1080mute-
I agree with you, but you make it sound like DC and ES shoes AREN'T really 'true to the sport' and that they are just suckering in lots of little kids for their own financial benifit.
I think that is totaly not the case, skateboarding has gone through ridiculous growth over the last few years, and for the most part, I would say that these companies are still very much true to the sport, INFACT they can be even more true to the sport, pay their athletes better, make better product so that all the kids can better enjoy their sport etc.
Is Nike not true to all their track and field athletes because they are the huge company they are? I'd say no. They continue to produce top of the line shit for serious athletes. (lets not get into all the 3rd world labor stuff, thats a different topic for a different thread)
On another surf/skate note: Nike just purchased Hurley Int.
HOPFULLY skiing will experience the same type of growth as skateboarding, because all around it means better product, better athletes, better movies etc...
Rap n' Roll sucks.