Scapegoat Skateboards

Blame yourself Ok, don’t get me wrong I dislike history just as much as the next guy, but I got kind of curious as to where the term scapegoat came from. It turns out that it started back in ancient Greece when a natural disaster or crisis would happen the community would pick a cripple, beggar, or criminal, and then beat, stone, and cast him out of the city saying that it was his fault this bad thing happened. Now I know this sounds kind of crazy, but it could be kind of fun too. I say if the site ever gets hacked again we kick Norcal Local out and send him over to the “other site.” By now most of you are wondering, “What does this have to with skating?” My answer to that is it doesn’t, so lets get down to business.

Scapegoat boards come in sizes 7.75, 8.25, and 9 by 33 square tail. This is a full on d.i.y company whos boards seem to have a middle to mellow concave and an overall great feel to them. All the boards are screenprinted in the owner’s basement, and they sponsor a grip of local talent out in Asheville, North Carolina. Instead of me blabbering on and on about how rad these decks are I shot a few questions over to Matt Bader one of the owners of scapegoat to give you alittle more insight to what his company is all about.

1. Why did you decide to start Scapegoat?

I started Scapegoat with Ryan Seymour about 3 years back. We had seen a need for supporting the local scene here in Asheville,NC.
We were also tired of watching the price of skateboards rise so much due to popularity. We decided to take it back to it’s roots. We have spent countless dirty hours drinking and screenprinting in Ryan’s basement, and we really have had a great time with it.

2.Was the process of starting your own skate company harder or easier than you thought?

I had helped build Bill Danforth’s company Bad Apple when I was living in NY, so I knew what I was getting into. Ryan had run his own skateshop in the 80’s, and had considerable knowledge of the industry. So, it was really an easy decision to start. I guess our most difficult task has been to find a wood shop we are happy with. Luckily now, we have a great supplier.

3. Do you have any advice for others wanting to start their own D.I.Y skate company?

D.I.Y. companies are great fun and good for your scene, but if you are in it to make lots of profit you will lose sight of it’s purpose. Make sure before you get involved, you have a somewhat clear vision of what you want to get out of it.

4. What are some things you have learned from starting Scapegoat?

The most important thing is to skate! The industry has grown to such a profitable market, that it seems the heart behind skateboarding is fading. We need to keep it alive and remember that it is about art, individuality, freedom, and personal growth. Don’t let the media tell you your style is lame or your tricks are outdated. There is no such thing. Skateboarding is what you make it.

5. Do you have any people you sponsor?

We have a great team of locals; Rory Hipps, Shamsi Cummings, Charles Whalen, Baxter Harril, Kevin Haney, John Molnar, Zion Greenfield, Michael Blankenship, and Nohe Weir-villatoro. We also have Dave Wilson in Canada (Whom we would like to get in touch with if he’s out there) and Joe Torres in Chile.

6. How can people buy a Scapegoat deck?

As of right now, our boards are only available at PUSH Skateshop in Asheville, North Carolina. The shop was featured in Transworld recently. It has an art gallery in the back, and Rob (the owner) is a great influence for our community. We are lucky to have such a rad shop.