Here’s something refreshing—a new brand that took the time to develop and master an underdeveloped product category rather than compete head on by making the same stuff everyone else does. I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I’ve always been keen on buying products from brands who are masters of the product they make—the one product they make. If you’re a jack of all trades, it’s very possible that you’re a master of none. It’s the same reason I don’t wear denim made by shoe companies or skate wheels made by board brands. Some people might and that’s fine, but not me. I choose to get my wheels from a wheel company, my boards from a board company, my denim from a denim company, and my socks, well, I now get them from a sock company.

Stance just sent me a box of socks to try out. They’ve got all different styles and constructions—from colorful stripes to simple black and white. They’ve all got added cushion in the toe and heel making them perfectly comfortable for skating and or walking. There’s one style that even has grippy pads on the external to prevent your foot from sliding around in your shoe—perfect for skateboarding. The socks even come special made with material designed to keep your feet cool. There’s nothing worse than a dude who’s got the “tang” or the “bog” in the van or hotel room after a long day of skating. Remember kids, keep your toes fresh—stank feet ruin trips.

Meditations On Daewon Song

Editor’s Note: During the years of 2008 through 2010, I had the distinct privilege of skating with Daewon Song nearly everyday. If I wasn’t skating with him, I was an active observer. What I witnessed in him is what I consider to be the craftsmanship of a true master skateboarder. Of course, Dae, as kind as he is, would probably care little or nothing about this claim……..

When examining the behaviors of the great masters of any discipline the observer will notice certain emerging patterns. True masters, when in practice, care for nothing other than the present moment. Their world is not bound by the opinions, exercises, or perimeters of others, but, rather, they create their world as a conscious dream—opening up a limitless realm of possibility for their work. These masters care little for the acclaim their art brings because they are seldom aware that what they’re doing is changing the world around them.