Manny Santiago has never been one to hold back when it comes to speaking his mind about skateboarding.
Fresh off his departure from Ryan Sheckler’s Sandlot Times, he’s now refocusing on his own brand, Manny Slays All (MSA).
But while he’s excited about MSA’s return, he’s also got some strong opinions on the state of the skate industry and it’s not all good news.
According to Santiago, the skateboard market is getting overcrowded with new brands popping up left and right.
While creativity and innovation are great for skateboarding, he believes that too much of it is making things harder for established companies.
The constant influx of new names has led to some of the bigger brands seeing lower sales, and in some cases, even shutting down.
That has a direct effect on professional skaters, as fewer board sales mean fewer paychecks for the riders who rely on them.
At 39, Santiago has been in the game long enough to see trends come and go. His advice? Support the core companies that have been holding it down for years.
He urges skaters to buy pro boards instead of blank decks, which don’t contribute to a skater’s income.
He’s not saying people shouldn’t start their own thing - everyone should have the freedom to create but he believes that backing the pros helps keep the industry alive.
Another issue he pointed out is that many of these smaller brands don’t last.
A lot of them pop up, take a piece of the market, then disappear just as quickly. This short-term impact might not seem like a big deal, but Santiago says it’s making it tougher for the bigger brands to stay afloat in an already competitive scene.
When small companies launch with big dreams but lack long-term support, it creates a cycle where sales get divided among too many brands, ultimately hurting the foundation that skateboarding was built on.
Santiago also recognizes that the landscape of the industry has changed over the years. With social media allowing anyone to promote their own brand, it’s easier than ever for new skate companies to enter the scene.
While that democratization can be a good thing, it also leads to saturation. More brands fighting for the same customers means that even well-established companies have to work harder to maintain their place.
In the past, only a handful of board brands existed, making it easier for professional skaters to earn a consistent income.
Now, with so many options available, a skater’s name on a board isn’t always enough to guarantee strong sales.
Despite these challenges, Santiago remains optimistic about skateboarding’s future.
He believes that as long as skaters continue to support the pros and the brands that have built the culture, the industry will survive.
He’s not against new brands, but he wants skaters to be mindful of where they put their money.
Every purchase matters, and buying from companies that pay their riders helps ensure that skateboarding remains a sustainable career for those who dedicate their lives to it.
With all that said, Santiago isn’t just here to call out problems. He’s also got something to celebrate.
MSA is officially back, and he’s encouraging skaters to support its revival.
More than just a brand, he wants MSA to be a part of the bigger skateboarding culture, one that respects its history while still making room for new ideas.
He wants MSA to stand for something beyond just selling boards. It’s about the love of skating and giving back to the community.
Santiago has always been a skater’s skater, and with MSA’s return, he hopes to contribute something meaningful to the scene.