BL!SSS Magazine | March 2012 | #55

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DANE REYNOLDS 4-WAY STRETCH DIAMOND DOBBY™ BOARDSHORT THE BEST WAY TO GO SURFING

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vanssurf.com

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Š2012, Vans Inc.

OFFERING CL ASSIC VANS ST YLING AND SUPER COMFORTABLE FOOTBEDS. SANDAL SIDERS GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT IN A SANDAL AND MORE. RASTA! ALOHA! RUBBER! LEATHER! BRIGHT! SUBTLE! CLASSIC! MODERN! ANY TIME! VANS SANDAL SIDERS WILL GET YOU THERE IN STYLE AND COMFORT. ENJOY!

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quarters lx/ black wax/ brown wax/ blue wax/ gravisskateboarding.com

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TO C RANDOMS // 30 PRODUCT REVIEW // 36 JON VAN HAMMERSFELD // 38 KIM GORDON // 40 TRISTRAM LANSDOWNE // 42 SANDY GILFILLAN // 44 CMO // 46 SUPER TASTE // 50 PIPE PRO // 52 RYAN ALLEN PHOTO PROFILE // 56 THE ART OF NICK GEORGIOU // 64 SOUTH COUNTY // 70 FASHION // 78 CHRIS CARR // 84 FIN PREMIERE @ HURLEY // 90 SPANKY AND NINA ART SHOW // 92 C’EST LA VIE! @ CATALYST // 94 COALATREE SUNDANCE // 96 BURGER RECORDS // 100 CD REVIEWS // 102 GROM // 104

Artist: Nick Georgiou

2012

We A c t i v i s t S K R I L L E X SHOT BY ANTON RENBORG w w w.w e s c .c o m

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EDITOr-IN-CHI EF nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com

EDITOR joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com

CRE ATIVE DIRECTO R mark paul deren madsteez@madsteez.com

E DITOR AT LARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com

SKATE EDI TOR chris ortiz chris@blisssmag.com

SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com

MUSIC EDITO R max ritter max@blisssmag.com

ADV E RTI SING ads@blisssmag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning

CONTRIBUTORS Matt Patterson, Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Spencer Pirdy, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers BL!SSS Magazine 413 31st Street Newport Beach, CA 92663 www.blisssmag.com Disclaimer: Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on a monthly basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/ articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to Blisss’ right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine reflect the opinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Blisss Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter which may reflect negatively on the integrity of the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior written consent from the publisher.

March 2012 Cover Artist: Nick Georgiou

If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com

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Nathan Fletcher

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DAVID CHOE IS RICH One of things we love most about our first cover artist David Choe, besides his art, his love for hot chicks, his love for Harry and his neurotic gambling, is that Choe speaks so causally about the fact that his Facebook stock is valued anywhere from 100 million to 200 million dollars.

For those of you that haven’t seen all of the hoopla surrounding Choe’s connection with Facebook – Choe was offered money or stock to paint the offices of Facebook when it first started. Choe chose stock, being the infamous gambler that he is, and now he’s getting worldwide attention.

Choe even gave our own Liz Rice her first introduction to the world of Facebook. Well David Choe, we just want to say congrats, you are a damn good gambler, we are glad you took a gamble with Facebook and when it goes public you will have more money than you can possibly, hopefully, gamble away in your lifetime.

SIMA HONOREES This past month saw many of the surf industries best brands showing up in style at the Grove in Anaheim with the hopes of bringing home some SIMA hardware.

TV personality Pat Parnell ran the show with a couple guest appearances from Pennywise drummer Byron McMackin and our favorite Australian World Champ, Peter “PT” Townend.

Notable awards from the night included Ryan Hurley accepting Men’s Boardshort of the Year for the Phantom 4D, Vans winning Footwear Product of the year for the Surfsider, RVCA with Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Stance with Breakthrough Brand of the Year and Insight taking home the Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year. Congratulations to everybody and we’ll be looking forward to bigger and better things in 2012.

BL!SSS WAX We’re lucky enough to have a pretty sweet office location that is just a short jaunt away from some fun Newport Beach surf breaks. When the waves are pumping, we normally shut down the office for a few hours and enjoy ourselves, but nothing is more annoying than when we’re suited up, ready to go and don’t have any wax to give our feet some confidence. Well, all of that has changed thanks to the folks at Famous Wax. They decked us out with our own signature BL!SSS wax that is the stickiest and freshest smelling wax one could ask for. We’ve got plenty to go around so if you’re one of our friends you can stop by anytime and get your own complimentary bar of wax, and remember, if you’re not using BL!SSS wax you’re only holding yourself back.

RESQWATER

PHANTOM CREATE Fresh off their 4th consecutive boardshort of the year award at SIMA, the creative minds at Hurley have decided to put the designing in your hands with their all-new Phantom Create program. This is a one-of-a-kind, customize your own application that makes getting new boardies that much more fun for everyone. You’re able to design the colorways for every panel, pocket, string and logo on your short. This means you can stay conservative in style or bring out your wild side with all types of Technicolor, even zebra style prints that’ll either get you photographed while you’re surfing or have chicks wondering what in the hell you were thinking. To put the finishing touches on your own trunks visit Hurley.com and enjoy.

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There are so many pre-party beverages in today’s market that are “supposed” to help you with a hangover. Problem is, you’re supposed to drink these concoctions before you start consuming adult beverages.

That’s a lot of planning ahead if you ask us. Our buddy Troy Michels just introduced us to ResQwater, the first beverage we’ve seen that you can either use as a mixer or take the day after a big night on the town.

With ingredients like prickly pear, electrolytes, B-Vitamins and N-Acetal L-Cysteine, the stuff tastes amazing and is the most effective hangover cure we’ve ever come across. Go to your local convenient store or logon to resqwater.com and get yours today.

BANZAI HB Joe Bard is up to his old entrepreneurial tricks again and has just opened up Banzai Bowls Huntington Beach. During opening week, folks from all over the HB area flocked into the new location to get some of the BL!SSSful acai bowls on hand. At one point there was so much great hype over the new restaurant that the mayor of Huntington Beach stopped in to try it out.

Let’s just say that he left with all smiles and a new love for this healthy and delicious spot. Congratulations to Joe and Tiana on another successful opening and make sure to take a trip to Banzai HB at 222 5th Street in downtown Huntington Beach.

ZICO

WHAT THE HEX? We were lucky enough to have been gifted a few items from Hex headman and all around good guy Carl Steindler this past month. The bags are the perfect mesh of style, comfort and innovation. We’re talking as easy on the shoulders as they are on the eyes. Everyone has iPads and laptops nowadays and Hex cleanly incorporates safe stash pockets for all of your electronic goodies. These bags are of the finest quality and at the forefront of modern day luggage design. We’re happy as clams with our new gifts and know it’s only a matter of time before everyone’s sporting a Hex bag. Keep your eyes peeled because these guys are only going up from here. Check them out online at shophex.com to buy your own.

One Friday afternoon we were pleasantly surprised with mounds of Zico premium coconut water by their beautiful representative Mary. Mary hooked us up with every flavor imaginable, like pineapple, passion fruit and our personal favorite, dark chocolate. These things are tasty as hell and make you feel pretty damn good about yourself when you drink them because you know you’re fueling and hydrating yourself with the purest of water. Unfortunately, Mary wouldn’t allow us to take her photo for the magazine but we like her modest approach and thank her for the great hook up!

OAKLEY GEISLEMAN After years of searching for greener pastures, Florida phenom Eric Geisleman is back to the O. That’s right, Eric and Oakley just inked a deal reuniting the two and we expect big things to come from this union.

We all know Eric for his airs and amazing performance surfing, but take it from us when we say that EG can do it all from mushy Salt Creek to monster Pipeline and everywhere in between. Look for Eric to be representing Oakley to the fullest this year all around the world, and don’t be surprised when you see him standing on top of podiums with his hands raised high.

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KNITTAPLEASE X INSIGHT It’s not everyday that we see someone rekindling a common pastime into a new and influential way of expression and art. Magda Sayeg has done just that with her knitting and in the process has reignited a somewhat recreational activity into a craft with endless possibilities, while paying homage to the roots of weaving.

Insight, the vigilant brand that they are, picked up on Magda and KnittaPlease and have since collaborated with the “Untitled” campaign for the Spring/Summer 2012 collection that will be hitting stores soon. Magda and Insight are bringing handmade art to the world of fashion in the form of knitting and we’re excited to see what else they have in store for us.

TI JUANA PANTHERS brixton.com

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SIMPSON ART How mainstream has graffiti become? Well, considering the newest Simpson’s episode is a spoof on Banksy’s “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” it’s safe to say it has become pretty damn mainstream. With guest appearances by street artists Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Kenny Scharf and Robbie Conal, the episode titled “Exit Through the Kwik-E-Mark” is gonna introduce a lot of youngsters to some of the most influential, sought-after, modern street artists of our era. The show is set to air on March 4th on the Fox Network with each guest artists voicing as themselves. Be sure to check it out.

GOPRO HD HERO 2 Jessica at GoPro sent us the all-new HD Hero 2 camera for us to play around with. We quickly assembled the camera, ran out, and took turns attempting to capture the glory shot. While we all gave it our best shot, it was our good buddy and all around ripper Daniel Shea who seemed to be snapping gold every time he was using the camera - Daniel’s got some talent behind the lens. At the end of the day we all had a great time and compiled plenty of worthy photos to show to all of our friends. We highly suggest you all go out and add one of these to your camera quivers whether you’re a surfer, skater or snowboarder. The image quality and camera mobility will blow you away!

AHAB HEALEY Just like the Old Man and the Sea, Mark Healey has spent his entire lifetime chasing giants. Whether it’s fish or waves, this guy spends more time on the water in one month than most of us get to spend in an entire year. With all of that sun glare, you can bet that Mark, and whomever he’s traveling with, care a great deal about what shades are protecting their eyes. That decision has been permanently made as Electric Visual have just released his signature shade, Captain Ahab. Stylish, and of course polarized, the new sunnies come in a plethora of colorways and three levels of polarization, so get ‘em today.

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GET LACED UP VANS X COBRASNAKE X COLETTE Cheeseburgers and shoes are two constantly consumed and used items in today’s society. Now you’ll be able to live any glutton’s dream by purchasing the new limited edition Era from Vans and Mark “The Cobra Snake” Hunter. The Cobra Snake, an LA based photographer and friend of BL!SSS, created this fast food inspired shoe out of admiration for what America has come to be known for. Of course, with any out of the ordinary item that’s destined to be a hit, there will be a limited supply available. There are 60 pairs available as of March 1st with custom boxes ready for only the hungriest of consumers. You’ll find the sneakers exclusively through Colette, so get your burger while it’s still hot.

Pro skaters Jake Brown and Peter Smolik have been busy as hell putting out some fine apparel lately. They started Laced Clothing only a couple years ago and have been busy working out the kinks in between competitions and filming for their new video, set to release in the next couple of months. They’ve just added some new team riders, changed up their logo and revamped there website, laced. com and @laced_1. If you haven’t heard of Laced Clothing we highly suggest you check them out, things are looking pretty LTFU for 2012.

TEED OFF

Summer Teeth: summerteeth.com

Fyasko: fyasko.com

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Brixton: brixton.com

Lira: liraclothing.com

Electric: electricvisual.com

Moskova: moskova.com

Alpinestars: alpinestars.com

Hurley: hurley.com

Ambig: ambig.com

Nike: nike.com

Captain Fin Co: captainfincompany.com

Roark: roarkrevival.com

Volcom: volcom.com

Matix: matixclothing.com

Ezekiel: ezekielusa.com

Oakley: oakley.com

WESC: wesc.com

LRG: l-r-g.com

Smith: smithoptics.com

RVCA: rvca.com

Nixon: nixonnow.com

Vans: vans.com

VSTR: vstr.com

Comune: thecomune.com

AWARD WINNING PATENTED TIDE TECHNOLOGY

Words & Photo: Aaron Farley I first met John Van Hamersveld five years ago, when I shot him for Swindle Magazine Issue #5. I didn’t know much about him before the shoot other than his Endless Summer poster, and that he had designed the Exile on Main Street record in which Robert Frank had shot the photos. That day was great, we were in Venice, shooting photos on his roof, and he was going from one incredible story to the next: Jefferson Airplane, The Rolling Stones, Kiss, Jimi Hendrix, The Cream, smoking pot, surfing, traveling, Magical Mystery Tour… the stories just kept getting better. We also talked a lot about art and school, theory and media as we walked down to the beach to take our last shot. Fast-forward to 8 months ago, John sends me an email asking if I would come over and shoot another photo of him. This is when he turns me on to his photography work. I was shocked, I had no idea. A photo of Keith Richards sleeping in the studio, Muddy Waters, Carrie Fisher, Rodney on the rock, all of these other amazing artists of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s including Peter Alexander, and Rick Griffin, the vibrant California scene, somewhere in between the art studio and the music studio. It was an insider’s view of the outsider’s world; all in a very laid back way.

What drives you to work in so many different mediums?

From my point of view, art school taught me how to work in different mediums, and since 1961 I have over the decades had a lot of different tools and work to complete.

Being a graphic designer I created a lot of different artistic relationships with clients who like what I did and asked me to apply them to different products like album covers, magazines, posters, architecture and environmental designs.

How has the recent focus on your photography affected your other work, if at all?

I do work as a graphic designers and have to use photography to communicate concepts, as narratives, to symbolize and editorialize. In December of 2010, while taking photographs out of a storage box from 40 years ago, I began a new world of interest about my path in making photographs. The B&W 35mm negatives and the digital technology have made the photographs better than they were years ago in

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my early show in galleries and museum in the seventy as Fine Art Photography.

This is what Lauren Cullen, at the Examiner, wrote about my photographs in an interview.

“Van Hamersveld describes the concept of T.V.LIFE as developing from his own experiences perceiving the transformation of culture, perspective, and mass media psychology in “The Age of Television.” He vividly elaborates, “For me in my twenties, working in Hollywood was confusing in that the differences between what was fiction and what was non-fiction seemed to blur in my mind. Everything became a visual memory for me. I carried my Leica camera, giving opportunity to take pictures from my view. My life in Hollywood surrounded by celebrities became a point of view for me – sports, fashion, music, film, arts, and politics as a media play. The world in front of me had moments, and, when I was behind my camera, it produced a philosophical view with thoughts, as I framed my view of my own life that I called T.V.LIFE.” I noticed that the “Atomic Banana” image hadn’t been shown in 40 years.

What is it like to unearth a piece of artwork and display it again for the first time in a completely different time and environment?

The “Atomic Banana” image was created in 1970 to get attention and I could not get anyone interested in the image. But I did create the drawing for the Johnny Face image, then everything I wanted happened. The “Atomic Banana” went into storage and has been there since 1970. When Robert Berman for his Pacific Standard Time, about illustration in the 60s and 70s show, he wanted something for his show called “Paid To Play.” I took the “Atomic Banana” over to his gallery and he framed it and from there the image didn’t stay in the gallery, it became his press image. When Fabrik Magazine had to make a choice between three images that Robert furnished the “Atomic Banana” became the cover and was distributed everywhere in the art scene. I was amazed that it looked like it was a political poster from Shepard Fairey’s work for his graphic arena today.

Interview: Jennifer Herrema No better interview than questions prosed by legendary Jennifer Herrema to American icon Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. Jennifer escaped the mayhem between stops on tour with her recently formed band Black Banana’s for a moment to interview Kim. With the upcoming men’s and women’s featured art tee-shirt collaboration with Kim Gordon X Volcom, it lead to learning more about the amazing artist in a nonconventional and genuine way. The Kim Gordon Featured Art Tee series will be available on March 1st.

Living on the Lower East Side, did you ever see Madonna on the street?

I moved to NY in 1979-80. I wanted to be an artist and had graduated from Otis the year before. It was pretty tough. I knew one artist, Dan Graham, and through him I was introduced to the downtown no wave scene. It was hard to be on the outside of the art world.

It was before the East Village art scene had exploded. After I met Thurston we became involved with White Columns, an alternative space way over on Spring Street. The politicized art group collab was around and they did a couple famous shows, one was the real estate show, the other was the Times Square show. They were group shows in places that made statements about the gentrification of

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NY and the inherent power struggles involved.

I started an art project called Design Office. Design Office was about doing interventions in peoples personal spaces and brings the private aspects of “the Home” into the public gallery space.

Mike Gira, from the Swans was someone I knew from art school and we used to hang out with him. I remember hanging out with him at this club Danceteria and Madonna was around. She was sort of sitting on his lap, kissing him but then looking around the room for her next move or whatever… But when her first record came out we thought it was cool because it was such minimal dance music and it was sort of lo fi.

Who is your favorite artist? Does you have any crushes on rappers like Dr. Dre or Snoop Dog or ANDRE 3000?

Do you mean who is my favorite visual artist or recording artist? Artists I like are, Yves Klein, Simone Forte, David Hammons, Lucio Fontana, Merlin Carpenter, Jutta Koether, Jessica Hutchins, Cameron Jamie, Tony Oursler, Mike Kelly, Raymond Pettibon, Claire Fontaine, Clara Liden, Unrica Zurn, Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Dan Graham, Paul Thek, Isa Genzken, Elizabeth Peyton, Mary Heilman, John Knight there are

many more.

Singers I like Catherine Reibero, Karne Dalton, Chan Marshall, Kurt Wil, Syd Barrett era Floyd, Magic Markers, Bardo Pond, Sightings… Many others… Schooly D was always my favorite rapper.

Do you go to psychics?

Do you ever head bang?

I went to a Shaman once she gave me a jaguar. I don’t head bang anymore I have a scrawny little neck, I prefer hip shaking.

Are you into symbolism and occult things?

I like astrology; it’s like good dime store psychology. A friend of mine is really good at it and he’s such a fantastic writer so I really enjoy even the negative. He basically read my present situation two years ago.

Who has influenced you the most?

That’s always a tough one to answer: Mom, Dad, my brother and my daughter Coco.

What do you think of Patti Smith?

I think Patti is a force, definitely an influence. We had a funny conversation once about the Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones and how that was an issue with our friends as teenagers, going back and forth on favorites on a daily basis.

Are you going to do a solo project, a loud heavy fucked up jam? Cuz you should.

I have a duo with Bill Nace who’s a nosiician/guitarist. It’s improv based song fractures influenced by early Floyd and Catherine Ribeiro and Catherine Breillat, the French filmmaker.

Was X-Girl fun or hard work or both? Will she ever start another clothing line?

It was fun at times but frustrating as nothing came out the way we though it would. But I think that happens to varying degrees on all different levels of the fashion world. I’m collaboration with a French label, Surface to Air, which launches this spring. But mainly I’m working on re-launching Design Office and focusing on art.

What was the inspiration for the Volcom pieces?

I like the idea of using sort of cheesy technology, so when I discovered the effects in the photo booth on my laptop, I couldn’t resist. I took a picture of my daughter, Coco in her room standing in front of a poster. I also like the idea of recycling design and graphics and using it like a collage. The words were taken from a list of things, or rather made to look like a list.

For the last few years, Toronto artist Tristram Lansdowne has been making watercolour paintings about architectural decay and its metaphorical power within art history. His work often begins by exploring the city on foot, photographing transitional and peripheral areas of post-industrial cities in North America and Europe. Lansdowne uses fragments of the places he encounters to present us with meticulously painted specimens of an ever-decaying world. Not content to quietly disintegrate though, these specimens have begun to re-animate themselves and twist into new narratives governed by history as much as their material being.

Drawing from disparate approaches to landscape such as 19th century Romantic painting and 1960’s futuristic architectural concepts, Lansdowne’s work is focused on examining the artiďŹ ce inherent in such idealized constructions. The richly detailed hybrid scenes that result and their luminous, indeterminate backgrounds make it hard to pin down any sense of time. Time, in fact, may have stopped being linear altogether and begun to weave itself according to a new pattern, one that we can only glimpse but are very much a part of.

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Sandy Gilfillan is a LA-based multimedia mixologist, working primarily with sound, still image, and facets of human nature. Gilfillan draws out altered definitions of things and scenarios by way of assigning them new, unexpected associations. In his work, our world so often known to us through preconceived notions is toyed with to offer a skewed, but somehow still valid and telling approach to how we assign truth to the things we observe. This deceptive yet informative goal reaches all facets of his aural and visual output. Gilfillan’s work is often hard to pin, as it seems itself to be a microcosm of the very world of false categorizations and anticipations that it proposes to bring to light. “All things are not what they seem” is the mantra here.

Gilfillan acts as a freelancer under the guise of Of Noise Audio, producing sound design and musical scores for broadcast media – most recently for the 2011 Surfer Poll Awards. For his solo music project, Yes Know, Gilfillan writes and produces ambient, folk, and rock arrangements as heard on his 2011 releases, Place and Over Under. For more, visit ofnoiseaudio.com and sandygilfillan.us.

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Hydrated by

MARCH 28th thru APRIL 1st, 2012 ANDREW DOHENY

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watch the live webcast of the event at vans.com/pierclassic

photo Nelly Š2012, Vans Inc. vanssurf.com

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check me ou t “Life of Richlando” From @rusy_buckets Instagram

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Droid doing his thing. // Ripping in peace Gato! // Kawai says, “Shake dat ass!” // Ozzie, Fordski, and Rusty after hours in NYC.

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KP – Legendary Banked Slalom. // Good morning Sheshwan. // @Saggytangled aka Jake Smith. // Los Growlers.

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I’m Joe, don’t mess with me or the Goons of Doom! // DLC, Beho, Schwags Party Wave! // Chelsea the Volcom mascot. // Zac Marben, best mustache in town.

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Big Joe – No caption needed. // Jack Morrissey goes boom. // Joe Frey, the Sandwich King! // @Martytheonemanparty – don’t follow this creep.

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#allgleneverything // Richard Angel Oliveras II

Photo: Dominic Petruzzi : dominicpetruzziphoto.com // Model: Allie

Ya’ll out there in BL!SSS-ville might be thinking that we are just a bunch of surf, skate, snow, art fools from Orange County but we know a thing or two about culture, cowboys, and half naked girls too. Just check out our latest and greatest Super Taste of Allie here on location at the BL!SSS ranch right here southern California. We don’t mind strapping on some leather boots and getting dirty, especially when there’s even the slightest possibility that Allie would use one of those ropes on us. Ok, so maybe there’s no chance at all, but you can still dream right?

Hair & Makeup: LaurenBreedon.com // Retouch: JasonSchorle.com

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Words: Richie Olivares Live like Sion… That phrase can be used for many good perspectives on life. For the 2011 Volcom Pipe Pro, this title meant it all for the Warriors that went to battle with the ocean. With the contest fully dedicated to Sion Milosky, there was no room for a bad turn out.

The 5-Star $130,000 ASP event was stacked with many heavy hitters frothing for the victory. Mother Nature played a huge role, and she showed how tough she could be.

The first few days of the waiting period were not contestable, the swell and winds weren’t exactly lining up for proper Pipe. Dave Wassel and Riddle were the guys up every morning at dark ready to make the call. The lei days were filled with golf, small surf, mai tais or rest.

John John’s last wave :: Seq: Foley

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Photo: Bielmann

The Banzai Pipeline woke up on Day six and it was no joke! The event was on with solid 15-foot waves and it wasn’t looking friendly. Kauai’s Stephen Koehne was the first to go down. He suffered with an injury to his leg, but nailed the highest score of the day. Many others went down as Dave Wassel held his own and did laps around the rest. It was insane, the swell kept getting bigger up so the event was called off for the day at 10:30 am.

Chris Ward and Carlos Munoz took the cake for day two of competition. Pipe and Backdoor were offering some really good 6-8 foot rides. Electric gave out $1,000

Photo: Bielmann

Jamie O’ Brien :: Photo: Brent

Kai Barger :: Photo: Brent

Nate Yeomans :: Photo: Bielmann

bonus to all perfect 10-point rides. Carlos Munoz from Costa Rica claimed the first 10-point ride of the event and there was no stopping that kid. East Coasters, Balaram Stack and Nils Schweizer were also on fire, giving everyone a run for their money in round of 96.

The ocean kept providing as day three rolled on. Heats were stacked and Pipe was looking quite dreamy. Bruce Irons wasted no time, scoring a 9.40 and an 8.07, holding the highest heat score of the day. John John squeaked through his heats with an injury. “I was pretty nervous, I almost wasn’t going to do my heat,” said Florence. “I have a really bad kink in my neck, and my hand hurt… I kind of sat there the whole heat and luckily got a wave in the end. Anthony Walsh is so gnarly. That was definitely a scary heat to have… Moody and Bruce too… There are a lot of wash-through sets. It’s fun but there’s these crazy double ups that come in.”

The final day of competition was a crazy clash of the last standing warriors! Hats off to Alex Gray for making it to the quarters, barely holding himself together with stitches and duct tape. OC local, Nate Yeomans ripped his way into the finals, matched up against Pipe chargers: Kai Barger, Jamie O’Brien and John John Florence. O’Brien was off to a quick start with two nines in the first five minutes, holding the lead for the majority of the heat.

Barger, Florence and Yeomans had it out and fought for what they thought was second, but with less then a minute left on the clock, O’Brien claimed his victory while John John faded his way into a perfect Backdoor gem. John John erupted out of the Backdoor cavern with his arms raised and the boys chaired him up the beach. A 9.93 posted and John John was rewarded the heroic, come-from-behind victory. This one definitely one of the best finals ever at Pipe…

Alex Gray :: Photo: Bielmann

Bruce Irons :: Photo: Brent

Dylan Rieder : B.S Tail

Interview: Bobby Tang

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Meet Ryan Allan. He’s a Canadian bastard that decided to ditch his homeland to pursue his dreams in the good old USA. He resides in the military capital of Southern California, in creepy little town called Oceanside. He’s a pretty mellow dude but don’t piss him off cause he’ll snap. Ask Oblow about the time Ryan threw some fools around like tooth picks when Oblow got into a scuffle in Oz. Needless to say, he’s got your back if

he’s your friend.

He’s been taking photos professionally since 1990, and had his photos published in magazines around the globe from advertisements to editorial. Nowadays, he travels the land with Gravis and Analog taking photos and managing the skate team. So, this interview is going to be lame but here it goes...

What are you up to these

Rowley

days?

Chasing around the notion of getting a really good skate photo in Southern California.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Mostly I sit in traffic.

That’s why we’re on this planet, right? Traffic?

their balls about being out all night and it gets weird. That’s really rare though. Sometimes it’s even me that is instigating the nights out, so I can’t really blame anyone. We are a family, so I’m just the dad that has to yell from time to time but mostly I’m just hyped to be skating with Is it difficult to run a skate the bros. program and photograph those dudes at the same What got you into time? photography?

We have a small, refined team so My father. He photographed it’s really not so bad. Occasionally, everything we (my brothers and I have to be the guy that’s busting I) did growing up and it was

natural for me to pick up the camera when we were skating or goofing off. I was kind of kicked out of high school for being the outcast skateboarder. The way they got rid of me was to have me build a portfolio for college instead of coming into class. I would check in a couple times a month and show them progress on my portfolio. It was seriously the best senior year. I made art and skateboarded and snowboarded the whole time. I wish I were kicked out in ninth grade!

Did you go to school for photography?

Yeah, the portfolio I made in senior year was good enough to get me accepted to a pretty rad photo program up in Toronto. It was a really hard course, but the teachers were working pros and it really taught me a ton. I learned Photoshop 1 in that class. Yeah, I’m that old.

What was your first photo that got published?

I think it was possibly an Appleyard photo. He must have been like 12.

Lee Louridge : Ollie Arto Saari

Ryan Allan Photo: Kristina Patterson

Jake Johnson

I was lucky to be around such a talented kid. We all knew he was going to go far so I just stuck by him.

That’s how you get ahead kids. Find the best kid in your town and photograph their every move.

Do you prefer to take skate photos or lifestyle shots?

I love it all. I think there are so many stories to be told in skateboarding. You just have to be aware that what we as skaters think of as normal is actually so far from normal. People trip on it when they see what we do to get the tricks etc.

What’s thing shot?

Chad Bartie : B.S Ollie

the weirdest you’ve ever

Rowley

Most likely it’s stuff for this luxury lifestyle mag I shoot for. I end up shooting the weirdest rich people stories. Stuff I don’t even relate to.

It’s cool though; it’s a whole other world.

What’s your favorite photo you’ve ever taken?

I really don’t think I’ve shot it yet. I don’t really look back on too much older work with fondness. I tend to want to change it constantly so I just hope to take my favorite photo down the road. To keep evolving, I guess.

Why did you leave Canada?

Two reasons. My wife wouldn’t have liked Canadian football very much and in order for me to shoot skating I had to be in the mix. It all just came together and it’s been great. It’s really hard to make a living shooting skateboarding in Canada. Shit it is hard here and every company is

here, kinda crazy.

Why is it so fucked to get into your homeland?

It’s strict because people are all trying to get a piece of our so-called socialist free healthcare and clean air. I dunno. It’s pretty awesome up there and if you don’t mind seven months of cold, then it’s sweet.

Why did you choose to live in Oceanside of all places?

It’s the last coastal frontier with growth potential! My girls were in school here and uprooting them to move to lesser school system would have been a selfish move. I don’t mind driving a lot. I just go into autopilot and next thing I know I’m in Hollywood.

How was the rave scene back in Canada?

The rave scene was big in skating Lance Mountain : F.S Invert

Sammy Winter : B.S 5050

Steve Forstner : 5050

back then, asshole. I was just another casualty of that era. Luckily, I got out before it was too late. It got me out of hockey fights and jock bars so it was pretty good.

Did you ever wear JNCOs? No, but I definitely rocked some big ass overalls. Adam Warren would be stoked.

I hear you were in a band?

Yes, I was in a band with an unfortunate name. SectorSeven. It was pre Sector9 and I’ve had to live with the harassment ever since. We did pretty good for an OC punk rock sounding band in Canada. We were nominated for “Best Indie Video” on Canada’s Much Music and got to go to those crazy award shows. It was a Arto Saari : Smith

Stefan Janoski : F.S Nose

pretty rad time in my life. No complaints. Better than DJ’ing La Cave at age 40!

around to see him come back out. That’s too dark for my blood.

Adam Warren and Arto Saari are in a drinking contest, who wins?

Arto crushes Adam no problem. Adam has to get up and go to the office the next day. Arto will still be out getting creepy. Dude is Finnish, they win.

Instagram shoutouts?

The usual suspects @blackbobby @artofoto @swankfuck_inc @russellhoughten @jipovision @joepease and my wife @badpuppa.

Ever see Dark Dylan come out of the woods?

I’ve seen him go into the woods but I didn’t stick

Check out Ryan’s website at ryanallan. com and busylivin.com.

Follow him on Instagram @ryanallan.

Tom Karangelov : 180 Nose Grind

Interview: Liz Rice McCray Nick Georgiou keeps the printed word alive and breathes life into discarded found objects by “morphing newspapers into different shapes, dissecting books to make sculptures... basically recycling what would’ve been thrown away into art.”

Georgiou’s work is a reminder of impermanence - the realization and reality after almost three decades of the “information age”, with the advent of computers and Internet technology. The impact has been so grand that it has threatened 400 years of the newspaper as a staple… or a hub in a small town or big cities, responsible sometimes for holding communities together.

Georgiou’s art is preservation of words and rebirth into a new form of the digital era… the balance that coexists between and importance of printed publications and digital technology - the fight to keep the printed word alive.

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Georgiou currently is living and working in Tucson Arizona, whilst limiting his carbon footprint.

Will you tell us about the medium you work in… themes and subject matter? Can you describe a little of your artistic process? Why newspaper and books?

My medium is mostly paper in all states of life and decay. So impermanence is definitely a theme. But then again so is the idea of renewal. My art is inspired by the death of the printed word. But it’s also about its rebirth into a new form: a digital one.

My sculptures are products of their environment - both literally and figuratively. I get a lot of my material off the streets. I use what others have discarded. Whether it eventually takes the form of a humanoid or a still life depends on how I experience that particular location.

So you are currently in Arizona… tell us a little about your current studio/workspace in Tucson.

I work out of a historic 1950’s storage warehouse. This part of downtown Tucson is the longest continuously inhabited site in the U.S. The Hohokam tribe cultivated this land back in 300 AD. Today, the warehouse sits adjacent to the railroad tracks.

Union Pacific freight trains come through at least 20 times a day. The horns blast, the cars whack together and the building shakes.

Tucson, 350 days of sunshine what brought you to Tucson? How long have you been in Arizona and why have you stayed? Tell us about the acclamation from NYC to Arizona living?

I never intended to move here.

In 2009, the University of Arizona invited me to have a show and give some lectures. I arrived a few months earlier to get a feel for Tucson and to use local newspapers for my new pieces. The city was in the media spotlight for a variety of reasons.

And Tucson’s oldest newspaper went out of business while I was working with it. So I felt like I had stepped

into a multi-dimensional place… like past and present and future were all happening at the same time. Three years later I’m still here. There isn’t another art hub like this. It’s like working within a living organism things are changing all the time.

Going from NYC to the desert is a pretty dramatic shift. Your concept of space expands when tall buildings do not obstruct it. You pay closer attention to nature because you’re always in it, so you do what you can to preserve it. I traded my car for bicycle and began limiting my carbon footprint.

The environmentally friendly lifestyle plays a large role in my work.

Do you use razor blades or scissors to cut the paper - if blades, how many do you think you go through? If scissors, do you have to sharpen to get the cuts so clean?

I use croppers from the 1940’s that self-sharpen with each cut. For more detailed cuts I work with different

titanium grade scissors. So far I’ve gone through about three croppers and about a dozen pairs of scissors. When cutting through stacks of papers I’m constantly wondering: will this scissor sustain the pressure of a thick cut? But I prefer to experiment, and as a result I’ve destroyed plenty of scissors.

Do you ever get side tracked reading the newspapers/ books you are working with when creating?

Not in that sense. But once in a while something grinds me to a halt. One time I found a box on

the sidewalk. Inside was your standard pop culture collection: Da Vinci Codes/Harry Potters/ romance novels. As I was selecting the books I wanted, a double-sided photo slipped out. It was an ultrasound image of a 12-week old baby with the inscription “Homer”. Other times, strands of text from a book or newspaper grab my attention and end up becoming the theme or title of a piece.

What do you miss most about NYC? The seasons, the people, the art and my mom’s chicken parm.

Do you plan on heading back to the east coast?

I try to go back east at least twice a year, but Tucson is my home right now.

What fuels your art / creativity?

I’m fueled by curiosity - how far I can stretch this medium.

I also need music to create.

Lately I’ve been listening to an Internet radio program called “Chances with Wolves” on East Village Radio. Those guys make me work for hours on end.

Are their any words of advice that have influenced your art?

Keith Haring said: “It is possible to reach the highest levels of instantaneous response recorded in a spontaneous method and representative of purist thought when you are working with the knowledge that the work you create is temporary, insignificant in a broader sense, significant in an immediate sense, a perfect representation of time passing, time existing.”

You went to school for film and television and received a BFA from Tisch School of the Arts (NYU). How/when did you get into making sculptures? I have seen a bunch of still photographs of your sculptures in different environments…

Have you ever thought of doing a short film with your sculptures as the characters?

My artwork is a direct result of working on low budget indie films. I was a Production Designer for several years after graduating NYU. I would create sets and collect props using things from trash bins and thrift stores. What always made a set or a room feel real for me was seeing a lot of books and newspapers strewn around in corners or stacked on desks.

After being on a film set for 16 hours I’d go home with the need to create something for myself. I started morphing newspapers into different shapes, dissecting books to make sculptures... basically recycling what would’ve been thrown away into art. I wanted my art to interact with the public so I took my sculptures to the street and posted the interactions online. The images went viral and my career as a sculptor took off.

I’ve made some films, but none using my sculptures... yet.

Do you have any upcoming projects or shows we should keep our eyes open for? Where can people check out your work?

I’m working on an interactive app showcasing site-specific pieces that I made with newspapers from around the country. People can check out details at my site, myhumancomputer.com.

Thanks Nick for taking the time to do the interview – we look forward to checking out the app.

Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Jason Kenworthy

The first time I ever set foot on a surfboard was when my father pushed me into a wave at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point. My dad had grown up surfing Doheny, long before the Dana Point Harbor was built, at a spot called Killer Dana. Back then he got to witness the likes of Mickey Munoz, Phil Edwards and Barry Kanaiaupuni tearing the place apart. That day my father pushed me into my first wave at Doheny the sun was shining. The hills of San Clemente were glowing in the background and I took that first step into a life of surfing.

Since then I’ve always relished in the drive south along PCH. Through Laguna, stopping off at Creek, pulling over above the hill to get a glimpse of what the waves were doing. Too crowded? No waves? Onward south we go! It was a win-win. Nine times out of ten we would at least get playful Lowers, but no matter how flat or crowded it was, there was always the sense that I was experiencing something different. Something that I wouldn’t have

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Chris Ward

experienced if I’d stayed in my own town that day. Quaint little eateries, plenty of nightlife and some of the best surfboard makers on the planet. You could spend a day reveling in each of the three alone if you really wanted to. This stretch of coastline (surfing’s ground zero for high performance, fine-tuned shredding) that runs all the way from Salt Creek in Dana Point to Lower Trestles, is what we call South County. While some spots along this road are better known than others (don’t worry we won’t be naming the lesser known ones), they all serve a

purpose. There are waves for every level, category and need of a surfer. There are novelty waves, waves you swear you always score by yourself but when your pessimistic friend comes along you never get it good.

of the year somewhere along this 15-mile stretch. Sure, it may not offer up the adrenaline lifting drops of NorCal slabs or a San Diego beach breaks, but for what this California region lacks in juice on small days, it more than makes up for with culture and landscape.

blue-collar work environment where plenty of self-made locals slave away. Many of these hardworking locals take their aggression out on the watery playgrounds that lie in their backyards. Trestles, T-street and Creek are all world-class waves on numerous occasions The place is pretty much a throughout the year, and there’s hot-doggers wet dream. From While much of Orange County a reason why the man glassing gliding through Boneyards at can generally be perceived as your newly ordered ...Lost Doheny to pulling into double- superficial babes, blingy cars and board or cleaning your pool ups at Gravels, you can’t go trust fund kids, South County in South County could be the wrong when you’re in this zone. isn’t as easily thrown into the same man you see demolishing If you really wanted to, you same boat. Any drive down an a wave with a sticker-less board could probably find an enjoyable Avenida of your choice in San all the way to shore. The place wave to ride on any given day Clemente instantly reveals a is rampant with surf talent that

Jordy Smith

Kolohe

overruns spots like cockroaches in abandoned homes. Sure, it might frustrate the hell out of any outof-towner, like me, but I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing more than a few clinical displays of raw power and aerial surfing that have left me quite content with sitting on the sidelines.

I doubt there’ll ever be a shortage, as many of today’s best are sprouting out of neighborhoods from San Clemente to Laguna Niguel in abundance. Hell, tour vets and aspiring pros are even relocating here from all over the world in the hopes of striking some SC gold. This place isn’t just for surf stars though. Everyone and Many iconic surfing names have a n y t h i n g , emerged from South Orange i n c l u d i n g County. Names like Matt Archbold, Matt Biolos, the Andinos, The Fletchers, Wardo, t r a v e l i n g Beschen, Casey Kurtis and many, pro’s, weekend many more. Surfing’s roots rely warriors, Geoff deeply on the continuous star- Brack, dawn studded breeding in this area, yet

Balaram Stack

patrollers, starving Pedro’s Tacos fanatics, Astrodeck, the ASP at times, passing Amtrak commuters, pier goer’s and all that comes with being enveloped by South County, enjoy its beauty.

peelers and an angry crew of marines waiting to ticket you on the beach. Yep, even surfing’s pioneers faced challenges back then, sticking it to the man, resisting and winning. Trestles remained the surfer’s haven. The There’s a reason why so many surf marines eventually moved on, publications want a piece of this just as we hope the committee place and why many call this their proposing to construct a toll road home. The region is entrenched in through Trestles has. You can surfing history and folklore. From still hear the booms of practice the classical Doheny days and explosions detonating off in Old Man’s barbecues to tales of the distance over the desolate years at Lowers and Cottons mountains. The open scenery just when it was just you, your after the Christianito’s exit is some friends, some delightful of the last open and undeveloped c o b b l e s t o n e coastline terrain to be found

Taylor Knox

Dylan Goodall

Luke Davis

Ian Crane

Tanner Ruzunko

Dusty Payne

Teddy Navarro

Michel Bourez

Noah Beschen

Julian

Taj

Tanner Guduaskas

in all of Southern California. Just a reminder as you drive by of how some things are better left untouched. But let’s not get to worked up over that stuff, let’s savor in what South County bequeaths us surfers. The scent of Eucalyptus sifting through your nostrils as you’re walking down the path to Trestles, the view you get of the Ritz Carlton in the background as the curtain throws over your shoulder or the appreciation you have for watching Kolohe and Dino ripping two different set waves, back-to-back, separate generations carrying on the South County legacy. The legacy that reaches from the time of Killer Dana all the way to the high flying Lowers antics of present day. This photo profile is evidence of the wonders South County bestows, why all other surf communities will always envy this little hub and why many of it’s residents are sitting back and basking in its constant glory.

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Collared Shirt – Volcom volcom.com Dress – Volcom volcom.com Spike Bangle – BCBG bcbg.com Black Bangle – Stylist’s own Watch – Nixon nixonnow.com

Dress – Vans vans.com Hat – Brixton brixton.com Necklace – Anthropologie anthropologie.com

Bikini – Insight insight51.com Spike Bangle – BCBG bcbg.com Black Bangle – Stylist’s own

T-Shirt – Hurley hurley.com Hooded Jacket – Nike nike.com Denim – RVCA rvca.com

T-Shirt – Insight insight51.com Cut-off Shorts – Insight insight51.com Earrings – Marni marni.com Boots – Dr. Martens drmartens.com

Top – Vans vans.com Overalls – Vans vans.com Boots – Dr Martens drmartens.com

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Photo: Oli Gagnon

Interview: Michael Azevedo I first met Chris Carr in the spring of 2004 at a photo shoot in Sunday River, ME. The following fall I found myself hanging out with Chris and all the boys up at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH. I soon established myself as a pseudo student/local lurker sleeping in the back of my minivan every weekend until winter. The best part though is they were all down for it, more than happy to have this new, some what sketchy, houseguest.

For the following four years, I stayed on the couches, floors and sometimes beds of the friends I had made. Chris was always there, a solid figure in my memory of the times. All the drunken nights of youthful indiscretion and days of endless shredding. I later realized I had actually met Chris even before the event in Maine. It was at the after party for a contest. Being underage, I had to stay behind when everyone went to the bar.

I was hanging with this broad I called Anal Annie when in comes this blonde haired kid in tight pants and a denim jacket with a then very underage super pro from the area, who will remain nameless but you know who he is.

After introductions, we decided some drinking games were a good plan of action until everyone returned from the bar. We decided on quarters. Chris’s first turn, the fucking kid just slam dunks it into the cup.

“What the fuck are you doing man, have you seriously never played this before?” I say to this blonde little shit.

Photo: Dodds

It took me a minute to realize he was just fuckin with me. That’s how Chris is. He’s always pushes buttons and messes with you in some way.

Usually subtle but always hilarious.

Anyway, let’s continue this story I probably shouldn’t be telling. The game goes on for a little while and then the unnamed professional boarder decides to spice it up a bit.

He says to miss Double A, “Ok, if Mike makes this shot you gotta show us your tits.” As he should, that’s just what adolescent boys do and god bless ‘em for it. Now if you put tits on the line, I’m gonna make that shot every time.

I did and out they came. Boo ya, now we’re partying. So the game goes on and once again it’s my turn and tits are on the line. This time we each were graced with the opportunity to have the pleasure of a handful. Once again I drain that shit. I told you, I’m gonna make that shot every time.

So we each grab hold of our respective breast and at this moment is when the rest of the of-agers return home. I turn to see a baffled look on the face of Brian Norton, the now terrain park manager of Loon and a good friend of mine. Back then we had no clue who each other was. The night continues but two people go missing. The future pro boarder and the huss. Where could they be? Chris suggests to me that we go find them. Ok let’s go. You guessed it, we found them in the most common party hookup spot of them all. The bathroom. She was found butt ass naked sitting on his

Photo: Dodds

Photo: Oli Gagnon

Photo: Dodds

Photo: Oli Gagnon

fully clothed lap, sitting on the toilet.

A puzzling scenario indeed. The part that impressed me the most was how calm he was while asking us to leave.

True to form he stayed poised and polite while telling us to let him have a little privacy. We of course agreed. We had the material we needed for a good laugh so we carried on looking for the next one.

These types of nights continued over Chris’s college career and I am pleased to have had the pleasure to share them. Going to party’s in ski masks, continuously being asked to leave by jock assholes for persistently spitting beer all over the happy dancers and throwing beer cans, or setting my hair on fire. They never really needed a reason, they hated us as soon as they caught a glimpse. We were little punkass snowboarder kids and our ways

were well known. The best night’s were always the times when we stuck with our own kind. I know that’s lame to say but fuck it, it’s the truth. The endless dance parties with people who are more than happy to get covered in booze, maybe a naked Big Mike running around. Those were the best of times. I was semi homeless, partly by choice and Carr, Ted Lavoie, Big Mike and Ryan Stephany were all there to take me in. I love them for that and consider them and many more to be family. A family I hope to have til the end of days. We aren’t as young and dumb eight years later, but Chris Carr has managed to mature while still retaining his most distinguishing features. A good positive attitude, a weird but amazing sense of humor and the ability to turn any situation into a good time.

Photo: Oli Gagnon

So your spending the majority of your season on the team vacation tour, what’s that all about? Where have you visited, will be visiting?

Just finished the North American leg, that RV is amazing. Clocked some serious highway and artificial snow miles. Salomon knows how to grease the right wheels. The tour goes through Europe then onto the Land of the Rising Sun - Japan is the best place ever.

Any good RV stories?

Some random groupie in South Lake Tahoe came looking for “Roobs” one night which kind of shocked us all. Later on that evening the team manager for a certain French sporting goods brand came across some risqué photos from this same lady and forwarded them to himself.

Was she looking for the filmer Roobs or someone else?

Someone else, but it might have been true love for Matt Roberge.

Remember that time we almost got beat up because you lit my hair on fire at a party?

Well their old apartment had just burnt down so maybe it wasn’t the best gesture.

What was it like going to the legendary Baker Banked Slalom for the first time this season?

I fucked up and bailed on it, I extended my trip in Quebec. The snow situation was good up there, I will make it to the LBS someday.

Why is riding Pat’s Peak so fun?

It’s just like riding any other small boarding hill, there’s something about

Photo: Dodds

those hole-in-the-wall spots that just feel good.

You’ve got one hell of a method and switchmethod, who else in your opinion has a good method?

The famous Ingemar Backman backside air is what comes to mind.

Did I tell you I got a boat lined up for the summer?

We’re going to be able to go on some fucking sick fishing trips.

Is it a cigarette boat?

Photo: Oli Gagnon

Yeah, the smallest one ever. Nah, one like yours.

Got a trolling motor too, so we’ll be able to crew up and explore some new spots.

That is phat.

What’s the biggest bass you’ve hooked?

Five and a half pound largemouth, a life goal of mine is to be featured in the lunker club via Bass Master Magazine or better yet the Basswassup site.

I’ve had a photo featured on Basswassup, so I can

probably help you out.

You could have a long lasting bass fishing career if you sell the windshield on that boat.

In the last year you’ve been offered the opportunity to do some traveling outside the US, what’s it been like experiencing new countries and new cultures?

It’s refreshing to experience new places and people, that’s definitely one of the best parts about traveling. I really like eating and we always find good grub on trips, so that’s nice. I never would have

Photo: Oli Gagnon

thought snowboarding would take me to so many amazing parts of the planet.

What was the coolest part of your trip to Japan last year?

Everything about the people and culture. They’re all so generous and the Japanese boarding style is therapeutic.

You’ll be going to Japan again soon, is there anything you didn’t get to do the first time around you’d like to do on this

trip?

We didn’t spend any time in Tokyo, I have heard nothing but good things about visiting that city. I would like to surf and ride pow in the same day, that would be the shit.

Have you gotten to try out one of Wolle’s pow-surfers yet?

His Asmo Boards are amazing, it was definitely a treat to watch him in his element.

It’s pretty fucked up what he’s capable of doing without

his feet strapped in. I highly recommend riding/buying one of those boards, it’s a piece of art.

Outside of the tour is there anything you’re trying to accomplish this year?

Tanner Pendleton has a project in the works, so we’ve been on some sans resort boarding trips. But also working closer with the brands that support me and being proactive to make some more quality shit people are hyped on.

Photo: Oli Gagnon

Words: Greg Escalante :: Photos: Derek Bahn // Jason Maloney, CR Stecyk III and Joe Dugan // Robin Kegel, Scott Stopnik, Turkey Stopnik, Punker Pat, Mark Choiniere and Lana Lyon // Ashton and Bob Hurley // Evan Pricco, Amanda, Shawn Stussy, Doug Bunting and Carson Wach // CR Stecyk III, Julian Ness, Christine Ness,Johnny Ness, Shane Trulin // Susanne Melanie Berry // Kevin Barnett and Ed Templeton // Tyler Hatzikian and Mitch Abshere // Jay Bently and Natlia Fabia // Simon Haskell and son // Bigfoot

Craig Stecyk is an enigma in the truest sense of the word. And if you think you will be any more enlightened talking to him, you will only be more confused. He talks like you know everything he knows and then he goes forward from there. He seems to never volunteer information you may want to know about what happened in the past or in the present, the best is to go for the future and still the riddles are gnarly.

When you hang out with him, or most dreaded, go for a car ride with him to San Francisco, by the time the ride is over your brain is so worn out it takes weeks to recover. But really, there is no one else like him - he has no peer.

Once I hung out with him for an amazing adventure winding up at the ASR trade show in San Diego and Steve Rocco comes up and asks, “What’s new?” Stecyk was dodgy, oblique and evasive. You just had to wonder why he didn’t tell him about the amazing adventure. Rocco looked perplexed and confused by the time we said goodbye. Many years later Stecyk described the adventure like it happened yesterday, down to what songs the mariachi’s were playing, what clothes and colors people were wearing and what dishes everyone had ordered.

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Almost nobody understands him and maybe that is why he almost always works as an independent contractor. Fausto Vitello, one of the smartest people in the Skateboard world, seemed too and

had a longtime relationship with Stecyk, resulting in some of he most brilliant and influential breakthroughs in the art of skateboarding. Exhibit A being the seminal article, Skate and Destroy.

This article set and idealized the look and life style of the modern skater. It stands alone. He did a similar feat; years earlier when he authored the journalistic break through, Curse of the Chumash, for Surfer Magazine. Surf journalism has never been the same and this article is recognized as arguably the most influential surf article ever written.

If I had more space, and I wish I did, I would go on about Stecyk’s accomplishments from being instrumental in founding Juxtapoz Magazine and working with Stacy Peralta breaking down the barriers of skate videos - such a good example being Future Primitive and others. This brings us to the premiere of Fin at Hurley’s H Space. This marks the first time since the 80’s, at Meyers/Bloom Gallery, that Stecyk has shown an art film to the public. And if anything, he has only gotten better.

I think it will take me about five more viewings to fully absorb everything layered into the work.

I have to thank the patron Hurley for sponsoring such an endeavor in their continuing quest to support the arts and give back to the community. It only makes me wonder if this is too good to be true and if we can expect more mind-blowing events. Did I forget to mention the party was a blowout and many people couldn’t get in as the line got too long, but on the inside everyone from Peter Townend to Jeff Ho to Bob Hurley were having a very big time.

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Photos: Leo Fitzpatrick // Spanky, Eric Foss, Nina / Richard Phillips & friend / Leo Fitzpatrick & friend // Spanky and his art / Nina art / collab pieces // Shelly, Heather Mary, Meryl Smith & Amy Gunther / Todd Jordan / Spanky, Eric Foss & Ben Cho / Muska / artists Hanna & Klara Liden

Newlyweds Kevin and Nina Long opened their first collaborative show “Spanky & Nina - Sculptures and Drawings” at Fuse Gallery in New York City on the 18th of January. Kevin’s brush and ink drawings of fantastical hybrid creatures comprised the skater’s first concise attempt at showing his artwork in this context. Nina’s three dimensional paper sculptural reliefs displayed an elegant balance of technically self-reflective and intellectually moving imagery. The work, which comprised of solo work from each artist and a few collaborative pieces that tied the two mediums

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together, pleasantly surprised the most biased of supporters to the most hate-seeking spectator.

Fuse Gallery is unsuspectingly nestled in the back of a notoriously dingy Lit bar on 2nd Street. The shindig was DJ’d by The Blackouts (Ako & Atiba Jefferson), Andrew Kuo, Steve Lee and Leo Fitzpatrick, and was the setting for no less than loose times for all the downtown characters, skateboarders, snobs, artists, musicians and a few surprising additions from LA in attendance.

Words: Joe Alani :: Photos: Chad Shetler & Mike Reola // Matt Biolos, Jason Arnold & Johnny Thunderfoot // The “Lucky Bastards” themselves (Paul & Tristan) with Jason Arnold // Joel Cooper & Mike Reola // Launch of the V2 Rockets // Liela, Bird (thanks for the Peligroso) & PT // Chad Shetler, Joe Alani, Johnny Thunderfoot & Dave Lavato // Baguettes anyone? // The lovely Lindsay Perry on the guitar // Casey Curtis // Leave it to Frenchmen to overdress for an occasion

Last summer in Europe …Lost shaper Matt Biolos met two young French board builders Paul and Tristian, aka “The Lucky Bastards,” who work part time doing fancy glass jobs at the Pukas factory in Spain. In addition to surfboards, they have an extreme fascination with American culture... primarily on California Hot Rod culture and all that goes with it. Matt saw a better than average version of technical color and finish work in their versions of resin tint/pigment and gloss/polish work. They dreamed of visiting the US so he made a plan for them to come to San Clemente and build 40 boards in the glass shop at Catalyst. The boards ended up coming out of the shop insane and were getting such great reaction that the crew at …Lost decided to throw a party to showcase their amazing art work – and also release Biolos’ latest surfboards design, “The V2 Rocket” - with a little French persuasion of course.

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The venue for the party was Catalyst Shop, which is attached to the same building the boards were glassed and sanded in – located in the heart of the San Clemente surf ghetto. The building used to be a church but was converted into a surf shop in the 1970’s and has been owned by everyone from Steve Boehne, Herbie Fletcher and now Matt Biolos. People of all walks (from former world champs to San Clemente riff raff) came to meet and talk design with the shapers and glassers who built the boards, eat baguettes being passed out by cute girls in French outfits and drink the free booze provided by Peligroso Tequila. Unlike a lot of gloss/polishfinished surfboards, these Frenchmen found a way to keep the boards light and high performance – these things aren’t just wall hangers. In good fashion, …Lost raffled off a custom surfboard with all the proceeds going to the San Clemente homeless – after all, they’ve been supporting them for a while now.

Photos & Words :: Adam Harris // Lil John on stage // Justin Lyon // lovely ladies // Leland Drummond & friend // Charlie Bessey holding it down // Matt Guerrero and crew on the red carpet // Alex Turley // Cavin Nicholson and Lucas George // Lil John // Cute couple // Dingo

Coalatree Organics was excited to be involved with the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City a couple weeks back. After a full day of viewing at the festival everyone headed over to the Skullcandy After Hours Compound where Skullcandy had taken over a luxury home in the mountains and thrown down for the ultimate after-hours party. Captain Cavin of Coalatree dished out over 400 organic tacos from the farm to the hungry masses that flooded the compound. If you were lucky enough to have been present and

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tasted the succulent feast that they were serving up, then your taste buds must still be beaming. If all of the best organic grinds, hot babes and good people weren’t enough, to top things off Lil Jon dropped in to perform an impromptu DJ set that had everyone feeling the beats. Good food, good tunes and good times! It was a wonderful night and we couldn’t have been happier with the packed turnout and smiling faces. Watch out because Coalatree Organics is bringing the farm to the streets near you!

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Interview: Max Ritter

Ain’t no party like a Burger party! These record nerds have been on a warpath as of late, rapidly growing their cherished Burger franchise and taking over the world one cassette at a time from their headquarter record and video store in Fullerton, CA. It seems like every venue around has a Burger night popping up on the calendar and this month Burger Records will celebrate the growth of their DIY operation with several big gigs: The first ever Burgerama will be held at The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA on March 24th. Their 2nd annual three-day festival, Burger Boogaloo, will be held that same weekend at Thee Parkside in San Francisco, CA. Burger is also planning several SXSW showcases. Not to mention quite the list of heavy hitter bands including Wavves, Ty Segall, and OFF! that will be joining the bills to support the label and it’s cause. Rightfully so! You would be hard pressed to find anyone in all of Orange County or even the world that is more dedicated to the scene and sharing awesome rock and roll. RESPECT THE BURGER SUCKAS! We were stoked to check up with main Burger bro Sean Bohrman and his buds. Co founder Lee Noise was making out with his girlfriend and couldn’t make it. Cheers Burger brothers, keep doing your thing!

beginning.

How do you guys keep the records fresh in the store?

We have people bringing in stuff all the time. We go to conventions and thrift stores and swamp meets... Anywhere they sell records we will be buying them.

What is the typical day in the life of a Burger man entail?

Work non-stop. Wake up. Open the store. Go to the store. It’s cool working in a record store and being your own boss. It’s like a dream. My personal life has gone to the wayside while I work on Burger stuff. That is a tough transition for me but, it’s all-good.

How did the Burger label get started?

Lee, Dan, Alex and I were in a band called Thee Makeout Party. We needed to put out records and nobody else was interested so we started doing it ourselves. We were playing around town with Audacity. I was just obsessed with putting out their record. It had to come out so we just did it. We came out with the idea of putting out cassettes. There were labels putting them out at the time but nobody was releasing the type of music that we were releasing. We started putting out cassettes of records that were on Vice and Sub Pop and all these labels.

We’ve released 50,000 cassettes since 2007. We’ve put out over 200 bands on cassette including The Black Lips and Thee Oh Sees and bands from back in the 60’ and 70’s.

The story is pretty cool. You guys mainly started with a cassette biz, which has now grown into LPs, 7”, CDs, and digital. You would think the cassettes would have been a terrible idea - but it actually turned out kind to be kind of genius…

There are still people who have cassette players in their car and all that… We sell tons of cassettes. We probably sell on average 100 tapes a week off of our website. We did the OFF! cassette and sold 200 in twelve hours. Some just come off the shelves really quickly.

Do you guys sell cassette players?

We’re actually getting into that. I’m looking into some manufacturers and having our logo put on some.

Sean’s cell phone rings. He answers, “Burger Records.” I ask, “The Burger line goes straight to your cell phone?”

Yes. It’s on all of our releases since the

Do you get sick of that thing ringing?

This is all I do. Burger is my entire life.

From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed, it’s constant orders.

There are a million things we are doing all at once. We are putting on Burgerama at The Observatory, which is a really huge show, but at that same time were putting on a three-day festival in San Francisco, CA. We are doing five shows at SXSW this year. It’s pretty hectic and crazy right now. I make a list of things to do everyday and it’s insane. It will all catch up with me sometime but… for now it’s good!

You guys are doing your three-day festival in SF the same day you are putting on the Burgerama here in Orange County? Nutty…

Yes. The Burger Boogaloo is happening in San Francisco over three days March 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Burgerama is happening in Santa Ana on the 24th. Sunday morning we are driving all the bands that are playing Burgerama to play the Sunday show at Burger Boogaloo. It’s going to be crazy. We do shows in the shop all the time too.

What are some of your favorite releases you’ve put out on Burger so far…

Audacity was the first and it’s one of my favorites. That is going to be a classic record that people collect. Even though the band isn’t really stoked on it. They are always complaining about the sound of it but it’s a classic. The songs are awesome. King Tuff is one of the best records to come out ever. We put out the tape of that. We sold probably 2,000 of those tapes. Conspiracy of Owls is this really crazy 70’s AM rock band.

What is the best selling release of all time on Burger?

For LP’s it’s No Bunny’s, Raw Romance.

We’ve sold thousands of cassettes and were up to 2,000 LPs on that one.

How do you keep track?

It’s in my brain. (Laughs) Any more big things in the works?

We just did the Burger calendar. We are going to put out the Black Keys pretty soon on cassette. Lee went on tour with them in 2004 and we have kept in contact.

Just called them on the phone a couple weeks ago before they left for tour and was like, “Hey we should do a cassette.”

We’ve been talking with our friends at Bomp Records about putting out their first record. The band also wants to put out their new record.

Thanks to Burger Bros and Sonny From AMBIG. Check out Burger Records in Fullerton, CA and don’t miss all their happenings, especially Burgerama at The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA on March 24th.

Dr. DoG

The Observatory, February 9th, 2012

Backing a brand new ANTI release entitled Be The Void, Dr. Dog greeted a packed house of frenzied show-goers with pistols drawn and matching snowcaps. We gotta say, six records deep and it’s good to see the Dr. Dog train is still chugging stronger than ever. Every harmony on this night was tight like a tiger and not a note was missed throughout the lengthy set and encore. Strong showing, even though the quirky jammers from Philly might have been a bit distracted by the wild Observatory crowd. Crazed chicks were getting dragged out by security like it was a Motley Crüe show. I think I saw one bite the security guard on her way out. Man, really? At a Dr. Dog show? That’s what goes down there when punk bands play!

Photo & Review: Max Ritter

Reviews: Max Ritter

Church Of Sun 3 Days In 21 Nights Lavish Womb

FIDLAR No Waves/No Ass 7” Mom + Pop

Our friends from local outfit Church Of Sun have self-proclaimed, “We’re like the B-52’s but straight.”

Ah… touché. If the B-52’s and The Cramps had a baby it might sound like their tune “Monkeys.”

One listen will have you jumping on the bed in no time. Be sure to check out their new record and join their wild and strange party around town.

Fuck It Dog, Life’s a Risk. That’s what I am saying. Nobody right now is having more fun at the party than these fowl mouthed LA pack rats. Their exploits of daily punking, boozing, and shredding couldn’t be a more perfect soundtrack to your next rager. As long as they are on this bender, we are aboard. Their new 7” and follow-up to last year’s DIYDUI will be out this month via Mom + Pop.

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Al Lover Heavy Hippies – Cheapdrugsfreelove Self-Released Al Lover is a mad scientist from SF who has been conjuring up some pretty nasty instrumentals in his beat laboratory. Al likes to sample a plethora of artists from the prospering garage and psyche scene of his hometown. The latest release is another standout in his deep catalog of mashing and chopping wizardry. Free available via da Al Lover bandcamp.

TRMRS Good Time Blues Split 7” Volcom Ent & Resurrection Records Our hometown brothers from another mother TRMRS have dropped a new split 7” with the awesome Night Beats from Seattle. We have been reppin’ for the hood side and getting down to their latest woozy party.

“Good Time Blues” is just that; building slow, getting mean, and ending in a happy haze. Growlers member Scott Montoya tweaked the knobs and the tape machine in his bat cave. Volcom Ent is pressing the plastic as part of their 2012 Vinyl Club. Nice work, keep them coming dudes.

S M O Y: R B G D E T S BL!SS PRESEN

AGE: 8 HOMETOWN: MAMMOTH LAKE S, CA SPONSORS: MAMMOTH JUNIOR SNOWBOARD TEAM FAVORITE RIDERS: JEREMY JON ES, KEVIN JONES & LOUIE VITO

Photo: Taylor Guccione

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Rider: Kanoa Igarashi Photo: Joe Foster

Banzai Bowls Laguna Beach

1100 S Coast Hwy Suite 106, Laguna Beach, Ca 92651 | PH: (949) 715-8989

Banzai Bowls Costa Mesa

488 E 17th St A107, Costa Mesa, Ca 92627 | PH: (949) 722-8329

Banzai Bowls Huntington Beach 222 5th St, Huntington Beach, Ca 92648

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HURLEY