Its been a little while since I’ve been at BambooSK8 but they’re great about keeping people in the fold, so when I started blogging about my Ecuador trip it seemed appropriate to post it up here too. You can also check out my personal blog at TheMusingsOfMattHayes.blogspot.com
Holla!

When I got laid off from my international sales job I immediately started searching Craigslist for a new wetsuit. Not the standard response to a layoff, but it worked well for spending the next two and a half months splitting my days between surfing or riding BMX, and applying to about 40 positions a week. Surfing and BMXing were going along great but unfortunately the job search was floundering. Around the beginning of February I decided that my time could be better spent in a foreign country; living cheaply, learning another language, and satiating my immediate need for adventure. I got a ticket, packed up my stuff, said bye to people, and took off for Quito.

Ecuador is described as a beautiful and fairly stable country with coast lines, mountains, and rain forest all contained in an area roughly the size of Colorado. This sounded great to me, and I can’t help but think how well the size will lend itself to bike touring should the mood strike. However, this was the first time I was traveling to a foreign country alone and I don’t know the language very well so I was extremely nervous.

Yesterday morning I boarded a plane and after a brief layover in the city where the playas play (Atlanta for those of you who missed the Jermaine Dupri reference) I found myself in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Seeing how it was midnight and there weren’t any benches in the airport to sleep on I decided to follow my new airplane-seat-friends Scott and Maggie to their hotel and hope there was a room open.

We rung the front door – one in a row of 20 doors along the same edifice – and were buzzed in. Walking into a large courtyard we were buzzed into a second door and followed some stairs up to the reception desk. The attendant of Hotel San Francisco de Quito got me a room for $30 and handed me a small key with a large stamped metal rooster on the key chain. I put the key in the door, and keeping the price in mind, braced for the worst. The room was incredible. Beautiful old wood night stands, desk, closet, seat, and bedframe, were all complimented by 14’ ceilings and hard wood floors. The bed was comfy, the shower was mounted really high and had great pressure and hot water, there was just one wonderful surprise after the next. I wrote in my journal and then passed out – so happy to be in Ecuador.

In the morning things kept getting better. I wandered down to the complimentary breakfast which was in a vaulted brick ceiling room and got a light meal from a nice waitress. No buffet serve-yourself here, they include service. Then I wandered up to the terrace which overlooks all of old town and sent out a couple quick emails on their wi-fi before checking out.

Ecuadorian streets aren’t exactly pedestrian friendly, especially for pedestrians with backpacks and suitcases, but I started walking and trying to find my next hostel. An old man with about 60% of his teeth informed me I was going the wrong way – he didn’t know where I was going, but the way I was walking was “muy malo.” Point taken I turned around, walked another mile, made another wrong turn, and eventually found the Secret Garden hostel which advertised a top-story patio overlooking the city and no TV. I checked in, put down my stuff, and then started walking around the city. I got some food, bought a lock and a razor, and climbed half of a mountain by the time I was done. Back at the hostel I made the mistake of starting a conversation and sharing my flashcards with a 10 year-old Swedish boy and two hours later I finally snuck away to get some dinner. Now I’m sitting on that advertised patio listening to the soft rain on an improvised roof watching fog slowly roll down the mountainside enveloping the city lights one by one.

So I have recently realized that my life revolves around Facebook more than a 15 year old chick. Kinda ridiculous but I gotta keep on top of stuff for the kids. Let’s just say that having BambooSK8′s FB and Twitter on my phone is both a blessing and a curse.  Anyways, enough with the drama, I’ve been having fun shooting and editing to make some rad videos. I’m still pretty crappy at it but baby steps, hopefully I’ll pick it up faster then I am surfing. I am pretty amped on Trick Tips with Geoff to drop I won’t even lie. Biggest challenge is just trying to keep Geoff outta trouble around the warehouse…

The Skate Park Tour is beginning to take a little bit of shape. Be on the look out for that, coming to a town near you. I’ve been enjoying working more and more with the team and learning from all of them, and I enjoy seeing the fruits of my labors a little more than before. I really enjoy applying ideas and theories I have concocted in my head and seeing them turn into something successful. Hopefully I can keep it up.

Last but not least, big ups to Wyatt for being born this week. You got partied out a little prematurely but I still look forward to seeing the wooden helicopter flying around your office! Happy Birthday big guy!!

The NBA All Star game is invading CA so get ready to be wowed by yet another amazing Chicago Bull. D Rose gonna be doing work!

Here’s my video for the blog, I dedicate it to AG, who should have some sick footy from June when he comes back or has a new gopro  if he doesn’t…

Ps. Love the song.

Hey everyone,

The past couple weeks have been about Hookit, Hookit, and more Hookit. I’ve been busy working to gather some new content and create new segments for the site. It’s getting pretty exciting as I’m starting to involve myself more and more. Be on the lookout for Trick Tips with Intern Geoff….coming soon. I’ve had the chance to do a lot more skating at the BambooSK8 warehouse and in the skateparks in Oceanside. It’s been great talking to a lot of the kids and seeing them respond so well to what we’re trying to accomplish here at Bsk8. Hopefully we’ll see more of them on our boards in the near future. Other than that, I’ve been trying to tap into the different Southern California online media sites to gain some BambooSK8 exposure. The internship has been wonderful to me so far and I’m looking forward to the upcoming weeks.

Outside of the office, I’ve been doing a lot of skating and brushing up on some finance material. I actually got a call a week ago about an internship with an investment bank in New York in the fall! Woo! I’ve also been looking to pick up a new vintage steel lugged road bike (Mid-late 80′s). I went on a 22 mile ride yesterday in Oceanside and it was gorgeous. I encourage all of you to do the same. Save some gas and get a bike because the revolution will not be motorized.

I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend and I’ll be sure to keep you posted on the ins and outs of my BambooSK8 experience.

Stay young and notice the world,

Geoff C

In the past few weeks I’ve taken over the Europe project. Hopefully soon kids all around the world will be skating bamboo. I hope they all speak English cause I certainly don’t “englisch sprechen”!

I just started doing some things in photoshop and damn, it’s a whole other world. I really don’t know what I’m doing but I’m learning quickly. Gerard is a pro at it and he makes some BA stuff, if I can be half as good I’ll be happy. I’ll make sure to throw up my final product when it’s done.

I’ve been surfing often which is great because all work and no play makes Ryan a dull boy. It has been crap lately but you never know what next week may hold!

-Ryan

I spent this week doing what I enjoy: work and play! In the office I was able to focus on some media material for an upcoming event we’re working on, which I’ve really enjoyed. Mid- March, BambooSK8 will be participating in The Clash at Clairemont V.  It is Southern California’s premiere action sports fundraising celebration.  Grind for Life Cancer charity and the Mission Valley YMCA will be the two charities benefiting from this fundraiser. This event takes place at the Krause Family BMX & Skate Park- Mission Valley YMCA.  The day will be jam packed with skate demos, contests, music, food, prizes, vendor village, autographs and more (www.clashatclairemont.com).  It seems to be a very family oriented event. I am looking forward to meeting all the kids and their parents!

Thanks to the many community outreach events and leads here at BambooSK8, I am dusting off my PR skills. Cough, cough, they were a little dusty! Not to mention, it’s super cool to work towards various projects I am really interested in.  In the past I’ve had to put enormous amount of energy towards projects and events that don’t really interest me. At BambooSK8 that has not been the case. Yay!

Outside the office, it was a birthday bonding extravaganza!  Good people, cake, tacos and pirates; what more could you ask for!?! Mid-day was a birthday break for Wyatt. We surprised him with a cake, which I almost dropped in an effort to not let any candles blow out.  All that matters is that I DID NOT drop it! Later that evening, we continued the intern bonding and celebrating with some bomb food at Bull Taco and tasty beverages at a local pirate hang out. Yarrr…argh…RRRR?!?! However you express the “R”, a good time was had by all! Cheers to Wyatt and week 6!

+   =  My week ! ; )

Hey guys!!

This week was definitely different, Tuesday felt like Friday and now Friday doesn’t even feel like a Friday! Tuesday was Wyatt’s Birthday, so all of BambooSK8 (minus Geoff K, Sick Ryan, and Cat) went out to Bull Tacos for Taco Tuesday. The food was pretty good, but it was a lot of fun bonding with the group. Following Bull Taco, we went back and hung out in Downtown Oceanside; overall, it was a great day! Happy Birthday Wyatt!!

This week I did a lot of studying, EcoIndex provides webinars which give you a bunch of great information about how to use the Index. I spent MANY hours listening and taking notes! We have some kids submit some rough sketches for the OSXBambooSK8 Project up in Toronto, Canada. It was so much fun looking at the artwork and concepts behind each student. Gerard and I are working together to give some feedback to the kids, I’m really excited to see what they have (it’s going to be good!) I’ve continued to contact bands individually for the GWR Compilation, but haven’t heard too much in return which kind of bums me out. On a happy note, Dana and Andrew have been great people to talk to as far as coming up with ideas for the website. There have been some challenges this week on managing my time properly, so I wasn’t able to spend as much time as I wanted on studying for my midterm… hopefully next week will be better!!

P.S. Happy Belated Valentine’s Day!!! <3

Another busy week at BambooSK8.  I’ve begun doing some design work on media to go along with the contests/promotions we are running online.  I enjoy creating artsy stuff like this when the opportunities come up.  All my skills with this kind of thing have been self taught and acquired through various projects of my own, so it’s nice to be able to put them to practical use.  Look for more stuff in the coming weeks.

We’re now running a weekly Eco Tribe Trick of The Week contest.  Every week we are going to put up a new trick that we want to see, then you can submit a youtube clip of you performing that trick.  Whoever sends the clip with the sweetest style or most creative line will receive some free schwag.  Also, we’re doing a Friends & Family promotion, where kids get to flex their entrepreneurial muscle to earn free decks, and hook their friends up with great discounts on boards at the same time.

Another great thing which I had the pleasure gettng involved in this week is the Oasis Skateboard Factory.  “The Oasis Skateboard Factory helps at-risk students earn Gr. 9/10/11 compulsory and elective high school credits over 1 or 2 semesters by running a social justice and community focused entrepreneurial business where they learn hands-on to build skateboards, design original custom graphics, work with local artists and community partners, market and display their work and have the opportunity to receive an honorarium”. It’s an amazing program, check it out.

Craig Morrison, a teacher at Oasis, created a great class where students learn about sustainability, business, and design, which they then translate into skateboard graphics.  This is the second time he’s running it, and he’s asked Amanda and I to assist the students with their conceptualizing and the artist statements by providing feedback on how to clearly “communicate a sustainability concept inspired by the topics discussed in class and promote an image that expresses the environmental consciousness of the Bamboo SK8 brand”.  We got the first drafts of their projects today and we are psyched see what they all come up with.  At the end of the course each student will have created a graphic on one of our boards which will be featured in an art show, and a winning design will be picked by the head of BambooSK8, Geoff Koboldt, and will hang at our headquarters in Oceanside, CA (with the two from last year).  I’m really looking forward to providing feedback and seeing how creative they get with this.

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I turned the ripe old age of 23. What better way to spend it than hanging out with all the interns at the office? Seriously though, the interns here are awesome. I had the great opportunity of getting to know them over the past few weeks and at the Crossroads tradeshow this past weekend. I’m very excited for the upcoming weeks. I am currently working on several different projects for Hookit and I can’t wait to see the response we get from the community. We have a lot of new contests coming up and I’m looking forward to having BambooSK8 represented at some future events. Sorry to keep it short but there’s skating to be done, drinks to be consumed, and birthday cake to be eaten.

Have a great weekend. I know I will.

- Geoff C

I am finishing up my fourth week at BambooSK8.  The intern cave is still freezing. God bless the space heater!  Other than that, I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable in my new surroundings.  My fellow interns are awesome!  It’s really interesting to learn where everyone came from, why they’re here and where they plan to go.  I do feel like we’re a team and it’s nice to have them through this experience.  Our tasks are big and our time is limited so that is something we’re all trying to conquer together.  It’s definitely a balancing act trying to excel at the academic part of this internship and the real work at the same time.  Practice makes perfect I suppose.  If anything it’s just another experience to prepare you for life, which I’ve heard is a balancing act as well.

Last weekend a group of us attended The Crossroads trade show in Carlsbad.  The tradeshows I had been to in the past were for the action sports industry as a whole.  It was definitely a new experience to attend a tradeshow specifically for skateboarding.  It was a day full of observations: style, fashion, lingo, and of course a boat load of skating.  Watching the warm up and competition was intense.  There were boards and people flying everywhere, sometimes it was a good thing and sometimes not.  When one of the skaters landed a trick the crowd exploded in to applause and cheers. The energy was insane! Plus, the event gave us interns a chance to get together outside of the office and have some fun!

I’ve just reread my blog to myself and I believe it sounds like I’ve joined the circus. There are people from all walks of life (interns), a ring master (Geoff Koboldt), animals (usually dogs), balancing acts (the internship), people clowning around (interns bonding), performers flying through the air (skaters), and in the end it’s all for the big show (intern graduation).  If we all traveled by train nightly, I would for sure think I had joined the circus. Twelve stops (weeks) left on our tour and I plan to make everyone of them count.  Here’s to a great show!

Hey guys, just me again, back to share a little bit of what’s rattling around in my head.

The internship is going super, I’m learning tons. At times it can be a little daunting with all the tasks that require my attention but slowly but surely I’m pushing ahead and learning (Cue Rick Ross, Push it). Ain’t gonna hold be down! I’m enjoying this experience a ton, I’m not sure if it’s the internship or just because I’m stoked outta my mind to finally be living in California (You might have been expecting that I’d be dropping the “Cali” word there, but i ain’t no kook). This is a little bit of a trial by fire since we’re sooo free to follow our ideas and see how they play out, this can be a little unnerving but at the same time pretty liberating as well. Big ups to the bosses for not micromanaging, you have a lot at stake to allow us just to do our thang.  A rather painful part of this experience is the daily reminder of my inadequacies in skating. Like I told the kids today, I’ve been blessed with a lot of abilities in this life but skating definitely is not one of them. FML.

Maybe with my trick tip sessions with Geoff and Andrew I’ll be able to overcome this shortcoming.

I had the good pleasure of attending Blackbox’s Crossroads, which was super rad. I got to have some words with a few pros, I’d name drop but it’s not a big deal to me. Sheckler, Lutzka, Brown. The best trick comp was insane, like watching someone play skate 3 or tony hawk pro skater in real life. It was also rad to bond with my fellow interns, I think a good time was had by all.

My voice doppelganger?

I’m pretty stoked to be starting to get my plans in motion. Facebook and Twitter is a daily challenge that I find to be super fun. It’s like a game of chess to see what I have to do to keep the peeps coming back for more. F-U-N. Hookit continues to be the bane of my existence. The kids are amazing but that site is allowing my patience to grow by leaps and bounds.

Funny Story: So I restricted my identity on my blackberry to call my hookit kids, and one actually answered but kept saying, “no really, who is this? You’re not really from BambooSK8″ and wouldn’t believe me that I wasn’t one of his boys prank calling him. Classic.

That’s about it, just trying to take this experience day by day and make the most of it. Jah Bless!

My rolemodel

I don’t know about you, but I had a  slam-packed-super-adventurous-week!

WARNING! Don’t be too jealous.

Sunday I went out to Carlsbad for the annual Crossroads Trade Show. I’m not going to lie, Lindsay and I were probably the cleanest people there! haha Okay, well in all fairness the weather was nice and warm and some people just sweat easily… We checked out some cool products from Fusion, Element, Vans, etc. Once the tents started to wrap up, a skate competition for best trick took place inside. I had 2nd row baby! These guys were awesome! Check out the video: Crossroads Best Trick – Jan. 2011

This week I started up a few new projects. I will be working on the Green Wash Ritual II Digital Compilation/ Music Project. There are 2 more slots for the compilation. Bands like Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, and The Aggrolites will be on this compilation, so whoever fills in the open slots will get a lot of exposure. The compilation will be available for free if you purchase some BambooSK8 merchandise. WOO HOO! Oh real quick, I’m super stoked because I FINALLY got the inventory up on Amazon! My other project is to find out how much of a carbon footprint BambooSK8 is leaving behind so we can find ways to improve.

I’ve been learning a lot; from procedures to strategies, all of which is super interesting! I’m having a lot of fun!

Thank you for reading, here is a gift of my gratitude!

$5 OFF

Hola,

It’s already week 4 in the enchanted bamboo forests. Things are going well here and I feel like I’m actually making some progress on things. Although planning is very important, I feel much better when I have something to show for my work. I’ve been learning a lot (always BCC the shops that you email) and just trying to learn from my mistakes. I’m learning that there is always something to be done. Whether it’s researching a technique that can streamline our website, or looking into new potential markets or just going and reppin’ the BambooSk8 eco philosophy around town, there is always work to be done.

I was bummed that I couldn’t make it to the Crossroads event this past weekend. From all accounts it was a ton of fun and the contest was awesome. I’m looking forward to our next event, which should be the Clash at Claremont on March 19th.

In case ya’ll didn’t know, the waves have been firing lately. Big NW swells have been slamming down on us and there have been some smaller SW swells mixing in. Combine that with stellar conditions and you have a bunch of surfers with tired arms. It has been barrel country up in the OC and I even scored a few down here in Oceanside at the harbor. When there are waves, life is good. The forecast is for good waves, and so…
life is good. ☺

There is a lot of movin’ and shakin’ going on at BambooSK8.  We have been pushing a lot of great product out the door, and last night we had a crew of people shoveling boxes into a fleet of UPS trucks.  Watch out for your favorite man in brown coming to a door near you.

I’ve been putting in a lot of hours, and there are quite a few projects that I’m working on.   Keep an eye on our social media sites, lots of new content and eye candy coming down the pipe.  With multiple projects spanning across multiple departments within the business, it’s important to examine how we operate as individuals, and how to more efficiently accomplish weekly goals.  The last few weeks have provided me with opportunities to examine my time management habits and work on improving them.  It’s def a work in progress, and I’m starting to feel less like this:

And more like this: