Forrest Webber is an entrepreneur and digital marketing expert, specializing in SEO, PPC, and home services. As the owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning, Fireplace Distributor, and SEO for Hotel, he builds and scales brands under Brother Brands. A former Tulane baseball player, he transitioned into business leadership and digital strategy. Skateboarding’s high-stakes nature and individuality set it apart from traditional sports. Its distinct culture, viral potential, and Olympic inclusion have expanded its reach. Webber notes that skateboarders should leverage social media to build personal brands, similar to YouTube golfers. Underground media and viral clips continue to shape public perception.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What was the initial appeal of skateboarding culture?
Forrest Webber: Maybe not the culture, but the sport itself is what intrigued me. They’re putting their body on the line each run, it’s very high stake. In that level of flow state, you can pull off crazy feats, like they were in the Olympics.
Jacobsen: Since not deeply involved in skateboard culture, but with an interest in it,what aspects of the sport seem unique to you?
Webber: Their clothing choices is different than pretty much any other sport besides being similar to snowboarding. It really stands out when you’re used to watching other sports that have organized uniforms.
Jacobsen: How do you view skateboarding as evolving from a niche hobby to something in the Olympics?
Webber: People like to be entertained; if you provide value, people will watch.
Jacobsen: What makes skateboarding different than more traditional sports?
Webber: It doesn’t appear as organized as traditional sports because there aren’t teams (at least not popular ones notable by outsiders of the sport).
There don’t appear to be as many rules which fit the culture of skateboarding.
Jacobsen: What values does this sport inculcate and bring out in youth?
Webber: Any outside activity is good for kids. I ripsticked a lot as a teenager with my friends and had a great time doing it and challenging each other to go down taller and taller mountains.
Jacobsen: Are there any parallels between digital marketing in the hotel industry and the skateboarding world?
Webber: Skateboarders and hotels each have their own unique personality.
Jacobsen: What has been the role of underground and alternative marketing and media in the spread of different public perceptions of skateboarding?
Webber: I feel like my opinion has been shaped by what goes viral and, of course Tony Hawk.
Jacobsen: What digital marketing strategies should skateboarders use to make themselves the brand and maintain interest in the subculture and alternative sport?
Webber: They should be trying to go viral on social media every day. It seems like they could make more money from sponsorships and ad revenue than from the sport itself. This is similar to the rise in popularity of YouTube golfers.
Skateboarding is a very clippable sport which makes it easy (if you’re good) to make clips and push volume.
Jacobsen: What digital marketing strategies should skateboarders use to make themselves the brand and maintain interest in the subculture and alternative sport interesting to hundreds of thousands of people?
Webber: It was definitely interesting to watch in the Olympics, I am not sure if it’d have the same appeal if it was on ESPN2, for example. But that’s similar to almost all of the Olympic sports; it’s just a different feeling.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Forrest.
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Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-
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Photo by Lukas Bato on Unsplash
