It is always fairly sad when a veteran in the skateboard industry leaves a company they have been a part of most of their lives. Just this week Brandon Biebel has parted ways with Girl Skateboards after twenty plus years. Whilst no official announcement has been made from Team Manager Sam Smyth, Girl have subtlety removed Brandon's name from the Team section of their website .
Earlier this month Biebel had made an apology for filming an altercation on the streets in Hollywood of a naked man being beaten up and left unconscious. The video received widespread criticism and was viewed by many as poor taste from the professional skateboarder. The past few years Brandon has been relatively quiet on his Instagram and has posted very little footage of him skating so it leaves us asking the question, 'Is this the end of his Professional Skateboarding career?'
Brandon has been seen to be endorsing Budweiser beer on multiple posts on his social media and just after the unsavoury incident earlier this month Venture trucks also confirmed he no longer rides for Venture Trucks or Spitfire Wheels.
Of what was once a vast library of epic tricks, Biebel's Instagram account unfortunately no longer has any skateboarding clips left at all. It seems the clips have been deleted in their entirity which for the skate community is somewhat of a shame. All that’s left are some photos from around Hollywood where he resides and a few body building photos, with Biebel from time to time even making his account ‘private.’ He also follows very few skateboarders on his account, perhaps suggesting he may simply want to step away from life as a professional skateboarder altogether.
It is also no coincidence that Nike SB rider and close friend Stefan Janowski posted on Instagram that "the skatepark known as 'North Hollywood, the Park and Biebel's World is no longer with us..." signaling the end of an era.
Brandon's legacy will forever be etched in skateboarding history with amazing parts such as 'Chomp on This,' 'Yeah Right' as well as Transworld's 'Subtleties.' It would be shame if we did not witness the talent he has on a skateboard again at some point down the road. With Biebel now left with little or no sponsors it will be interesting to see what path he takes from here.
If it is the last time we see Brandon set foot on a board we thank him for his contribution to skateboarding and the incredible parts he put out over the years. We wish him all the best!
