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Rob Roskopp was a driving force during skateboarding’s most explosive era as a skater and in business. Later he brought that same raw, instinctual approach into mountain biking, building, growing, and exiting a rider-driven brand along the way.

In this episode of the Specialized Bicycles Podcast, Ben Capron sits down with Roskopp for a direct conversation about creativity, risk, and what it means to stay authentic while building a business for riders.

His story moves from the hardcore originality of early skate culture to ripping on dirt, to bringing that same mindset into product and business. Trusting feel. Backing riders. Creating things that actually make riding better. Today, that path has led him to Specialized, where he helps advance mountain bike product and contribute to strategy.

Along the way, he reflects on identity, progression, and growing a business while staying true to what matters. The conversation closes on something simple, but timely. Less hate. More connection. More shared stoke.

This episode goes beyond origin stories, covering:

• How skate culture shaped his approach to riding, product, and business
• Why instinct and feel still matter in modern product development
• What it takes to grow without losing authenticity
• His current work advancing mountain bike product at Specialized
• Why positivity and shared experience matter more than ever

It is a conversation about edge, evolution, and building for riders, then and now.

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