by Alex Went, on 13 October 2014 15:07:16 CEST
Marek, how did you start with skateboarding?
I've been doing it for fifteen years - street skating rather than competitive. I got into it because I didn't like being told what to do: skateboarding represents a freedom of lifestyle and the ability to make my own choices. And it's something I've done all over the world - from Barcelona to Melbourne and New York. Two of my friends and I recently started a specialist illustrated magazine for skateboarders, called The Mag, which is a kind of photo-document of street skateboarding. We've sold a good numbers of the first edition worldwide, and are hoping for great things in future.
Why is skateboarding still so cool?
One reason is it's a big group activity; and it's really tied to the world of fashion: clothing, equipment, events. For the magazine, for example, we're managing to get sponsorship from many angles - from skateboard equipment to clothes labels and now even a car company. These are companies who want a piece of the skating action and who want to be associated with what is still a really popular sport.
How much is The Mag and where can I get my hands on it?
Each copy costs 190CZK, and it's distributed through skateboarding shops or on our website
Tell us a bit more about your course at Prague College
I'm doing my Master's in International Management. The subject for my thesis is the cross-cultural adjustment of expats to the Prague environment: how people who come to work here adapt in terms of language and culture; and what affects their adaptation. Ultimately I'm interested in analysing the degree of culture shock, and suggesting ways in which we can proactively reduce it for those enetering new cultural environments.
Maybe skateboarding?
Why not? It's cross-cultural and doesn't require learning a new language after all!
