{"id":7144,"date":"2023-09-20T00:38:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T04:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skateboardsalad.com\/?p=7144"},"modified":"2023-09-24T23:54:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T03:54:15","slug":"why-skaters-hate-steve-berra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skateboardsalad.com\/culture-and-community\/why-skaters-hate-steve-berra\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Skaters Hate Steve Berra: Unraveling a Skateboarding Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever wondered just why skaters hate Steve Berra<\/strong> so much? You’re not alone; it’s a question that’s percolated throughout the skating community. The answer is that it’s a cocktail of controversy, decisions that didn’t sit well, and a dose of ego. But who am I to spill the tea? Let’s dive headfirst into an honest, no-holds-barred look at the man in question, Steve Berra. More than a simple ‘whodunnit,’ you’re about to understand the intricacies and speculations surrounding him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is Steve Berra?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steve Berra<\/strong>, born on May 10, 1973, cut his teeth on skateboarding in Omaha, Nebraska. Far from popular in his early days, Berra spent most of his time mastering the art of skating. His rise in the domain was rather impressive, from being sponsored by Blockhead<\/a> to joining the ranks of legends like Tony Hawk on Birdhouse. Despite the impressive climb, Berra found himself constantly switching between teams, a rather unfamiliar<\/em> trait within the skateboarding community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What sparked the controversy around Steve Bera?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two not-so-subtle decisions put Berra under the radar. The first was his joining the Church of Scientology, a path not typically associated with professional skateboarders. His association with such a controversial institution did nothing to endear him to the masses. Here is a nugget of information that might interest you: Berra got into Scientology thanks to his then-wife, a ‘Scientology Celebrity<\/em>.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second was more directly skating-related\u2014his part in a DVS Shoes<\/em> video, ‘Skate More,’ released in 2005. To the untrained eye, the video seemed pretty legit, but it didn’t take the eagle-eyed skaters long to pick up on something – Berra’s spot seemed fake<\/strong>. His ‘brick’ surface – far too polished and smooth to be authentic – set tongues wagging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Skaters did not appreciate Berra’s blatant disregard for the sanctity of the street part.”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you shred on the streets, the obstacles are real – the concrete, the rough surfaces, the unforgiving bricks, all playing a massive role in street skateboarding. Even with a ton of wax, such surfaces present a genuine challenge, part of the pure thrill of street skating. Skaters did not appreciate Berra’s blatant disregard for the sanctity of the street part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What got Berra enormous flak was the fact that he tried to pass it off as a classic street part when it clearly wasn’t. This led skaters to call him ‘Fake Spot Steve Berra<\/strong>,’ and sadly, the moniker has stuck around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did Berra try to reclaim his reputation? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the controversy, Berra founded The Berrics, along with skateboarding luminary Eric Koston. The Berrics became an iconic skate park where entry was strictly by invitation only. Sadly, the high point didn’t last long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In 2016, Berra suffered a meltdown, going on a rather public rant on Instagram for 30 minutes, tackling everything from his fake spot saga to personal feelings. The undoing of his character was complete; he was now a figure shrouded in controversy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My take on Berra’s controversy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a non-expert<\/em> with an affinity for skateboarding, it seems clear that Berra’s actions, controversial as they may be, have left a long-lasting impact on his reputation. It’s important, however, to remember that while actions have consequences, how we make sense of these actions often speaks more about us than about the person on whom we’re passing judgment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Skateboarding is about individuality and skill – aspects that Berra has undeniably contributed to over the years.”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Skateboarding, like all sports, is as much about individuality as it is about skill and finesse. Berra is a part of skateboarding history, and despite the controversies, his contribution shouldn’t be wholly dismissed. A more nuanced look at this saga can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are a visual learner, check out the video below from YouTube.<\/p>\n\n\n

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