STREETBOARDING: 40 YEARS UNDERGROUND
TOMORROW IS YOURS.
START TODAY.
Streetboarding is in the strongest position its ever been over the nearly 40 years since its invention.
It has survived against all odds. Driven by a dedicated few.
1987-1997: MO' MONEY.MO' PROBLEMS
QUITE BY ACCIDENT
DISCOVERY AFTER THE INCIDENT
What makes Streetboarding unique among action sports is the ability to power the board towards a rail, a gap `nd even uphills without ever laying a foot on the floor.
This in turn naturally led the freestyle focused late 1980's riders to add straps then full bindings.
Setting Streetboarding on its path to bring to skateparks the same as Snowboarding brings to the slopes:
Spins. Corks. Combo slides.
This was never the intention of the three inventors. Their only goal was to mimic the carving of snowboarders when riding downhill.
They had no idea that they had jutst released the power of Non-Holonomic motion to the world. And there was no way of puting the genie back into the bottle.
First invented in South Africa in the late 80’s (The exact year unknown) the inventors never seemed to grasp what they had created.
They chose protectionism & profit and went full corporate. In the space of a few short years the founding brand, Snakeboard blew up worldwide.
It was listed on London’s Stock Exchange (AIM) and its invention fiercely protected with patents, trademarks and lawsuits.
The 1990’s were what many would say were the sport’s heyday. We don’t believe it’s come yet. We believe it’s tomorrow.
Big budget tours, World Championships staged at Universal Studios, teams of young Pro’s with more money than spins.
Then the inevitable happened. The company was sold along with the patents to a toy focused company MV Sports in the UK.
What the corporate bigwigs had seemed to overlook was that the initial wave of popularity had created a generation of riders who had found a calling in the world of tricks that being strapped to your board opens up.
1998-2008: RIDERS TAKE CONTROL
In 1997 at 16 years old, Jay had just achieved his dream. He was crowned the UK Champion in Street. At sixteen year's old it was the result of 5 years of dedication and riding.
Dedication to tricks quickly gave way to dedication the survial of Streetboarding.
The plan was to keep it SIMPLE. Build a STABLE base so that the scene could be resilient & STRONG
The plan was a simple: Start a zine. Run Contests. Print Tees. Film it all, edit and commit to VHS.
The plan was a simple: Start a zine. Run Contests. Print Tees. Film it all, edit and commit to VHS.
The plan was a simple: Start a zine. Run Contests. Print Tees. Film it all, edit and commit to VHS.
The plan was a simple: Start a zine. Run Contests. Print Tees. Film it all, edit and commit to VHS.
Seemingly overnight it all vanished. Widespread email & internet usage was only just picking up pace. Word travelled the more traditional way. of mouth.
In the UK, MIDNIGHT Co-founders Jay “The Captain” Nowman and Stef Tribe took looked to the DIY ethics of the London Hardcore Punk scene and copy and pasted.
It wouldn't be pretty. It would though have energy.
THE MIDNIGHT STORY
Sergi Nicolas, another MIDNIGHT co-founder, followed suit in Spain. Thomas Kienle of Ositos in Germany. Pipo Grosso in Argentina. Victor Murstig & Josh Mick in the USA.
There was one glaring gap. Due to the patent. There was no way of making Streetboards.
Jay “The Captain” Nowman, 19 at the time headed up to MV Sports with Lamont Gundersen to try and buy the patent.
The suits at MV Sports took one look the two, by today’s trends high fashion, to Y2K eyes gutter styled youths.
Then smirked out a price. Little finger in corner of the mouth.
Cigarettes were lit. Hope faded. Drawing boards returned to.
By the 2002 rider run Streetboard World Championships Victor Murstig, Josh Mick & Lamont had secured the patent for an undisclosed sum.
Dimension Streetboards were live.
Jay & Stef took care of distribution in the UK. Sergi in Spain. Thomas Kienle Germany.
The good times rolled. This time though it was less guap more vibe. All “ours”.
In the next few years rider’s explored, tested and then pushed the limits of what is possible on a Streetboard.
2008- 2022: SURVIVE & RIDE
COMING SOON>
2022 - MIDNIGHT: A NEW DAWN
COMING SOON