ESPN skate coverage is usually right on the money (no pun), especially when it comes to the comings and goings of the skate kings, the folks that drive the industry and all of its innovations. Yesterday, they published a pretty timely piece, one that many other skate publications would rather avoid, about the state of the skate biz and the effects of the recession. Our boy Greg Lutzka, who is in many ways a leader in the industry (both the skills and the biz), goes on record to discuss how the effects of unemployment have trickled down to the local level.

Pro skater, Greg Lutzka, explains, “The economy is definitely hurting our industry because people aren’t buying as many boards and aren’t spending as much money. It’s hurting our board sales because, as a pro, our boards sell for $60 when a kid can go buy a local shop deck for $35.”

The bottom line is that smaller skate brands and smaller markets will be most hit. The result of that will be less innovation and indie startups than in the last 10 years or so, at a time when skate is just coming into its own. That’s not even taking into consideration the rising star skaters that might not be able to compete. It’s not a surprising story, but the well-timed sentiment on skateboarding as a cottage industry that has seen much success and could be in for a tough run is welcolmed.

More: ESPN Skateboarding