TEAM RIDAHS

Team Ridah (n.) -Derived from “Team Rider” which in skateboarding, companies form a team of like minded skaters to represent and showcase the brand’s identity. There are different levels to the team such as Flow, AM, and Pro but all considered part of the fam. A goal is to turn pro and get a signature board and everyone dreams of getting a signature shoe. Watching skate videos growing up, I didn’t see these teams like a basketball or baseball team. These teams weren’t head to head against each other in the world series, these team’s objective was to film a video part showcasing each team rider, and release a prominent full length video as a team. In most sports its about talent, you get drafted to whoever will take you and that’s the team your’e on. Of course with skateboarding you have to have talent but its more about who you are as a person and if you fit with the whole team. Also if you have a shoe or clothing sponsor, they have their teams as well. A skater can be on multiple teams with someone from a different board company but have the same shoe sponsor simultaneously filming for multiple video parts. Its a community built together to make skateboarding better. It’s cool how your favorite skater can be on the same team as another skater you like but they have different board sponsors. I admired how much each rider supported and pushed one another to do their best. If someone switch flipped backtailed big flipped out down Hollywood High, the whole team is usually more hyped than the one who did the trick. The more they have each other’s back, the more the team grows, which leads to more opportunity for everyone. To me the bond was like family or brotherhood. I don’t consider Karuma a team but more as family like in skateboarding. I don’t want it to be seen as exclusive or cliquish that is only available to a select group of people. You can be a ridah and be apart of another car crew as well. It’s all in the individual person, and if we’re in different squads, doesn’t mean we’re divided and can’t be friends. We’re here to grow and help each other so the community looks good as a whole and maybe not recognized to be related to some takeover shit. To be a “Team Ridah” means you have a genuine pure heart, no need to fake the funk. There’s no competition between ridahs, just like in skating when one’s up, we all up. Never selfish, treat others with respect, live with integrity, and stay positive. This list defines Karuma and a goal of mine is to turn everyone “PRO” with a signature shirt or product representing them. I’m very fortunate to have made a relationship with each one of these people. They have my back just as much as I have theirs. -TU