One, BLADE LIFE: An Interview with Mark Korte
Who is Mark Korte and what does he have to do with rollerblading?
I can basically answer that by saying… I am the USD Enforcer, one of the founders of the Stretch Crew, and a Powerslide veteran… since a lot of kids might not know what in the hell that means, I will break it down.
I came to be part of USD in the late part of ‘98, when the team was Arlo, Champ, Dustin, Jon, and Josh… at the time I was only hired by Powerslide to push papers, but that changed after a week or so.
To make a long story short, I had found my calling. I got to know all of the USD team (which was going through a transition period, much like we are now) and I ended up being the filter between the company and the team; I might even go as far as to say the glue, and at the same time I was the International Sales Manager at Powerslide.
So I was able to combine all of that into helping make USD (and The Conference Brands that followed) the hottest thing available. During this period, of which I am very proud to be a part of, we had the undisputed best team in Rolling, I built a worldwide flow team to rival all others at the time, and worked with distributors in over 40 countries building USD.
I was very adament about everything having structure, and working with the best team of rollers in the world has moulded my personality to this day, and I am grateful to each and every one who ever rolled for USD. [...]
Check the Full Interview of Mark Korte on Believeinone.com.
Tags: mark korte, one mag
September 20th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
to me it seems hes a big douchebag (acting like something between soccer coach and souljaboy) with big ego who missed the fact that rolleblading has changed a lot since he left.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I agree completely.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Wow that was one of the best rolling interviews I have ever read. We need more professionals like Mark Korte in our industry. Glad to have him back.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Let’s get a forty year old to make rollerblading cool with his witty slogans…
September 20th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Mark Korte is what the industry needs. Im honoured to be working with him on a daily basis. Yeh he is cocky, but he’s not scared of anyone, and has the experience and drive and passion to get sh~t done, and the results will be seen.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
…sad thing we have to revitalize some fossil…
September 20th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
he has taught me allot..
glad your back
September 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Honestly I cant stand this and I have to say my word. Cocky guy talking about how much they support rolling and how it is all done for love while in my country they canceled distribution contract with skater-owned STRONGLY SCENE SUPPORTING company for a hockey equipment distribution company that just makes money and doesnt support anything.
I would really love to hear their part of the story (if someone of you reads this, please react) instead of having to listen to how his heart beats “aggressive”.
Hopefully everyone started to skate razors/remz/valo/nimh after so the shop and the scene is still alive.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Josh Petty told me Mark Korte is a hipster
September 20th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
from 98 tll today (probably since puberty) he always had the same jelly perfectly cut hair, and a sweet ear ring…always innovating…he is surely going to improove the conference…
September 20th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
and Petty told me that after his VG7 section Mark Korte wanted him on USD, and was even imploring him by saying “I will give you a good blow job just skate for me”…
September 20th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Maark Korte is not a skater. this is a stupid move. FAIL
September 20th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
NOT!!! you don`t know anything
September 20th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Something needs to happen at conference, the website is now called usd-skate.com instead of conference, so now USD is the brand that covers all the other brands like Xsjado etc
Its just a big shambles now, skates that never get released, teams merging, then disappearing, it looks like a drum & bass youth club down at conference :D
Something needs to happen as they have not released a video for any of their teams at all for years, its a slack ass company now and every brand it steals from the originator just goes down hill. Powerslide are greedy but all they do is take something good and make it dead weight.
I ride throne skates now and have for the past 9 years but im really starting to lose my respect for powerslide, Razors seem to be keeping it more real and NIMH are the realist of the realist’s so I hoe they don’t go bust (as the NIMH website went down a couple of months back, slightly worrying).
I can’t see how a cocky greased up bambino like Korte can do USD/powerslide any good, they need someone who is smart and mature, not just mature.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
That picture is Epic.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Maybe Mark Korte’s spawn will fill in for pops, apparently the lil turd actually owns blades… Later teal, purple, zebra. Hello water colors, giraffes, lego-maniacs, and cursive.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Patrick Swayze died… why can’t Korte?
September 20th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
You guys are all idiots. Korte was a huge part of why the Powerslide brands (before the conference) were doing so well. He has always had a great impact on the industry.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
“to me it seems hes a big douchebag (acting like something between soccer coach and souljaboy) with big ego who missed the fact that rolleblading has changed a lot since he left.”
and
“from 98 tll today (probably since puberty) he always had the same jelly perfectly cut hair, and a sweet ear ring…always innovating…he is surely going to improove the conference…”
is whats happening
… you’re so twothousand and LATE dude!!!!
September 20th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
bacon tits: I don’t think you’ve ever worked with Mark Korte? He’s… well… very Mark Korte…
September 20th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
some explaining:
A 4o minut car ride from Nuremberg Lies a small city called Bayreuth.
Its believed to´v been founded in the Midle Ages and is mostly famous
for Richard Wagrer and its fine classical architecture. just some kilometers
Nort lies a town called Bindlach with a post office, bank, baker some shops
etc…
you get the picture..
Anyway There is a building near some fields, schools, warehouses and stuff.
In this building work some very nice people who are working for a skater
called Matthias. His co worker Mark, an earlier US soldier Is a big fan of us
rollerbladers all over the world. He takes great pride in providing us with
the latest and greatest of Rolling goodies. He demands the best of all of us,
including himself. Some guys find him a bit demanding, but they don´t get
what be is about. since 2005 mark has been “doing other things” but now
that hes back he wants to show us all how the rollers can get our treats for
putting effort in customizing and mixing our skates together cuz thats USD.
Or:
Mark´s this guy who digs skating and likes his job that he took a break from.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Wait, so he was responsible for the Psirus and that Lakers pro skate? I really feel he can turn USD around.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:47 am
I hope it’s true that Feinberg is coming back, hell yes!!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 8:42 am
Guys, let me (as someone, who’s dealing with Korte for so long) try and explain some things.
Korte and I have a “complicated” relationship (as i have with many in this industry) ;)
back in the day (when i had to deal with him as my account manager at powerslide) i really hated him, couldn’t stand his ego, his decisions and his damn moustache!
now he’s back, he’s still 100 % the same, and i learned that, also if his ego is really annoying and whatever he says is anoying too, he is so much more dedicated to this sport than, lets say 98 to 99,5 % of this skater owned “industry”. (and i guess i have to include myself – my dedication to this sport doesn’t go as far as Korte’s).
he is the one who’ll bring memories back in our heads, he came back to remind us WHY we started and WHERE we wanted to go….it was good that he took a break; because if he didn’t, i wouldn’t be able to write this, i’d still hate him (i guess me and him…and propably everyone else who deals or dealed with him needed a relationship-break)
However, you can think whatever you want about him, but you can be sure about one thing:
He is the one who’d stand next to you if there are 100 people to kick your ass and you’d be alone – he wouldn’t ask for reasons of the fight, he wouldn’t ask (and mind) if you started, he’d just ask if you are a skater, if you are, that would be reason enough for him to go to death with you.
Korte, lets make this rolling world a better place (again)…i’m with you and i’ll do my part of the job.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:53 am
they need Korte at PS because NONE OF THEM SPEAKS ENGLISH PROPERLY
September 21st, 2009 at 9:57 am
“they need Korte at PS because NONE OF THEM SPEAKS ENGLISH PROPERLY”, there’s no S after speak, it should read “they need Korte at PS because NONE OF THEM SPEAK ENGLISH PROPERLY”.
Thank you, come again.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:01 am
I love skateboarding!
September 21st, 2009 at 11:22 am
well i must confess i dont give a fck about him since i was see the no1 arcticle that he is back and things like this. This is an ego centered cockhead. if you r a legend like oldschool usd team..see DL JP for example they dont need to advertise themselves, neither feinberg. what does this guy do? HEY GUYS IM AN ICON, RESPECT ME BECAUSE IM THE GOD OF SKATING AND I GIVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE CHANGES. a real person dont advertise himself, the main people are not in front of the society but they r always in our mind, and we know if there is a development who is the person to give respect. stay behind mk and u gonna be in the first line again unless u do this ego.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Right on, i think this is good news!
We need someone with swagger and personality to get things done in this industry – we’re getting pushed around too much. To all the guys saying its a bad thing as he’s responsible for the Psirus – did you read the interview?!, or just look at the pictures ? This and the carbons makes me feel good things for our industry again.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:14 pm
did this guy ever actually skate ?
September 21st, 2009 at 5:16 pm
For all the people asking bullshit questions, just read the ITW first!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 5:57 pm
whats wrong with him? what i read seems interesting, and good…
September 21st, 2009 at 11:02 pm
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September 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 am
whats the deal with the GARDEN HOSE link???? HAHA ROFL
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:29 am
Ok Mark, Im glad your back, but nooo karaoke please;)
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:08 am
man how come that the moment i started reading some and saw that this guy has some personality and had the balls to be proud of some good shit he has accomplished, i knew there was going to be so much hate on him?
too much hate on this site
October 7th, 2009 at 1:46 am
I met mark today actually. I work at d-structure here in san francisco. I don’t get what all of you guys’ problems are with him. He’s traveling around personally to the skate shops. He showed me nothing but respect and kindness as a fellow roller. Seems like a chill dude to me. He brought in the new sean and colin kelso carbon fibers. And the new yellow thrones. By the way, all three are sick. He says they will all be released. You guys need to quit the hate. They wouldn’t have interviewed him and everything if he wasn’t a respected member of the sport. I don’t care if anyone talks hate about D-structure or azikiwee either. They are both important figures in rolling. You guys are a bunch of groms sitting here on the internet bitching instead of skating. Ya’ll don’t know shit! Bye!