Mike Vallely In His Own Words On Parting With Element

I’m sure you have heard by now that Mike V. just yesterday Twittered (Tweeted, Tweetling, whatever) that he decided to part ways with Element to start his own brand: BY THE SWORD.  My apologies to Mike for reporting this news with the wrong name: The Sword. Anyone who follows Mike felt like he was a great fit with the company and their brand.  He has been on Element for about seven years now and he was one of the team’s headliners .  So everyone, including me wondered why he would leave such an established team.  Well it looks like, just as in any business, band, movie, etc. that there was some behind the door dealings that went south.  And when things don’t go well just like in any business, band, movie, etc. things begin to fall apart.

On Mike’s new website BY THE SWORD, he explains in his own words as to why he left Element and after hearing him out, it all makes sense.  It’s too bad that the corporate world has in a way hijacked skateboarding.  You will see capitalism in every aspect of life.  Some of it is very good, and some of it can ruin things.  In this case, a company headed by people who don’t skate, are steering things in a bad direction according to Mike.

But whatever, I’m on Mike’s side on this.  Ironically, congress today passed banking reform as a result to our financial crisis over the last year or so.  It’s meant to not give as much power to the banks and the entities that screwed our country in the first place.  In my opinion, this reform is okay, but not nearly as good as it should be.  Anyways, you got our support Mike.