Hey guys, my name is Artem Heikes. Some of you may know me as the owner of Redheart Fingerboards. And even more of you may know me as the guy who sold homemade products on eBay under the name "Maplewoodfingerboards" There has been much confusion to what i did back then. Most of you think that i made that name just to get people to think I am Keith Jackson from Maplewood Fingerboard. So more people would buy my homemade products.

I never had even known that Maplewood was a company back then. In fact i started to sell my products under "MaplewoodFingerboards" even before Maplewood came into the internet fingerboarding scene. When i met Keith Jackson, (Through the internet) I still sold things under the Maplewood name, to be honest i still sold things under the maplewood name for a couple of weeks right before it started getting serious, then i backed off. I never wanted to give Keith a bad name just by making a few extra bucks. I never wanted to hurt anyone in this way... But you have to understand that was my first year of fingerboarding and making fingerboards. Yes money was on my mind, back then it was my motive. But i guarantee this; almost all small fingerboard business owners have the same motive when they just start out, It takes us a while to make that perfect deck just to be sold for 6-10 dollars, through eBay which would take about 5-7 days to actually sell. And usually most of that money will be used to buy more veneer and glue, if not all.

So this is my apology, Back then I hardly knew anything about the fingerboard scene. I just thought that skaters bought them just to fool around. Now i know that it is a much more serious passion more many people. I apologize for hurting the fingerboard scene with my cheap products, used under a very legitful name. I apologize for jeopardizing the reputation of Maplewood Fingerboards and keith Jackson. I also apologize to every single person in the fingerboarding community. Back then i was stupid, I should of realized this a long time ago, that people make fingerboards for other people just to be happy and for the love of fingerboarding.

I want you to understand my overall goal was genuine and not so much about the money. I can't change what i've done, but I would like to ask for a new start. If part of that commitment means that I have to suck up the loss of a few decks to maybe 10 -20 of you guys to show you then so be it. Me being naive about what fingerboarding was is what drove my intentions before, but I would like to prove money isn't my motive overall. My passion is to help progress the scene, if you would let me. Thank You!

Finally I hope you guys will let me earn your trust back and maybe one day I can be someone that you may actually think is legit enough to buy from.

Thank you,
Artem Heikes

Whilst I never saw the stuff you did on ebay.. Everyone makes mistakes.
Keep making decks for the love of it, and hopefully you'll be forgiven by everyone who it affected soon

agapology accepted even know im not involved in the whole maplewood thingy
do you have a site?

i have heard of redheart fingerboards i have heard good things sorry for iteruptin the subject

Hey Art as you know I am fully aware of the things being said on FFI, as well as in other places. I must say I was a little upset to read the thread about the stuff you pulled. It was probably disturbing mostly cause I met you before this and you never mention anything about it. You have done some really selfish things.

I have seen situations similar to this where people have copped attitude and said they quit. Or they get mad and tell everyone they suck for how they're treating them when ultimately its there own fault, but they look for someone else to blame other than themselves.

Honestly, I think from my point of view that it takes a much bigger person to except what they've done wrong and openly admit it. That takes alot of courage to do. Knowing that some people will never change there view on this. Not to mention you don't know me other than on MSN, but you made it a point to contact me make me aware of it and apologized. Then I see this, well sir you may not be forgiven by everyone. But it show that it can't all be about money and that you care what people think of you. Apology accepted here!

Sorry for the long reply you guys, but this actually affected me.

Yeah I was wondering why the stuff looked different on ebay then the actual maplewood website for a while.

wait, you had the name first, so why did you give the name up to keith?

Wait, isn't "Ray" the same person? I am confused! Haha

why dont you post this on ffi miles?

When I get a second...

i was being sarcastic.

Haha... Thats what I was thinking

still post it though miles........it the least you could do imo.

Hey guys,
For the first question "Why did i give the name to Keith, even though i had it first"

Well I was his friend, and i noticed he probably had more use of the name then i would. Look at him now, he's one of the most successfull fingerboard owners out there.

And for the second "Isnt Ray the same person"
And no, Ray isnt the same person. Ray is the owner of Dooby Decks right now, he did own Fantasy Fingerboards and i helped him on that for a while. Thats probably why my name reminds you of him. He has no part of any of this though, he makes his deck for the love and prosparity to the fingerboard scene.

And FlexBoarder, Thank you much for exepting this apology, lets hope more do as well. Then i can maybe start making decks again...

He isn't all that succesful if you ask me...

biff, I get that you don't like the people involved in what hes talking about, but you're being really rude about it, and I've seen you do it many times now. Calm it, or a warning. Sorry to be harsh man, but, if you don't like something, don't talk about it, don't butt in with not nice and not needed comments.

Really? Why do you say that? I heard he was doing pretty good. maybe i heard wrong?

I like how nobody got that everyone used the wrong spelling of accepted

LOL Tim I just noticed that and even I had to correct it... haha!

that was a big letter of apology

ArtemHeikes wrote:

Really? Why do you say that? I heard he was doing pretty good. maybe i heard wrong?

Well it is going really good but still theres alot of haters out there becuse some of them think he steals yellowoods mold,
and some becuse he had same looking stickers

Artem it takes a big person to admit things they have done are wrong especially when others may not like you as much after you admit some of the things you have done. I respect that you took the time to come here and say the things you did to get some of the heat off of me.

As for the name Maplewood yeah when i came to the internet i had bought maplewoodfingerboards.com and i had went ahead with making the website, i had already bought the copyright, and i was ready to go forward with it. After a couple of weeks i saw Artem on youtube and messaged him as to the situation. He was nice about the situation and i felt bad about the whole thing about Maplewood and i offered him to have another name copywritten for him and he chose Redheart. I made that happen for him and all was good.

As far as Maplewood being successful it would depend on what you call successful. Do you gauge it by money, passion, or happiness? If you do then i think that Maplewood is really successful. I have done great things in the last 2 years internet wise and i was already selling them before the internet through a network of distributors, i am as passionate now about fingerboarding as i was over 25 years ago when i first started trying to put one together, and i am extremely happy, there is just a great feeling you get when you see someone enjoying themselves using something you have made. So yeah i think that Maplewood is a huge success and i don't plan on going anywhere.

Most of you guys that hate me don't realise exactly what you are hating. You've never taken the time to get to know me, talk to me, or talk to others that do know me. I know that it is so easy to hate on someone because it is the "IN" thing to do. You may think that you will get bonus points with someone else you are friends with by helping them bash someone. It is crazy to think about the last year or so. I could have taken the easy way out. I could have been like dozens of others and changed my company name, changed my own name, or just said I QUIT. But i am really into fingerboarding and honesty so i think that sticking to something you believe in the way i believe in Maplewood is the best way to go.

Usually when someone gets one of my fingerboards the first response that i get from them is ...."Thank you man these are not like yellowoods i don't know why everyone keeps saying that" and those opinions mean alot to me. I couldn't see who anyone could be taken seriously that hates on Maplewood IF they do not own or have never seen a Maplewood. People that talk about something without having first hand knowledge shouldn't be taken seriously at all. The people that have not been taken by the "Rumors" about Maplewood find themselves enjoying the fingerboards and there friends usually come to talk about getting one themselves. I don't care about the money (not in a way that most do) as Maplewood is my hobby company. I run it just like i run my skateboard manufacturing company with the exception that i actually get to enjoy the fingerboarding.

I am just a dude that loves fingerboarding, likes to talk to people, tries to help out everyone i can, and generally cares about the fingerboard scene. If that is so bad then hey i guess like Al Pacino said "SAY HELLO TO THE BAD GUY" maybe you won't believe anything i write, maybe you'll keep the same opinion about me you have had from the start, but maybe you'll not be one of the sheep and get the chance to know me and find out how wrong people are and there motives for wanting to try to stain my reputation.

Sorry for rambling again,

Keith

wow dude you seriously have messed up your companies situation
i only know maplewood because of all this drama

damn keith that is alot, but one thing is true you certainly made me look at it in a different light. i respect everyone maybe its just in my nature. but you are a person with passion i really hope your hard work doesn't go tainted forever. good luck bro!

I have alot of respect to anyone who has the dedication to continue and support the fingerboard scene. By using there own company or just generally helping out. I always givepeople a chance its just in my nature. I dont care what people say. Seeing as i have never uused a maplewood i cant really judge but if your enjoying what you do. Which you clearly, i say fuck em !