OG Skateline NBD host Gary Rogers recently opened up about the process behind winning the coveted Skater Of The Year award on a recent episode of The Nine Club podcast.
According to Rogers, the key to winning SOTY is not just in skill, style, or how many video parts a pro skater should release. They have to focus on something really important: The revenue a skateboarder brings to Thrasher.
During the podcast, Rogers emphasized that winning SOTY is not solely determined by a skater's performance on the board but also by the financial contributions they bring to Thrasher.
While he admitted that he might not be "110% sure," he claimed to possess the inside scoop, suggesting that financial considerations play a crucial role in the decision-making process at Thrasher headquarters.
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The 32-year-old pointed out that speculation among skaters about how the SOTY is chosen is not entirely accurate.
He highlighted Tyshawn Jones' second SOTY win, attributing it to the considerable boost in revenue generated by Jones' Thrasher cover featuring a kickflip on the New York subway – a Never Been Done trick.
The cover gained widespread attention, even featured in the New York Times, contributing to Thrasher's increased profitability.
Rogers also addressed the debate surrounding Nyjah Huston's exclusion from winning SOTY.
He argued that the release of Huston's video part on a different platform, rather than Thrasher's YouTube channel, played a significant role.
Rogers suggested that Thrasher prioritizes content on its own platform, and since Huston's video wasn't showcased there, it had a diminished impact on the SOTY race.
Despite Huston's gnarly video part called "Need That," Rogers said that the Olympain's year-long injury in 2022 kept him from winning since the clips weren't really for the actual year but from the past.
He added that a skater's overall performance and influence throughout the year are vital, and being sidelined with an injury can significantly hinder their chances of winning SOTY.
Unlike his good homie Jones, who did an NBD and made Thrasher good fortune, it always goes down to the Thrasher name and not just for the whole SOTY world, but then again, it's the Thrasher business model.