My Interview w/ Dallas Local Skateboarding Company ‘Defiant Upgrades’ + CONTEST
Earlier in 2020, I made an attempt to film a Dallas Skate Spots episode by myself at Lewisville Skatepark, AKA Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park early in the morning. I remember forcing myself awake that morning at around 6am to try and film before I started my day job at 9am. (I eventually finished this episode which you can see here: Lewisville Skatepark.) However, I did manage to meet a skater there by the name of David Dulin.
I was setting up my camera at the benches they have near the entrance of the skatepark. David was sitting across from me at another bench while his girlfriend quad skated in the distance. We got to talking and became friends. I couldn’t stay too much longer after we began our conversation, but we kept in touch.
A month or so ago, David reached out to me and announced he was starting his own skateboarding company called Defiant Upgrades. We decided to team up to promote both of our brands via a contest. I also wanted to make my readers aware of the new company by writing this article. David’s a super interesting person and I hope you enjoy my socially distanced and fully online interview with him as we discuss his new company:
Before we get to your new company, tell me a little about yourself and how you got into skateboarding.
“My name is David Dulin, but I also sometimes use my old radio name Dave Foster. I am originally from Michigan. I worked in radio for seven years after graduating from Michigan State University. I moved to the Houston area in 2001 for work and later to Dallas in 2002. I worked in the promotional music field from 2002 until being downsized at the end of 2018. I spent 2019 working with friends while I figured out what I wanted to do next. COVID-19 hit in March of 2020 and I found myself in lockdown. Around April/May my girlfriend took up roller skating, and after going with her to a local skatepark I decided to get a skateboard. Growing up as a kid I was always interested in skateboarding, but my mom was overly cautious. As an ER nurse she was always convinced whatever hobby I took up would land me in the hospital because she, “saw it all the time”. When I did finally convince her to get me a board it was a terrible plastic one that wasn’t any fun. I had no smooth surfaces to skate and none of my friends were into it. I quickly gave up and moved onto other hobbies.”
Who are some of the skaters that inspired you when you first started and who inspires you now?
“Back in the 80’s obviously I was inspired by Tony Hawk and the Zephyr Team guys. The movie ‘Gleaming the Cube’ was awesome. This time around I don’t really follow specific skaters. I have respect for everyone who skates because it is damn hard. People who don’t skate have no idea how much work you have to put in to even get kinda OK at it. I really enjoy watching local skaters at the park. It’s a lot of fun to watch someone keep trying a trick until they nail it. That look of self-satisfaction is awesome.”
Let’s get to your new company! What is Defiant Upgrades and how did this all come about?
“Defiant Upgrades is a vehicle for skaters to express their individuality. Before I got into skating I was (and still am) big into mountain biking. Mountain biking companies have tons of accessories in a multitude of color choices. When I got my first board I wanted to “make it mine” by customizing it. There are a ton of choices for grip tape, deck graphics, truck style/color and different wheel options. I was surprised there wasn’t really a way to customize your axle nuts. It was like the old Ford Model T joke… you can have any color you want as long as it’s (in this case) silver (or sometimes black). There were a few roller skate companies that sold nylon axle nuts in various colors, but I didn’t think plastic was a good material for holding your wheels on. I started to do more and more research. Eventually I found some factories that would produce what I was looking for. They wouldn’t just make a few though, and I had to decide how serious I was about pursuing this. I dipped into savings and started my company.”
Do you have any advice for other people wanting to start their own companies?
“There are plenty of business/self-help “guru’s” out there with advice and systems for being successful at starting a new business. Before starting Defiant Upgrades, I had read a lot of business books. The advice I’d give people can best be summed up by a Seth Godin quote, “If you wait until you have the skill, if you wait until you’re certain it’s going to work, it’s very unlikely you’ll ever take that leap”. If you are tired of working for someone else and being at their mercy, why not take a chance and bet on yourself? You don’t have to run out and quit your job (unless you have the means and a plan), but with the right goal you can start your own journey.”
Where do you see Defiant Upgrades going and what products might we expect? What products do you currently have?
“I would like to grow Defiant Upgrades into a global brand with multiple product lines. The colorful axle nuts are just the first step. I have some other ideas I will be fleshing out soon. I’m also open to expanding into other products/hobbies based on feedback. I feel it’s important to stay flexible and nimble starting out. I don’t have all of the answers and that’s OK. I am looking forward to the journey and finding the answers. Currently we offer 8mm electroplated steel nyloc skate axle nuts in seven colors. We have them packaged for skateboarders (a five pack for $6.95) and roller/quad skaters (a pack of ten for $11.95, $12.95 if they want mismatched colors). I include extra nuts because they’re small and accidents happen, so it’s very easy to lose a nut here or there.”
Random Question:
What’s your favorite skatepark?
“I have skated a lot of the parks in the DFW area and I always come back to the same park. Lewisville’s Railroad Park is still my favorite. It just has so much to offer and it’s huge. So, it can handle a bunch of skaters mixed in with scooter kids, rollerbladers, BMXers and quad skaters. It’s not perfect, but overall, it’s the most fun for me.”
Where can people follow you and your company to support it and keep up to date on everything Defiant?
“Currently our main shop is located over at Etsy. We’re on social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Just search for @defiantupgrades and we should be easy to find. I am in the process of building out a standalone website which will be at defiantupgrades.com. That will launch in the first quarter of 2021. I plan to keep the Etsy shop open after launching the new website as well. I can also be reached directly at defiantupgrades@gmail.com.”
I’d like to thank David for taking time out of his busy day to do this article. It’s always so cool to see people have a passion/idea for something and run with it full steam. I wish David and his company all the best. I’d also like to add that as previously mentioned, we are having a contest where you can win some free nuts! All you have to do is:
Follow Defiant Upgrades on Instagram.
Comment on one of their posts and let us know you’ve entered.
We’ll be announcing a new winner next Friday on the Defiant Upgrades Instagram and in my video coming out Friday, January 15th. Stay tuned and check out David’s company Defiant Upgrades at his website and social media, linked below.
