5 ways Skateboarding can Rescue the Economy
The world is going through a level of Financial Hell that hasn’t been experienced since 1929. If Dante Alighieri had written an infernal poem about it, this would be the part when we’re being roundhouse-raped by our utility bills with a sadistic gas attendant flogging our shirtless backs.
As bad as things are however, every country isn’t feeling the recession’s crab-like pinch around its economic scrotum. Believe it or not, countries such as Brazil, Peru, Poland, Lebanon and others are actually doing very well.
Now, I don’t claim to understand world economics. I’m a just nerdy, action sports writer, who has a fan-base of extremely good-looking people. But I’m using this opportunity to make some bold recommendations to the Governments of the Caribbean to see how we can use skateboarding as a tool to ollie out of this recession.
Distance Ollie that is!!!
Improved CARICOM relations
The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) was established under the Treaty of Chaguaramas on July 1, 1973. Â Its aim is to promote co-operation, economic integration and to ensure that all countries benefit equally from the agreement. There are several planned projects which are to be fully implemented by CARICOM that may be very beneficial to the Caribbean. Unfortunately, the Heads of Governments never seem to finalize or fully agree on anything. I don’t know if it is the constant changing in Governments or the bureaucratic systems but from fishing agreements to air travel and immigration, nothing is ever 100% settled.
Which country owns the rights to these fish is still being keenly debated
How Skateboarding can help!
Heads of Government need to adopt a skateboarder’s mentality. Explanation as follows: True skateboarding is all about overall progression and development. It’s about taking chances, trying new things, encouraging each other because when one skater succeeds, it pushes the boundaries and in turn, they all succeed. I suggest let’s give the CARICOM Heads some skateboards and see what happens.
Reduced Energy Consumption
Man’s ability to harness the power of electricity has paved the way for many modern conveniences. Televisions, mp3 players and laptops. I certainly appreciate the fact that I don’t have to chisel these weekly articles into a stone wall like my nerdy ancestors before me.  In Barbados, the bulk of our electricity is generated by the Barbados Light and Power (BL&P), who create this electricity by using a gas turbine generator. But what’s the energy source that powers the generator? You guessed it, the BL&P has developed a new technology where their generator is fueled by the power of love… Just kidding,  it’s powered by oil.
Pictured: The only thing produced in the Caribbean that was legitimately powered by love
From January 2010 to July 2011, the average electric bill in Barbados has jumped from $169.00 to $249.00 which represents a 39% increase. However, it’s not that Barbadian’s started using 39% more energy, but the increase in world oil prices accounts for 60% of this entire bill.
How Skateboarding can help!
Skateboard is essentially a piece of wood with wheels on it, making it a cost effective means of entertainment. It’s a skill that takes years to perfect. The more time you spend skateboarding, the less time you spend watching 6 hour soap opera marathons, the more energy you save.
Reduced Vehicle Imports and Stimulate Entrepreneurship
Unlike Japan, which is home to several popular car manufacturers, the Caribbean isn’t known for its prowess in auto-engineering. Even if we had the resources to create a Caribbean-made vehicle brand, we would be forced to directly compete with established brands which have already created strongholds in the global market. Unless we finally complete the plans for a car fueled by the power of Rihanna.
We're still in the testing phase
How Skateboarding can help!
I’m not going to be ridiculous and say that skateboards can replace cars but they are an excellent means of short distance travel. They are also low maintenance, no engine, no transmission, no upholstery. Because of this lack of sophisticated tech, skateboards can be made on the regional market. Budding entrepreneurs can also create other items associated with Caribbean skateboarding, including clothes, shoes, accessories, rails and ramps. An entire market can be established from the development of Caribbean skateboard brands.
Creation of Jobs
As many established businesses and companies found out, no one is really 100% safe in this recession. It doesn’t really matter if you were in operation for years or not. At the end of each quarter, many-a-manager after seeing loses recorded on the balance sheet had to make the always hard decision about cutting staff to keep the business afloat. These staff cuts have resulted in hundreds of people being stranded clutches of a stagnated job market. It also extends to graduates from the various universities around the region who leave school after labouring intensely to earn their degree to realise that no one is hiring.
How Skateboarding can help!
A fully established skateboarding and extreme sports industry can provide several new means of employment within the Caribbean. It’s not just about the guys who are in the middle doing the flip-tricks and grabs, a whole team of people have to come together to make it a success. It’s not just about the photographers or cameramen either because jobs within the fields of marketing, HR and sales also play integral parts in the action sports industry. Since our launch, Adrenaline Sun is now looking for writers, models, photographers, videographers, graphic designers and hair and makeup artists and we’re just one entity.
Adrenaline Sun... where subtlety is our specialty
Increase Tourism
Come to the Caribbean, Mon… where every island is believed to be part of Jamaica! Poor marketing concepts aside, tourism is the main industrial leg which most small Caribbean islands stand on. It’s also one of the most fragile foundations to build any country or island upon, especially during an economic hell-hole (like the one we’re going through).We’re directly competing with the rest of the world to get visitors to come to our shores but it doesn’t really take much for these visitors to refuse. The Caribbean has been marketed as the perfect vacation destination for a very long time however some other pretty sweet spots are popping up all around the world. Also in this new era of Twitter, one bad review from a disgruntled bride can spread across the internet like a pandemic of Zombie Fever. Then what are we to do?
Come to Barbados, Mon... just 2000km from Usain Bolt's house.
How Skateboarding can help!
Sports tourism is something that is exhibited year in and out through SOL Rally Barbados. Earlier this year several Trinidadian skaters came down to Barbados to take part in the One Movement Skate Invitational: The Legend of Kwami Jones. Pro Skater, Mike Vallely visited Barbados in 2008 for his show, Drive, where he toured the island with Paul “Irie” Wilson and showcased Barbados from a skater’s perspective. We should be more progressive in our marketing ideas for the Caribbean. People can vacation anywhere, they can get married anywhere. But when it’s snowing and the pros want to shred the sidewalks, we need to tell them to come to the Caribbean for sun, sea, sand and skate!!!
Below is a clip from Mike Vallely’s Drive featuring Barbados. See if you can spot “Irie” Wilson and young Mr. Miyagi!
written by Jamal Hall Action Sports Editor of Adrenaline Sun
