TWS 1999: North Carolina article

We’re diggin in the crates to bring you an inspiring article on North Carolina that ran in the June 1999 issue of Transworld Skateboarding. I encourage every NC skateboarder to read this. It’s extremely well written, wise and could have been written last week (with obvious spot reference edits). It’s an all-around classic assessment that honors the rich heritage of skateboarding in and around NC. It also features the skating of a lot of Charlotte homies that are still holding it down, including our very own Josh Frazier. High five to Charlotte legend, Brian Tucker — the godfather of skateboard journalism for the surrounding area. He single handedly put Charlotte on the map with features in Transworld, Slap, etc. A true inspiration and staple of Charlotte skateboarding history.

Skateboarding in the old north state means making yourself pull it, not for fame or glory or even the camera, but for yourself. It means riding chipped boards and busted shoes day in and day out at cruddy spots, because you know for a fact there’s no other activity in the world that’s worth your time. It’s about friends you’ve made, with whom you rise and fall, and through it all you’ll love them like brothers and sisters until your last days. It means rising above the bullshit, because you know things have never come easy in this state, and you know that if it isn’t hard, it probably isn’t worth doing. Sound like skateboarding anywhere else? Like in your home state or country? Good. That’s probably the best example of what it’s like to be a skateboarder in North Carolina. Home. Esse quam videri. ”