Is The Pro Skater Dream Still Alive in 2025?

[@rickyglaser]

Do you wanna be a pro skater?

[@SwagLQ]

With today's economy, nope

[@DwindleFlip]

I'm too old now Rick... :)

[@usernameonutube]

I’d settle for just being able to express myself fully on a skateboard

[@zwenkwiel816]

do you make a living purely from skateboarding? (and related online content) or do you have like a job on the side?

[@stephenthedude4383]

My knees would be so mad at me

[@mossbogger8366]

I never wanted to be a pro skater, I don't even want to grind a rail or do boardslides, I just like going fast and doing big ollies

[@vgrepairs]

Valid. Get really comfortable on the board and you'll notice yourself getting interested in what else you can do besides speed and ollies tho.

[@CannibalOX99]

​@vgrepairs True, it's always fun to.learn new tricks. But I have no desire to do it off 10 stairs or 15ft drops lol. Hill bombs and flat ground and crusing is my shit.

[@NosManJr]

Okay so now my goal is to get good at skating so I can get into the real estate business

[@Erik-fr2vo]

How about finance bro

[@middlemoonreal]

Buy a property in Egypt they do a lot for you

[@SockiSkateboards]

@middlemoonrealso here’s what they do for you, they give you the property

[@zoltthebolt217]

😂

[@crazycarlsadventures5983]

Mikey Taylor , Tim Gavin , there’s others only ones I can think of off top of my head

[@lkl7l359]

Me as a 34 years old ex skater now think that it's good to set the focus on other things in life and be careful with your body at an older age. Back then when I was a kid in the 2000's i thought these dudes can do this pro skating level till the end of life but it isn't. And by the way, the skating scene was way more better back in these days than now. In the 90's or 2000 it was a true lifestyle, today it's only a sport, there is no more attitude I think. And today you got way more chances to get rich easily as an influencer or other things that's what the most of the younger generation wants now. Everybody I know who skate till today since we was kids do it to enjoy life and get off daily stress, not for fame, not for the status to be a good skater. Greetings from lower Bavaria in Germany & have a nice day Ricky. ✌️

[@RollForever88]

Same age as you. You nailed it.

[@jaysonwashington8787]

When ES dropped Tom Asta yet kept Kelly Hart and Tom Penny, you know we're at the start of a dark era for skateboarding

[@tracphonevirtualmagazine]

Kelly Hart works there and is an employee. Not an athlete. Tom Penny is questionable though.

[@ISHOT420]

Yeah, go back and watch Tom Penny footage….He’s so effortless and never cared about being popular. I say if Steve Cab can still have a shoe sponsor, so can TP. That said. Boycott es’ for Asta 💯

[@AndySo2000]

@@tracphonevirtualmagazine Ive been seeing this all day. Wonder if theyre keeping Andy Anderson, theyre going to go under if they did that. But then again is anyone wearing andys shoes, I know every 40 year old guy has 3 of his boards.

[@Bilistix-bc3tu]

@@AndySo2000 Im pretty sure andy skates for etnies.

[@worstse]

@@AndySo2000 I just turned 40 yesterday and a box of 5 && boards was waiting at my door, weird

[@Flat6Enjoyer]

the answer is no. its just not the same anymore. i got into skating when i was about 3 or 4 in the mid 90s. i went to my cousins house to get baby sat on the weekdays, and they had one little blue dinosaur skateboard that they never rode, i rode it, and was instantly pretty good at pushing and had good balance, i knew i loved it from the start, and skated for the next 25 years. i stopped skating tho about 4 years ago, simply cause i got bored of doing the same thing everyday. it used to be so much fun watching videos that i had to buy at a skateshop, and running into pros in the streets. its very accessible now and tbh, to me, its not as special as it used to be. young kids who grew up on social media wont see it that way but as long as theyre having fun, its fun to see kids who are so excited about skateboarding like i used to back in the day. makes me miss the days when all i did was think about skating. but like the skaters you mentioned who moved on from skating, some people just get bored and outgrow it after a while and want to get into something else. i ended up getting in road bikes, motorsports, pc building, etc, and am now in the auto industry. its a different kind of fun.

[@sk8hillzz]

you aren't lying, running into pro's felt special back in the 90's. I remember running into Brandon Turner and Kanton Russel in San Diego in 99 and it was like woah those are the dudes from the videos we watch. Now with social media and pro's everywhere plastered, running into them isn't nearly as special anymore and the new generation won't understand that.

[@filmbuff4]

@@sk8hillzz I ran into Jeron Wilson from Girl in the early 2000s...i'll never foget that.

[@-SunGod-]

I miss the wonder and excitement I had about skating in the 90s and early 2000’s. Videos and interviews were far and in between. When a video did come out it was really high quality in terms of skating, editing and music. Now because of podcasts, I know entirely too much about all the behind the scenes stuff.

[@mouthgina3213]

Social media feeds people content 24/7 and makes it stale.

[@firespore4258]

I still skate at 41 because its always been a part of my life since I was 6 trying out skating in pools with the older guys and my dad. Being pro has always been out of my reach but there was a time i was skating so hard just to get better. now and days I take it easy and get out there, do what I can and just have fun. social media has made it hard for every aspect of life I feel. love the content its nice to see skateboarding still being a difficult skill to learn for the most part making it still brutal as ever..lol

[@dorsal_fin8004]

ricky glaser you are my favourite skater.i am from the uk and there arent that many pro skaters from y area or just skate culture in general.i started skating two months ago due to my friend who started skating and i had been watching braille for a long time so i decided to check out your channel and you have become my favourite skater

[@billycunningham4076]

I got my first board in 2000 and really got into skating in 2004. The world of skateboarding is different today compared to what I grew up in. I still enjoy the activity but don't feel connected to the culture anymore.

[@SourCat420]

30 years old I knew I’d never be pro, I knew it would be the thing with the homies for just about ever

[@jPup_]

Knocked this one out of the park. Weird times for every industry or creative pursuit... countless examples of people making less interesting/groundbreaking work who are getting more attention

[@filmbuff4]

Because people are dumb for the most part. The masses will flock to Hawk Tuah talking about a BJ...puts it all into perspective for me. We live in Ideocracy the movie

[@greenmanalishi6963]

Over saturation is a bummer

[@roybatty4578]

I'm 35 years old and still get to ride my skateboard every week. I don't have sponsors, but I have my own skate spot, and that alone is a dream come true.

[@LacedBacon]

I never thought about being pro back in middle school when I started skating. Me and the homies would try and film sponsor-me tapes but we never finished them lol. Plus watching skate videos like Fulfill the Dream and The Storm I knew I'd never be anywhere close to that level that skating had progressed to. After high school I got a full time job and had pretty much quit skating all together. Nowadays at 40 years old I just try and skate for fun and burn a few calories. I do think social media has changed skateboarding because now you can just become your own brand and don't need to rely on other companies as much. It looks like most skate companies can only afford to have a few riders nowadays if that.

[@RussOne-v5d]

I started skateboarding in 2011 and was instantly obsessed with it. Slightly before the social media wave where video parts were still relevant. At that time skateboarding was in a much better place in my opinion even down to the style/clothes we wore. When I started skateboarding it was just for the love and I loved it more than anything in the world. It really changed my life and gave me an escape from the problems and environment around me. Every time I was having a bad day I immediately went skateboarding and it made me feel so good it was the best natural "high" you could get. Eventually it seemed like me and my friend were getting pretty good for how long we had been skating and we would always film/make videos and post them on KZbin but in a more traditional skate edit style. Those were by far the best times of my life. We did start pursuing trying to get sponsored and we actually did get hooked up with quite a bit of product which I will say probably had a lot to do with my approach and less competition. I would have to email companies and send them a link sometimes having to dig for there email or find out who the TM was and even though I was a kid I knew how to type a professional sounding email. When we started getting free product it was the most euphoric feeling felt as if I had turned pro when we were just getting flow. It felt so good and made us work even harder. The idea of becoming pro seemed possible but I still knew it would take an insane amount of work but I really felt like I could do it if I just put everything I had into it. In 2016-2019 I started using Instagram to post clips and it was such a good time it seemed like the coolest thing ever. The goal everyday was to just get 1 good clips everyday and it just seemed like the engagement was there. After a while though it just felt like I was forcing my self to film instead of enjoying just skating. I would wake up at 6am to go to the skate park when no one was there and set up my tripod which honestly did help me push my self to get some of my best clips. After doing that for so long and more and more people posting and the industry changing/people getting better, style getting better, everything started having to look so perfect from the clothes, scenery, filming, lighting, everything in between it just felt like I was killing my self thing to keep up and it started taking the love out of it for me slowly but surely. Then you get in your 20s have to start working and thinking about the future and have a lot less time to skate. I don't film skateboarding anymore and I don't skate very much and am no where near the skill level I was at 5 years ago but I have no regrets at all. Skateboarding was the key to figuring my self out and teaching my self discipline and it gave me the confidence I truly needed and I believe it changed my life. I might not skate everyday anymore but the work ethic I got from skateboarding is translated into other areas like my job. You definitely have to skate for the love of it otherwise you will get burnt out

[@datapusher-]

Being a pro skater has always seemed difficult. Just look at guys like Mike V who went through all the different phases of skateboarding. Its a crazy path.

[@ThatSrb2DUDE]

When i was 15 - 16 i wanted to be a pro skater, didn't know how but i wanted too! I agree so much the social media has changed the landscape of things though but i don't think its a bad thing because in the end it just gets more people to experience skateboarding again and its got me back into it too while being 28 now.

[@richardkesteven6909]

I love how much there is out there about skateboarding now and all the talent we get too see, but honestly I started skating in 2004 when I was 14, and nothing will ever beat huddling around the same pc screen or Tv watching the same skate video you have watched 100 times, looking at the pictures in the crumbled skateboarding mags you have had in your school bag all year and re watched the little pro videos on THPS. Where I grew up we didn’t even have a skate shop or a skatepark but we always found a way to watch or see skateboarding and it just made it that much better.

[@jrky8857]

Bro, i rollerbladed at the heart of it all and that industry is the best example of how this stuff goes. After it got cut from the x games it became mainly a street sport, which was great for those of us skating rails and having big crews to skate with, but not enough people entered the sport and brands couldnt stay afloat. Now its a shell of what it was in the 2000 - 2010s.

[@jbragg33]

I think you idealize the past a bit. Was it always the best skaters that got the sponsors ? That got the most impressions and made the most money ? Or did that have a lot to do with your steeze, your style, your connections also ? You make it sound like "back then, it was all about skill and it's the only thing that mattered". And I really don't think that is the case ! Even though it was a factor for sure.

[@steelokey]

6:28 jeez I thought these were ads they are so proudly produced. I’m happy you chose those shots cause man social media is so corny now. That’s why I don’t really use it but for skating now haha. I just wanna inspire others to skate 🙏🤘

[@moshemeiryashar95]

What defines a pro skater? I would love to hear your definition. As for skating, I discovered skateboarding from the age of 9, been skating off and on since then for nearly 9 years. I never planned on being a pro skater, didn't really know it was a thing, I mean other than Tony Hawk, I never heard of it... I love and always will love skateboarding, not as a career but as a hobby, and as a community. Side note; Skateboarding taught me many lessons, like how to never give up, EVEN when (if not especially) the path ahead isn't clear or doesn't make sense. I also met a lot of my friends from the skatepark! Anyway, love your videos, keep up the good work!

[@stevenpaplan7154]

When your a sponsored skateboarder with your own pro model deck.

[@Singecku4K]

CCS magazines in school is prolly why I had C's in school lol

[@csmith411]

I miss 2009. Sponsor Me vids Galore. And if you sucked the comments would tear you apart !! it was great 😂

[@OCWord]

I miss 1993. There was no comment section, he'll there was no social media. Only rich kids had internet. Had to order skate vids on VHS from a magazine.

[@csmith411]

@@OCWord sounds sick! Unfortunately I wasn’t born yet 😭

[@bovedli]

I was sponsored by a homie company from 2006-2011. For me that was absolutely overachieving actually. Almost everyone on the team skated better than me so just being on meant a lot to me. But I was nowhere near the level of pro skating. It was great to skate with the best skaters in my small country of Hungary. So within my small community, I kind of peaked. Those were great times.

[@ouchvinny4520]

In a way it lowkey reminds me of KZbin in how things were different back when it started. Amazing video man, can’t wait to see what you have in store for the next video!

[@rgarewal100]

I think your comment at the end was the best. The “tony hawk, no pros, you, no content creators…” Making a living at skating is like making a living painting or making music: it kinda falls into the category of what you love and participants mostly fall into “hobbyist”. Any career like that is going to be extremely fragile and require the person to constantly be aware and receptive to the changing face of the ways you can market it (or, phrased an easier way to stomach, survive financially while doing it as your primary focus). That Mikey Taylor side by side was upsetting though…

[@NW_ADV]

I think we under estimated the importance of skate shops and what it did for its skate community Social media became a black hole for video parts. So they want riders to be active on social media and create video parts only to be diluted and quickly forgotten by mass posts. Spend years to create a part ,battle through injuries for one time consumption by viewer vs how many times to you rewatch Welcome to Hell or Mind Field as example. Street league style competitions raised the bar so high as to what being a pro standard needs to be to make a purse that’s it doesn’t translate to most people. Not everyone what’s to approach skating in regiment that requires robot like practice to maintain that consistency. Brands selling direct to consumers middling out the skate shops that propped them up Just like snowboarding, skateboarding lots its counter culture roots. Video games. The younger generations are not going outside. Just a few reasons in my opinion. Add: When I started skating it wasn’t considered cool, we took a lot of slack and it didn’t matter because we knew we had something special . We had our small community we were apart of. We had distinguished style that was recognized by our peers. It was patch of pride. I think the hardship we went through obviously doesn’t exist today and when it’s too easy and all access, it looses its appeal to the types of personalities that made skating what it was. It was a lifestyle, now it’s like sport.

[@everycloud7144]

Skateboarding is in a definite decline as far as popularity goes, maybe I'm getting older but the top pros lack individuality like they used to, most do the same tricks with the same style going the same speed in straight lines, it's not inspiring. If you want to make it in skateboarding now use Andy Anderson as your blueprint, be unique.

[@highginx]

I started skating in 07 I was 12 years old, fell in love with it instantly, I never had aspirations to go pro but rather in HS my dream was to be an editor for Skateboard mag or Transworld. I still skate to this day and have fun doing it, I grew up around some very talented skaters who have made it to some type of status.

[@iamdanielblair]

Every kid dreams of being a pro, we all did, it’s a great dream and goal to have - but skateboarding is about so much more than that. We skate because we love it and it’s who we are, if becoming pro is a thing that happens because you’re one of the individuals that’s good enough to achieve it then that’s great, but it shouldn’t be why you do it. It’s like starting a band with the sole purpose of becoming famous, you should do it because you love playing music and hanging out with friends - if it becomes more than that then that’s an added bonus, just make sure you enjoy the ride and have fun in the process.

[@AlexTheRadical]

I think we are experiencing another shift in the skateboarding culture. The skateboard industry has been slow to adapt to social media and it shows through the impact of people using KZbin, Instagram and TikTok to their advantage to promote skateboarding in an authentic way. It’s time for the next generation to take skateboarding to another level. There are things changing in skateboarding. The olympics is a big factor. The participation of women in skateboarding. There are new opportunities for skateboarding to pivot and grow for the better it’s just a matter of who will take the charge to do something to help then culture grow. Perhaps the D.IY. spirit will take skateboarding to a new level that we have even thought of. Just my 2cents.

[@nitemirror1]

i’m a rollerblader so i never saw the “why rollerblading died video “ but the pros snubbed the corporate sponsors and the sport basically died. pros also weren’t getting paid for their contributions to the sport. The corporations were taking all the money and so they opted out.

[@nitemirror1]

rollerblading is very similar. We have these amazing stars who kind of break out and advance the sport and then by the time they hit their late 20s or get a serious injury they can’t pay for they end up getting real jobs because there’s no money in the sport and I see that skateboarding is collapsing also.

[@johnstampii5620]

Sadly, the downturn in the skating industry pales in comparison to the downturn in the music industry. Artists making fractions of a penny (or less) for streams, even big(ger) artists can't afford to tour, and unlike boards, the gear (even for the mid-grade) is so far beyond affordable its ridiculous. Do what ya can for the love; AND in your spare time, as life goes along. There's 24hrs per day and , personally, I'm about 6hrs short, everyday. Career/money in skating, music, etc, at its highest chance, is just a lucky is a byproduct anymore. Passion keep us there. Continue with the passion Ricky, a lot of us appreciate what your doing.

[@galaxyboy7060]

One thing I'd say is I see far more skateboarders just out and about now than I did in what was considered its "peak" era. I think the hobby becoming more accessible incentivized people to just pick it up and try it themselves rather than admire pros as outsiders looking in. And I think this is a recurring thing with a lot of hobbies with a "professional" level -- when it's made more accessible, the "pro" level starts to get less attention and lose its luster because people are more looking to try things for themselves and looking more for something that works on their level or guides to do those things. I think this is a good thing overall, but it is unfortunate that pros are no longer being rewarded for their craft they've dedicated their lives to.

[@MoreLuckyBunz]

When I was a kid I totally wanted to become a pro skateboarder, but overtime I realized it just wasn't sustainable. I still skate, but just for fun. In terms of the industry, it's been crazy to watch it change over the years, but I'm glad to see more talented skaters forge their own path on KZbin.

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

I'm 50 and started skating summer 1986. Now that is old school skating.

[@kevinrice7291]

I wanted to be a pro skater my whole life. At this point it seems like if I was pro or even just an for a company it would take the fun out of skateboarding since I would be pressured to go out and get clips, even if I’m not feeling well or am otherwise busy, and also having to fit in with a team of other people that I might not necessarily vibe with. I’m enjoying just buying boards and skating as much as I can while also managing my responsibilities and other passions. Getting some free stuff would be nice though I break a lot of boards.

[@banchaskate]

Your honesty and point of view are much appreciated Ricky.

[@PeepGamePopoff]

The mikeyvtaylor hawk tuah cut 😂

[@RobertMikels]

I never really wanted to be a pro skater. That was an unattainable concept, even back in the day, when I was still young and could do a lot more on a skateboard. At some point, I just wanted to skate, skate with friends and to just be able to do it and not get hurt. There was accomplishment enough in having a decent bag of tricks, playing SKATE with friends and strangers, alike, and just being a part of a community. For the most part, that only came from my willingness to participate and not from any dream of being "pro". Only 1 or 2 dudes in my whole scene would be considered "pro level" and that was okay. It was good to see people on different levels. Being a part of the scene was more important; a scene of people that just enjoyed skateboarding. In my head, the dream is still to just to have a skate scene and to be happy with whatever I can still do on a skateboard. In many ways, the skate world consists of a whole lot of people that won't ever be sponsored or anything, and then a small percentage of pro skaters. Pros still push the envelope and inspire people to want to strive for that next level but I don't think becoming a pro is too attainable. When content is so accessible on youtube, it's a bit hard to even compete in this modern skate world. The best of the best are already here, already producing some of the most impressive skateboarding that we'll ever see and for a lot of guys, there's no market for them. A current skate career is probably more reliant on building a social media following, having engaging content and get connected with some advertisers, than it's based on being the "best" skateboarder. That's not necessarily a bad thing or good thing, it's just the current climate of things. Brands are struggling and so are skate shops in a lot cities/states. When a guy as good as Chris Joslin gets let go from Etnies, you know something is wrong with the industry.... It seems like there's a flood, incoming, and skateboarding at a pro level is probably going to see a "dark age" but it's the love of skating, aside from any monetary gains, that will keep it alive.

[@nipponon]

It all depends on your definition of “a living” and your expectations of what “a pro” feels like. Pro soccer players used to make very little money, and remain legends to this day.

[@Street_79_]

Everyone has there on journey to be the best but not everyone have the best of luck some stop skating and some still keep on skating as a person who are still skating I don't really focus on being a pro but my journey of skateboarding was awesome 💯 making friends traveling and more.... something that cannot buy by money but the memories stay remain...2025 as 45yr old man I'm glad I'm still rocking and grinding skateboarding is awesome 💯

[@Sellbow]

Yeah I wanted to be a pro skater, but when social media came around, people like me who were dedicated and almost as good as the pros finally got recognized, and really I think thats a good thing. Basically ive made peace with the reality that one of the big reasons I never got to be paid from skateboarding is because of marketing/economics, theres simply not enough money in skateboarding for everybody to get paid.

[@sk8fm448]

I been keeping track of skating for a long time, and one thing I noticed is that I haven’t really seen that one skater with a it factor. You know, like a heath Kirchart, Jamie Thomas, or a Chris Cole, someone who just stands out. And the skate fashion has just went downhill. Everyone looks the same, there not that one person who is standing out in what they wear. I kinda miss that, but oh well, I still skate, and I always will be.

[@DaydreamSkates]

Nice video Ricky keep it up!

[@SirDersthe3rd]

I'm all about NBD's and now Skateline is still missing... I doubt money is going to support skaterboarders who are most inventive or skilled...I feel things that make skateboarding still popular/pro in order of least to most important are X-tremeness(how likely death is), validation(can you imagine yourself doing it), and most important is it all ready trending.

[@Dale-g4i]

Most skateboarders: “I just wanna have fun skateboarding”. Tim Pool:

[@Not_Another_Skater]

I wanted to be a pro skater when I was a kid and at 32 I still would like to pursue that dream. Despite how different it is now.

[@941SkateShop]

Jake Ilardi is a great example; Blind died, and he still hasn't been picked up. Dude kills it..

[@Cactus_Wack411]

end of the day, its a business. If you work for companies either back of house or front, youre in a better position. If you make a team skating wise, youre window will be small (think mlb. nfl etc 3-5 years). So any window is beating the odds. Skaters need to think like business and networking. Make a team and brand yourself. Get caught being lazy/ sleeping and youre let go.

[@mgers75]

Most pro skater make the bulk of their income from their personalities and marketability, not their actual skating abilities. Madison Ave cant tell the difference between the best skater in the world and the 100th. So just enjoy your hobby, if it happens great, if not you still have a hobby your passionate about. Im in a competition based hobby that has maybe 100 professionals who make a living wage around the world. Most "pros" I know are year to year, could make more as loan officers or whatnot but they do it cause it's their passion and lifelong pursuit. We dont have any sponsorship money from outside our little niche industry whilst skaters get all kinds of non skating endorsement from energy drinks, ets. Im glad Ricky found a way to make a living doing what he love even if it's not exactly the way be would prefer. Keep up the good work!

[@Qsreviews1013]

The dream of becoming a professional skater isn’t dead, but it has certainly evolved over the past decade, largely due to the influence of social media. In the past, gaining recognition as a skater meant having an incredible part in a well-known brand’s video or winning key competitions. Today, however, a skater can go viral for pulling off a creative or unconventional “circus trick.” While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this shift, it’s a significant departure from the traditional path to recognition. Social media has undeniably transformed skateboarding and the industry around it. One of the most notable changes is the way brands approach marketing. Many companies are now asking themselves, “Why pay a professional skater to represent our brand and drive sales when we can give a few free products to social media influencers who can market them to their audience at little to no cost?” It’s fascinating to see how the digital age has reshaped the landscape of skateboarding and redefined what it means to be “pro.” It’s not necessarily better or worse-just different.

[@danmacfarlane3444]

Interesting analysis Ricky. That most played video is at Jamail Skate Park in downtown Houston.

[@rickyglaser]

Haha sick, to be fair she is from a youtube celebrity family but still lol

[@Dvn_g]

It’s still about getting impressions it’s just decentralized. Rob Dyrdek had two TV shows, Sheckler had a show, Bam had two shows. The current wave of pro adjacent skaters have patreons and twitch streams. Every skater will be a brand of 1 eventually.

[@sansheyman.2618]

The community appreciates you, Ricky.

[@Joshua_Ott]

The dream is never dead to those who dream.

[@anowysz6]

i keep hearing conflicting things about skateboarding as a whole, like there are more people skateboarding, more parks available, etc than ever, but also that the industry is suffering. is it all down to there being more companies so its more spread out? i just find it surprising that the popularity could be anything less than its ever been when its become much more established as a sport/activity, and more inclusive to younger kids and females

[@rickyglaser]

Yeah i agree there does seem to be a disconnect. If you go to a grocery store you see cartoon skateboards on products, its so deeply rooted in the culture but the skate industry and skaters cant really seem to make any money 😅

[@grazynamackiewicz1679]

True story: a little kid since the age of 8 was determined to become a pro skater. While his mum convinced him to go to uni because "you can't make a living from skateboarding", he did a Degree in Film & Television - so he could video himself skateboarding lol ... Undoubtedly both his sk8 passion and videoing skills combined to catapult him onto KZbin and social media trends which were just evolving.... and hey presto, he proved her wrong and is now making a living from skateboarding 😂 👏❤

[@Nick_Tank]

Fuck nahh, shits not the same anymore. Back in early 2000s when I was a kid just growing up, it was cool to dream about, now being 27, it’s something I’d never want to be now with all the skimming in industry, miscommunication/NO communication with athletes, not getting the hype you deserve….. just skate for yourself and post it for fun. That’s how it’s been for awhile now with Influencers taking over… it’s easier to gift influencers care packages than paying an elite Skater their $$$ worth…. Only thing I love about this generations skateboarding is SLS and Olympics when it’s time. That’s when people lock in. Or just tuning into Skate Brands YT channels like I was saying before. You can go to the source now which is hurting most brands out there nowadays

[@jimtendo6t4]

Really good vid dude, the Then Vs Now kinda hurts tbh

[@JJBoudreau]

The fact somebody like John Rob Moore hasn’t been being paid is a tragedy. Why are some innovators not appreciated?

[@Herbal420ness]

Daboyz should all do a king of the road type video. Or video series.

[@PeaceDub]

In the beginning of 00's there was really magic in the skate scene, Alot is also thanks to the THPS Games 💜

[@jacuzzistream]

Back in grade school I wanted to be a pro skater. Then I got into baseball and changed it to pro baseball player. I think I like the fame and glamour lol

[@TheReal_Trent]

Hey Ricky! Love what you’re doing here and on Da Boyz! Ricky Protector squad:👇

[@MarkKWebsterjr]

In my day Ams didn’t get paid . Pro was video parts and board sales . Now you gotta do contest like they had to do in the early 90s for some extra money . Now every pro gotta do a KZbin channel to make every Extra . The industry pay scale is broken . They wanna treat pros like “athletes” but keep what they make a secret . No one is to blame but the people who run all these major companies. Very mishandled .

[@PHeMoX]

I think the whole 'pro skater' label is pretty specific. It's usually not KZbinrs though. Could a KZbinr technically claim to be pro when they have a board sponsor? Sure. But they wouldn't really be the traditional pro skateboarder either. Plenty of KZbinr-skaters don't go to a single contest, ever.

[@JayMassa-e1i]

I picked skateboarding back up at 38 after stopping for about 15 years I'll be 41 in a few weeks I have never had plans to compete or go pro ever I just love to skateboard

[@yavin99]

I've skateboarded 8 years of my life and I'm kind of old to skate now but I still like watching it and unless you can find a way then unfortunately skateboarding might have to become a hobby instead of a career so you might have to think outside the box or do something like Braille was doing but do it your own way, I really don't have the answers obviously but your a damn good skater and its everyone's dream to make a living doing what they love and you have come far but doing what everyone else is doing might now work in the long run but maybe try something like Copywriting where you can possibly make big money and not spend a lot of time doing it and you can fund your skateboarding.

[@sinksinksink]

I would honestly say it has never been more alive than it is right now. Hell, skateboarding is literally part of the olympics now. It does not get more professional than that. And with it being part of the olympics, there is gonna be so much more respect from people who just aren't into skating or simply don't know about it. There is way more competition now, so it is definitely much much harder to make it in the professional scene, thats for sure. We have like 5 or 6 year olds hitting 540s in verts these days, which is just... ridiculous. I think the future is bright for skating. It obviously is not the same as it was in the like 90s, it's not really underground anymore. People know about it and respect it. Wether or not you think this is cool, well thats up for you to decide. But yeah. Skating is fkn up there.

[@enriquesanchez6274]

I skated from 1995 till 2005 we just skated for fun and those were the best days of my life

[@Tnthousehold]

@rickyglaser clean your room. It’s not a good image for the kids who you say look up at you!..

[@willmax95]

Real good video Rick! Yeah being a pro skater is cooked. If you are good at skating like you or Bryan and are a social media influence then I feel the younger generation may view that as “pro skater” nowadays.

[@EthanShepherd-d6l]

I feel like how the way it is right now with enjoy going away and es footwear not doing good we need to start focusing on social media as much as I hate to say it and with as much content as there is, there’s still a really high skill ceiling I’m 16 and 89% chance I will not be approached and I just have to accept that but with social media I barely even know how to do it all, and I can still make more money than most pro skaters

[@jeancena3556]

Look at the health of our kids. Mental & physically, they are not tough enough for skating. Its one of those things where you cant really do if you arent atleast somewhat in shape

[@zecollecter8747]

I think if skaters understood business better they could absolutely make a living. Essentially they need to recognize how they solve a problem for people - understanding skate tricks / skateboarding industry (Dan Corrigan), allowing people to live out goofy fun (Jason Park), reliving the wonder years (9 club), etc. And then make sure they give their people that. You don't need to be good at skating. You just need a unique angle - maybe it's getting drunk and skating curbs? Very few competitors there. They can build a loyal following as long as they understand what it is that people want and give them that better than other people can. Then help their people solve that same problem or related problems with related products - hangover relief for drunken curb skater. Don't need to be their own products. The money is in owning distribution. That's where companies used to hold all the cards. That's also where TV channels used to be gangstas. Now anyone can do it. Find people and solve a problem that's important for them. Don't need to find millions. It's good if they'll spend money to solve their problem though.

[@thebrogrammer2077]

I think the meta has shifted. The way we thought about pro skaters back then is the way kids look at twitch streamers now.

[@MarkKWebsterjr]

When CEOs and management are making triple what the pros are making is where you have the problem . Major corporations have sucked all the profit out of the industry .

[@AndySo2000]

I wanted to be pro when I started in 87, by 92 I was really good. But didn't live in California then, back in those days you had to be in california to be pro. Also skating was very dead in those years, so all I know is the dead era of skating. I was the only kid in my grade school or junior high that skated, high school too until like 94 or so. Nobody skated then and everyone hated it, people would cuss us out or try to kill us for skating. Seriously you guys don't know what it was like then. It was like you were looked at as a punk if you skated, people also didn't understand what we were doing on curbs and ledges and thought we were just destroying things. Which in the 80s that's kinda what we were doing skating and destroying because we were punks at least we could if people already looked at us as such. Skating changed a lot in the time I skated. I notice nowadays kids don't realize the past, try to make fun of me for being old. It's almost like how we were treated as kids but just by these new gen skaters who don't get it. But skating isn't going to die, ever. There's too hardcore of a scene behind it, I wish it would die again so parks would be empty. I still skate now, but riddled with injuries all the time. Oddly enough I'm always expecting some jackass to pop out and yell at me or someone yell from the car but if anything its shocking what I can get away on a skateboard and no one cares. I think everythings been done on a skateboard since the plan b questionable video came out, it's been the same since but here and there things change, like the loop, or anything goes skating. I really thought it died in the late 90s, and it always come roaring back but bigger and badder each awakening. To me skating is huge it seems like its way bigger than in the 80s 90s, it's way more accepted. Trust me skating will never die!

[@PiersYT]

Its way way easier to be a pro skater today - in my day (88-00) you used to have to rely on knowing photographers, filmers, the few company owners, and hang out with the right skaters to even have a chance to get sponsored you also really had to live in California, nowerdays anyone can make a youtube channel, instagram or tik tok account and become pro (make a full time living from skating thats the definition of what a pro is) the real question is does being a pro mean as much today as it used to?

[@mouthgina3213]

I agree being pro now just means having enough followers to get paid, social media has diluted the meaning.

[@hussle230]

4:14 There are infinite RE-sausaaaaaaaases. Made me laugh a lot more then should of lol

[@Koopakid917543]

I think it's easier then ever to make a living from skateboarding (and basically anything if you have the drive) I personally know multiple Instagram skaters that are sponsored by local skate shops. BUT it's practically impossible to become an actual pro anymore. I suppose it depends what your definition of pro is?

[@brandonalexander6972]

Very good question! I feel it still is for younger people , ones that don’t have the financial stress of rent , car and food but once you have those it kinda dies 😢

[@joelkelly1192]

Skateboarding wasn’t always about the tricks, skateboarders that made the biggest imprints in my era were mostly style based on and especially off the board. I think this still stands, being extremely good helps but if your style is unmatched you’re still fully capable of making it as a professional skateboarder in 2025…… Tiago Lemos is this generations Tom Penny Chad Muska and Tiago seems to be living the dream Style sells products = $$$$

[@paullast5431]

Jay Palm and Leon Paxton make great skatepark reviews in Australia.

[@daslupus4303]

There's a bunch of ex pro skaters turned actors now.

[@ParkerAnderson-g4k]

Lil Wayne is now a pro skater so being a pro skater does not mean what it meant when someone like Duane Peters was pro. Even Tony Hawk's son Riley is a video part skater and does not have to battle it out in a contest. Of course, I am no gatekeeper. Skating is for whatever the new generation wants to do with it.

[@diplenski]

i'm not sure that bit about 'pro skaters not existing when tony hawk started skating' is accurate. there were def skate teams in the '70s, like logan earth ski, and the older dudes whenever he was starting out

[@silv3r7ongue97]

I just started skating last year and I’m 29.. goal is to be contest ready or atleast entering local events by 32-35 and hopefully be pro in my late 30’s early 40’s.. I understand it’s a huge climb and probably never gunna happen but I like to dream 🤣

[@sk8hillzz]

with the amount of talent now and what people can do, it is like they are playing tony hawk pro skater. People didn't skate that way in the 80's and 90's or early 2000's. Now skaters are doing the most insane stuff. So unless you are in the .00000001% like a Nyjah or Yuto then the dream is dead. In the 80's and 90's you could just be good in skating like Mike Vallely who is a good skater but if he was born in this generation he would be unknown.

[@skinnytanker6809]

Seems like the dream was sold to major corporate companies, and leaving the core skate brands to go under

[@ZINABUZARAMATA]

Skateboarding will take it's leaps and dives and of course have it's dry spells but yes social media has caused much change. For the blading stuff, have you seen the 'skateboarding x rollerblading' crossover video from Them and Wknd skates? I still think you doing some aggressive inline rollerblading would be absolute fire, your own mix montages of blading and boarding.

[@Dannydarknessx]

Good video. Yes it comes from the heart as skateboarding is an art.

[@phiend2248]

I skated in the 80’s and 90’s. The world has moved on since then but skateboarding has become more mainstream now than ever. It’s in the freaking Olympics for crying out loud. The game has changed but there will always be a path.

[@IzzyIkigai]

saying "real jobs" as if professional athlete isn't a real job but then showing real estate bros. actually sad L bruv.

[@FlexAndBustGaming]

Was that the legend himself Mitchie Brusco giving cooking lessons? 😂💀

[@tomflowers6952]

Trying to make it in skateboarding, or any athletic profession is a poor choice. It's a lottery and the odds are heavily against you. You're much more likely to suffer life altering concussions than make any kind of a living doing it. Skate for fun, try not to risk your health too much, and sort out an alternate career path. Too many skaters fall into alcohol abuse, drugs, and depression when the skateboarding dream dies.

[@JasonThompson-l4u]

I do think that era is dying out and will be gone with those names. Even Bam and Sheckler, which were once mainstream/household names, have a relatively low net worth compared to the huge cultural impact they had. Even in regards to gaming, and how we had THPS back then, gaming is also different now. Kids aren't playing games like that, playing solo, for fun, doing challenges, etc. Gaming has become more PC/competitive based among the younger gen, so I don't think a chill skate game would appeal much to them. Same with music videos. Music videos used to be huge, but now no one cares because any music you want is on demand 24/7. Same with shows. Jackass or Viva La Bam wouldn't be popular now a days. For one, they'd be "too offensive" and two, because people don't care about shows and new episodes like that anymore since everything is streamed right at our fingertips and nothing is new or exciting outside of big blockbuster shows. For skating to become popular again, people are going to have to utilize social media. We're going to need someone new to carry the torch, or someone with a big name to show interest in it. Just like when skateboarding got a tiny micro-bump for like a year when Lil Wayne said he skates. Like that, but bigger, where skating becomes an actual trend on social media. Like the TikTok 2025 version of Yeah Right. Sad, but true. Even if it did get big again though, the culture around it would be different. Kids don't have that edginess to them anymore and any of the attitude, dirty jokes, etc., wouldn't fly now a days.

[@butterknutts5888]

1:54 is ridiculous, they skated because they were compelled to. The money just happened to follow. Even as much as people like Jaime Thomas were trying to make it work they were skaterats at heart. Same goes for Tony Hawk, "tricks 1st money 2nd". Such a sad video to post, videos like these are exactly why it is what it is..