MILK

Duffy, owner of Corvallis’ newest skate shop “Milk” shares his perspective on the skate culture and it’s ability to foster community

The atmosphere of a skatepark is electric with creativity, as people from every walk of life come together to pursue a collective goal: to have a great time riding around on a unique deck and to look fly while doing so. Not only is skateboarding an exciting and creative hobby but more importantly, it provides an opportunity for people to connect with a community of like-minded individuals. It is this aspect of skate culture that recently inspired a Corvallis local to transform a small storefront into a public hub for anyone interested in skating.

A skateboarder by the name of Duffy recently helped open a skate shop a few blocks from the Corvallis skatepark in order to provide decks, parts, and support to the local skating community. The shop, Milk, opened its doors to the public last summer and celebrated with a party offering free pizza and beer. After almost a year, it’s safe to say the shop has accomplished much of what Duffy originally set out to do.

In an interview with DAMchic, Duffy elaborated on his intent behind the project, expressing his dedication to renewing the local skate scene to what he once experienced growing up.

“When I was a kid because I grew up here before I moved away, there were two skate shops here in town and there was, like, a really good scene. And then some of those dudes got older or fell off or moved down the road or something, so I’m just trying to bring it back around,” Duffy said.“I feel like the scene’s kinda been hurting a bit, just because it doesn’t have someone there standing up for it or trying to get the park redone or get lights to put down there; it’s like no one’s really on top of it, so I really wanted a base for that.”

As someone deeply impacted by the early 90s hip-hop and punk rock, Duffy radiates authenticity, and the warm ambiance of the shop is a humbling reflection of his personality.

“I just like getting clothes for free from all the skate companies… I mean if I’m getting it free, I’ll wear whatever color shoes or anything. And I don’t mind it, I kinda like standing out or looking a little different from other people. You go downtown and everyone’s kinda got this Peak Sports look, like dark, neutral colors, and I’m like standing out like a sore thumb with red shoes or a red hat, it’s just such a trip.”

In recent times, skate brand clothing has become increasingly popular, particularly from major labels that had their start in the ‘90s or early 2000s, like Supreme and Palace. When asked about the influence of fashion in skate culture, Duffy had some unique insights on the topic.

“I mean, fashion’s kinda come into skateboarding a lot, and just thinking about running a shop or starting a shop in 2003 or ‘04 and all the buying and stuff with boards and all that. And then within the next few years, skateboard fashion started to come out and you were doing clothing buying… Just to see it all grow in the past 15 years is crazy, and just within the last few years, it’s totally gone into the mainstream culture. And people are wearing it not even knowing it’s skate, you know? People hate on Supreme and this and that, but it’s like, they’re just doing their own thing. They’re still a shop, they support their riders. It’d be like if all of a sudden, people were lining up out here for the clothes; you don’t control that, someone made it seem cool.”

Duffy’s fresh approach to the Corvallis scene could be the root of his success thus far, recently unveiling new shop decks and hoodies featuring graphics by famed skaters like Mark “Fos” Foster and Todd Bratrud. Uplifting a new community of skate enthusiasts has allowed Milk to firmly identify itself with the small-town, big character feel of downtown Corvallis. “You know, I feel like clothing and fashion spans age gaps and all that, because, like, college kids get hyped on it, and I’m in my mid-30s. Maybe I need to grow up or somethin’.” said Duffy

Duffy Hoddie: Milk Skateboards Deck: Milk Skateboards

Amid laughter, it was clear everyone in the shop could relate to the timelessness that comes with skateboarding and fashion.

“It was more about supporting the younger culture to come up. I always wanted to film these huge parts, but it’s like, we have a team, I’m getting out, getting them hyped to go skate, you know [I’m] still skating, but I’m there to film those guys or build up their careers essentially. Coming back, I see a lot of friends maybe get into drugs because they don’t have the support. Whereas, [in bigger cities], it’s like all these kids, even when they quit skating, they’re like starting some company. You kinda get that idea to do your own thing, and I feel like skateboarding builds a lot of that for people, to just go your own direction or do your own thing.”

For Duffy, skating is much more than just riding around a park and hanging out with the homies; of course, that’s a major part of the appeal, but it’s the people and the support that make the atmosphere so authentic. At the start of a new decade, a radical wave of skateboarding style could reinvigorate the community of Corvallis, and that is precisely what Duffy intends to inspire.