It all started in 1997 when the first child of The Conference was born. USD was the first company to pioneer skate ideology, introducing new concepts and groundbreaking technology, with easily replacable cuffs, frames and soul plates. USD was always going to be legendary, ever since it invaded the agressive skating scene with its all star team, a collection of the greatest street skaters on the planet.
Kizer was born soon after, as one of the pioneering companies in skate hardware and technology, with well grooving and fast frames to complete the legendary USD skate set-ups. The first UFS frame from kizer, also the first aftermarket UFS frame from any brand, was The Stream. This frame included raised walls, an idea many other brands went on to copy. As frame technology evolved kizer brought out new materials and new concepts, constantly finding itself the company with the widest range of products and never afraid to try something new, working closely with the team striving to pave the way for the future of frame technology.
Deshi was the next company to take the scene. The rolling world was lacking a soft boot, with other soft boot companies slowly loosing their force, Deshi entered the fray with many revolutionary concepts. A skate which showed that rollerblades didn’t need to be heavy and made of plastic, but could also be as light as a shoe, and customisable to every skaters taste, bringing a new sensation of flow and fluidity to skating.
Undercover entered the market soon after, with rollerbladers in mind once again. Simplicity, quality and price was the agenda. We found that we, as rollerbladers, could afford to buy wheels of great quality and life for much lower prices than we were accustomed to.
Sifika brought a new element to rolling. It could never be right for rollerblading to be an incomplete lifestyle. Finally it was about representing the love of rolling in all what we wear, including shoes. Rollers wearing shoes from the skateboarding industry, an industry that would never support us, now had the chance to represent their own lifestyle and create and strengthen the image of rollerblading.
Stygma is the final family member of the conference. This is no T-Shirt and hoody one season company, Stygma has the aim of making a difference and completing the creation of an image of rolling for all to be proud of. Bypassing the arguments between rocker and hip hopper, Stygma aims to underline the one uniting element that we all have in common, the wheels beneath our feet. With great care taken to detail Stygma aims to rise outside of what is standard with a serious, formal image. As rolling matures so must the companies, and this includes the quality, cuts and originality, the highest items on the agenda for Stygma.
2006 is the start once again of a new era for rollerblading. Companies are dropping riders and products like flies where now only the hardcore rolling brands seem to wish to grit their teeth and hold on where it may easier to give in, after all, who ever supported rollerblading outside the companies within it? Society feels it is practiced by hooligans and with rolling gradually being made illegal in many cities, why push it further?
Because we rollerblade; The Conference is a 100% devoted roller - run collective of brands.
The Conference will continue to support skaters worldwide, local and international competitions, creating new, innovative skate technologies and we will still be here in 2097 working closely with the true rollers to create exactly what we all want.
Peace the Conference.
Undercover News:
Undercover. Suddenly the wheels became more perfect, stronger and longer lasting than ever before. Can someone explain how they can run the cheapest wheels, with a quality that many other companies would envy, and throw in a free DVD? The team grows, and becomes stronger, Undercover is on the rise.
Sifika News:
Sifika has secured its nishe as a diverse shoe company, with quality and selection for the rollers. Now it reaches out, with a new project;
Liners that can fill the gaps in the liner market, with the different brands taken into account and striving for new levels of comfort.
Stygma News:
Stygma aims to prove that its early success is no fluke. With 3 photographers, 3 graphic designers, 2 fashion graduates and a web designer, the second line will be an evolution of the first, with more original products and higher quality including products other brands havent had the courage to produce, but with style. With plans to slowly spread outside rolling in the same way many skateboard brands have been able to fuck with the minds of todays youth, the darkness is imminent. With rollerblading proudly written the neck labels, our roots are unquestionable.
www.stygmadoll.com
Kizer News:
Kizer will continue relentless in its quest of innovations. As the frame company with by far the most options, Kizer currently runs 3 different freestyle frames, 3 flat setup frames and a suspension frame, all of the above with multiple materials. NO other company can even try and battle that. However, this year kizer is allready planning its next frame, and all we can say is it ain’t been done before. This new inovation is coming soon so keep your eyes peeled because your going to love it.
Deshi News:
Anyone noticed how Deshi is on the rise again? With new materials and new construction, the Kelso boot was the culmination of 2005. In 2006 Deshi will take rolling by storm. By exagerating the philosofy of Deshi, we came up with some new ideas that may just about totally revolutionise inline. This added to a new soulplate means that Deshi is going to be one to watch in 2006. You want to see how it works? Check out on www.deshtruction.com |
