Skateboarding journalist Robert Brink has publicly called out Mike Carroll, Rick Howard, and Crailtap, sharing a lengthy statement filled with serious criticism of how he believes riders and employees have been treated over the years.
In a post shared on social media, Brink didn't mince his words.
He accused Crailtap's leadership of creating a public image that differed greatly from what he claims happened behind closed doors.
"Paranoia, entitlement & a disgusting way to treat staff or any human," Brink wrote at the beginning of his statement.
Brink connected his criticism to several incidents from the past, including Mike Carroll's public fallout with Marc Johnson in 2016. According to Brink, situations like that contributed to numerous riders and employees leaving the company over the years.
He also took aim at comments recently made by Megan Baltimore regarding Lakai's future, arguing that the message lacked self awareness given the criticism currently being directed at the Crailtap camp.
One of Brink's strongest claims centered around the way skateboarders, staff members, and riders were allegedly compensated. He argued that company leadership built successful businesses with the help of many people who were not rewarded fairly for their contributions.
"The trio made millions off the backs of skateboarders, staff & riders," Brink wrote, while also alleging that some individuals were underpaid and treated poorly despite helping build the brands.
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Brink also revisited a topic that has been discussed in skateboarding for years: sponsorship agreements and contracts. Referring to a past interview with Carroll, Brink argued that the absence of formal contracts often benefits companies more than riders, especially when disputes arise.
A large portion of Brink's statement focused on recent allegations involving former Crailtap employee Daniel Wheatley. Brink referenced Daniel's account of a weekend skate trip that allegedly led to conflict with Carroll and eventually his dismissal from the company.
According to Brink, Daniel had informed management about the trip as a courtesy even though he believed he was under no obligation to do so. Brink claimed that Daniel was then questioned about personal matters during his time off and subjected to unreasonable demands.
While Daniel has since stated that he and Carroll have reconciled, Brink believes the broader conversation should continue regardless of where their relationship currently stands.
He argued that skateboarding has often operated under an unspoken culture where people remain silent about negative experiences. In his view, consumers deserve to know how companies treat employees and riders behind the scenes.
Despite his criticism, Brink acknowledged that Carroll, Howard, and the Crailtap brands have contributed a great deal to skateboarding throughout the years. However, he questioned whether those accomplishments outweigh the allegations that continue to surface.
At the time of writing, Mike Carroll, Rick Howard, and Crailtap have not publicly responded to Brink's latest comments.v