooner we get moving the sooner we'll have the gear. I can't stand the pressure of boards arriving a few days before christmas, it's killing me :-). If anyone has any ideas they would like us to consider or even graphics send them to info@revel8skiboards.com
Roussel: Any final words or should outs to the readers?
Greco: Thanks to all the forum members, it's great to see new members signing up everyday and the great community feel going on over there. thanks to all the Team SBOL riders for their dedication, especially Team I. Special thanks to Ben Wannamaker for being, well Ben and Adam Lynam for his vision and skills. And thank you Jason [Roussel] for doing a great job on SBMag and helping to keep skiboarding going because what matters more than if our boards are 99cm or 105cm is that we all stick together and support each other and our sport.
Later, G. |
sbm
Images courtesy of SkiboardsOnline.com
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