April 9, 2010

Is O.U.T., Like, Out?

Strictly Buggin'...

As yet-to-be substantiated rumors fly about the postponement of 3rd Lair's O.U.T. contest this weekend (no word on the 3rd Lair site), one wonders just what must have happened to relegate 2010's version to the might not happen dustbin of skate whateverness.

O.U.T. started out fully hyped. For a few years it was, without being too important with things, one of the best things in TC skateboarding. Upsets and excitement and good skateboarding were the norm, it was a good appraisal of who was who within the Twincities skateboard biosphere, and for a time, it was a good place to start something. That is no more. Let's just say that nollie 360 shuv-its have ruined it all, and that skater apathy is usually quite a difficult thing to cultivate, overall; one or an entity has to work for it. So it goes.

Happy Weekend, and Liz Cheney is banned. Yet again, so it goes.

44 comments:

The Hesh said...

via email blast;

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs078/1011280108072/img/12.jpg

The Hesh said...

via email blast;

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs078/1011280108072/img/12.jpg

Badger said...

I use to fly back to skate in O.U.T, but not anymore. Could this be the frist time in histroy that a Skatepark killed a skate scene? Not to say that the MPLS scene is dead, but the Lair is not helping in anyway. Someone needs to step to the plate and make a REAL skatepark that helps a skate scene, NOT taxes it to death!!! I WANT MY 2 DOLLARS!!!

stupid said...

i heard chad benson is starting a skate park.

Anonymous said...

yeah 3rd lair has done a lot of things that aren't fair, it's funny because i got kicked out of the burnsville 3rd lair for not wearing a helmet even though they used to not even enforce the helmet rule, but the ironic thing was that the next time i went, they didn't have my name in the system, to make things worse, the guy who checked the computer was the same guy who kicked me out last time for not wearing my helmet, so either 3rd lair purposely cleared me out of the system to make more money by having me pay another waiver fee or it was just an honest mistake, either way i believe that the lair needs to give back to the MN skate scene more by lowering prices, promoting more events, and not charging a lot of money for griptape

Badger said...

I down with B-show, been skating with him for many years. He does have a full time job and 2 kids, so it could be tough dedicating time to a park. I'm looking for more of a Brian Schaefer (owner of the SPoT) type, someone who rages hard and makes large sums of money from Corp-O sponsers. That way, you can still make profit and let the locals (the ones who really make the skate scene happen) in for free! Shit, I should just fuck'n do it myself, even know I don't live there anymore. Think I will ask the people building Biebel's park whats up. Munz, you got a warehouse in mind let me know!

The Hesh said...

The ol' vicious cycle/3rd Lair debate ensues... first off, to address the anonymous poster,

"lair needs to give back to the MN skate scene more by lowering prices, promoting more events, and not charging a lot of money for griptape."

Wrong. 3rd Lair is a business, therefore what is their motive? To generate revenue to stay in business. Their pricing model has changed because of instances of their control and beyond their control (I.E. Golden Valley time of operation constraints, lack of interest/promotion in events like O.U.T.). Besides, its nice out - go street skate.

I believe some are quick to recognize the bad aspects of the park and we forget what the park has done for the scene. We just saw Burnsville go under, do we really not want to have an indoor park at all? Be careful of what you wish for.

The solution to the "revival" of the scene isn't a new/real park (why do so many think this is an attractive venture anyhow?).

In my mind, the answer is to stop worrying what 3rd is (not) doing and focus on what you can do to better the scene as an individual.

-Fink

Anonymous said...

wrong, 3rd lair doesnt need to charge up to $15 for a 6 hour session, ive been to plenty of other indoor skateparks that only charge up to $11 for a whole day and they have been in business for years, lowering prices would encourage more people to come, therefore generating more REVENUE! and im not saying that 3rd lair hasn't helped the skate scene at all because they have actually helped it a lot, but what do i care really, i skate outdoor parks 9 months out of the year anyway, and in the winter i can just skate parking garages instead

Anonymous said...

Please correct me if I'm wrong..

According to the flyer there are 96 spots at $20 a head. That's $1920. If they get half full, they still generate close to a G. The prize pool is $300, plus some merchandise? Add promotion and crap, overhead can't be more than $500 bucks. Seems as though 3rd cares more about their pockets than the scene. Just my opinion..

wheelbite said...

we all know 3rd lair is fucked up

Nathan said...

Dear Anonymous

Sure 3rd Lair might not be the most appealing place to skate for cheap kids who want hand outs, but in the past few years 3rd Lair has developed a great skate scene for middle aged skaters who don't mind paying to skate an indoor park with a bunch of other middle aged men.

If you dont like paying to skate, or are just tired of the setup, then dont skate it, and dont complain about it, maybe you should just quit skating

Anonymous said...

dear nathan,

aren't you a little old to be still skating?

Nathan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Dip-shits like Badger who focus on spewing negativity and hate are the real scene killers. The Minneapolis skate scene is far from dead imo. In fact it is better than ever. We have multiple DIY warehouses in town, a sick concrete grindline park, the sickest skateshops including Familia, Cal, and the Lair, a vert ramp being erected, insanely fun street skating, and plenty of skaters who love skateboarding for skateboarding. Let the shops operate their businesses and be glad to have skaters in town dedicated to providing a place to shop and ride. I am proud to be a Minneapolis skater and will continue to support all the shops/parks that work hard to help keep our scene the best anywhere. Buy local and support events. Do your part to keep the scene strong.

Anonymous said...

All this fighting over a game of O.U.T.? Why not just make your own game of O.U.T.? All you need is a decent flat surface? Fuck, who cares? Just go fucking skate!

Anonymous said...

I've never paid more than a dollar to skate anywhere. I'm not wealthy and I never will be.

londamnation said...

Its all about B.E.E.R.S.

Badger said...

Anonymous = Mark Muller

Unknown said...

Wow! Heated topic! I agree with Anonymous. Badger is a dip-shit. I once bet on him to win the 2nd annual O.U.T. championship and he got destroyed. Thanks a lot.

Parks come and go and scenes change. It's just the way it is. I've been hearing whispers of a new park in North Minneapolis that - if true - could be tight. Cross your fingers on this one.

Badger said...

Perry, I lost on purpes, 'cause Dooner and I had a side bet. ssshhhhh, don't mention Nordeast yet!!!

NYC Scottish Dancers said...

I was in the finals of the original O.U.T. contest, when they changed the rules at the very end and went from a best of three games to a best of one, throwing off my strategy, and a questionable loss followed.

They have been keepin Thadolo down for years!

Dare I say the contest has been in decline ever since?

P.S. Badger is a big Dip Shit.

platinumseagulls said...

Dolo, I also got bit by that rule change that year. Wes was formidable for one game, but once he'd run through his tricks you had him. Munz vs. Dolo final that never happened? I think so.

Anonymous said...

3rdlair reminds me of zumiez except zumiez carries nice gear.

NYC Scottish Dancers said...

We had that battle, it was called B.E.E.R.S.

I believe there is video evidence of Thadolo stating "Mike Munzenrider is always good in these types of competitions."

I fear my fate would have been similar in O.U.T.

Can The Hesh get a link to that?

wheelbite said...

working at 3rd lair was so retarded.


the only cool people working there left ages ago.


its over/

Jason said...

Speaking of Wes... Where the hell did he go?

todd brown said...

I love how Bshow got drug into this some how. Badger is rad,Dolo may take over the world. I may get a 3rd tattoo.

COAS said...

3rd Lair is a good ass skatepark whither you like it or not. It also can be very cheep if you know when to go. Come on a weekday, bring your card and helmet and its somewhere around 8 dollars. No one realizes that 3rd lair is not the enemy here, its the economy. Seriously, maybe 3rd was rolling in the big money when skateboarding was at its boom phase, but things have mellowed out alot since then and its hit 3rd hard. Give them a break seriously.

Anonymous said...

SOLUTION:
MOVE TO ARIZONA

Anonymous said...

Mark Muller - skateboarding = Denny Hecker = The Great White Satan

Dude has screwed more people than he's helped, that's for sure! Ever heard of a conscience?

YBK Yellow Room said...

I think the math maybe wrong here (x-x=x=x???)

Anonymous said...

It's a business, who cares?
They owe you nothing

GG said...

Fuck paying for skateboarding. Why don't we put all of this energy into convincing Minneapolis to build an actual, skateable, concrete skatepark near the city. 3rd would go under, people would still have a place to skate. Problem solved...

Anonymous said...

Or you could take some initiative and build your own shit to skate i.e. Hiawatha, OTC, danger ramp, double barrel, etc.

Anonymous said...

Yellow Room said...
I think the math maybe wrong here (x-x=x=x???)

Uh, yeah. They're words and names, dude, not numbers. If they were numbers, the math could still work: 667 - 1 = 666 = 666

It was just for fun, and not supposed to be literal. But thanks for the catch, genius...

Anonymous said...

The only ones standing up for 3rd Gayer are somehow personally related to the park. (Work there? Friends work there?)

The fact is that its not just the economy. In response to COAS: "maybe 3rd was rolling in the big money when skateboarding was at its boom phase, but things have mellowed out alot since then and its hit 3rd hard."

That's the point right there. They were rolling in money but they were still being wack to the scene, BEFORE the economy sucked. They sold out to the skate moms and groms when they moved to golden valley and it won't be the same.

Maybe if they handled things better before things went sour they wouldn't be in this position. People would be entering OUT because they are hyped on 3rd. The reason no one is entering OUT is because no one likes 3rd anymore.

And cut it with the "they are a business" bullshit. Since when is skateboarding all about making money. The love for skateboarding comes first, if money comes streaming in, great! Which brings me back to when 3rd became wack... when they stopped running the park for skateboarding (and getting money on the side) and started running it for money (and losing respect from the local skate scene).

I rest my case.

Mrod said...

Ah, the Old - "I hate 3rd Lair rants" are still in full swing. This is something that has been happening since I can remember and probably always will. They make me pay, helmets are required, all they care about is money, etc, etc. I especially like ones posted by kids who grew up skating the park, got older, had experiences with staff/owners, and then got bitter (Wheelbite). Anyone who has actually tried to make a living in skateboarding (park, shop, company, whatever) knows that if your motivation is money, there are far easier alternatives. I got involved with 3rd Lair because of my passion for skateboarding. Everyone who works there has a similar passion. I also enjoy seeing kids inspired and grow into lifelong skaters (even if they hate me/the park in their adult years). At the end of the day I know we have a great thing going and will continue to try our damnest to spread the word of skateboarding to as many as possible. Kids, moms, dads, adults, teenagers, you name it. The more people that fall in love with skating the way I have, and I imagine all of you have the better.

-Mrod

Anonymous said...

I love skateboarding so much I want 3rd Lair to die.

COAS said...

In response to annonymous: when talking about how 3rd did nothing for the scene at the time think about how many kids around the 19-24 age range that grew up skating 3rd lair are still out skating and killing it. Honestly like half of those kids rode for 3rd lair at one point, even whodi used to ride for 3rd lair. and what about the free list or $20 that 3rd had while they were in the booming year? I can honestly say that while the $20 list was in effect I would go to the park almost everyday to skate and quite ofter in the summer to just to meet up with friends then go skate somewhere else. I would consider THAT doing something good for our scene while they could

Badger said...

This is just so we could round up the comment count to 40:

http://hardflip.com/blog/2010/04/remember-the-good-times/

Anonymous said...

I think the reason some that people have a problem with 3rd Lair is that they feel like they under-appreciated and even treated poorly at times even though they are long time customers. I know all the events that they put on are a huge part of how they make their money, and by all means they should have the right to do so, but I've been there when myself and other weekly customers were treated very rudely by one of the owners, no need to name names, one of the days leading up to the last KOTG contest. Children from out of town who may never come back to Minnesota let alone the 3rd Lair were given priority and allowed to run wild throughout the park putting themselves and every other skater in danger by snaking one another and basically playing chicken to see who would be able to get a run in. I continue to go there and support them as much as I can, but I will agree that things have definitely changed since they were over on Lake St and I was just a little grom waiting for my turn in the bowl.

Anonymous said...

Summit Skatepark in Lake Elmo is free on Wednesdays.

Unknown said...

i entered one of there summer series contests and got third. i got some posters and some extra small t shirts. then i called to see if i could replace them with a bigger size and the person was just a dick about it and wouldnt let me. great i paid ten dollars to enter a contest where the judges are completely biased and i was lucky enough to get third and win a couple posters and two t shirts that dont fit. if you need a place to skate inside in the winter go to summit. its free on wednesdays and you can pay by the hour which is only 3 dollars and if you pay 8 you can basically skate all day.

Anonymous said...

obviously jason or whoever GG is is the only logical person