Chapter 1: Born for Movement – My Early Life in Beverwijk
My name is Andy Durge. I’m 27 years old, born and raised in the city of Beverwijk, the Netherlands. Growing up, I was always active—running, climbing, pushing boundaries. While other kids played soccer, I was hopping fences and skating through alleyways with borrowed blades. I didn’t know it then, but I was already chasing the feeling of flow and freedom that skating would later give me.
Beverwijk isn’t a big city, but it gave me just enough room to dream. It had streets, railings, ledges. That was my playground. And from the start, I felt that skating wasn’t just fun—it was expression. It was movement with meaning. It was a way to feel alive.
Chapter 2: Finding My Blade – How Skating Became My Language
Like many kids, I got my first pair of skates secondhand. They didn’t fit well, but I didn’t care. I remember watching inline skating edits late at night on YouTube—Arlo Eisenberg, Broskow, Takeshi Yasutoko—and thinking, “I want to be like that.” The tricks, the creativity, the rebellion. That spoke to me.
Skating quickly became more than just a hobby. It became a coping mechanism, a meditation, a way to deal with stress and chaos. If I had a rough day, I skated. If I felt invisible, I skated. Over time, I found myself developing my own style—part aggressive, part street, always expressive.
Chapter 3: The Birth of Creative Bladers
I started Creative Bladers in Beverwijk, not to sell merch or chase clout, but because I wanted to give something back to the community that raised me. I saw young skaters needing inspiration. I saw creatives around me with nowhere to showcase their talent. So I built a platform—a vibe, a crew, a movement.
Creative Bladers is about more than skating. It’s about creativity, freedom, community, boldness, and authenticity. It’s a place where people can be themselves—loud, raw, unfiltered. Whether you’re grinding a ledge or designing your first shirt, you’re part of it.
Chapter 4: The Break – And Why I Came Back
There was a time when I had to pause everything. Life got messy. Work got intense. Skating hurt more than it healed. I felt disconnected from the brand, from the vision. For a while, I walked away from Creative Bladers—not because I stopped caring, but because I needed to breathe.
But some things don’t let go. About two months ago, something snapped back into place. I laced up my skates again. I watched old clips. I scrolled through comments from people who missed the energy. And I knew—I had to bring it back. Stronger. Louder. More real than ever.
Chapter 5: From Zandvoort to ’t Harde – My Life as a Lifeguard
For five years, I worked as a lifeguard at Center Parcs Zandvoort. It was intense but rewarding. I learned responsibility, calm under pressure, and how to read people. Those lessons shaped me—not just as a worker, but as a person.
Two years ago, I lived in Zandvoort full-time. And now, I live at a camping in ‘t Harde, surrounded by nature, simplicity, and a bit of chaos. Currently, I’m a lifeguard at Center Parcs De Eemhof. It’s a job that keeps me grounded—but skating keeps me dreaming.
Chapter 6: Skating as Expression, Not Just Sport
I don’t see skating as a sport. For me, it’s expression. It’s how I deal with emotions. It’s how I rewrite the rules. Every grind, every trick, every slam tells a story. I skate not to impress—but to express.
One of my favorite tricks? Top soul on a handrail. It’s scary, technical, and demands confidence. Landing it feels like telling the world, “I’m still here.”
Skating also gave me scars—on my body and soul. But every fall taught me something. That’s the life of a blader. It’s not about perfection—it’s about resilience.
Chapter 7: Creative Bladers – Now & Beyond
Since restarting Creative Bladers, I’ve been on fire again. New reels, new blogs, new gear drops. I’ve reconnected with the community, started sharing more personal stories, and began planning bigger moves.
My dream? To collaborate with global skate brands. To organize real street events. To build a skate team. To have Creative Bladers known worldwide—not just as a brand, but as a movement.
We already have a dope Etsy store with streetwear for skaters who stand out (check it here), and our website is growing fast. But this is just the beginning.
Chapter 8: What Skating Taught Me
Skating taught me discipline, creativity, and patience. But most of all—it taught me that even when life knocks you down, you roll back up. The streets don’t care about perfection. They care about persistence.
That lesson translates into everything I do—my job, my brand, my life. Whether I’m saving lives in a pool or filming a trick at sunset, I give it my all. Because I know who I am now. I’m a skater, a builder, a dreamer. And this is just the beginning.
Chapter 9: To the Next Generation
To every kid in Beverwijk, Zandvoort, ‘t Harde, or wherever you’re from—know this: You don’t need perfect skates, a skatepark, or sponsors to start. All you need is passion and persistence.
Creative Bladers exists to remind you that skating is for everyone. No gatekeeping. No ego. Just movement and meaning.
And if you ever feel lost—like I did—just remember: Your comeback is always one push away.
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Final Words
Thanks for reading my story. I’m just a guy who fell in love with blades and never stopped dreaming. Creative Bladers is more than a brand—it’s my soul on wheels. And I’m honored to roll with every single one of you.
Let’s keep skating forward. Together.
— Andy Durge
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