Skateboarding has always been about rebelling against corporations, and it’s no secret that the scene’s die-hard community isn’t exactly happy when corporate interests start to dip their toes into the culture.
So when filmmaker and artist Harmony Korine jumped into the mix with his skate brand EDGLRD, it didn’t take long for skaters to start questioning his place in the world of skateboarding.
Korine, who’s no stranger to the art world with his eclectic mix of filmmaking, photography, and writing, has recently expanded into the skateboarding scene, launching EDGLRD.
Right out the gate, he made sure to sign some heavy hitters.
First, he scooped up Sean Pablo from FA/Hockey from Jason Dill and AVE. Then, he brought in skate legend Eric Koston to add even more weight to the brand’s roster.
But it wasn’t just the signings that had people talking. EDGLRD dropped a video titled “POINT CLOUD,” which utilized AI-powered skate footage.
While the tech was impressive, it left a lot of traditional skaters scratching their heads. Was this the future of skating, or was it just a gimmick?
The jury was still out, and opinions were divided.
As if that wasn’t enough, Korine’s brand decided to release a new skateboard deck that featured an alien face carved right in the middle, definitely leaning into the weird, avant-garde side of things.
Then Swim Skateboards had to charge at the gun fire. Instead of letting the alien face slide, Swim took things one step further by replacing it with a crude graphic. A “fat d*ck” right in the center of the deck.
The reaction? Skaters went wild.
Swim Skateboards wasn't just messing around. They were making a statement, pushing back against what they saw as an invasion of skateboard culture.
Where EDGLRD was all about the high-tech, high-concept approach, Swim took it back to basics with no f*cks given.
They weren’t just trying to make a point. It was about showing that they weren’t going to sit quietly while skateboarding gets commercialized.
The go-f*ck-yourself attitude that Evan Smith showed PUMA is what skateboarding has always been about.
And Swim, with its “fat d*ck” board, made it clear that they’re not going to back down from anyone, not even Korine’s high-profile brand.
Swim Skateboards made it pretty clear: Skateboarding might be getting bigger, but the real soul of it isn’t for sale.