If I signed a contract that meant someone else wouldn't be playing. Mike Vallely More Quotes by Mike Vallely More Quotes From Mike Vallely They'll try to apply the rules of the day to the game, where you can't touch your board with your hands, or you can't step off your board, etc and I want nothing to do with it. It's like a game from a different planet or something and it's hard for me to relate to anybody who would think of skateboarding in such a narrow way. Mike Vallely games hands thinking We didn't call it a sport necessarily, and skaters definitely weren't thought of as athletes, we were thought of as misfits. Mike Vallely misfits athlete sports I always try to individualize everything, every person. I see individuals and that's why I've never fallen for racism, or any type or classification of people. Mike Vallely racism trying people I'm not out here on the front lines trying to create clones, or consumers, or worshippers of who I am, and what I do. I'm trying to nurture the idea that you should do your own thing, which is really powerful. Mike Vallely who-i-am powerful ideas Through skateboarding, I have an open line of communication, some common ground and common ground is big man. That enables me to travel around the world and no matter where I am, or who I'm with, connect with other young people, and I can have an instant dialogue and an instant relationship based on the fact that we skateboard, and when I'm doing appearances and demos, that's not lost on me. Mike Vallely communication men people I desire to have a dialogue that's positive, and communicative and moves forward, and is about something real, not just consumption. Mike Vallely real desire moving I feel like the best thing, as far as what I do with kids, is I treat them like human beings. Mike Vallely treats feels kids Everything that I'm really about is being an individualist. I believe in individuality. Mike Vallely i-believe individuality believe I don't want to be an object of consumption. I like to get out there and participate because I care about it. It's not because I've gotten filthy rich off the hides of young skaters that I feel some sickening obligation to act on, and make myself look like I'm not that bad of a guy. It's because I actually care. Mike Vallely care guy looks Where I'm coming from is that nothing I do is from a sense of obligation. Mike Vallely obligation When I got sponsored, it symbolized a major change and a major shift in skateboarding. Mike Vallely major-change skateboarding majors They told me I'd have to be there for the entire shooting of the movie which was two and a half months and again, I was surprised. Most movies I'd worked on before took only a day or so, so I realized this was a pretty big deal. I got to the set and was involved in a very integral way, which was a fun experience to be a part of. Mike Vallely fun two way I would dream of being a pro skater, but I never dreamt I'd be discovered by Lance Mountain and Stacey Peralta, who were two major heroes of mine, and be asked to skate for that team and be a part of their company. Mike Vallely team hero dream I don't like to get too involved in the idea that "I'm a role model" and that everything I do is right. I don't think that's the case at all, but I think who I am at my core, and what I represent at my core, is something that is meaningful, and can be something that other people can gain inspiration from. Mike Vallely inspiration meaningful thinking I strive to do my best every single time and I think that's something the skate community knows about me and appreciates. Mike Vallely appreciate community thinking If someone told me I had to give back, or I'm supposed to give back, or I'm supposed to do these things, I would reject that. My actions are those of valuing and caring. Mike Vallely caring action giving I'm not going to beat somebody up for talking smack to me, especially another skater. Mike Vallely smack-talk beats talking I grew up with heroes, people who made me aspire to raise my game, to dream bigger and I like to keep it that simple. Mike Vallely simple hero dream I don't see masses, I don't see it like, oh there's hundreds of people here and I'm overwhelmed. I just try to think, well I could be a kid in that crowd, or my daughters could be in that crowd, and no one wants to feel like they're just part of the masses. Mike Vallely daughter kids thinking What I do is I take action because I value the position I have, the career I have, the life I live, the people I interact with, my fanbase, my friends, however you want to say that. I value those relationships and I use the opportunities they present to me. Mike Vallely careers opportunity people
