The Frontside Story

Wibbling since way back

Origins

Frontside Skateboarding was birthed around 2005 by the amazing Craig McKnight. Craig skated from 1976 until his untimely passing in 2009. He nonetheless lived a full and varied life, encompassing a professional dance career and so much more. Hailing from Glasgow, Craig settled in Dundee and became a leading figure in the skateboarding scene there for more than 2 decades. His vision for Frontside Skateboarding could be described as a meld of his unique aesthetics with the particular vibe and humour that exist in Dundee—but it was very much his baby. The young but much-loved company died with Craig, but his close friends talked often of bringing it back in some way. So, now, here we are, proud to resurrect Frontside in Craig’s honour and very much in line with the vision he had for it.  To learn more on who we are and what we are doing, read this blog post.

Factory Sensibles

Although Frontside was formed by Craig early in the 21st Century, its origins reach back into various Scotch mists of dubious veracity.  FS for sure had been around in the Dundee skate scene since the Factory Sensibles—a raggedy crew of mainly loose-trucked and tight-knit mentalists—ripped up the first Dundee factory circa 1988-1991.  See the huge F.S. painted on the ramp?  They carved; they went fast; maybe they said wibble.  Their trucks certainly did.

Up the coast Aberdabberdeen way, another FS group, False Styles, were wearing funny hats and listening to GONG.  Really!  Yes.  Have a cup of tea; have another cup.  So, FS was happening, and never a better 2-letter combo there was: Newport-on-Tay’s lovely wooden bowl on the hill was quickly christened the Funky Sunset bowl.  Craig lived in Newport and became a father about this time, Father of Sam. He liked to say he was an exclusive member of this FS club  🙂

Frontside Now

We are community;  we are Dundonian;  we are international;   we are free rollers;  we are stuck sometimes;  we are answers to questions;  we are family;  we are skateboarders for life;  we are friends of the earth;  we are silly and proud;  we are stovies of the future;  we are TASCB;  we are going on a bit.  We are Frontside, Forever <3     Read More