BL!SSS Magazine | May 2014 | #81

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KEEGAN SAUDER BY ANDREW POMMIER, 2014.

MIXED MEDIA. PORTR AIT BY KENNETH CAPPELLO.

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©2014 Vans, Inc.

FEATURING FULLY-FUSED DURACAP REINFORCED CANVAS & VANS PRO VULC LITE CONSTRUCTION, THE CHIMA PRO IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER: TOUGH AS LEATHER AND LIGHT AS A FEATHER.

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CANNON BALLS BOARD SHORT

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Creators & Innovators

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Š2014 Luxottica Group. All rights reserved.

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RANDOMS // 28 PRODUCT REVIEW // 34 MADSTEEZ ON MELROSE // 38 DAN QUINTANA // 40 ALBERT REYES // 42 LEAH TINARI // 44 INSTAGRAM // 46 SUPER TASTE // 48 VESTAL VILLAGE // 50 SHAWN PARKIN PHOTO PROFILE // 52 ANA PAULA NEGRAO // 58 THE ART OF SANER // 62 NATHAN FLETCHER // 70 FDR PROJECT // 78 WARP WAVE // 82 VOLCOM DAMN AM // 88 GROOVE MOVE // 90 WAVES FOR WATER // 92 HANDPLANT: TEENAGERS FROM MARS // 94 IMPERIAL MOTION: DIFFUSION // 96 TAMPA BRO // 98 DAVE NOISE: FAKTORY RECORDS // 100 CD REVIEWS // 102 GROM // 104

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

EDITOR joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com

CREATI VE DIR EC TOR mark paul deren : madsteez madsteez@madsteez.com

A SSISTANT EDITOR spencer pirdy spencer@blisssmag.com

E DITOR AT L ARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com

SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com

MUSIC EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com

ADV ERTISIN G 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, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson, Derek Bahn, Tom Cozad, Robbie Crawford, Ryan Donahue, Joe Foster

CONTRIBUTOR S 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, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon, JP Olson BL!SSS Magazine 413 31st Street

MAY 2014

Newport Beach, CA 92663 www.blisssmag.com

DANNY

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WELC OME RAEN.COM

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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.

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VISSLA X HAYDEN SHAPES

With the credo “Creators & Innovators,” it just seems logical that VISSLA has teamed up with surfboard manufacturer/master craftsman Hayden Cox. Aussie born and bred, Haydenshapes has recently setup shop here in California and has been on the forefront of shaping innovation. You’ve probably ridden one of his Hypto Krypto’s, seen Creed McTaggart or one of his other world-class test pilots ripping on his sleds, or maybe you’ve even had the pleasure of chatting with Hayden himself. He’s humble, passionate about his work and always looking to break new ground. And while we know him mostly for his shaping contributions, Hayden’s lifestyle is filled with all that encompasses the music, art and fashion worlds. Bottom line, we’re excited to see Hayden and VISSLA team up, and know the future will yield great things for the both of them. Be sure to regularly visit vissla.com to keep up with all of their happenings.

NIKE SB X AIR JORDAN 1 Air Jordans are a timeless Nike shoe that bridged the gap between basketball and skate cultures. Going back to the jump ramp days of the 1980s when guys were looking for any ankle support they could, the Air Jordans presented the solution for skaters with their high-top padding, durability and all-out style. Nike’s now dropping a couple of remarkable looking renditions of this classic shoe for all of us to enjoy. The first one to hit the streets was the Air Jordan I designed

by Craig Stecyk III. Stecyk used his patented tribal aesthetic to give his own personal touch to the shoe along with a tonal green and black upper color way. The second, more recent version of the Air Jordan I’s take on a mismatched paint look, paying tribute to the style of the early Air Jordan days. Lance Mountain took the reigns in designing these, and they look insane. His version will be hitting stores at Nike retailers and on nike.com beginning June 7th so mark your calendars.

JOEL TUDOR COLLECTION Vans and Joel Tudor have produced a signature collection consisting of just about everything Joel – one of the world’s best wave riders – uses on a regular basis. The collection comes with the JT Seahaven jacket, the JT Trimline board short, JT Admiral button down, two sandals, a Surf Sider shoe, a 6-foot board bag and the Joel Tudor Duffle III - a bag that can store all of these items with ease. Every piece of the collection comes in Joel’s favorite color ways using mesh bubble camouflage with complimentary earth tones and floral motifs for a look that is refined yet stills pops out in just the right way. Tudor and Vans nailed it on this collaboration. Now, all you have to do is visit your local retailer or vans.com to start rocking Joel’s gear today.

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CUBA LIBRE

The Roark Revival presents “Cuba Libre” by Chris Burkard on Thursday, May 1st from 6 to 9 p.m. at Laguna Surf and Sport in Laguna Beach. Revivalists Ryan Sirianni, Brandy Faber and Ryan Hitzel will be talking story and narrating images shot by photographer Chris Burkard during Roark’s Volume 6 journey to Havana, Cuba. Food, drink, cigars and music of Cuba will follow the slideshow that would make Hemmingway feel as if he was at home again in his beloved El Floridita in old Havana. May 1st also happens to be the “First Thursday” of the month for Art Walk in Laguna, so you know it’s going to be a big one! To see more images of the Cuban Revival, check out roark.com and @roarkrevival on Instagram.

BELROY SLIM SLEEVE NUDE A wallet company by the name of Bellroy has recently caught our attention, so much so that they’ve had us reaching for our back pockets and reevaluating our own wallet style. That’s why we’d like to introduce you to their latest hit, the Slim Sleeve Nude. It’s a take on their most popular wallet, the Slim Sleeve, stripped down to the essential elements - pretty much just vegtanned leather, thread and a whole lot of Bellroy love. They call it their Nude Approach, and that just sounds fun to us. With a key focus on function and minimalist design, this wallet has everything you need and nothing you don’t.

It’s elegance meets intelligence, while having the earth’s best interest in mind.

So, throw away that bulky, tattered wallet you’ve had forever, and head over to your local retailer or bellroy.com to transfer your goods into a Slim Sleeve Nude or any of the eclectically suave wallets they have available.

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FULLER X RAEN Raen Optics recently announced the addition of tube aficionado/jack of all trades, Danny Fuller, to their already stellar surf team. Fuller is known for being one of the best goofyfooted surfers on the planet in hollow, hell raising surf, especially out at Pipeline where he continually throws down epic performances winter after winter. But let’s not forget his other contributions in the worlds of art, fashion and photography as well. Fuller, being an ambassador of Raen, is like Jordan playing for the Bulls – it’s a perfect fit and good things will certainly come as a result. We look forward to seeing more from Raen and Fuller, as we’re sure there are probably plenty of interesting projects already in the works. Check out the full roster of Raen ambassadors as well as the whole line of Raen shades at raenoptics.com.

PAROLE COMICS PARTY

Our friend Cody Parole is a talented and motivated young individual who has had the vision of producing his own adult comic book for a while now. Well, after putting in plenty of hard work, his brainchild has been born and issue no. 1 of the coveted Parole Comics is hot off the press, looking fresh for everyone’s eyes to feast on. Parole Comics issue no. 1 features work from artists like Gobby, Mark Gonzales, Colin McElroy, Sam Meyerson, RL Parole and more. In celebration of the launch, Parole Comics is having a release party where you’ll be able get your hands on a copy of this fine, limited adult comic book. There’ll be drinks, art, music

by DJ Rankin and a raffle with all sorts of goodies.

It’s all happening Friday, May 9th at Porro Vita juice bar in Newport Beach from 6:30-10:00 p.m., so don’t miss out!

MY PACKAGE We got to give a shout out to the guys and gals behind the new underwear brand My Package. We received a sweet little package from our Canadian brothers up north, and it came in the form of 20 pairs of fresh chonies and we couldn’t be happier.

Comfort, function and style, these underoos have them all. Designed to be lightweight, breathable and strictly with comfort in mind, you’ll be excited to throw these on first thing every morning. There are a few styles available, depending on your needs, so be sure to head on over to mypackage.com and check them all out today.

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FLY RAZOR LTD GIFT SET Black Flys recently introduced their Razor Fly Sunglass, a.k.a.

Travis Walker’s signature shade, to the masses. Travis was raised on moonshine, fast cars and rock ‘n’ roll, and this shade represents all of this with an edge like you’ve never seen before. And by edge we mean that the stems on the Razor Fly mimic an actual razor blade, save any dangers of accidentally cutting yourself. The frames boast a slightly vintage yet modernly refined look, combining to make one badass shade.

Here’s the kicker though, Black Flys has made 150 limited edition gift sets available to the general public. The sets come equipped with your own pair of shades in a hard case, as well as shaving soap with an old school brush and a porcelain bowl so you can smooth that face of yours. Lastly, the set contains a custom Double Cross dog tag handmade by Travis Walker himself. Make sure to grab one of these limited 150 sets before they run out at your local Black Fly retailer or at blackflys.com.

HURLEY LEGACY

In celebration of Tribal Gear’s 25th anniversary, Bobby Ruiz has teamed up with Hurley to create a unique cultural mash-up event where the street meets the beach. The event is called LEGACY, and it will pay homage to many of California’s traditions and pastimes such as surfing, skateboarding, art and lowriding. With the leadership of C.R. Stecyk III, Bobby Ruiz and the assistance of some of Southern California’s biggest Car Clubs – such as Viejitos, Magjestics, Pegasus and The Imperials – Hurley and Tribal will showcase the finest lowriders, artists, photographers and entertainers. LEGACY will be going down at Hurley headquarters on June 7th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and we’ll see you there!

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ADIDAS SKATE COPA DECKS Recently, Adidas came out with their Adidas Skate Copa collaboration, which links their heritage with the sport of soccer and six of their skate athlete’s love for the game, paying homage to six different countries of origin. First, they came out with authentic jerseys, and now they’ve come out with skate decks.

There’s Lucas Puig’s Cliché deck for France, Mark Gonzales’s Krooked deck for the USA, Raul Navarro’s Western Edition deck for Spain, Rodrigo Tx’s DGK deck for Brazil, Lem Villemin’s Cliché deck for Germany and Benny Fairfax’s Palace deck for England. Each deck is unique in its own way and will have you representing whichever country you show allegiance with, whether you choose to use the deck or just want to preserve it in your soccer shrine.

Make sure to grab one before they run out at adidas.com/skateboarding. You’ll definitely want yours on hand when the World Cup begins!

SAGEBRUSH BAGS Anytime someone’s creating eye-catching board bags in a creative new way that’ll help us keep our surfboards looking pristine, we’re all about it. And here’s a new board bag company by the name of Sagebrush Board Bags founded by Anna Ehrgott that’s doing just that. Anna’s a talented surfer herself, who began weaving her own board bags some time ago out of reusable coffee bean sacks and repurposed fabrics she’d dig up at antique flea markets. The results of her labor soon had fellow surfers and friends from all over hitting her up for a bag of their own. Now Anna’s up and running, slinging these one-of-a-kind bags all over the place. We got ours and we suggest you do the same, just head on over to sagebrushbags.com and order one up today.

BOARDROOM DEL MAR XXL AWARDS The time has come once again for bigwave madmen to halt their pursuits of colossal swells all over the globe for just one night in order to congregate at the Grove in Anaheim for an evening of letting loose. That’s right, it’s the Billabong XXL Awards. It seems like every year the bar gets raised higher for who’ll take home the hardware, and this year was no different with plenty of massive waves ridden, tubes packed and wipeouts endured. We’re not going to say who we think should win, but we’re pretty blown away by a few of the entries – Laurie Towner’s mammoth tube, Healey’s backside bomb at Jaws, Shawn Dollar getting incinerated at Mavs and every single wipeout nominee. Basically, it’s anyone’s guess as to who’ll take home checks from the $120k purse, but it’ll be a guaranteed fun night of reliving all of the year’s craziest rides. Make sure to be on hand at the Grove on the evening of May 2nd for all the festivities!

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The Boardroom show will be hitting the Del Mar Fairgrounds this month on May 17th and 18th. It’ll be giving everyone who worships the sport of surfing and admires the art of board making an inside glance at the latest and greatest within the industry. At the show they’ll be honoring legendary Hawaiian surfer, shaper, waterman Ben Aipa in the Icons of Foam Tribute. They’ll also be holding the Masters Shaping Competition presented by US Blanks. There’ll be tons of action going down on both days with plenty of opportunity to bend a few of your favorite shaper’s ears, and finally get that bro-deal you’ve been dreaming of. Ok, maybe not that last part. But seriously, the Boardroom Del Mar show shouldn’t be missed, and we’ll be seeing you there. Click on over to boardroomshow.com for more information.

BASS, BEERS & BABES We got the best care package we’ve received in quite some time, courtesy of our boy Carter Katz and Bohnam Company. Carter only reps like 40 or so brands so it’s hard to keep up with what’s what… the one thing we do know for sure is that when he sends us a box it’s gonna be chocked full of the best of the best, and Bohnam is just that.

Bridging the gap between all things they love, Bohnam’s newest line has our jaws hitting the floor. It’s obvious that these skate dudes love to fish, and some of the gear they’re dropping is downright awesome. Highlights from our care package include this solar power charging station, perfect for charging your phone or bringing life to your speakers in remote areas, and this collapsible “Bass, Beers & Babes” cooler. C’mon, this is the stuff we can’t live without. So, whether you’re rippin’ lips or kickin’ flips, Bohnam has got what you need so click on over to bohnam.com or look for them at finer retailers.

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Interview: Liz Rice McCray :: Photo: Nathan Groff

With an excuse to find out more about the WEEN and get insight into his inner workings, we decided to feature our very own Madsteez and his latest piece located at Melrose and Fairfax for BL!SSS Mag’s “Mural of the Month.”

You say, “What Mural of the Month feature?” This is a new thing: a monthly feature on a mural-worthy piece. If you don’t see it in the issue, that means I’m slacking, so keep your eyes peeled.

You just banged out another larger-than-life mural. Does this piece have a name?

I was chosen by the QWEENt!ll!an herself to paint WEENt!ll!ans around the WEEN!verse in order to remind all creatures

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that there is existing, transcendental energies that form a singular, creative focus in life, uniting a larger life force with the conscious will of transpersonal self.

This is why I wanted to interview you. So WEENt!ll!ans… one pink left eye – does this have a connection to the fact that you are blind in your left eye? For the readers that don’t know, will you elaborate?

The differentiation is light illuminating the eye revealing what is physically evident between visible things and human thoughts, so the natural world is a perpetual allegory to which the eye gives access.

Will you tell us how this

mural came about? Who asked you to create it and why?

The initial earth engine was provided by Bobby and Ben Hundreds for The Hundreds.

It was quite refreshing because they gave me complete creative freedom with zero limitations or guidelines and let my inner WEEN flourish to its maximum potential.

This piece is quite large.

How long did it take you?

How long have you been painting large scale?

I had two days to complete and I must admit I was a bit sensitive toward our mother sun for blasting me with the two hottest days so far this year to where the soles of my shoes were literally melting into the concrete.

It’s been about 10 years

since my first mural. They don’t make canvases big enough, so naturally the next evolution was walls and buildings. The way I see it, the bigger the better.

Did you wear sunscreen?

I did and applied it every four hours.

Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us?

Next on my itinerary is Pow Wow! Taiwan where I’m going to be painting the world’s largest “Gif-iti” piece with one of my favorite artists INSA. After that, I have plans to paint murals in Barcelona, Paris, England, Puerto Rico and Dubai.

Most importantly, I’ve been slowly painting the last two years for a solo show, which I’m planning will be in Los Angeles.

CHAOS MEETS CULTURE TAYLOR DUNFEE // CHEAP THRILLS DBLANC.COM

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Hailing from Los Angeles, CA, painter Dan Quintana channels a style reminiscent of the late Hieronymus Bosch, but with a modern twist. The tones, brushwork and overall technique of Quintana yield a result which pays homage to the great 13th century master, but it is his subject matter and re-imagining of today’s “earthly delights” that puts his work in a class all its own.

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What are some of your consistent influences?

My main influences come from a variety of things that surround me as in the Art Deco and modern architecture in LA, to the Old Masters oil works, Flemish techniques and Dutch methods/palettes.

The conceptual works of industrial design also play a part in the influence.

What percentage of your

time is devoted to your artwork? What fills the rest of your time?

Ninety percent of the time it has been my entire life. The rest of the time when I’m not painting or drawing I’m focused on deskwork related to art.

Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us?

Yes, I was just a part of a group show that took place

at Hurley HQ on March 21st.

I will also be exhibiting at this year’s San Diego Comic Con on July 24th -27th, then a collaboration show with Karen Hsiao at Marcas Gallery in Santa Ana this August, and finally a show at Soze Gallery in Los Angeles this November.

Where can people check out more of your art?

Instagram: QUINTANARTE.

Interview: Liz Rice McCray

You were born in Panorama City and grew up in a suburb of LA. Will you tell us a little about your childhood and where you grew up?

I grew up in El Sereno, a suburb of Los Angeles, but to me it was more like a little village surrounded by open spaces with hills and trails you could explore.

The neighborhood is mostly working-class, mostly Hispanic people. I myself am half Mexican and half German.

Will you give us some insight to you and your art? How did you get into drawing?

I didn’t like school and used to ditch a lot and explore the hills surrounding the neighborhood. I began drawing with friends, and we would draw things we liked in our day-today lives: cars, rocket ships. I was influenced by

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MAD Magazine. I loved all the artwork that was in there, all the different styles of drawings. I used to get bored in church and draw on the insides of songbooks. The art I make is a reflection of my existence, in the United States, at this time.

Where do you find inspiration or motivation for your art?

Inspiration comes from everyday-life movies, pop culture, and the problems of our times. Everything around me inspires and motivates me.

What are your goals?

My goal is to have a piece of my artwork in every home in America while staying true to myself.

Make sure to check out more work by Albert Reyes at www. thealbertreyes.com.

“My goal is to have a piece of my artwork in every home in America while staying true to myself.”

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Raph Bruhwiler is a true outdoorsman. Born and bred on Canada’s Vancouver Island to a logging father, a woodsman he’d also become. He was known for heading out into the backcountry for days on end searching for the island’s untapped surf reserves instead of its old growth forests. Self-sufficient is an understatement when discussing Raph’s prowess.

He knows how to put fresh seafood or wild game on the table, and his backyard offers a plentiful bounty.

He’ll MacGyver hot tubs in the forest for his Tatchu Adventures wilderness surf camp guests after guiding them to epic surf.

Raph is also a world-class pro surfer, famous for his fast and fearless style. His combination of talents are a perfect fit with his new sponsor, the Roark Revival, who encourage and support him staging the Pacific Northwest revival and anywhere else he wants to adventure. When he’s not out in his boat searching for the next perfect wave,

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he spends time in Tofino with his beautiful wife Joey, teaching their kids how to thrive in the wilderness.

Tell us a little bit about the your involvement with Tatchu Surf Adventures.

I book trips, run the place and guide. I make sure we get the best waves on offer in the area on the day and keep everyone happy and stoked.

You guys have an ecofriendly surf village that looks very impressive.

Are all of the lodges built using wood and resources found in the surrounding forest?

Yes, most of the wood used is from the area. The owners Clay and Silvi put a lot of work into that place.

Most of the wood was milled there on the property or taken from driftwood off the beach.

Most people prefer to head to tropical locations for surf trips, so what makes Nootka

Island so ideal for a surf adventure?

There is nowhere like it in the world. Sure, you need a thicker wetsuit and it’s colder but there are no other humans around.

Eagles, wolfs, bears and deer on the beach, killer whales in the lineup and perfect empty surf. It’s not only a surf trip but a great outdoors adventure in the wild.

What’s the deal with the beach Jacuzzis? How are they constructed?

Dig a hole in the ground, tarp it, put water in it, make a fire, put copper coil in it, bilge pump and car battery at one end to suck water into coil in the fire then back into hot tube until it gets hot. I’m sure you can find it on YouTube, pretty basic.

Tell us about your scariest wildlife encounters. Have there been any bears that have tried to hop in the Jacuzzis with you guys?

Nothing too scary, but yeah

usually just bears getting too close to camp. That’s pretty standard up here.

Lastly, what’s a pictureperfect day like for you on Nootka Island?

Perfect waves, nice weather and everyone enjoying themselves.

“Eagles, wolfs, bears and deer on the beach, killer whales in the lineup and perfect empty surf.”

KALANI ROBB / SHIRT:Bernie Cali Print Aqua / © Catch Surfboard Co.

Photography: Dominic Petruzzi :: dominicpetruzziphoto.com :: @dominicpetruzzi Model: Prestin Obradovich :: Wilhelmina Models & CW Management

California girls, ah yes. The Beach Boys sang about them, they carry irresistibly attractive qualities that we just can’t quite put our fingers on, and every year around this time they blanket the nearby beaches, letting us know once again why they reign supreme. Sure, you may die trying to please them, but damned if these chicks don’t drive us all a bit crazy with love at one point or another. Case in point is Southern California girl Prestin Obradovich, who’s kicking our hearts into overdrive as Super Taste for the month of May. Beach Boys lyrics aside, Prestin is one fine example of why California girls will always remain at the top of our list, and we thank her for that reminder.

Hair & Makeup: Lauren Breedon :: laurenbreedon.com

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Words: Derek Boucher :: Photos: Suji Lee For the fifth straight year Vestal has invited friends, retailers, athletes, artists and musicians to “Vestal Village,” a secret camping community constructed on a 40-acre ranch in the desert that coincides with the Coachella Music Festival.

This 72-hour, invite-only event hosted nearly a thousand guests living off the land in an eccentric community of RVs and camping tents. Vestal Village also featured live music, hosted bar, pool party, lakefront lounging, art installations, flower gardens and so much more.

Heineken Light, Sailor Jerry, New Amsterdam Vodka, Midnight Moon, Red Bull, Honest Tea, ResQwater and AQUAhydrate comprised the all day and all night refreshments while Wicked Kitchen Food Truck and KIND Snacks provided

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sustenance to get through the day. Other amenities included the new “Bikini Bird Pop-Up Shop,” which featured all of the latest in women’s swimwear fashion, Byrd Hair Showers, Nimbus Eco paper products, Uber shuttles, LA Canvas Lounge, PopSugar trailer and LINE, the instant messaging app looking to hit 1 billion users by next year.

Also new for 2014 was a proverbial “Shangri-la,” a grand vision in the desert constructed by Jesse Hughes, the devilish leader of desert-rockers Eagles of Death Metal, counterculture icon, front man for his solo project Boots Electric and mayor of Vestal Village. A temporary space was constructed with the help of Orange Amps, Blue Microphones and Guitar Center where artists could relax, create, practice and even record some tracks.

The outdoor Vestal stage was the focal point each day and featured a diverse mix of live music from bands Church of Sun, Jeffertittis Nile, Bonfire Beach, Swimm, fmlybnd, DWNTWN, Moonsville Collective, Darrell Barr and DJ sets from Rusty Buckets, Chris Ziegler, Malia & Jules of Dum Dum Girls and Roland Barrera.

When the sun finally set on Vestal Village, the esoteric late night “Barn” parties slowly began to materialize. Friday night kicked off with a disco-funk infused set by DJ Episode. The clock struck midnight when Jesse Hughes and the Boots Electric Band took the stage and powered out an insane set of all his solo hits, plus a few Eagles of Death Metal sing-alongs. Then at around 1 a.m. Flinch took the stage and kept the afterhours party dancing until the sunrise.

Saturday night commenced with a DJ set by Prince Terrence followed by a mesmerizing set by the band Chrome Sparks. The barn then went quiet and a mysterious vibe filled the air. A few minutes later a silhouette against a wall of light and lasers emerged. The clandestine DJ/producer UZ, with his trademark mask, took the stage to send trap beats throughout the entire Vestal Village grounds.

Vestal would like to thank the literal “village” of people that came together to make the event happen. Special thanks to Alli Rosen, Whitney Long, Kelly Vaught and the entire Becore team, Mike Diocson and Junior Yeats of the LTMA Group, the Mendozas, Annie Madison and Betsy Cole, Danny United, Viva La Rock, Tiana Gamble, Ray Phillips & most importantly the entire Jumper crew. #vestalvillage

Tyler Warren

Words: Spencer Pirdy There are themes unconsciously strung throughout many a professional surf photographer’s work, giving them their own distinctive stamps that are recognizable even to the untrained eye. Maybe it’s the spot, the angle, the surfer in action or the mood that permeates off of the image that gives them away, but often times you needn’t check whose snapped the 52

image – you somehow already know.

There’s nothing wrong with being a specialist in any one facet or another.

In fact, many of the world’s best surf photographs are brought to us through the lenses of those who excel at being creatures of habit. However, there is something to be said for a photographer who can adapt to any and all conditions presented in front

of them, chasing a passion while having his or her own love for creative, outside-the-box progression being constantly present in every image they take. The work of 33-year-old Shawn Parkin exemplifies just this, always catching us pleasantly off guard with intriguing style and diverse flavor through every one of his images.

Shawn’s soft-spoken demeanor and, at times, wildly long locks of hair, paired with a brute-looking beard might lead you to believe that he’s been a vagabond all his life. And while his birthplace of Laguna Beach may have rubbed off on him a little aesthetically, Shawn’s work ethic and motivation to be up and out the door scouring the coast for surf is second to none. And

when it’s not right in front of him, Shawn is adept to kissing the wife and baby goodbye, driving in his car for extended hours or hopping on a plane to some far-off location to seek out his next adventure.

Shawn’s path as a photographer began in his early adult years, and it coincided with an injury he sustained. While living in Ventura and going to school at CSU Channel Islands, he was sidelined from surfing during a wave-rich winter due to a blown-out knee. Instead of weaving himself into a cocoon of depression, like most avid surfers deprived of the ocean might do, Shawn grabbed a Canon Digital Rebel and began shooting lineups, losing himself in this newfound hobby. This then progressed to Shawn bringing a camera with him everywhere he traveled. After college he used his graphic design degree to settle into a steady desk job in Irvine,

all the while spending as much of his free time as he could shooting and intertwining his photography into his day job. And the fruits of his labor were well received over the years. Shawn was the ‘Follow the Light’ grant winner recipient in 2012, and since then he has been a staple in the pages of renowned publications like Surfer, Surfer’s Journal and countless others. We know him for his images throughout the surf realm, but his portfolio certainly covers much more than that. As he explains, “I pride myself on well-roundedness in and out of the surf world; I don’t want to be seen as a one-trick pony.” And as you can see by the images in front of you, Shawn’s skillset and reach spans far and wide.

Here we are now in present times and Shawn has since left the cubicle life, living in San Clemente providing for his wife and Steve Thomas

Tom Curren Jesse Colombo

Lulu Erkeneff

John Robertson

Justin Quintal

Dege Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell

Tyler Warren

Bobby Martinez

Jason Miller

Tommy Witt

Chad Jackson

Tyler Warren

Tyler Warren

Garth Engelhorn baby girl as a full-time photographer while concentrating in the areas of lifestyle, portrait, abstract and, of course, sea and surf. The professional move for Parkin was sparked by the passing of his own father – a passionate artist, sculptor and creator who forfeited a life of following his own creative loves just so he could provide for his family. Shawn’s dad passed away just before retirement, and in respect of his legacy Shawn now lives and works by a simple motto he carries with him wherever he goes: “Tomorrow might not come, so do what you want to do and love to do today, tomorrow and everyday.”

There’s no doubt that Shawn will continue to share his passion of photography with us for as long as he wishes, and we look forward to viewing his eclectic work for years to come. To check out more of Shawn’s imagery, visit shawnparkin.com.

Alex Knost

I started studying photography by reading books and magazines that I could get my hands on after starting to skate. Skateboarding made me very interested in photography, but I never tried to shoot it too much growing up because I wanted to skate more. They were two separate things. I would skate all day in Encinitas and I only started taking photography more seriously a few years after I moved to Los Angeles. I started to shoot a lot for a Brazilian Film Festival, and I met a lot of famous people and got a lot of work done for People Magazine in Brazil. What I liked most besides shooting skateboarding was working with my good friend Mayra Gomes for Rolling Stone Magazine Brazil. And my favorite tour was in 2010 to Europe with Alexis Sablone, Lacey Baker, Vanessa Torres, Eliana Sosco and Jessica Florencio. We went to Prague, London, Rome and Barcelona. They were so happy and we skated every single day.

Growing up in Brazil was very fun but I remember I wanted to take a photo class in my hometown to learn how to develop black-and-white film but my city was too small that I couldn’t even do that. So… I did when I moved to California, just to know and it was the most amazing experience of my life. Every photographer should experience that. These days it’s easy to buy a camera and call yourself a photographer, but real photographers spend hours and hours studying, looking at books, magazines and buying photo equipment, which is very expensive and sometimes takes you years to get the equipment that you’re really happy with. A photographer knows and creates light, knows how to work with colors, forms and contrast.

I grew up skating in Brazil so my first picture published in a magazine was in TRIBO Magazine, and I used to do a girl skateboarding magazine with Liza Araújo and Luciana Ellington back in the days called Check It Out Magazine Girls. My favorite photographers were Daniel Bourqui, Flavio Samelo and Helio Greco. These are the guys who inspire me to shoot skateboarding photos. There’s a lot of photographers today I look up to, and it’s very rare to see girls shooting skateboarding. I really admire Desire Astorga from San Diego and Jenna Selby from London. I just think people should do what feels right. I love shooting skateboarding and I will do it for as long as I can.

Rodalfo Ramos : K Grind

58

Lacey Baker : Switch K Flip

Iago Carrasco : F.S Board

Danoo // Braydon // Carlos // Melcher // Greg // Ritchie

Alber Leandro : SS Salad

Mike Dias : F.S SS Heel

Kelvin Hoeffler : K Grind

Amelia Brodka

B.S Nose Blunt

Ana Self Portrait

Fabio Sleiman : 5050

Kelvin Hoefler : B.S 5050

Johnny Melhado : B.S Nose Blunt

62

The first time I saw an art piece by Saner was in 2006. I felt as if I already knew it, like it was something very familiar: those masked characters reminded me of Guadalupe Posadas´s engravings, Siqueiros’s murals and Oaxaca art crafts. But still, there was something quite new in his language. It gave me the feeling of an archeologist discovering for the first time a piece that changed preconceived theories; a new piece that revealed a new cosmogony. I showed the first piece he exhibited in the first collective show I ever mounted. I felt like an accomplice and witness to a boy on his way to becoming a man, a master in the making.

In Saner’s work there are always masked beings that hide men, women, children… different skin colors, some of them wearing traditional dress, some wearing Mickey Mouse ears, and some with tattoos on their bodies. There’s dancing, fighting, praying – you can always perceive a ceremony taking place in his paintings. There is something happening, some mystical energy is present. In his essay “Mexican Masks,” the Literature Nobel Prize writer Octavio Paz said that the Mexican appears like a being that hides and preserves himself “with a mask in his face he masks his smile.” I think this phrase can give us a clue to Saner’s work. By hiding the face he pushes us to look inside, and that is where his images become universal – they reveal that we are all living in a time of change.

Saner’s work, especially his murals, connects with people throughout the world.

There are no boundaries of age, race or social status. That’s how his images can communicate very simple messages or one can pierce through intricate layers that deal with the sociopolitical all the way to the mystic. And that’s my only advice for looking at Saner’s work – expect anything but be curious enough to reveal the hidden message that’s in it for us.

- Liliana Carpinteyro

Interview: Liz Rice McCray How did you get the name Saner?

In the years that I started to paint graffiti, the idea that everyone at the time was choosing a word in English excited me, so I began to use different pseudonyms. In 2003 while trying to find another pseudonym that spoke to me, I chose “SANE,” which described a healthy mental state, and that ironically stated to himself that he was okay in a world of crazy people. That was my way to get to SANER, a game of madness and the need to fit into a world where everything is absurd.

Just as your name evolved, do you feel you have gotten saner? Has the opposite taken place with the evolution of your career… a crazier existence?

With the passage of time and the evolution of my work, many times you find yourself in a dilemma of emotions that can lead you to insanity or instability, but of course it all depends on how it’s looked at and how it’s taken in. Besides, one day you open your eyes and accept that this craziness that you have inside is the one that makes you free and somehow sets us apart from the rest. You live like you have to live.

Will you tell us where you are originally from and are currently living?

Do you spend a lot of time in the U.S.?

I’m Mexican. I lived many years in the State of Mexico, but I’m currently residing in Coyoacan, Mexico City. I spend a significant part of the year traveling, either to the U.S., Europe and some other parts of Mexico and the world. This has given me the opportunity to fall in love again with my country, its decadence and its virtues.

Mexico City has a rich history of artists; will you give us some insight to its artist community and cultural difference to LA or New York?

Actually Mexico is rich in many things: traditions, culture, flora and fauna, and many more things such as oil and minerals. Its inhabitants are very different and I think this specifically creates an environment in which a lot of inspiration forms.

Each place has its own richness and that makes a difference in their artists. We all live different things and project those things from other points of view.

That is what I would say makes each place unique.

What are some of your consistent influences?

Culture, folklore, traditions, death, life, politics and especially the day-to-day, my family, my girl, my friends, things that affect us as Mexicans.

Has the arrest of “Chapo” Guzmán affected your politics in any way?

The arrest of “Chapo” and other heads of cartels undoubtedly affects our political system, whether it be directly or indirectly. It is well known that many people in different positions are involved.

The problem is that we don’t often see the damage directly, and only the passage of time will reveal the truths of the past. So, for now, just wait for the consequences of these events.

What would best describe your art?

The way to describe it would be an insight into globalized roots, and the need to rediscover the origin to be able to leave a mark in this life.

When it’s all said and done, how would you like your art to be remembered?

Very good question. I think the best way to be remembered would be the inspiration that you can leave for future generations.

To show that every step you take can have different outcomes, and that life is not easy but there isn’t anything that’s impossible.

I without a doubt want to be remembered as a person who had different challenges, many came to be a good thing while others not as much we’d liked, but we get rid of our fear and try to jump the sidewalk and see what happened next.

What motivates you to create?

I suppose the need to say something in a visual manner, the echo that I carry inside and the criticism that we all must do regarding what we live every day. If we could all raise our complaints in a creative form, I think we would have a different world.

Will you tell us about some murals or projects youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve felt most excited about.

I think all projects have taught me great life lessons, such as to be humble, be committed, be honest with myself, create a dialogue with the viewer and unleash an emotion, change their day-to-day and leave a mark on them. That has let me savor every one of the projects I have done.

I have enjoyed interviewing you. Your positivity is infectious. For the last question, where can people check out more of your art?

Thank you very much, Liz. I equally enjoy this interview and it will be something I will always remember. You can view more of my art at my website at saner. com.mx, on my blog at saner_dsr. blogspot.com and on my social networks, Instagram at saner_ edgar and Facebook at SANER.

“I don’t have anything to prove to anyone” 70

Interview: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Dave Nelson / SPL Waterhousing Nathan Fletcher is a victim of accidental circumstance, always somehow in the right place at the right time – or the wrong place, for that matter. For all of his accolades at spots like Teahupoo, Phantoms, Cloudbreak, etc., Nathan has had to deal with plenty of sorrow and anguish as well: struggling as a youth, the death of close friends, and a recent close call in Chile. In the following interview, Nathan speaks on being a new father, chasing large waves, death, fate, his passion for surfing and the future.

Enjoy!

How is fatherhood and having Lazer in your life?

Lazer Zappa Fletcher. It’s awesome, a whole new chapter, but it’s insane – he’s just coming to life. I guess like what you’d expect, but you can’t expect… it’s a lot of stuff.

Is that experience everything you’d imagined?

I guess… I waited a long time for it.

I’m stoked and excited. It was greatly anticipated.

Does having a child now change your mindset in chasing big waves?

I would just say it all comes down to trying to go when you feel good, because that’s a key thing. Just knowing when you feel like you’re on and you’re ready for it. Being in a rhythm and not being greedy, just going and doing it. I guess it’s still the same, but definitely really try and know how you’re feeling and what your situation is before you go.

What is it for you, personally, that you look to in deciding whether or not to go?

It’s just how you feel. It sucks because you know when you don’t feel it and you go and you’ll get pounded and you’re like, ‘Fuck.’ It’s hard to tell, but at the same time just go when you feel good, when everything is going good and you go with the rhythm.

Talk for a moment about the day you surfed outside Alligators when Kirk Passmore died. What was the feeling like going into that session?

Well, I was with the Gudauskas’ and we were looking at it, we saw those guys and I just didn’t feel it was really right. I told the Gudauskas’ that we were going to go surf Waimea, and we went down there and surfed until there was the proper safety [at Alligators] because I felt responsible for Pat and Tanner, who are super experienced surfers.

We did that but then we went down to Alligators a little bit later after those guys had tried. I guess things just kind of felt weird… not weird, but you just have to be real safe, ya know? The way it is now, with how crazy people are, it doesn’t seem like it is as heavy as it is until someone dies. It could be like that all day, any day, like when I broke my leg at Pipeline. But at the same time something felt weird and then it really ruined the day after Kirk’s death. For some reason, that night was the night Lazer was born. That day was a real tragic and trippy day, just seeing all that and just having to be there again for something that’s that terrible. At the

same time, there were a lot of people that were real intelligent big-wave surfers that were knowledgeable and that definitely sent a whole message to the surf community about safety and all of the different circumstances, that it’s not a joke. A lot of people have equipment and are prepared for the gnarliest conditions and think that they can do it, which anyone can do it, but it sometimes is a matter of trying to go when it’s right for you. For me, if I catch a good one then that’s good enough for me. The whole day was just a weird one. It happened and there were a lot of gnarly feelings in the deal.

Big-wave surfing is quickly catching on with a lot of people taking part in these sessions. Should just anyone be able to be out there?

That’s definitely true, but in another sense no one person is more qualified than anyone else. It comes down to what Ross Clarke Jones will say, ‘It comes down to nerve.’ It kind of does in a lot of senses and to not panic in a situation. It’s hard to say, and who’s to judge. So, just try to do it when it feels good, not do it forever. Like for me, I’m just cruising. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone, I just love being there.

The best part about it is being out there and seeing the rides that people get, and the experience and camaraderie that everyone has. That part of that community is special. You’ll never get it any other way than being out there and being in the mix. There’s the feeling of catching one but then there’s the experience of being out there and seeing people having the most glorious sensations in their life. You’ll maybe see it in a contest, but more or less just on certain big-wave days. That’s the thing too, that big-wave session at Alligators was such a beautiful day and the experience that everyone was having was amazing... and then, BOOM, it was terrible. It would’ve happened to anybody right there.

Tell us about your near-death experience in Chile?

It was brutal, I almost died; I straightened out on a wave and got pounded into the rocks. Once you’re into the rocks it’s hard to keep your head up because the water’s rushing all around.

Yeah, it was really bad. And after that my first real big-wave session back was when Kirk Passmore died… then Maya had her deal. My deal wasn’t that bad. It was just a really stupid mistake in going out at the time and not really doing the research on the break, just being excited at seeing the wave. It got us into a really bad position. It was a great learning experience just to remember that it is no joke.

I ask this question because you seem like you have this innate sense for being in the right place at the right time, but do you believe in fate?

Oh yeah, I believe it’s all fate. And I believe that it only happens accidentally.

That wave at Teahupoo was pure fate. I mean, I’ve tried hard at what I’ve done, but it didn’t have to give me that or I didn’t have to do that, but it just gave it

“The way it is now, with how crazy people are, it doesn’t seem like it is as heavy as it is until someone dies. “ to me and I pulled it, whatever.

That’s what I was meant to do, but when I went there I had no intentions of anything like that. When I went there it was accidental, but it was from a whole life of trying.

So, fate but at the same time having put in the dedication and having the drive for that moment?

Yeah, like Martin Daly told me one time when I asked, ‘You think we’ll get lucky?’ And he was like, ‘Man, there’s no such thing as luck. That’s just preparation and opportunity.’ Basically, it’s just preparation and opportunity through time. I believe in just trying hard and not really having an exact destination. It’s more just like do it and whatever will happen, because anything I’ve ever really focused on I’ve ruined anyways.

What are some of the things in life you feel you’ve focused on too hard and haven’t gone the way you’d want them to?

I don’t know, just surfing and being a little kid, trying and not having it happen. But then just

giving up and as soon as you do that it happens to you. Soon as you have the drive but maybe not the focus, you just do it because you’re just passionate.

Do the waves that you’ve caught at places like Cloudbreak and Teahupoo accomplish life goals you’ve set for yourself?

Those are all big steps in my life… I don’t know, I’m just stoked. Those are all just huge steps really, because it’s groundbreaking stuff in my own mind, stuff that I’ve worked up to doing. But, I never saw those as goals that I had set out to do. It’s kind of like looking in hindsight and seeing that you’re content.

At one point in my life I wasn’t content, but now I just feel like I am content and that’s what I was put on this earth to do and that’s what I set out to do. I now have a kid and can raise my family and focus on trying to be the best dad and give that kid a life so maybe he can do the same thing.

You just bought a home on the North Shore, right?

Yeah, I just bought a place right

by Alligators and we had our baby here. We’re just going to try to be here and raise our family.

Yeah, for him there’s surfing here and that’s what I have to give to somebody because that’s what I was given. I love Orange County but there are a lot of other things there that don’t lead to this surf lifestyle. As he’s growing up I feel like this will be the best place for him to surf, skate and be in the mix, but not on the industry side.

Are there certain things that you were exposed to in San Clemente that you disliked that made you want to have your son grow up in Hawaii?

Yeah, just as far as the raw energy here, and the cops and the way it’s just such a controlled environment. You’ve got to supervise your child everywhere you go, as opposed to here where they can skate, surf and cruise around and stuff, and it still has that small-town environment. Which Orange County was and is, maybe in some parts, but there’s a lot of shit going on there. It’ll be better. I want him to be able to surf in trunks, play in the sand on the beach with a two-lane road and go to school right across the street from Pipeline.

That’s what I would have wanted, personally, but there wasn’t any money in surfing at that time. My dad had to live in Southern California to provide for us.

How’s your relationship with Christian right now?

Great. He just went home, but we were surfing everyday here on the North Shore.

Do you guys feed off of each other?

No, I don’t think that at all. I mean, maybe now, but… he made me who I am 100 percent. He’s five years older... he changed the whole world of surfing, and that comes from my dad taking us to the skate park. Christian is his own deal; I don’t think he looks at anyone really. He was ahead of his time and doing his own thing.

When you look at surfing’s progression today do you see promise?

I guess looking at it before people couldn’t even make a living, but now the amount of money that’s in surfing, you can make it, it’s accepted. As far as the trends and shit, I don’t know. As far as it being acceptable, it’s promising. It’ll always be cool, it’s too gnarly; if you’re a real surfer it’s different than just wearing a pair of board shorts. You still have the lifestyle. There’s no Buttons in any other sport, I promise you that.

Lastly, looking forward, what do you hope for?

I want to produce another full-blooded surfer, if I can, and give something back to the evolution and design of the surfboard. Just work on design and when my son grows up just get to work on his boards. I know that I really like the concave deck, and I know it’ll come back to fins and board designs for sure… it always has! Hey, I’m gonna go for a surf!

Alright Nathan, thanks for your time.

Thank you, have a great day.

Over-vert 78

Words & Photos: Michael Fernandez FDR is a skate park that lies on the fine line between freedom and anarchy. Located at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, it’s a place where the skaters take care of themselves and their park, and where long lines and new moves are the norm. It’s a place that hosted the Gravity Games and where any one of the locals should, or could, be pros. Built with the sweat of the skaters themselves,

the park exists under the I-95 freeway and without government permission. Ninety percent of the cement in FDR was handmixed with shovels, portable cement mixers and spread with hand trowels. Only one bowl was shot with concrete, the 13-foot toilet bowl. The park feels like it’s handmade. Add to it the skill level it takes to ride over imperfect concrete and you start to understand the challenge of FDR.

One of the founders, Carlos Biaza, leads a crew of skater/ builders with names like Slim, Delaware Josh, Kevin, Matt, Staples, Johnny Young Guns and others when it’s time to add new concrete. Cinder blocks, cement, sand and a host of other materials are dropped off by those that either skate in the park or just want to show their approval of what it does for the skaters of Philadelphia.

The only thing that changes

more than the architectural landscape at FDR is the artistic concrete canvas the skaters roll over. Artists like Mark of Toxic Life are free to paint giant colorful murals. Eventually, when the murals get faded and the paint gets rough, the cleanup crew will repaint the park overnight.

FDR plays host to skaters, music videos, music gigs and acting shows, but not to bikes or drugs.

Josh

Kevin

Carlos Biaza Sonny

Philthy Phil Jackson

Slim

Carlos & Andy

Clover

Kevin

Dan

Matt Goss

Staples

Besides the occasional joint and beer, the most common drug at FDR is the adrenaline flowing through the skaters’ veins after they perform a nearly impossible move much to the delight of the crowd. Many come just to watch the insanity. Holidays like the 4th of July and Halloween are notorious for the music and skating anarchy that ensues.

As a photojournalist and a surfer/skater, I knew I would have to tackle this unique topic. I have skated over 60 parks in my life, and none compare to the FDR experience. I have recently moved back home to Huntington Beach to surf and I miss those special days at FDR. This is for the builders and skaters of FDR.

Matt Goss

For more of Mike’s work, check out www. michaelfernandezphoto.com

Gray Thompson : Salt Lake City 82

Words & Photos: Sean Sullivan Snowboarding is many things to many people, but every interpretation is correct. There isn’t a wrong way to snowboard, and that’s what makes it have a powerful draw to such a diverse group of people. While magazines and sponsors often support and push a level of snowboarding that is unrelatable to the average snowboarder, today’s snowboarding films are forced to go in the same direction – strictly documenting the best of the best, freestyle snowboarding. The stakes are high these days, with a deep pool of talent and more money than meets the eye. Snowboarding is stacked with riders focused on the biggest, gnarliest, and next tricks. This is good for snowboarding, without a doubt, but in the fury of high-

consequence features and tricks, it’s easy to forget the reason we all love snowboarding… linking turns, hunting down powder, and learning fun tricks.

This is where Warp Wave comes in. Nestled in the Lake Tahoe Basin, Eric Messier and Gray Thompson figured that the whole reason they started riding in the first place was to have fun. And since both are very creative people, it was only natural that they were going to branch out and make their own films that reflected that. Messier could easily be considered both a vet and a legend, if you look at his resume of influence in the industry and his handfuls of video parts. And Thompson, while young, has style and vision well beyond his

Brenden Gerard : Mammoth

Eric Messier & Gray Thompson : ASI, CA

Eric Messier : Donner Pass, CA

years, with a childhood in San Francisco and a love for adventure.

Once these two came together Warp Wave was born; it’s a digital zine released featuring unpublished work from their friends and photographers. VHS cameras were substituted for the highperformance HD cameras, avant-garde video pieces began to appear on the Web, and anything covered in snow became fair game.

“We wanted to do our own thing. Yeooooow!” said Gray Thompson from a sunny chairlift in Park City. He had just watched Alex Yoder do a high-speed carve around the main bowl at the Holy Bowly.

“Snowboarding is so rad, just making turns on your board and

exploring, and we didn’t want that to get lost. By making our own films we have the opportunity to show what snowboarding means to us.” Watching Messier and Gray ride the Holy Bowly put it into perspective for me. These are guys who watch people ride and think about the way they ride, focusing not just how they look in the air or on a rail but how they initiate turns and carry speed out of slashes. At that point it became obvious and simple: these guys love snowboarding, from the ground up, and that’s why so many people appreciate their program.

“I just want to get weird in the mountains,” Eric Messier said while floating on his back in a hot spring in a random corner of Idaho

Brenden Gerard : Mt Rose Nevada

Eric Messier : ASI, CA

Gray Thompson : Brighton Resort, UT

Gray Thompson : Park City, UT

da

on a sub zero night. “Snowboarding is so fun. I don’t want to be put into one box or another. I’m just a person who loves riding, and that’s that.” Strict planning?

They’ve never heard of it. Every day is different, and while goals are important, the mountains serve up weather and snow at their own discretion, so making the most out of the situation at hand became the game. How do I feel today? What is the weather doing? What is the most fun we can have today? When you ask yourself those questions, things tend to fall into place naturally.

When shooting with these guys, I feel like a grom. If something looks fun, we hit it. If something feels weird, calls for an unnecessary amount of work, or isn’t fun, we move on. This approach to snowboarding works in everyone’s benefit.

Every single day I’ve shot with these boys has resulted in published photos – a perfect batting average, if you will. The mountains are generous, and if you graciously take what they give you and play nicely, it’s highly likely you’ll have more fun and land more tricks than you ever have before.

Gray Thompson : Donner Pass, CA

Words: Daniel Cabral :: Photos: Arto Saari From April 10th – 13th The Skatepark of Tampa held the first contest of their “Damn Am” season at the Volcom headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA. Over 130 skaters competed for their chance to qualify for “Tampa Am,” the longest running amateur skate competition in America. While Thursday and Friday were just practice days, it was quite obvious that some gnarly skating was going to go down over the weekend.

Saturday was the day of qualifiers where all 130-plus skaters, skated in two, three-man, 3-minute heats to narrow the competition down to the top 40 skaters, with the top two skaters advancing straight to the finals. The two skaters advancing straight to the finals ended up being Salt Lake City, Utah’s Tyson Bowerbank, who’s been no stranger to the amateur contest circuit, and Belgium’s Axel Cruysberghs, who just happened to be visiting the states with the European Volcom skate team for a month-long trip around the southwest.

Axel Cruysbergh : Nose Blunt

Carlos Lastra : Darkslide

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Blake Johnson : 5-0

Tislam Smith : Kickflip Tailslide

Franky Vallani : Bennett Grind

Tre Williams : Noseblunt

Alex Midler : Kickflip F.S Boardslide

Johnathan Henerson : F.S Feeble

Jamie Foy : B.S Tailslide

The next day the semi-finals were going off, with every skater showing how hungry they were for the podium.

After the semi-finals were over Anthany Anaya, Chase Webb and Franky Villani were the top two going into the finals where they had two minute-and-a-half runs. While heavy tricks were going down all weekend, runs that utilized the entire course really energized the crowd and judges. The battle was heated with every skater bringing a slightly different bag of tricks with their own style.

In the end, Axel Cruysberghs took home first, Tyson Bowerbank took second and Anthony Anaya took third.

Podium shot : Anthony, Axel & Tyson

Mickey Papa : Kickflip Crook

After the final runs, the DVS Best Trick contest started where any skater who entered the contest had 30 minutes to land the hardest trick they could pull.

Diamond Grind Coping made a special gap out rail specifically for the contest that no skater in the contest had ever skated before. None of the skaters had any problem throwing down some gnarly tricks on the rail and literally destroyed it – the base of the rail broke and had to be taken out two thirds of the way through!

Every trick landed could have won it, but the very last trick shut down the contest with Franky Villani’s shoveit Bennett grind 180 out down the hubba. Everyone wanted him to pull it and once he did the skatepark exploded with excitement! After the awards were handed out and a quick product toss, the weekend was finally over and the 2014 Skatepark of Tampa Costa Mesa Damn Am presented by Volcom and DVS was a wrap. A full recap can be found at Volcom.com.

Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Ryan Donahue // The man of the night- Jack Coleman // The crowd going into a blisssful trance // Glasses were being raised all evening long // Brooks Nielsen , Jack Coleman and Alex Knost // Three options here: chug, pose or look at people chuggin’ and posing // Becky Hearn, enjoying the Groove Move goodies // Richie Olivares is always on point // Tommy Shaw and Julian Ness // Mark Contreras and Ryan Rankin // Lila Parto & Jenavieve Belair // Shogo Shibata // Letting the booty do all the talking While many of you were driving out to Coachella, a few of us remained in town for a rowdy night of tomfoolery. The occasion? Jack Coleman’s ‘Groove Move’ premiere at the Lido Theatre in Newport Beach, and our very own Blue Beet after-party celebrating BL!SSS’s 80th issue. With the film set to project just after 7 p.m. that Thursday afternoon, word got out that some beers were being thrown back at BL!SSS headquarters. Before we knew it our office and parking lot was overrun with friends, freeloaders and a few ladies all turning it up in anticipation of a fun-filled night to come.

Once the beer ran out, we shimmied on over to the Lido Theatre for the showing of Groove Move. Everyone slid into their seats just in time for Jack to grab the microphone and rile up the crowd, giving thanks to people who helped in the making of his film and allowing for a few war cries from Metal Jimmy and some outer space ramblings from the Cosmic One. The movie itself is Jack’s best flick yet. Sure, it may not align with what constitutes today’s modern day tail-flick, air-huck surfing, but it definitely is worth appreciating every roll.

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Jack’s films are lucid dreams coming to fruition, and they have a segment for almost anyone. From Gavin to Knost, Derek Hynd to Joel Tudor and lesserknown names like Ari Browne and Rangi Armond, every style and form of wave riding was covered on a plethora of mystic waves. By the end of the movie we were all left captivated, wondering if we should take out our fins before jumping in the water for our next surf.

Afterwards, the adults cruised on over to the Blue Beet for some ‘80s jams from DJ George Trim, a fine rooftop scene and plenty of alcohol-infused antics.

The dance floor was getting pretty innovative at a few points during the night, and the bar was constantly packed with folks thirsting for much more than a cool buzz. The party would lead to either an excruciatingly painful drive out to Coachella the next day or a depressing Friday evening spent at home trying to re-account the previous night’s events and piece together how your checking account could’ve wound up with a -$13.65 balance. Either way, we enjoyed all the sights, sounds and calamity that went on that Thursday evening, and we look forward to more shindigs as we spring into summer.

Trevo r Co ld en Fro nt Croo k / Azuza, CA. / PH OTO: Marti n ez WWW.ACTIVERI D ESH O P.CO M

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Conner Coffin and Eddie Breckenridge in Nicaragua // Jon Rose in Haiti // Carissa Moore, Ace Buchan and Team Indonesia in Bali : photo Jason Childs // Mother taking filter and bucket home from Karangasem, Bali, Indo : photo Jason Childs // Rob Machado, Bob Burnquist and Alex Atala in Brazil // Bob Burnquist in Brazil // Aamion Goodwin in Liberia // Ace Buchan in Indonesia : photo Jason Childs // Rob Machado in Brazil.

Waves For Water has announced the successful execution of one of the largest single-day water relief efforts in history on 100K World Water Day, which took place March 22. With the leadership of Jon Rose and partnership of Hurley H2O, six teams of Clean Water Couriers were deployed globally in an effort to bring 100,000 people access to clean water. The combined efforts surpassed projected expectations, ultimately delivering enough filtration systems to help provide clean water access for an estimated 180,000 people around the world.

“Our goal with this initiative was to create measurable, large-scale action on a day when the entire world had its eyes and focus on water,” said Waves For Water Founder Jon Rose. “We believe that the global water crisis is solvable, and this action was designed to help prove that. Not only did we reach our goal, but we far exceeded it.”

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Waves For Water and Hurley H2O assembled groups, comprised of brand ambassadors, athletes and key influencers, to travel to nations in need like Nicaragua, Liberia, Haiti, Indonesia, Brazil, and the Philippines. The teams included actress Rosario Dawson, surfer Rob Machado, skater Bob Burnquist, Chef Alex Atala, and surfers Carissa Moore, Adrian Buchan and Conner Coffin.

“I went on this mission to help the people of Nicaragua,” said Coffin. “When I felt their gratitude and positive energy, it gave me the same sort of feeling that you get after an epic surf session. Just floating on a cloud.”

The day was an overwhelming victory in the fight to provide people all over the world with access to clean drinking water. For more information on Waves for Water, or to lend a hand in this humanitarian effort, visit wavesforwater.org.

Words: Jason Arnold :: Photos: Catherine Gregory // Legendary photography of Jon Steele // Handplant owner EG, Jason Arnold & Jon Steele // “Livin’ The Dream” with Jon Steele // Jorge Salas, Jon Steele & friend // Ar4t Gallery owners Brian & Torey with Mr. Handplant aka EG // Jon Steele with NY legend Jeremy Henderson // Hostess with the most-ess, Sunseray // Scott Gerent & his hot friend Haley // Handplant wall installation // Darren Morris aka DJ Darmor Raw and gritty skate photographs were the primary theme of Jon Steele’s recent show, Teenagers From Mars, at Handplant skate shop in Laguna Beach. Spring was in the air and the streets of Laguna were alive with the usual assortment of human creatures for which the town is famous. Beer, wine and a never-ending flow of hors d’oeuvres fueled the crowd while classic garage and punk rock vinyl tunes were spun on vintage turntables and amps. Creating a unique display and arrangement, Jon created the aspect of the photographs and limited art pieces as part of the shop, utilizing already existing elements of the store as opposed to slapping ‘em up side by side on a blank wall; it really makes for more creative viewing. Jon’s art itself is quite diverse, ranging from the aforementioned raw, street-style photos, studio portraits of underground legends and beautiful women, open landscapes and surf action from around the world; he paints as well, with unfinished skate decks being his preferred canvas. Jon lives and breathes the underground skate and surf punk ethos and represents it in his art. Thrash, surf and skate punk, and living by your own terms will never go out of style, and viewing this collection reaffirms the fact that the underground is alive and well and DIY is possibly more important now than it has ever been. Check out Jon’s work at www.jonsteelephoto.com. Big thanks to EG and crew from Handplant, THE skate shop in Laguna!

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Words: Eric Wicken :: Photos: Ian Kose & Spencer Goetz // RA Scion capping the night off with a mind-blowing set // Great minds discussing the legalization of pot in WA // Staring into the realization that bleached hair is back // Free beers were flowing // Freedom ain’t free, but these posters were // The finished product // No alcohol, no music = no party… luckily we had plenty of both // Some stragglers lost in conversation while the music was jamming

Imperial Motion and BL!SSS were at EVO in Seattle this past month putting on the Diffusion photo exhibit, which featured some of the great photos IM has used in their ads this past year from the works of photographers Zach Snellenberger, Jonah Reenders, Jason Hainault, Alex McDonell and Ben Jackson. The exhibit consisted of large plexiglass installations with dual-layer screenprinting on the front and back of the surface, creating both depth and texture. Opening-night attendees were greeted with IM’s own Underachiever Beer, free screenprinted posters and the music of RA Scion. The night’s great assembly of Seattle-ites was followed up with a month-long viewing of the gallery along with the latest IM product for sale at one of Seattle’s premiere stores. Look for more art featuring IM’s double-exposure campaign in the upcoming issues of BL!SSS and possibly another gallery party near you!

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LIRA 2014 SUMMER COLLECTION W W W. L I R AC LOT H I N G . C O M

Words: Ron Meronek :: Photos Brady Field // Curren Caples // Chaz Ortiz // Mike Rogers // Justin Strubbing // Chris Nerako and Ron Allan // Ortiz, Willy Akers and John Montessi // Gabe Clemens from Matix and Vern Laird from Bones // Chris Troy // Tyrone Olson // Jereme Knibbs // Justin Strubing and Friend // Adam Dyett and Friend // Stephan Janoski and Justin Brock

When all of our industry friends and skate pros come to town for the big skateboarding contest in Tampa twice a year, we have them over for a BBQ and skate jam in what we call the “Dream Driveway.” It’s a long driveway lined with quarterpipes, and it has some of the best flat ground in Tampa. In the backyard is the Hillsborough River that cuts through Tampa in one of the most classic Florida wildlife scenes you’ll see while visiting here. It’s a chill day of skating, high fives, reuniting with friends, food, and drinks before the real madness of the weekend kicks in.

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photos: ginsberg | driftwoodfoto

Interview & Photos: Max Ritter Factory Record’s Dave Noise is the guy around town that keeps our ears happy. He’s been selling wax since before the dinosaurs, and he always does it with a smile. If you’re in search of new or old records or just good vibes then go see this dude.

How long have you been selling records?

I started in 1988. I worked at a local shop called Music Market and briefl y at another shop in town. Then in 1991 I started my own shop called Noise Noise Noise until 2006. In 2010 I opened up Factory Records.

How did you get into selling records?

When I was a kid I had a paper route back when you actually rode around on your bike and threw newspapers into people’s yard.

On weekends you would have to get up bright and early to get the newspapers there by six or seven in the morning. That enabled me to go to garage sales before everybody.

That is when I got hooked on colleting records, and I just really developed a passion for it. Once I graduate high school I went to OCC and got an AA degree from there, but I just wasn’t excited about going to school anymore. I had the opportunity to open up a little record store in town here so I did that and it thrived.

You’ve been doing this so long you’ve seen vinyl go in and out of style... It’s back in style.

I am stoked because it gives me a chance to do what I love. I have seen vinyl supposedly going to die so many times. When CDs came out in the late ‘80s that was going to kill off vinyl and it didn’t. It got

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huge again in the early ‘90s with DJ culture, hip-hop culture, and sampling and it thrived again. In the early 2000s I thought it was going to die with Napster and the downloading movement, which turned into iTunes. It came back again in the late 2000s with a vengeance and it’s really hot still. I am really stoked for it.

Why do you think people keep coming back?

A lot of people say it’s the sound these days. My hearing is shot so I can’t tell the difference (laughs). It’s true. I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a tin-sounding CD and the best sounding vinyl.

But most people really appreciate the warm sound that analog vinyl can give. A lot of people prefer their vinyl to be recorded to analog tape and done without any digital production. Also, people like being able to hold the cover and to look at the artwork. You can’t turn on your iPod and hold a 12 x 12 cover in your hands. I think there is also some nostalgia involved and some of it may be backlash to sitting at home and pushing buttons to have things delivered to your house. It’s nice to be able to get up and go out and look through dusty records to fi nd that treasure to bring home.

How do you go about fi nding all the stuff in your store and keeping it stocked with good records?

I have a really good reputation that I have developed over the years for being really fair with people who bring in records to sell. People are happy to bring me their records because they know they aren’t going to get ripped off or screwed over. So, most of it is people walking into my store with their records.

Occasionally, I will go to a swap meet or thrift store and dig around, but Pawn Stars and American Pickers kind of killed that scene.

It’s hard to go to a garage sale and fi nd good records because there are hundreds of dudes out there battling to fi nd the next Beatles Butcher cover for a dollar. I don’t get mixed up in that too much. Sometimes I’ll go to other shops and pick up stuff too.

night and it felt like we were open for just a few hours. Yesterday was my most successful day ever. It’s a total love/hate thing. Now that it’s over I am in love with it again.

The customers really dig it too. We had hundreds of people coming through. We ran out of most of the hot items around late morning, early afternoon. It’s fun because people will come and stand in line at one in the morning. It’s a really crazy day.

What are the coolest or most expensive records you come across?

The coolest records are the ones that mean something to me. That could be a different record every day. In my career I have held some pretty amazing records in my hands.

Of course, the one that everybody is always most excited about is the Beatles Butcher cover. It’s kind of the Cadillac of Beatles collectibles.

I’ve had really good luck with those coming through the shop. I’ve had probably four or fi ve come through since I have opened and I have a really nice one on the wall now.

You name it and I’ve had it come through the store. All sorts of amazing things have come through.

What do you love and hate about your job? Can you see yourself doing anything else?

I could and I have (laughs). I love what I do. I don’t have to put on a suit and tie or go sit in a cubicle when I go to work, and to me that is amazing. I can go in wet swim trunks and bare feet if I want to. I get to hang out and listen to records all day long. There is an amazing variety within arm’s reach. If I want to listen to rock, punk, hip-hop, country, jazz, funk, or whatever, I just have to walk about 10 feet and I can listen to about whatever I want, which is great. The people I deal with are amazing too. Record collectors are a really trippy, insane, fucked-up bunch of people. There are some freaks! I could go on and on about some of the people that come in here. At days end I’d rather be hanging out with these freaks than a bunch of boring, normal people with no personality. These record collectors are a trip but they are some good people. At the end of the day, I am stoked I get to go back to the shop and do it again.

It’s fun and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

You just closed down a crazy Record Store Day [April 19]. The popularity of it is at an all-time high. What’s your take on that?

My take is the month before I hate it and it’s the most stressful thing in the world, and I feel like I am constantly about to have a heart attack from the anxiety of trying to get all these records in, trying to make sure I have the records people are asking for and also a collection that is better than the stores around town. On the day of, it’s a blast. It’s a ton of fun. We opened at fi ve in the morning and closed at eight at

Thanks Dave for slinging wax!

Factory Records is located in Costa Mesa on 440 E 17th Street (in the rear).

Photo

Dan Sartin Live Review & Photo: Max Ritter Alex’s Bar March 30th, 2014 It was a pleasure getting to witness a rare appearance of my favorite freak-a-billy punker Dan Sartain from Birmingham, Alabama, gracing Alex’s Bar. Dan played a few tunes from his latest LP Dudes Blood, which is getting released this month. The new record is full of jam-hammers including a smooth cover of The Knife’s “Pass This On.” Check this new stuff if you’re a fan! Leeches and Leche forever!

Reviews: Max Ritter

Nas Illmatic Columbia Records

Various Artists South Side Story Vol. 23 Numero Group

Dan Sartain He Touched Me Self-Released

Damaged Bug Hubba Bubba Castle Face

I don’t always listen to rap, but when I do… happy 20th birthday goes out to the landmark album Illmatic. Reissues galore, films, and all that jazz are floating out there in the abyss, but this album comes straight out of the fucking dungeons of rap for you thirsty bloodsuckers.

This is this month’s honorary “doit-to-your-lady” record pick. One of the many quality releases for record store day this year. It features ageold classics, unreleased gems, and bootlegs of iconic Chicago-based soul musicians for your easy listening. If you got your hands on this, well, we are damn jealous. Highly recommended for baby-making practice or the real thing.

There he is again…. Lieutenant Dan! On this one Dan does some eighttrack acoustic covers of bands like: Ramones, Roy Rogers, Wipers, The Dead Milkmen, X and more. Get it on Bandcamp. All the proceeds go toward Windian Records founder Travis Jackson’s Memorial Fund. Good music, good cause, do it.

John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees gets his electronic on and delves into some new directions with this synthesizerbased side project. Been repeating the tune “Ss Cassinidea” since I got my hands on it. It’s a real space ship jammer.

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760.213.4008

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