Filmer, editor, and co-host of Chris Roberts' The Nine Club podcast, Roger Bagley, is on a mission to keep skateboarding’s digital history from getting lost in all the online chaos.
In a recent chat with Ian Michna for Jenkem blog, the executive editor of the famous skate podcast opened up about his new project called, "Save Skateboarding, INC." This cool non-profit is all about creating a mega online archive just purely for skateboarders.
So, why bother saving skateboarding’s history? Bagley got the ball rolling when he was hunting for old clips and photos for The Nine Club.
He got super frustrated trying to find a simple photo of Josh Kalis online, just to end up with a bunch of random stuff instead. That pretty much confirmed that skateboarding needs its own space on the internet.
The plan is to create a searchable database packed with everything from classic ads and magazine scans to rare footage and product catalogs.
It’s really about having one go-to spot where skaters, photographers, and videographers can pitch in and access all the rich skate history without relying on mainstream platforms that might just vanish one day.
Bagley knows he’s not alone in this idea. Other projects like Art of Skateboarding and Skatefolio are documenting aspects of skate history too, but Save Skateboarding, INC wants to bring all those efforts together in one place. "Let’s try to get all this stuff onto one database so we never lose it." He said, "Because YouTube could shut down tomorrow, and there goes everything. And then once the database is built, we can build a social platform on top of it."
But it’s more than just an archive. There’s a bigger picture. A full-on social platform where skaters can connect, share info, and keep the skate culture thriving all in one spot.
Running something this big won’t be cheap. The professional skate filmer figures it’ll take about $100,000 just to get the database up and running, plus more for ongoing support. He’s hoping for city grants, partnerships, and donations from the skate community to keep things going.
If you want to pitch in, there’s a ton to do. Bagley’s on the lookout for skateboarders to join the board of directors who get the vision, software engineers to help build the database, and a fundraising team to organize events and rally support.
For now, he’s taking it one step at a time. "I get overwhelmed very easily, and obviously trying to run the Nine Club is my number one thing right now, so it’s all baby steps. It’s not going to be like, Boom. Here it is. It’s like, All right. I got my fork and knife and now I’m going to eat this fucking elephant."
If you’re interested in getting involved, reach out: [email protected].