Richie Jackson: Gimmick skater or creative genius?
Richie Jackson presents something of an anomaly in skateboarding. His hippie steez and unorthodox skate style has certainly sparked debate amongst groms and seasoned skaters alike.
Some say he’s a breath of fresh air for his creativity and innovation at a time when skateboarding is in danger of becoming stale. Others have labelled him a “gimmick skater”, not fit to share the same pavement as ‘serious’ pros.
Love him or loathe him, you have to admire what he’s achieved in such a short time. There aren’t many other skaters who, in less than 3 years, have gone from being an unconventional grom cruising Sydney’s Martin Place mall, to snagging a Transworld video part, jetting all over the globe rubbing shoulders with skateboarding’s elite and getting mainstream coverage in the blogosphere.
Now under the mantle of the Death skateboard team, he’s nailed one of the most talked about video part’s of recent times in Death’s film ‘Escape from Boredom’.
Skateboarding is, and always should be, about self expression. Something tells me Richie is just as comfortable boardsliding a handrail or throwing front flips down a 7-stair, but he chooses to roll a slightly more creative path.
That can surely only be a positive thing in a world in danger of becoming a production line of skating clones…. in the words of the great Oscar Wilde, “be yourself; everyone else is already taken”. Wise words indeed!
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