The Pros...

[ludah]

this has always been on my mind..
when majority of the pro's started skating, did they do it day and night and end up being what they are now? or was it just straight talent along with practice? how long did they skate for till they got pro?
sorry if this is a noobish question but i've always wanted to know
thanks
peace

[MattC]

Usually takes 5+ years to go pro after you start skating. I plan on doing it in 2 :) Many of them start VERY young so they have natural tallent because they grew up with it.

Not sure how often they skate. But its A LOT. They also live near good skateparks, have many local spots to practice and very experianced people around to skate with. I have none of that :-10:

-Matt

[McJesus]

Cool, you also have to have good style.

[MattC]

Cool, you also have to have good style.

Style is a very good plus as well :). You should also have character and try and be a little original so people remember you.

[mcwattersm]

Usually takes 5+ years to go pro after you start skating.

Are you kidding!?!
WAAAAAAAAY more then 5. Most pros have been skating atleast 10 years.

[MattC]

Are you kidding!?!
WAAAAAAAAY more then 5. Most pros have been skating atleast 10 years.

Thats why included that dandy + sign. Works wonders. Takes some people longer then others.

-Matt

[mcwattersm]

I have never seen a pro who has been skating for 5 years. 5 is so off. Maybe if you used a closer number it would be less rediculis.

[MattC]

You may be right. It's prolly 5 to go AM. But I remember hearing about people going pro in 5 years. It's definitly possible.

[sk8rjohn7]

nyjah huston.

[casanova]

there is no specification of becoming 'am' hence tampa am where ANYONE is welcome to compete in as long as you're not pro. and they have divisions such as sponsored and age ranking. dave kaule came in 10th in tampa pro 3 years ago, dave kaule is pro for a local company, that is pretty well known as far as i know, in new york and ohio and pennyslvania. he's like 34 and turned pro like uh 4 years ago, and has been skating since he was idk, like 14. Bryadon syfranski is also now pro and has been skating for 5 years since he was 16 or so. so it really depends on who you know. its very rare, that some unknown kid pops up without knowing a single soul in the industry (brandon westgate) some of you will say pj ladd too, but colesium had a video out before wonderful horrible. and was sent out in the industry, meaning pj had industry hook ups through the video he wasnt even in.

[mcwattersm]

He's am and skating more that 5 years. Just becuase he's younge doesn't mean he hasn't been skating long.

[Dookie416]

nyjah houston is am you silly goose.

[I_Eat_Emo_Kids]

Hmm.. Most people don't go pro until 10+ ATLEAST. Most don't usually get sponsored until 5+. Apples is different though, he went pro after like 9 years. Such a crazy style, slightly better than Salabanzi in my opinion.

[MattC]

there is no specification of becoming 'am' hence tampa am where ANYONE is welcome to compete in as long as you're not pro. and they have divisions such as sponsored and age ranking. dave kaule came in 10th in tampa pro 3 years ago, dave kaule is pro for a local company, that is pretty well known as far as i know, in new york and ohio and pennyslvania. he's like 34 and turned pro like uh 4 years ago, and has been skating since he was idk, like 14. Bryadon syfranski is also now pro and has been skating for 5 years since he was 16 or so. so it really depends on who you know. its very rare, that some unknown kid pops up without knowing a single soul in the industry (brandon westgate) some of you will say pj ladd too, but colesium had a video out before wonderful horrible. and was sent out in the industry, meaning pj had industry hook ups through the video he wasnt even in.

Thats some good info there.

Thanks,
Matt

[bryce]

nyjah houston is am you silly goose.

No hes not hes sponsered by es and element

[spenser]

No hes not hes sponsered by es and element
just because youre sponsored doesnt mean youre pro. youd didnt know that?

the reason they REALLY turn people pro is because their stuff sells. if it was for skill, pj ladd would have gone pro long before he actually did. and wade desormeaux or whatever. he is CRAZY. there are lots of examples. their names just arent big enough or whatever, so their stuff wont sell. professional.. money making.. stuff has to sell.

and it also works the other way. bam wouldnt be pro if it was by skill. his skill is below the average pro level, but his name is HUGE and his stuff sells like crazy. therefore, he is pro.

[Element 4 life]

most pro have been skating quite alot like most of their time skating for 10+ some pro have been going for 15-20+ years, but you gotta have style,because you could be better than some 1 in a contest but your style was rough and sketchy the other guy would probably win, also you gotta have balls ppl get sponserd and turned pro because they can go big and take a big slam and get up and skate again also most pro stand out because they try and can do things not alot of people can do and it takes alot of determination and passion 2 do so.

[loganownzj00]

just because youre sponsored doesnt mean youre pro. youd didnt know that?

the reason they REALLY turn people pro is because their stuff sells. if it was for skill, pj ladd would have gone pro long before he actually did. and wade desormeaux or whatever. he is CRAZY. there are lots of examples. their names just arent big enough or whatever, so their stuff wont sell. professional.. money making.. stuff has to sell.

and it also works the other way. bam wouldnt be pro if it was by skill. his skill is below the average pro level, but his name is HUGE and his stuff sells like crazy. therefore, he is pro.

Amen.

(10 Char.)

[China Skate]

No they don't skate day and night you silly little goose.

You aren't pro if you're sponsered.

There is not 'time limit' you could say, as in how long it will take to become pro. Tony Hawk became pro in 6 years if I recall.

[Sk8 Shorty's]

just because youre sponsored doesnt mean youre pro. youd didnt know that?

the reason they REALLY turn people pro is because their stuff sells. if it was for skill, pj ladd would have gone pro long before he actually did. and wade desormeaux or whatever. he is CRAZY. there are lots of examples. their names just arent big enough or whatever, so their stuff wont sell. professional.. money making.. stuff has to sell.

and it also works the other way. bam wouldnt be pro if it was by skill. his skill is below the average pro level, but his name is HUGE and his stuff sells like crazy. therefore, he is pro.


HEER HEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




yeah ive been skating for 10 years, ever since i was 6, and im not pro.

[Enjoi Flatland]

Terry Kennedy became pro in like, one or two years, according to Baker 3.

[CinciSkater2011]

I don't think so... He was an am on element for at least a year I think before he was pro on Baker. And in an old Transworld interview he said he skated in the hood when he was younger, so I think it was more than a year or two.

[sk8rjohn7]

i said nyjah because hes just about good enough to be pro.

[MattC]

You should of asked how long does it take to get to a pro level

[ludah]

yeah thats actually what i meant haha

[MattC]

Well that all depends on when you decide you want to go for pro. When you want to get good. And for the most part, when you first got serious about skating. I know people usually just chill skate for a little. Like not go crazy trying to learn tricks. Cept some people who post Ollie and kickflip trick tips on here are kinda crazy... I know the second I stepped on a board I wanted to get as good as possible. Round 3 has a way of inspiring newbies :)

-Matt

[XBLinK182sk8rX]

Yeah, there is some crazy stuff in that video. Nyjah Huston is CRAZY for how young he is but I don't like his style. He still kind of has that little kid style. But if he keeps skating, he will be amazing once he gets in his teens.

[MattC]

Yeah, there is some crazy stuff in that video. Nyjah Huston is CRAZY for how young he is but I don't like his style. He still kind of has that little kid style.

He is SOOOO small. You really don't get style untill you get bigger. Props to Nyjah good for being the worlds best at his age.

-Matt

[miketrike]

Terry kennedy went pro before 5 years yea? Its Wade Des Armo by the way spencer

[Whitney]

Are you kidding!?!
WAAAAAAAAY more then 5. Most pros have been skating atleast 10 years.
Ryan Sheckler wasn't. I'm not positive, but since he's only sixteen he couldn't have been skating that long.

EDIT: Never mind I was wrong. He technically started skating at 18 months. R-Shecks Skate Bio (http://ryansheckler.com/onlinestore/home.php?mode=bio)

[Blind Sheppard]

Haha, if your gonna be wrong at least make sure your hugely wrong.

[Element 4 life]

ryan sheckler has been skating since he was a small child he was an AM at the age of 12 n he skated 4 world i think nyjah huston is almost as good as sheckler and if he keeps skating hell be amazing

[juggle]

Nyjah was not on almost round three. It goes haslam,sheckler,lutzka,william patrick,cooper wilt, daewon, and rodney.

[Element 4 life]

what the hell is that all about? ^^^

[Element 4 life]

Nyjah was not on almost round three. It goes haslam,sheckler,lutzka,william patrick,cooper wilt, daewon, and rodney.
and btw cooper wilt comes after sheckler ;)

[MattC]

and btw cooper wilt comes after sheckler ;)

Nope ;-) (HE DOESNT)

[Ramp]