Meet Markus Neustaedter of Skate True Skate Shuttle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Markus Neustaedter.

Markus, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been skateboarding for over 17 years now. When I was a teenager, I used to drive my friends all over the city to different skateparks for fun. As I grew older I was enrolled in college and took a part time job as a skateboard instructor at an indoor skate school in Mesa. Over a 4 year period,  I worked my way up to working with the elite level skaters, who were kids competing for spots in X games and other big reputable contests. In 2013 I decided to leave my position at this skateboard school and wanted to start my own skateboard program for kids. I saw incredible value and worth in the lessons the skateboard school was teaching but felt like they were missing a crucial element. The classes were very generic and cookie cutter, with the intention of teaching the children basic skills all at the same time, the same way. I believed that what made skateboarding appealing and attractive to its participants was the freedom of expression and creativity it allowed. I wanted to start a program where the kids were free to “Skate True” to themselves, and could explore their own personalities, creativities, and athleticism in an encouraging group and setting. I started the program in August 2013 out of my father’s 4 door Audi. Within a month I was overbooked in that car and it was evident I needed to upgrade so I purchased a 2002 Ford Windstar.

The groups took off from there and we’ve been operating for over 4 years ever since. In March of this year, we upgraded again and purchased a 2015 Ford Transit 15 passenger van. As such our sessions are now bigger than ever! We have 3 sessions operating weekly every single week! Monday, Friday and Saturday! We film the kid’s newest hottest tricks that they’re working on and excited about and send them to the parents right as they’re landing them in real time! We then make edits of the kids tricks and feature them on our social media profiles for Instagram @skatetrue13 and on Facebook Facebook.com/skatetrueaz.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part it’s been a pretty smooth road. I was blessed to be the original and first Skatepark shuttle in the valley so I didn’t have too much competition the first 4 years. The biggest obstacle and challenge is convincing new clients and parents who have never heard of the program that it’s safe for them to allow their child to get into a van and go on a skate session for 4 hours. I myself am a parent so I completely understand the hesitance or reluctance. Due to the delicate nature of working with people’s children and their safety being of paramount importance we’ve been careful to grow our business organically and grass roots so that all the clients know each other on some level and myself and know Skate True is a business they can trust through and through.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Skate True Skate Shuttle – what should we know?
We provide 4 hour sessions to 2 different parks 3 times a week for skateboarding kids! We give tips and advice during the sessions but allow ultimately the trick selection to be up to the skater!

We document the skater’s progression in real time and send their parents videos of their kids landing new tricks as its happening! We then take the videos and make short edits that we post and feature on our Instagram and Facebook pages! We also offer private skateboard lessons outside of our sessions. We are the original and premiere skate park shuttle in the greater phoenix area! Our sessions are built around positivity camaraderie and encouragement so our groups are nothing but positive affairs where the kids are safe to be themselves and discover and cultivate their personalities and skateboard styles!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Perseverance, positivity, and pureness are the 3 words that come to mind when attempting to attribute Skate True’s success to certain qualities or characteristics. There were many times in the first year or 2 that I ran Skate True that I would hit slow months or slow periods of weeks in a row. It was discouraging and many times I wondered if this business was sustainable or worth trying to make work. My intentions were pure the whole time through and because I didn’t give up, maintained a positive outlook and new in my heart that I was trying to make a program work that would be fun and benefit the kids I think I was able to come out the other side and make my business work for as long as I have.

Pricing:

• Your first session ever is $25
• Each session after is $45 pay as you go or:
• Monthly membership of 5 session for $150

Contact Info:

• Address: 920 E. Playa Del Norte Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281
• Website: www.skatetrue.com
• Phone: 480-593-8559
• Email: skatetrue13@gmail.com
• Instagram: @Skatetrue13
• Facebook: skatetrueaz

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