The return of Plan B Skateboards has been in the news for a little while. Is resurrecting an old skateboard brand a good idea, or a doomed attempt to recreate something that can never be?
When Plan B released their Questionable video in 1992 it was mind-blowing. It started out with some guy named Pat Duffy who nobody had heard of before. The guy wasn’t pro, and he was doing tricks nobody had seen before, like backside smiths down 10-stair rails, 50-50s down long, double-kink, round rails, and backside lipslides down long handrails in the rain.
The video continued in its insanity and ushered in a new era in skateboarding, both in tricks and style. The only disappointing part of the video was the lack of footage from Matt Hensley.
I remember the first time I watched it so well because that week my family had taken a commitment to not watch TV for a week, and while I was watching the video with my friend Matt my dad came in and was like “Josh, we all made a commitment as a family to not watch TV–what are you doing?” I explained that this was a video, not TV. You can guess that argument didn’t go over too well.
What I specifically remember is how the video made me feel. Here was my first introduction to Plan B, and it was mind-blowing. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. To me and thousands of other skateboarders, Plan B was suddenly the most amazing skateboard company to ever exist.
Sadly, Plan B didn’t last long because its founder, Mike Ternasky, was tragically killed in a traffic accident. Mike had been the real power behind former skateboarding powerhouse H-Street, and had brought the same magic to Plan B for a few years. Danny Way tried to keep it alive after Mike passed on, but it just wasn’t happening.
Now, Danny is trying to bring it back. The question is whether he can pull it off. I think he has a few challenges, but he’s facing some of them well already.
1. The Team. Can Danny put together a team that compares to the team the first Plan B had? As you already know, he’s got Paul Rodriguez, Ryan Gallant, and PJ Ladd as the street team, and himself and Colin on vert. While there are plenty of other good skaters out there today, you know it doesn’t get much better than this. If Danny has done anything right it’s been the team he’s put together, and I’m sure we’ll see more good additions to come.
2. The Brand. There’s a slight problem here. For those of you who don’t know, company logos and names are pieces of property, like a house, or a car. The thing is that the Plan B name and logo don’t belong to Danny. They belong to World Industries, or Dwindle. The question is whether Danny will have to fight to get the rights to use the name and logo, whether he’ll have to buy them, or whether they’ll just give them to him. Or whether he’ll give up and change the name. I have a hard time believing he didn’t think about this before doing this, but who knows.
The second issue with the brand is whether Danny can treat it right. The original Plan B branding was great work. I’m already disappointed with this green color being used. It just doesn’t have the clean look of the original Plan B brand.
3. The Business. Plan B worked because of Mike Ternasky, and without him it went under, despite Danny’s best efforts. Has Danny learned enough in the past decade to make it work where it once failed? He’s got Sal Barbier helping him, that’s definitely a plus, because when you need things to get done there’s nothing better than a Vin Diesel look-alike. But all kidding aside, Danny probably is a lot smarter and more experienced than he was ten years ago. The guy has been through a lot.
4. The Skateboarding Environment. I believe the biggest challenge Danny faces is that skateboarding is different than it was in ’92. I’m not sure it’s possible to come out with a video that is as progressive as Questionable was at the time. For one, skaters are used to being amazed, such that nothing is that amazing anymore. We’ve been saturated with amazing feats. In addition, videos just aren’t as special as they once were. During the late ’80s and early ’90s the only companies putting out videos were Powell and Santa Cruz, and then H-Street. But at the peak you might have been able to buy 3-4 videos per year. There just weren’t that many videos to buy.
Today, you could probably buy a few videos per month if you could afford it, and there are videos being produced by companies in other countries you’ve never even heard of.
That’s another thing. In ’92 the entire skateboarding world looked to California. While that’s still largely the case, things are changing. Companies like Blueprint, Cliche, and Flip have changed skateboarding into something truly multi-national. When something in California happens it isn’t necessarily as earth-shattering as it once was, and that means Plan B might not be as special as it was.
My personal opinion on the matter is that I’m not sure I want Plan B to come back. Maybe I just want to have these great memories of what was possibly the most amazing skateboard company ever. If the new Plan B fails to meet expectations will it ruin the memories I have? On the other hand, maybe the new Plan B can live up to or exceed expectations and it will simply be another chapter in Plan B’s amazing history. It will be interesting to watch, that’s for sure.
I can only say mike would wish Danny and Sal and World Industries all the luck in the world. Mrs. T
In case any of you are curious who this lady is, it’s Mike Ternasky’s mother. After seeing this post I emailed her and asked her some questions.
I think I’ll need to write up a post about Mike sometime. If anyone has any info they can send me send it on over. Although most kids probably don’t know who Mike is, he was probably one of the most revolutionizing forces skateboarding has ever seen. If you know anything about the original Plan B you can pretty much give him credit for it.
Okay, first of all
What made plan B for me is of course the “Michael Ternasky” touch
just as in what made H-street for me, punk rock raw skating never surrender home-made video type of stuff, something the world wasn’t ready for, something that doesn’t fit in society’s need and keen mentality because “the truth $%#$^$’ hurts” H-street took it to a level defining progressive skating at that time and plan B is not just H-street continues. No , Plan B is just a year later starting a new and different approach with tricks never done before directly pushed to a maximum level making every team member bigger than they allready were. They were now officially the Gods of Skating breaking boundaries with limitless progress and even till this day I can watch a Plan B movie and say we’ll never have anything like this again… let’s just hope the new Plan B comes with progressive and innovative skating but at the same time give it the ternasky home made video crazy style on camera for all of us to see….
P.S. : don’t forget a Primus & Led zeppelin track on The new Plan B movies if anyone connected to Plan B ever gets the pleasure of reading all this stuff I just wrote….
Ok dude. How old r u like 50. U obviously have no idea what ur talking about. Have you been watching the X games. Danny Way is the best vert and all around skateboarder till this date. The dude has acid dropped from a helicopter and the eighty foot tall quitar in las vegas. Not to mention he cleared the great wall of china and they put his name on it. Do you know any other americans with their name on the great wall of communism. He created the mega ramp and since has been undefeated in the competition in the x games which wouldn’t even be there in the first place if danny wouldn’t have came up with the Idea. And the street team. Rodrigues, Gallant, and Ladd are top of the line skaters who have everything else that anyone has on any other skate team. Last but not least Danny way owns and operates DC shoes with his brother which is one to the top selling skateshoe companys across the world. I think you should do some research before you run ur mouth like u know everything. All the kids here in Az are already flocking to get Plan B boards. I think the comp. will do just fine.
10 years ago Danny was already the best all around skateboarder, had a great team on Plan B, owned and operated DC, etc. And yet Plan B still went out of business. Maybe things will be different this time around, but why would they be? Is it because Danny and Colin have more experience and learned from mistakes made with Plan B ten years ago? Is it because the industry is larger and more mainstream and will support more companies than it did 10 years ago? Will Plan B sign a co-marketing agreement with Mountain Dew?
If one-time stunts by vert skaters sell decks how come I’ve never seen a kid with a Danny Way deck, anywhere, ever? And plenty of companies have great teams, but having a good team and managing that team well are two different things that make all the difference in the world. Plan B isn’t even projected to have a video out until 2007. They should have had one out within 6 months if they wanted to make a big splash.
Plan B might very well work out and work out well, but based on precedents in the skateboarding industry they’ve certainly got their work cut out for them if they’re going to make it, and while they’ve done some things right (great team) they’ve also made some big mistakes (no video). Only time will tell whether they’ve done things right or not. I hope they have.
All I know is I am super stoked about the return of Plan B. My friends and I used to watch the old Plan B video all the time @#$# near 10 years ago. Danny Way is the #@$#. Mike T was the $#*#, may he rest in peace. I have already purchased a Plan B deck, zip up, and a hat. I just felt like I had to. Plan B was the reason I started skateboarding. I cant wait for the new video. I honestly think if they put a lot of time and strong effort into it, Plan B will be on top of the skateboarding game. Like the dude said up top. Look at f***in DC. The biggest skate shoe company ever. A lot of people look at DC as a “poser” brand but most of those people dont know or understand who is behind DC. I think they can handle turning Plan B into a champion company. At least I would really like it to be. Im sure there are a ton of kids out there that feel the same way. Plan B is and was amazing.
wow plan b decks r the best they last long n they hav the longest lasting pops ive ever seen. im riding danny ways pro model deck and its great
heeeeelp!!!
Can someone let me know where I can buy old h street decks , preferably not used.
Would really like to get hold of my childhood deck , It was a sal I think logo of grind on rail NBA style.
any info appreciated to the above address
I’v had two PlanB skateboards in my life and there very good.
Plan B is awesome! Paul Rodriguez, PJ Ladd, Danny Way, Brian Wenning, Colin McCay, Pat Duffy, Ryan Gallant, and now freakin’ Ryan Shecler! Dude! I never knew the story behind Plan B. I found out about Plan B when Tony Hawk’s Project 8 came out and I saw Paul Rodriguez’s (My favorite skater) deck. RIP Mike Ternasky. Plan B still kickin!’
In my opinion I think the Plan B team is excellent so far they have recently made a sighning with Ryan Sheckler and that a good start to their new era. Things dont need to be rushed to make a vid because patience makes perfect, the longer it takes the better the vid will become. Its a big boost for Plan B Team to av Sheckler or their squad. R.I.P “MIKE TERNASKY” and God Bless and guide your family………………
In my opinion I think the Plan B team is excellent so far they have recently made a sighning with Ryan Sheckler and that a good start to their new era. Things dont need to be rushed to make a vid because patience makes perfect, the longer it takes the better the vid will become. Its a big boost for Plan B Team to av Sheckler or their squad. R.I.P “MIKE TERNASKY” and God Bless and guide your family………………
MT was my best friend, I’m JT his cusin and we couldn’t have been closer.
He showed me so much.
I met a hand full of you guys through the H-street Plan B years..
I still can’t beleive he died.
Remember when they trashed his team van so he just drove it around in everyones face?
Danny almost got in a fight with the people buring him at his funeral, they weren’t respecting the flowers.
Anyway I’m in Hollywood alot these days.. I wish there was something done for the Memory of Ternasky..anyone have any ideas-hit me back.
Mike should not be forgaotten. peace.jt
Hey JT,
I was was Mike’s good friend in 6th grade through highschool in Milpitas. He was and still is an inspiration for me. We were best friends for a few years. He was a big inspiration for me to go on to law school, although he (and I) didn’t realize it at the time. #!$#$, I wish he was still around. Definitely, Mike should not be forgotten. Peace out.
Jim Ray
I was on H-Street pretty much the whole time it was around and definitely would have to say that MT was the driving force and mastermind behind it all. He knew how to get inside all of our heads and make us push ourselves as hard as we could. Noone else in skateboard history has even come close to playing the role MT did, he was a friend, coach and mentor all in one. Stacy Peralta was the MT of the early 80s, but MT took it to a more raw, real level. Not so glamorous as the bones brigade. Beyond all of that, he was a visionary. He was not content with the way things were and knew how to accelerate the evolution of skateboarding exponentially. Everyone in the world affected by skateboarding in any way needs to give their respects to him, cause there will never be another like MT. Danny, Sal, Colin etc. would not be who they are today without MT, not saying they are not super skilled skaters, but MT took them all to a new level. He knew how to facilitate growth and progress. By Danny, Sal and Colin carrying the torch, it is helping to keep his legacy alive and with the skills and resources they have, there is no way it will not work. MT is still involved… believe that.
plan b is freaking awsome but you sould make some with some helium core so they.
umm do any of you guys no when the new video comes out?
jm ray
e-mail me if you get this messagejtrhythm@yahoo.com
Someone with the means should do a documentary on the life of Mike. There’s already one on Rocco, Jason Jesse, Tim Brauch and more. Why not add Mike’s name to that list. He’s surely deserving of it and it would be a great way of honoring his memory.
Does World Industries own Plan B?
i am personally a big fan of plan b and look at them now. they are rolling along quite comfortably and have stacked their team with the best. RIP mike
plan bs are awsome i aint got one but im gettin one my freind has one and sometimes he lets me ride his yesturday i loosened up my wheels and mine are fast i have a hobie board thx
Alright,
I have never had a problem with Plan B or any of their product prior to this experience. I have been skating for quite a while and have tried out almost every type of board. I was bitter towards Plan B because they bought out all of the good pro’s off of their original teams. I finally got a Plan B deck as a gift and set it up just a couple of hours ago. It is the brand new Paul Rodriguez Pro-Light deck which is supposed to be super light and ultra strong. Well, I went out and skated it with a brand new setup. I was extremely disappointed to see that it had very little pop and I couldn’t ollie nearly as high as I could with all of the other boards I have skated. What urged me to write this review is that after TEN minutes of skating and doing a few flat ground tricks, I snapped the nose on an ollie north. TEN MINUTES. I can’t get a hold of Plan B’s customer support because their website is extremely unhelpful and they won’t respond to any of my attempts to get a hold of them. I am VERY disappointed with the construction of a deck that is supposed to be Super Light and Ultra Strong and I can’t understand why so many good pro’s would want to stand behind a company with such poor construction. Even if this board was a defect, unless Plan B can convince me otherwise I would not recommend this company to ANYONE and will never buy a plan B deck again or carry them in my shop.
Plan B’s great, They have an all-star team, getting the classic Plan B legacy out there and have something great to start off with. Mike is a legend for Plan B he may have died but not to early to change skating for ever. R.I.P Mike Ternasky, May God be your light.
dear plan b tech deck company what is your e mail address
dear plan b tech deck company what is your address