Why is it always the Z-Boys?

It always makes me smirk everytime I hear someone refer to the Z-Boys as their influence in skating. Why is it always the Z-Boys? Don’t get me wrong, it is a fact that the Z-Boys were indeed a huge influence on the skate scene. But what makes the malicious part of my brain tingle is the reference to the group itself and not to the individuals which makes up the outfit.

Think of it this way. If you were born during the time when the Chicago Bulls were at their prime, you don’t go saying “the Chicago Bulls influenced me to play basketball”, but would rather specifically point out Michael Jordan as your influence. Logical point right?

Going back to the Z-Boys, the crew initially started with 12 members, each with his/her own unique style of skating. For a person to state that he/she was influenced by the Z-Boys, would that person be referring to the whole crew itself as his/her influence? If that’s the case I’m pretty sure some old skool skaters would definitely raise an eyebrow. Because in my experience, those people would point out particular individuals, rather than saying Z-Boys all in all.
Why is it always the Z-Boys? Is it because they were the innovators, the originals, the poster boys? What about Kaupas, Hosoi, Mullen, and Caballero, weren’t they innovators and poster boys for the sport too? Why is it that I only hear a handful of people actually giving props to those individuals? And with the issue of “innovation” some would argue that the Dogtown scene was no different from scenes around the U.S. during that time with only one exception, it was the one that was given media mileage. And if we talk about crew, the Bones Brigade were pretty sick too. Now why aren’t there more people saying “my influence were the Bones Brigade”?

I’ll tell you why, it’s because of the hype around the Z-Boys in Philippine Longboarding. It’s like when Mr. Reznor came to the Philippines. Everyone was giggling like a teenage girl with a crush over the idea of being at the gig even if they only were familiar with “The Perfect Drug”. Go figure.

This is not an attempt to single out individuals who have used the line “my main influence were the Z-Boys”, but rather a statement to at the very least try and find your own voice rather than be dictated by what the majority is saying.

Skateboarding is not about how fast you can go down a hill, what tricks you can throw, how cool your gear is, or what crew you’re with. At the end of the day, it’s about the pasted smile on ones face. Did the Z-Boys give you that too? 

Nope, it’s all you.

71 comments:

  1. Ouch! that one went right through the heart! haha

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  2. Tony Hawk was my influence. Hahaha nah just joking. Actually it was Rodney Mullen. Guy was a pioneer, more than the zboys in my opinion.

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  3. yeah, mullin is one of many influential skaters that ripped the pavement. for me though NATAS IS GOD!

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  4. yeap z boyz.. sure.. i'm a fan of their skating.. but I'm more into the bones brigade.. Lance mountian .. hosoi.. macgill(mctwist) . natas, mullen.. Gator..hahahahah.. just because you saw the documentary or the lords of the dogtown.. doesn't mean you know them.. pffttt.. EPIC FAIL yung mga video nang ibang tao diyan.. na puros nalang Zboyz di naman zboys pag nag raride..hehehe..

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  5. agree ako kay anonymous sa taas ko. haha. i saw that video too. nakakaasar lang e. btw, my main influence would be jay adams. badass.

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  6. kami na "hardcore" at "badass"March 2, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    I agree with this post. Meron mga grupo diyan, masyadong cncareer ang dogtown-kuno lifestyle nila. pa badass effect? hahaha. Minsan parang OA na eh, di ba pwede gumawa ng sariling style?

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  7. what group are you talking about? hahaha

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  8. parang alam ko yang video na yan. babae pa nga "rider" sa vid, asar lang pare. basta impluwensya ko mga kaibigan kong nagpangiti sa akin nung unang na stokas ako haha!!! diba?

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  9. †http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150096554328374

    this video?

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  10. daming nyong comment puro naman kayo anonymous! hahaha! if I know lahat kayo dumaan sa stage na "I WANNA BE LIKE THEM Z-BOYS!!!"

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  11. haters! mag skate na lang tayo

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  12. Yeah! Don't hate, SKATE!

    Mark Guevara said...

    daming nyong comment puro naman kayo anonymous! -- hahaha, oo nga naman

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  13. basta ako influence ko yung mga nag sskate sa kalye, hindi sa computer!!!

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  14. ayun! masaya na ang kwentuhan. all of us did go though that "i wanna be a z-boy" stage. but for me, high school pa yun.

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  15. Lahat kayo may point lalo na si mark.. kaya mag skate nalang..

    pero I love this post.. =)

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  16. saya lang!,.. pro kau anu e,.. hahahah! ang stokas nsa sau lang un!,.. well z-boys are great indeed,.. pro cla un, stokas nla un,.. kaw anu ba nkaka stoke sau?,.. sama ka sa akin d ka pa nag skate stoke ka na!,. bwhahahaha! dont just spread d fun n stoke, SHARE IT! madapakerrr,.. peaceout!

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  17. the moral of the story is, if you cant back up what you say, then things might come back and hit you on the head.

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  18. Indi ako AnonymousMarch 2, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    saya lng ng thread. hehe :D

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  19. Ako ang tunay na AnonymousMarch 2, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    saya lang!

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  20. we can all blame the media for that. but still we can't deny the fact that it did and will continue to inspire us. let all just have fun and share the experience for stoke's sake. per the topic, i admire stacy peralta coz he's one of the zboys i can relate more :)

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  21. sandali. pano ka dodogtown kung mayaman ka. hahaha

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  22. hahaha ok ang sagutan ah. saya ng mga punto! =)

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  23. puro kayo roots ng roots..

    d nyo ba alam.. bgo ang z-boys, meron nang Y-BOYS?

    d pa pinapanganak mga zboys nun... tatay ko ang founder ng Y-Boys.. anu? mas oldskul pa kau?
    hahaha

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  24. may x-boys before sa y-boys! hehe!

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  25. LOL

    hayop na sagot! ayun o! Y-Boys patay kayo dyan. hahaha

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  26. Basta ako pag nag concert si Justin Biber eh.. manonood ako... andun kaya lahat ng Chicks!

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  27. SUP HATERS?

    isa lang yan. Zboys. its because they look

    FUCKING COOL

    on fucking television.

    who doesnt want to be COOL?!

    tangina diba?

    This ain't a fashion show ladies and gents.

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  28. tara bomba tayo ng hill mt. sindicato bitches! - migs enriquez

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  29. chox bomba na lang ng linya. hahaha-joks

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  30. o kaya bomba ng chobols. -harold

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  31. uso lang yan kasi lumabas yung DOGTOWN e. KIRK ALCANTARA VILLA AREVALO ILOILO CITY

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  32. MGA BRAD ENJOY LANG TAYO

    walang foul na banat.

    kung babanat ka ng foul
    wag ka magtago sa pangalang

    ANONYMOUS.

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  33. Ladies and gents, we have been monitoring the posts. Although we do not want to censor anything, we will not tolerate any derogatory comments which specifically targets any person or individual.

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  34. We will delete one of the posts above as it is not a constructive.

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  35. Kami nauna sa Z-boys. Duh?

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  36. mas nauna yung cebu may A-boys doon..hehehehe

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  37. hahahaha tama!

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  38. naknang.. hahaha.. a-boys nga tlga ahahah

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  39. nawala yung etits! hahaha. tama na pataasan ng ihe. malawak ang daan, naghihintay ng meron sasakay sa kanya. -joks

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  40. Simple lang, walang pakialamanan, more skate - less talk.

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  41. saya nang post .. =)



    Skate na ako.. cruising2x .. babay!!

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  42. We have deleted another comment.

    We are installing an IP tracker on this site. Though we may not now who you are now, we will eventually do.

    Gents, we allow everyone to post comments in order to voice out their opinions openly regardless if it for or against the post above. But that freedom does not give anyone the right to bash any person or crew. Again, keep things clean. And if you don't have anything fun or consturctive to say, just STFU!

    Thank you

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  43. actually mas nauna ang manila dahil may whiskey hill sa manila.

    pero di importante yun dahil lahat naman kumopya lang sa mga 60s skater.

    z-boys dahil sa lahat ng skate docu ata na nakita ko, siya ang may pinakamagandang storya, at pinakamagandang pagkakagawa.

    bow.

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  44. HATERS RULE!!! hahaha.


    SUP HATERS?

    isa lang yan. Zboys. its because they look

    FUCKING COOL

    on fucking television.

    who doesnt want to be COOL?!

    tangina diba?

    This ain't a fashion show ladies and gents.

    Parang kilala ko tong anonymous na to!

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  45. :) Cool AS ICE!..hehehehe

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  46. dogtown was the first skate movie ive seen.....loved the culture...zboys influenced me to skate..and so fucking what?! woooo! i learned about these other skaters after i got into skateboarding...much love and respect to them..but this crew...this movie was an effective medium for spreading the skate culture to everyone who wants to experience the STokeee!

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  47. kung di fashion show then why bash otangs?

    pakatotoo lang tayo mga kaibigan.

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  48. tanong ko lang... mag kamaganak ba lahat ng Anonymous dito?
    sa haba d ko na binasa lahat.. puro kabalbalan ayaw nalang sa tablang my apat na gulong i daan.
    - E.buen

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  49. im new here' im che from subic. i saw this site thru my gf shes a longboarder. i juz want to visit here thanks..

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  50. pa bad ass bad ass pa kayo nalalaman. street skate? e puro conyohan at pataasan kayo ng ihe pero pag dating sa gawa wala kayong tite. Skate nalang kayo.

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  51. tanong lang:.. nag papahardcore ba kayong lahat dahil sa SPONSORSHIP??.. tagal ko nang gustong itanong to... sa community parang ganoon din nangyayari sa trickboard commune noon ngayon.. heheheh..

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  52. eh anong masama kung sponsored? ha? inggit ka lang siguro.

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  53. Bitter ka ata donz? hahaha

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  54. Eto na ba ang scene ngayon sa longboarding? Siraan ng crew, childish attitude at dageran sa spot?wow great way of showing newbies the sport. All this bashing and braggin' rights may nagawa ba sainyo o sa ibang tao na maganda? Love the sport gents and act like a gent.SKATE DON'T HATE

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  55. It doesn't matter who influenced who...

    Just Spread the Stoke!!!!

    SKATE don't hate!!!

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  56. lagot kayo kayo kay Heath Ledger.... hahaha skate not hate! - max dubler

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  57. "kung di fashion show then why bash otangs?
    pakatotoo lang tayo mga kaibigan."
    kaya nga dinudurog yung otangs e, dahil hindi to fashion show e! Not hating, just saying...

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  58. Ang liit lang ng skate community natin nagsisiraan pa kayo.

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  59. street Luge nalang, haha.. -adrian P.

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  60. sibakiro...

    bkit ba ina idolized nyo ang andyan na why dont you skate with passion and heart, true style comes within....

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  61. Hahahaha! Init ng thread. Skate lang mga kapatid. -DRAN

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  62. 2 times the wipe out 2 times the funMarch 2, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    Oh ayan lumabas na lahat hah!?.. ok na!? ..make out session na.!. I mean.. make up pala.. .. enjoy.. na.. =)

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  63. Sa totoo lang nalaman ko lang about the zboys through Dogtown. Di ko panahon yun eh. Kaya oo, Mullen, pati siyempre dahil sa media(x-games), sila Lasek, Burnquist, etc. Street/vert naman talaga na mainstream, malamang lahat tayo dumaan dun bago mag transition sa longboard unless hardcore surfer man ka, which i am not.

    Walang awayan, kaya nakakahiya pumunta sa mga skate spots niyo kasi napaka territorial ng iba tas ngayon basagan na ng 'crews'. Spread the stoke nga, konti na nga lang tayo.

    -Lonely Rider

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  64. si erwin buen ang totoong my idol sa Z-Boys, kapanahunan nya yun e! wahahahaha

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  65. bwahhaha tama mark g! SAYA LANG!,..

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  66. maypa mag skate mo! yaw cge problema ana nga mga butang..haha

    skate lng! see you sa VLT mga bisaya og tagalog!hehe

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