ELI IS DESIG SOMETHING
HANNEMAN NED FOR BIG
A I D A N
R V C A . C O M
C A M P B E L L
|
# I N S P I R E D B Y R V C A
T H E B A L A N C E O F O P P O S I T E S
MIKEY WRIGHT + ANDY NIEBLAS
Leila Hurst S I G N A T U R E
S E R I E S
Featuring the Medium Time Teller Leather, Kensington, & Base Tide
nixon.com/Leila
Color Block Capsule Available with ChromaPop.
Experience ChromaPopâ„¢
CON TENT ISSUE No. 118
T
+
118
SS
randoms / 20 product review / 24 tyler warren / 26 a.j. nesselrod / 28 eckart hahn / 30 seamus conley / 32 super taste / 34 red bull hart lines / 36 hurley surf club brazil / 38 vans pool party / 40 volcom caribbean torture trip / 42 the art of christian clayton / 48 mike berdis / 56 hola: radical times in spain / 62 astrodeck x rvca collection launch / 66 vissla cosmic creek 2017 / 68 wsl big wave awards / 70 this is electric / 72 frankie & the witch fingers / 74 music reviews / 75 grom / 76
*
TYLER WARREN INTERVIEW PAGE 26 PHOTO / SAGE BURGESS
WWW.BLISSSMUG.COM WWW.BLISSSMAG.COM
F O R
A N Y
G I R L ,
R V C A . C O M
|
A N Y W E A R # A N Y W E A R
ISSUE No. 118 STAFF
+
Editor-in-Chief
nic k k alion z es nick@blisssmag.com
Editor
j oey marshall joey@blisssmag.com
Creative DirectoR
S A S HA L O P E Z
SASHA@BLISSSMAG.COM
ART EDITOR
li z rice mc Cray liz@blisssmag.com
SNOW EDITOR
j on f rancis jon@blisssmag.com
MUSIC EDITOR
max ritter
max@blisssmag.com
advertising
ads@blisssmag.com
nic k van de k amp vandekamp@blisssmag.com
MI K E WE T Z E L MIKE@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, Bruce Beach, Robbie Crawford, Ryan Donahue, Joe Foster, Sean Sullivan, STAN SIEVERS
*
CHRISTIAN CLAYTON INTERVIEW PAGE 43
contributors 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, Bruce Beach 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.
ISSUE No. 118 ARTIST / Christian Clayton
If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com
@805BEER SEE MORE AT 805BEER.COM
RAN DoM S
// RNDMS
No. 118
+
LEILA SIGNATURE SERIES
Nixon has just announced the Leila Hurst Signature Series and it’s looking spot on. Leila, an endless traveler and one of Nixon’s top female surfers, puts her own spin on the new Base Tide, Kensington and the Medium Time Teller watches. The Base Tide features 10ATM water-resistant rating, basic tide functions and Nixon’s patented locking looper. The Kensington and The Medium Time Teller are each finished with an embossed moon and star motif on the dials. The three-piece collection is tied together with soft pink and gold color accents to give it that final Leila style. The Leila Hurst Signature Series is available at local retailers and at Nixon.com so go grab all three.
KHORDZ MUGS
We love our random office drop-ins, we just never know who’s gonna walk through the door next. This month was no exception, and a lovely gent by the name of Daniel Fontius came through the headquarters with a box full of jars in his hands. He introduced himself and showed us his very creative and crafty concept. Turns out this Santa Cruz native has been a fan of the mag for quite some time, was in the area dropping off product for Seed People’s Market (The Camp, Costa Mesa) and wanted to show us his clever invention. It’s simple really, just 25-feet of paracord, a basic mason jar and some knot tying knowledge and BAM – Khordz Mugs was invented. Environmentally friendly, dishwasher safe and remarkably comfortable, they come in dozens of different colors and we think they’re pretty damn cool. We love coming across rad shit made by even radder people, so check them out at www.khordz.com or head over to Seed People’s Market and pick one up for yourself.
NYJAH SLS NIKE SB PRO BACELONA CHAMP
Nyjah Huston has been on quite the roll for the first part of 2017, and if you’re reading the mag back-to-front you would’ve already seen that he took top honors at this year’s Red Bull Hart Lines [page 30] event in Detroit this past month. He pretty much hopped on a plane immediately after that and went straight to Barcelona, Spain, for the first stop or the Nike SB’s Street League of Skateboarding. He must’ve still been on a high from his recent victory, as his runs seemed absolutely flawless, again earning him top honors and another pay day. It seems there’s no stopping this Huntington Beach kid, and we’re stoked to watch him pull skateboarding into the mainstream.
SLOWTIDE X GREEN FUZ
We first featured Green Fuz in BL!SSS back in the March 2013 issue, and with the birth of our favorite towel brand, Slowtide, just a couple years back it’s no wonder that their lovechild is an epic terrycloth boardbag with looks that’ll turn heads. The bags range in size from 5’6” to 10’0” and are made to order in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Each one is paired with a select Slowtide towel and lined with a nylon deck, keeping wax from absorbing into your bag and making it much easier to access your board. Available exclusively at Icons of Surf in San Clemente and online at www.green-fuz.com get yours while you still can.
PEDRO’S BAY
Vissla’s Films is proud to be releasing their latest-and-greatest, Pedro’s Bay, which will be unveiled June 15th at Port Theatre in Corona Del Mar. It’ll be one you won’t wanna miss, staring the likes of Bryce Young, Derrick Disney, Brendon Gibbens, Eric Geiselman, Cam Richards and Gunner Day, with a live special performance by Cat Signs. From there they take the film on the road, hitting New Smyrna Beach on June 16th, Brooklyn on June 21st, a double-hitter in Ocean City, NJ and Sarasota, FL on the 23rd and wrapping it up in San Francisco on June 25th. For additional premiere dates and locations, visit pedrobay.vissla.com. We’ll be there and so should you.
20
ISSUE 118
F ISH
S UR U RF RF D IV DI IVE V E SU
SALTLIFE.COM
RAN DoM S
// RNDMS
No. 118
+
SNAPT 3: RELOADED
The most highly anticipated surf movie ever, Snapt 3: Reloaded, has scheduled its world premiere for Friday, August 4th, at the OC Observatory in good old Orange County. It’s during the heart of the U.S. Open of Surfing, and mastermind Logan “Chucky” Dulien has assured us that nearly every athlete in the video (Bruce Irons, Mason Ho, Bobby Martinez, Jack Robinson, Asher Pacey, Ian Crane, Dustin Barca, the Moniz brothers and more) will be in attendance. And even better than that, you can buy general admission ($20) or V.I.P. tickets ($50 – where you’ll actually be watching the movie in the same room as the athletes) at all Banzai Bowl locations, The Froghouse or online at www.observatoryoc.com. It’s all gonna be hosted by comedians Mason Ho and Cheeseburger and will include a live musical performance by Landon Mcnamara. It’s for sure gonna be a blowout you won’t wanna miss, so get your tickets early and come ready for a good time.
TRUMAN
If you’re already familiar with Truman products then I can tell you that you’re our kind of person. It seems like we’re in an era of over-everything: overeating, overspending, overthinking and overdressing. I mean seriously, I think my personal wardrobe could dress at least 100 people. Truman stands for quite the opposite: high-quality, meaningful, functional, attractive, long-lasting and hard wearing. Inspired by principles of times past, Truman is dedicated to making quality apparel, leather goods and accessories and has strong beliefs in owning less, but owning better. They’ve already got a strong following, and their products are as good as they sound, so we recommend you give them a follow @trumanusa as get your hands on some of these premium products.
RUSSELL SURFBOARDS 50TH ANNIVESARY
This is the official invite everyone, so there’s no damn reason you shouldn’t be at 2301 West Balboa Blvd on the evening of Wednesday, June 5th to celebrate the longest-standing, original, core-shop in Newport Beach – Russell Surfboards. Back to where it all began, it was exactly 50 years ago in the identical location that Robert “Russell” Brown first opened the doors to Russell Surfboards. And although a lot has changed in the past 50 years, one thing that remains the same is the quality of boards passing through their doors on a daily basis. To celebrate, the crew is throwing and good old fashion rager, catered by Bear Flag Mobile, where we’re sure there’s going to be plenty of storytelling about days past and the “Brotherhood.” So come down and indulge in some surf history, pick up some 50-year Anniversary special edition threads and get in on a chance to win a replica longboard that was 50 years in the making.
PENNY X RASTACLAT
It’s always inspiring for us to see positivity spread through action sports. Penny Skateboards and Rastaclat have joined forces to do just that, in the form of an all-new Penny glow-in-the-dark Skateboard and matching glow-in-the-dark bracelet. We’re not usually huge fans of glow-in-the-dark, but this is definitely a worthy creation. Now, you’ll be ready for summer nighttime skates with friends, and you’ll be doing it in style. This limited edition Penny X Rastaclat collaboration is now available online at Pennyskateboards.com.
ROCKS N’ DOCKS FISH OFF
This past month Salty Crew held their first-ever Rocks N’ Docks fishing tournament down at Dana Landing. Unlike any tournament we’ve heard of, there were no boundaries on where you could and couldn’t fish and all entries had to be submitted via Instagram – pretty clever little gig if you ask us. But it wasn’t really about hardcore fishing but more about meeting new like-minded peeps and having a good old time. There was plenty of schwag given out in the raffle and one lucky person even walked away with an oh-so-popular Traeger Grill. We’re looking forward to many more of these events. Click on over to www.salty-crew.com or follow them @salty_crew to get more info.
22
ISSUE 118
Chelsea Yamase / Kauai
ENJOY THE JOURNEY. LEAVE NOTHING BEHIND.
www.mizulife.com @mizulife
PROD Uc T
RE VIEW
// PRDCT
No. 118
+
QUIKSILVER
FISHWORKS
VOLCOM
SALTY CREW
ELECTRIC
RVCA
NIXON
HURLEY
SALT LIFE
SKETCHY TANK
SMITH
ALUMINATI
Bluffer Snapback / $24
Big Mouth Trucker / $25.99
Vulcan Snapback / $28
Opinions Snapback / $30
24
ISSUE 118
Swords & Rods / $27.95
Identify Corp / $26
Phantom One And Only / $30
Coast Hat / $28
Tetsunori Print Hat / $28
VA Snapback II / $28
Heavy Hitter Stretch Fit / $22
Logo Snapback / $24.99
W W W.S KETC H Y TA NK.C O M
S HA P E R P ROFI L E
Nowadays most kids are taking a crack in the shaping bay at a younger age than ever. For Tyler Warren, back at age 14, the shaping bay was replaced with a driveway. Since then he’s become one of the most prolific surfer, shaper, artists on the planet. Tyler can shape everything from a 9-foot noserider to a high-performance quad, and do it with skill and a one-of-a-kind finish that’ll make you question whether you should put the board in the water or hang it on the wall. If you’re ever lucky enough to own one of his boards, you’ll have to make that tough decision. INTERVIEW / SPENCER PIRDY PHOTOS / SAGE BURGESS
When and how did you first start shaping? I shaped my first board at the age of 14. A friend and I ripped the glass off of an old ‘70s board on the side of his house and reshaped it at the bottom of his driveway into something more for our size, a 5’6’’ single-fin egg. What is a day in the life of Tyler Warren like? Usually I wake up, make coffee and check the waves. Depending on what the ocean and weather is like that day, I kind of work around that, allowing for a session if it’s worthy. Which shapers have inspired you over the years? Guys like Terry Martin, Malcom Campbell of the Bonzer, Bob Simmons, Skip Frye, Steve Lis, Donald Takayama and Matt Biolis have all played as a big inspiration in my shaping. Can you tell us about the calligraphy that is on some of your boards? I’m guessing you’re talking about the art or logos on the board? I draw all my own logos that are printed for the boards, and upon request I’ll hand draw into the foam or on the hot coat. I have done many different art pieces on boards over the years. What would you say is your favorite model to shape? Hmm, it’s probably just the next one that’s in my head. I always love creating new ideas for shapes. Who’s your favorite surfer to shape for? Pretty much just anyone that shreds. It’s great to see a friend fly by you on something you shaped.
26
ISSUE 118
What’s the best board you’ve ever shaped yourself? That’s a hard one, but I have this 5’5’’ twin dream fish that has been a lot of fun the past couple of years. What keeps you shaping? The orders and the stoke to shape a new board. What’s the future of shaping? I think we are in the future every day. The boards and materials people are using are much more advanced than 10 years ago. I think hydro are providing some futuristic rides, and with the new wave pools I think you will really be able to pick apart different designs, rails, fin setups, etcetera. Where do you see your shaping in 20 years? I hope to still be doing it and to have hopefully stoked out many people on my shapes.
A.J. NESSELROD interview / liz rice mccray This month we had the pleasure of interviewing A.J. Nesselrod, a local Orange County artist. A.J. has a refreshing outlook on life. We caught up with him to talk a bit about his art, influences and a little OC music history. To see more work from A.J. Nesslerod and to read the interview in its entirety, check out www.blisssmag.com. Will you please introduce yourself to our reader, a little synopsis if you will? Hello readers! My name is A.J. and I’m a father first and foremost, and I also like to paint. I live in Tustin with my wife and two kids, and my day job is running my own promotional marketing company. My grandfather was a Western art dealer, so I think there was an admiration of this thing at an early age. We used to visit my grandfather’s good friend Burt Procter and his wife Kay at their home in Palm Springs every summer. I was very enamored with Burt, and loved seeing his studio and all his paintings. My early adult life shifted to graphic art for the most part; I played in bands around Costa Mesa and spent a lot of time at Kinko’s making fliers the old fashioned way by cut-and-paste. That sort of led me into computer graphics at the onset of personal computers, and if nothing else, it helped me acquire some tools along my path to painting. A friend of mine, Jeff Sewell, took me on my very first plein air outing – I think he even supplied the easel and the canvas. I was hooked. It was a complete departure from computer graphics (for the most part) and I found it extremely difficult. I wanted to quit almost every time. I didn’t, and the journey continues.
You started out in the music world; will you give us some back-story? Sure. I always loved music and was surrounded by it from my earliest memories. My mom had lots of Beatles records – so those were pretty much gospel to me. I picked up an acoustic guitar as a kid, and then discovered Hendrix and Led Zeppelin along the way, like every other red-blooded American youth. I screwed around with high school friends playing cover songs in garages. Punk rock ensued – The Sex Pistols, The Damned. Then parties. I think my first real band was with one of my dear friends Tony Scalzo. He went on to form Fastball and became quite successful. I landed in Costa Mesa, and at that time (early ‘90s?) there was an unbelievably great local music scene and lots going on. Bands like Film Star, Smile, F.H. Hill Company, The Women, Supernova and lots of others. My friend Chris Fahey ran local clubs in Costa Mesa, one of which that stood out was Our House on 19th Street. It became a notable stop for national touring acts and exposed me to countless great bands: The Cows, Drive Like Jehu, Tanner, Rocket From The Crypt, Jesus Lizard, The Supersuckers, The Muffs… You name it. One of my favorite bands was Throw Rag. Opening up for them was tough because they were THAT good. We became good friends and I eventually joined the band playing rhythm guitar. We toured almost nonstop for about three years straight and saw the better part of the world. Eventually I burned out. It’s a natural occurrence when you’re playing that much. Six guys in a van and usually in one small hotel room. They still play and I still love them. Go see The Mutants when Sean Wheeler is signing with them. They are awesome! What was your first attraction/introduction to art? Well, aside from my early visits to Burt Procter’s home... thinking about it now, my mom used to have framed prints of Maxfield Parrish around the house. Those definitely got my attention. I think the first painter that really gripped me was Gustav Klimt. Still does. I think he was the first painter who really grabbed me emotionally. That was the tip of the iceberg. Any last words for our readers? Yes. There is so much negativity in our current political state. I’d like to think that you can have a much more lasting effect on someone by intentionally doing something kind or meaningful. Not to get too metaphysical, but somehow the universe responds to concentrated thought, good or bad. Help someone, even if it’s uncomfortable at first. That’s how you make change. Find the things we all share in this short, short life and build around those. Follow the lighter path, and maybe even make some art along the way! Bye for now. 28
ISSUE 118
ECKART HAHN words / dr. marc wellmann
Although Eckart Hahn’s works are both subtle and enigmatic, and consequently difficult to decipher, they radiate a mysterious tranquility and serenity. Nothing in these pictures seems to be coincidental or arbitrary. The artist is in charge of every part of this precisely structured world of imagery. His motifs are defined by a high level of technical precision and are presented with absolute sincerity and a great deal of attention to detail. Eckart Hahn’s representation of materiality is masterly. In combination with subtle light compositions, he is able to add remarkable luster to the otherwise dull and somewhat stark characteristics of acrylic painting. Most of his compositions are designed in the manner of a stage. A narrow foreground gives way to a partly monochrome expanse. Objects and figures clearly stand out against this backdrop, as if in a display case. This pictorial form enables a private or even intimate confrontation with subjects that elude simple interpretations because of their foreignness. Eckart Hahn’s tableaux function like chamber plays in which the impact of newly combined elements develop as in a silent drama. They closely resemble the world of dreams, however, without seeming too surreal. At first sight the objects all seem familiar. However, according to the principles of a collage, they are subject to a fundamental process of redefinition, which creates completely new contexts by means of heterogeneity. This magical, and to some extent also fantastic, kind of realism is fuelled by subtly delivered invasions of the sinister and the absurd. Within the context of this idiosyncratic cosmos of images, Eckart Hahn is not afraid to refer to important topics regarding our existence. His pictures revolve around spirituality, lost values, the question of the meaning of life and its finitude. “Death is the final myth,” the artist points out. All questions fall silent beyond this boundary. However, at the same time it opens the gates to a kind of reality which is no longer determined by rationality and the laws of nature. As is generally known, sleep (Hypnos) is the brother of death (Thanatos). Eckart Hahn creates scenes which bear witness to a range of sentiments from vague alienation to menacing signs of violence and destruction. However, his pictures never offer only one kind of interpretation. They are meshed with a closely woven web of ambivalences, which affirms these works’ inherent openness in the face of all attempts of interpretation. This also includes unexplainable causalities with which the artist confronts his viewers in an almost criminological way.
To see more of Eckart Hahn’s art go to www.eckarthahn.com.
30
ISSUE 118
SEAMUS CONLEY interview / christina atkinson
San Francisco-based artist Seamus Conley paints dreamy images in mystical domains that dance on the line between reality and fantasy. He is a recipient of the Pollock Krasner Foundation Award and has had numerous gallery exhibitions nationwide, as well a solo exhibit at the Lancaster, California Museum of Art and History. We recently caught up with Seamus to talk a bit about his art, his inspiration and his creative process. To see more work from Seamus and to read the interview in its entirety click your way over to www.blisssmag.com. Can you describe where you are right now so that everyone reading along can imagine the setting? I’m currently in my home studio in the Bay Area, 20 minutes from downtown SF. Will you please introduce yourself to our reader, a little synopsis if you will? I was born and raised in LA (Santa Monica) and have been living in San Francisco for the past 10 years. I’ve been drawing my whole life and painting since I was 14 years old. Your work is absolutely transfixing; it combines elements of everyday reality with mysterious and haunting settings, such as modern-day looking youths set in dreamy, surreal atmospheres. Can you talk a little bit about that dichotomy? Thank you. It’s really just a mirror of how I experience life. I observe fiction and reality overlapping each other in my daily life, so I like to include this idea in my work. For the most part we are all participants in a monotonous routine that is daily life. Simultaneously we’re floating around the universe on this planet that offers a never-ending source of material to reference in making art. I want to visually execute that. The youths in my paintings can be seen as symbols for the beginner’s mind. I remember being a kid and observing how strange the world was, much more than I do as an adult. Many (maybe all) of the figures in your art are viewed from the back or with their faces obscured. Why do you like to do that? For the most part I want to keep mystery alive. Mystery has become all but extinct in this selfie era. The unknown is something that drew me towards making art early on. I’d like to carry on that idea into this digital age where everything is seen. It’s also a way for the viewer to actually become the subject and enter the painting. Seeing the figure from behind can be a virtual experience for the viewer rather than a voyeuristic one. Would you consider yourself self-taught? Can you talk about your early beginnings as an artist? Sure, I used to take more pride in saying I was self-taught. I’ve become friends with artists who went to art school and have degrees. I’ve learned most people who make art on a daily basis are all pretty much self-taught. I think you can definitely teach someone to paint but it’s harder to teach someone to be an artist. I used to draw a lot as a kid and started painting with oils when I was 14. I continued for a few years like that and became sidetracked with being a teenager and decided to have some life experiences rather than go to art school. When I was 26 I decided to go for it and become a fulltime artist. Youth is a sub-theme that is prevalent in many of the new paintings. Will you tell us about the children in these paintings? Are they based on real people? The children are mostly combinations of multiple images that become one figure. I had an idea that most of us edit and pick and choose what we want to remember to give our childhood meaning. Maybe not all of these memories are true, so the figures are patched together body parts that create an individual person, which represents this idea. Your paintings have such a gauzy celestial vibe that is so beautiful, yet they also hint at some sort of post-apocalyptic sadness, in my opinion. What drives you to create imagery as such and can you tell us a bit about your thought process that goes into creating each painting? Is there a backstory in your mind specific to each one? It can be all of those things you mention. I definitely believe in the “open for interpretation” way of looking at art. I guess I’ve had a few experiences in my life that lend to the overall feel of my work, but there are never really any specific stories behind any of my paintings. I like to turn my brain off for the most part while composing them. I’m drawn to the idea of having open, unresolved endings when it comes to experiencing art. Where can people check out your art? Instagram of course, @seamus_conley, or this thing called a website, www.seamusconleystudio.com. 32
ISSUE 118
S SUPER TASTE photography / derek bahn / @dbahnphotos model / kaylee ricciardi / @kayleericciardi agency / newmark models / @newmarkmodels makeup / victoria mcgrath / @vixavagemakeupartistry
No. 118
34
ISSUE 118
+
n y j a h h u s t o n f o t o / r y a n t a y l o r
H A R T
a l e c f o t o
36
L I N E S
m a j e r u s / m i k e b l a b a c
ISSUE 118
/
1 1 8
f o t o
/
r y a n s h e c k l e r p e t e r m o r n i n g
Detroit, Michigan, was the host city once again to what’s turning into one of the most popular street skate events in the world, Red Bull Hart Lines. Hart Plaza saw the likes of a world-class pool of skate talent including invitees like Paul Hart, Felipe Gustavo, Chase Webb, Ryan Decenzo, Nyjah Huston and event mastermind Ryan Sheckler. Hart Lines has a unique setup in the way of a two-lane course that offers diverse park features in both lanes. That means you’re going to see the level continually pushed time and time again. Last year it was Nyjah Huston who took top honors, and you could see right away that no one was going to be walking away with top honors this year either. The entire crowd thickened throughout the day to witness the incredible lines that these guys were throwing down. At the end of the day though, Nyjah’s smooth transitional style and technical lines were too much and he edged out Alec Majerus’ 81.17 with an 84.83-point total. “The competition is always super gnarly and this course isn’t easy to skate,” Huston said. “That’s the reason I like this competition. It’s super diverse. Consistency is the key. Being able to put down a solid first run so you can try something harder on your second run.” Nyjah is now the two-time Red Bull Hart Lines winner. He’ll be looking to three-peat next year when he, Sheckler and company undoubtedly return for what’s turned into one of the best events in skateboarding.
f o t o
k e l v i n h o e f l e r / r y a n t a y l o r
),/,3( 72/('2 6$48$5(0$ 3+272 3,1*8,0
0$18(/ 3+272 2/621
%$5%$5$ 3+272 $512/'
0,&+(/ %285(= )5,(1'6 3+272 3,1*8,0
'$9, ),/,3( 3+272 3,1*8,0
38
ISSUE 118
3('52 - 3 3+272 3,1*8,0
$/(-2 081,= 5,2 3+272 3,1*8,0
5,&$5'2 72/('2 3+272 2/621 ;80$<$ ;<$ 3+272 3,1*8,0
$&( %8&+$1 +(15,48( 3,1*8,0 3+272 2/621
'XULQJ WKH :6/·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·V DUW RQ W VKLUWV 7KH IROORZLQJ ZHHN LQ 6DTXDUHPD HYHQW Ã&#x20AC;QDOLVW $FH %XFKDQ VSHQW D GD\ UHYLHZLQJ IRRWDJH DQG YLGHR FRDFKLQJ ZLWK DQ HVWLPDWHG NLGV +LV IHHGEDFN UDQJHG IURP WKH PHFKDQLFV RI D EDFNVLGH VQDS WR WLSV RQ FKHFNLQJ WKH VXUI DQG OLQHXSV 7KH 7ROHGR·V KRVWHG D 4 $ ZLWK D IRON EDQG QDPHG *HOSL DQG VHUYHG IUHVK 3iR GH 4XHLMR WR HYHU\RQHV OLNLQJ $OO LQ DOO WKH FXOWXUDO LPPHUVLRQ ZDV IHOW RQ ERWK VLGHV RI WKH VWUHHWV DQG ZH ORRN IRUZDUG WR WKH FRQWLQXHG LPSDFW RI +XUOH\ 6XUI &OXE DURXQG WKH ZRUOG :25'6 - 3 2/621
ISSUE 118
39
P H O T O S
/
O R T I Z
There’s nothing quite like the Vans Pool Party. The Combi Bowl in Orange is the spot to be to watch some of the most entertaining pool skating to go down every year. And if you couldn’t make it there’s always still a live webcast that is almost as good as being there in person. The atmosphere, the people that show up, and the level of skating are what make this 12-year-long event so unique. The pro division was dominated by a crew of youngsters including now two-time winner in 17-year-old Tom Schaar of Malibu. San Diego’s Corey Junea and South Carolina’s Clay Kreiner joined him in the final. The three pushed each other and had the crowd breaking sound decibels on every run. Electrically smooth and in-tune, Tom threw down insane run after insane run and earned a healthy $28,000 check for his efforts. In the fan-favorite “Legends” division it was the guys who put pool skating on the map and made it what it is today – Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, Chris Miller, Jeff Grosso, Lincoln Ueda, and even younger legends like Andy MacDonald and more. You can see that authentic camaraderie that exists between these guys and how much fun they have at this event every year. The 2017 Vans Pool Party was another one for the books. We’ll see you all next year, and, as always, thanks for the good times Vans! 40
ISSUE 118
clockwise from left: Tom Schaar, Clay Kreiner, Alex Perelson, Lance Mountain, Lance Mountain & Steve Cabellero Cory Juneau, Tom Schaar & Clay Kreiner, Cory Juneau, Tristan Rennie
ISSUE 118
41
PHOTOS & WORDS / TOM CAREY You win some and you lose some. Sometimes things just don’t come together and you want to blow your brains out. And other times you ride it out, drink till you can’t drink anymore and weather the storm. We are talking about surfing here, by the way. It was the start of the new year, 2017, new surfers were on the team and there were new endeavors to conquer. A big fucking swell was on its way to the Caribbean so we made the call to fly Noa Deane over from Oz, a 30-hour mission. It’s not the kind of decision you want to make for anyone, ever. I personally hate making those calls. The wheels were turning though. A charter plane was hired for some outer island rights and people were getting excited. But as things developed the winds got dicey and things were starting to look sketchy. I figured we’d still get some surf and have some fun, worstcase scenario. I was totally wrong. We surfed a bunch, had some laughs and acted like complete animals for about eight days. Our little adventure began in Puerto Rico, where we boarded our private charter. It was a short flight but so fun. It’s killer having your own flight to yourself – no security, no dramas, and no old, angry stewardesses killing your vibes. We popped the champagne bottles, said some prayers and hoped we didn’t end up like Lynyrd Skynyrd on this flight. While flying over the hundreds of Caribbean islands you swear you’re seeing countless secret point break after point break. And maybe you are, if only Google Earth worked on the plane, you tell yourself. Man, the wind was whipping our little plane around. Our laughter would abruptly stop after each turbulent bump and turn into fake laughter. There’s something about those small planes that keep everyone on edge. A sigh of relief came over the plane as we touched down. The Caribbean is known for its rum for good reason – it’s amazing and cheap. We sampled the pina coladas, the Pain Killers and the BushWhackers at every chance we got. Why not, right? The waves were crap and there’s not much else to do when the waves get like that. As we drove around sampling the local cuisine we realized there was a full moon party happening that same night just a few blocks away from the house. Dangerous! The people on that island love their full moon parties. They have a “special tea” or “jungle juice” for everyone to dip into that supposedly has some special powers. But, the waves weren’t cooperating much so we figured a good old fashioned send off might be in order. Noa and Droid took the reigns and showed everyone how to party till the wee hours of the night. Thank god the house was only a few hundred meters from the party, as I’m not sure if everyone would have made it back in one piece.
42
ISSUE 118
NOA DEAN E
brea k a fter po int brea k.
W h ile fly in g ove r t he hun d re d s o f C a rib bea n isl a nd s yo u swea r yo u ’ r e se e in g co u n t l e s s s e c r e t p o i n t
The next morning carcasses were strewn about the property. I think the juice did have some special, wild properties. Scott, our legendary filmer and European lingerie model, was found lying naked on his bed awfully close to Yago’s bed. At a moment like that there’s only one thing to do, right? Video the scene. No one was moving too quickly that morning and the waves were doing their best Groundhog’s Day impression as the sacrifice to Cowabunga, the God of Waves, did not work or help in the slightest. After checking every spot once or twice we decided to hit the town up for some dinner. The main town is as small as it gets but there were some signs of life. It felt like an old pirate town with just the slightest hint of tourism thrown in, somewhere boats could hide while captain and crew could have a drink or two. The full moon hangovers began to hit the guys full steam by this point and the old “hair of the dog” would not save them this time. I ended up taking them home and calling it quits that night. The next morning we tried our luck at this playful little wedge on the opposite side of the island. There, we found some of the best waves we’d seen so far on the trip. Even though the swell was still a bit too big and disorganized, we decided to give it a go. One last surf before we left our island paradise. Yago somehow found his lefts and proceeded to air-out and spin his way around the lineup. When they weren’t duck diving a thousand waves, Droid and Noa found a few wedges to their liking. It was our last session on this secret island and everyone gave it their all. But in the end we were happy to leave, because the waves gods were not friendly to us this trip. Our bird was waiting patiently at the airport for our departure back to Puerto Rico. We loaded up on beers before jumping on board. Something about those private jets makes you want to stay on them and party. We couldn’t reach our stash of champagne in the back of the bird, which made it all that more funny when we were pounding the bottle as we were shuttled through customs. We jumped in our rental cars and did the three-hour drive back to Isabela on the North Coast. It took about 30 minutes for our car to smell like beer, cigarettes and fast food burgers. We arrived late that night to our chateau on the fourth floor overlooking Las Dunas.
YAGO DORA
it o u t, d rink till yo u c a n’t d ri nk a nymo re a nd we ath er th e s to rm.
So m etim es th ings ju s t d o n’t co m e to geth er a nd yo u wa nt to blow yo u r br a in s out. A n d ot h er t imes you r i de
We woke up to the wind shaking our windows. There was no escaping it. The storm that had sent us waves got a bit too close and a brisk 20 to 30 mph wind accompanied the swell. We tried our hardest to surf everyday but it was shit - it was a long way to travel for this crap. I could see the look on Yago’s face wasn’t a happy one; he just wanted to surf. But there’s a limit to what a surfer can take, what he can grovel on, and Yago seemed to be at his breaking point. For days we scoured the coast looking for something protected from the wind and playful. We found wind protection but not so playful. We made the most of it however, and Yago showed everyone how to rip the shit out of anything handed to him. Noa and Droid found a few rights to their liking as well. The next day we met up with Volcom’s Puerto Rican ripper Mauro Diaz. As soon as he got out of the car to meet us, we all thought we were staring at Yago’s twin brother. I’ve never seen two people look so damn similar; you’d swear they were from the same mother. I even did a Snapchat face-swap filter and you almost couldn’t even tell the difference, they still looked exactly the same. We were in stitches. Yago speaks Spanish pretty well and the two seemed to hit it off.
The highlight of the trip had to be when a local Puerto Rican drove up on his Jeep Renegade with his chicas hanging out the sides and Raggaeton blasting for everyone to enjoy. We were so psyched on his ride that he let us sit in the classic beast and snap some photos. It has to be one of my favorite photos of all time. The waves ended up being pretty playful out front. Mauro went berserk and blasted a few backside airs in front of the Renegade. Our day was complete. The next few days ended up being real similar to the days before. We ended up bowling, lighting fireworks and playing music for hours on end – anything to pass the time. This also happened to be Noa’s first trip with Volcom. We had to initiate him to the team, or at least that’s what we told him when we gave him a whip cream pie to the face. Everyone was in on the prank. Cameras were rolling while Noa played his guitar unknowingly. Yago came in hot with the pie in the face, completely engulfing his mug with whip cream. Noa took it like a champ though, laughing his ass off. He was actually psyched. Noa loves a good prank. He’s constantly pranking waitresses, teammates or pretty much anyone who isn’t paying attention. That night everyone slept with one eye open but we awoke the next morning with minor retribution. I had a swastika sharpied on my head and Nate Leal had some genitalia on his cheek – child’s play.
ANDR EW DOHENY
th at suppo se d ly h a s so me speci a l powers .
Th ey h ave a “speci al te a” or “jun gle jui ce” f o r e ve ryo ne to di p i nto
The trip was nearing its last night and we pondered how to end it. Our flight was set to leave Ramey Airport at 3 a.m. Do you go to sleep for a few hours at that point or do you send it? We chose the latter. The good thing about that airport is it’s across the street from an insane bowling alley with mucho billiards. Everyone bowled perfect games, we had multiple wild turkeys. You wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it, seriously. We ended up getting kicked out at around 11 p.m. that night which left us with just a few hours to turn it up a notch. We couldn’t stop drinking and go to bed, because that would have been travel suicide. So we did what any normal person would do and hit the casino. And hit it hard. The roulette table was calling our names. We stumbled into Dylan Graves and his posse as well. Now we had a really big crew running the table, shit was being shouted back and forth, drinks were going down and everyone seemed to be winning a grip of cash. It was straight out of a movie – we were on fire! The clock struck two so we had to pack it up and jam back across the street and check in for our flight. Five corpses checked in on United flight 325 to Newark. As soon as we sat down the lights went out. It was the fastest flight I’ve ever flown – I blinked and we were in Newark. It was an ugly scene that next morning as we tried to find a drink in the airport before 6 a.m. It felt like a scene straight out of Weekend at Bernie’s. Somehow we managed crawling onto our next flight into Orange County, made it home for a nap and went out again that night. The show must go on!
M AU RO DIA Z
NOA DEAN E
CLAYTON // INTERVIEW
+
interview / liz rice mcCray This month we had the pleasure and honor to interview artist Christian Clayton. Over the span of 20 years, Clayton has put out an enormous amount of work, from his individual studio practice as well as from his collaborative, Clayton Brothers. The collaborative work has mounted 10 solo exhibitions in galleries and museums in the U.S. and Asia. As well as creating, Clayton is also educating. He lectures nationally and internationally in Europe and Asia. In 2016 Christian received a 20-year service award from The Art Center College of Design. In 2015 he was awarded “The Great Teacher Award” from the Art Center College of Design Student Body. His teaching credentials also include Cal State University Northridge and Otis College of Design. His work is in museums and foundations, with public, corporate, and private collections around the world including the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum, Lancaster Museum of Art and History and Saatchi Gallery. Christian currently lives and works in Los Angeles County with his wife and two teenage sons. To see more of Christian Clayton’s work, visit his website at www.christianclayton.com.
48
ISSUE 118
Christian, thank you so much for taking the time to our answer our questions. We are delighted to feature you as our cover artist. It’s been many years since we first worked together so it’s great to catch up and I’m excited to interview you. Let’s start: Can you describe where you are right now so that everyone reading along can imagine the setting? Sure, thank you for the opportunity again to talk about my work in process. My current studio is in my home in South Pasadena, California, where I live with my wife and two teenage sons, and our dogs and cat. I use my garage and backyard as an outdoor workspace and a spare bedroom to paint and draw in. It’s kind of crazy being around teenagers all of the time again. I love their frenetic energy. I have returned to my solo practice that I left behind 20 years ago, but with 49 years of life experience this time around. I shared a collaborative studio practice with my brother for 20 years — making work exclusively as Clayton Brothers from 1996 to 2016. A year and a half ago, my brother decided he wanted to end his involvement in our collaborative art practice, so we closed the doors to our studio in La Crescenta and officially ended our production, October 31, 2015. This was, without a doubt, life changing, not only for myself but for my family as well. As they say, “all good things must come to an end.” Clayton Brothers had come to an end — not how I imagined or hoped, but it was an incredible experience working so closely with my brother. He was my best friend, collaborator, and mentor. We produced a 20-year body of work that now resides in museums, foundations and private collections around the world. Nearly 1000 artworks were created (give or take) that span the disciplines of illustration, fine art, graphic design, animation, motion picture, television and music videos. I am very proud of what we were able to achieve together. I must say without the support of family, friends, and fans, none of this would have been possible. Moving forward, I’m super excited now and ready for a new beginning — focusing on gallery work, new projects, teaching, and lecturing. I continue to manage half of the Clayton Brothers estate with my family to maintain its relevance in the art world for years to come.
50
ISSUE 118
The scope of your work is so impressive. Can you tell us a little bit about your early beginnings as an artist and how/when you knew it was what you wanted to do for the rest of your life? My father is an artist. He began his career working as an illustrator in the 1960s and then later opened a successful design firm in the 1970s with my mother that they ran together for 35 years. It was a family-run business. They are both retired now. My dad continues to focus on his passion for photography, and my mom loves to sew, knit and cook. When I was young my father traveled extensively for his business. When he returned home, he shared his travel experiences and his amazing stories. It was very inspiring to hear and see where he had been. I remember he was invited to spend six weeks in Paris with the French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, photographing him while he worked in his atelier. He also spent a lot of time traveling in the mid-west, walking the streets and neighborhoods, documenting through South Chicago, where he captured the raw beauty of urban American life in the 1980s. He would hang out of helicopters and photograph cityscapes. He photographed Uranium miners in New Mexico 3,400 feet below the earth’s surface or stand 1,400 feet up on the rooftop ledge of the Sears Tower in Chicago to photograph the city below. When I became older, I spent countless hours in my father’s studio making my own work, drawing, painting, and experimenting — using his art supplies and workspace to make art. He would give me honest feedback and direction on my work. He helped me develop a critical eye and process from his honest critiques of my work. After graduating high school, I was fortunate to work for him on client-based projects from time to time. I was able to see first hand how he collaborated with clients on projects. My brother and I assisted him on photo shoots — learning the inner workings of the 35mm camera to putting up and taking down equipment during photo shoots. He would ask me to drive his truck with all the photo equipment to various cities throughout the U.S. It was special to spend time with my dad and watch him work. My parents were always very encouraging and supportive of my interests in life — especially my desire to make art. I would not have had the confidence to take the necessary risks required to be an artist if it were not for my parents and their life-long commitment to being self made, committed freelance artists. A question that you probably always get asked (some artists like it and some find it repetitive): can you tell us from where you draw inspiration? Life is so unpredictable, strange and beautiful. It’s all about inspiration for me. I find inspiration in mundane everyday life experiences. I love to travel, whether it’s a walk down the street or another country. I love to spend time with my family. Listening to music of all kinds. I like to randomly tune in to whatever is on the radio when I’m driving my kids around, listening to them play their music. I connect to their energy; it is fascinating. I find music evokes an emotional state and enhances my memory. I love to go for hikes with my wife; when I’m physically moving, my mind opens up to the possibilities of art making and the inspiration sets in. I’m always aware of conversations, ambient sounds, colors, and textures when out of my studio. I love old things; art, paper, wood, metal, plastic, photography, houses, cars, clothes, thrift stores, the junkyard and the dump. Is your wife also an artist? I have seen some of your son’s artwork; do you ever collaborate with them? Yes, my wife is an artist. She has incredible deep understanding of the creative process and the commitment it takes to be an artist. Most importantly, she is an amazing mom and a solid and strong influence to my sons. Now that one is in college, and the other is on his way, she is beginning her journey back into making art again. I do collaborate with my sons. Their honest drawings and approach to creating are a massive component of inspiration for me, especially now, as I begin a new chapter in my life as an artist. Your artist bio states that the art making process starts with trusting the first line of vulnerability. Can you expound on that idea a little bit? When it comes to physically making the art, I trust my first instinct/idea (gut reaction) when marking the paper or canvas for the first time. I don’t plan my ideas before; I just begin by making the action from whatever energy I’m feeling at that point, then I react to what happens from there. My images transform quickly in the process. I listen to the work and it tells me the next to move make. If I become too conscious of what I’m making I stop until I’m lost in the image again.
No. 118
+
ISSUE 118
51
You have already touched on it but will you tell us a little more about your creative process and the mediums you work with? Do ever get to a point when you are creating and discover, “this is not working”? I’ve always found that the work can be a bit of a struggle (in a good way) and believe this is why I continue to want to make art – working through the struggle. I love to work in a series of three to four images at once. I will take more chances with the process when I can see multiple options surrounding me. I respond to the raw energy while in the moment; it can be a bit of a fight at times but I keep it spontaneous and free as much as possible. I document the process as well to see the transformation of images; this allows me to see the work transform through many phases a little clearer. Some pieces become interesting, and others are not working at all. I have now found throughout the years that the work I don’t like, or respond to, is often the most intriguing in the end. I rarely throw anything away. I think my art process is rooted more in the action of drawing than anything else. I love the energy and possibilities of drawing. It seems to be less of a precious action than other art processes. There is nothing more satisfying for me than holding physical art-making materials in my hand — especially now, as most of our connection to art comes by way of the computer. Your portfolio is massive. Is there a moment that sticks out in your memory as pivotal to launching your career as a world-renowned artist? After the birth of my sons I feel I had a new perspective on life and storytelling. I began to see life through their eyes and language. This was eye opening for me and my art making process. Their innocence combined with life’s chaos made me think about the importance of children and their future. Love, caring and kindness seem to interweave with loss, despair and cruelty in our world. I became more conscious on injecting hope into my images. In 1998 I painted “Coleman’s Future Friends,” this painting of my son, as a baby, was a personal turning point for me and my career. What kind of art do you like? Do you collect anything in particular? What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist? As an artist, the biggest challenge I’ve faced is dealing with the end of Clayton Brothers. It was an honor to work so closely with my brother. I will always appreciate the skills I’ve learned from collaborating with my brother on so many amazing projects. Although I started as a solo artist, 20 years later, I’ve come to realize there’s a vulnerability working as a solo artist that you don’t experience as intensively when working in a collaborative. This vulnerability makes you rely more on your personal abilities, which strengthens your spirit and confidence as an individual artist. I have great respect for artists who work and maintain their career working on their own. I worked as a solo artist for about 10 years before Clayton Brothers became an official art practice. In 2016 you received a 20-year service award from The Art Center College of Design. You have been teaching a long time. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a teacher? Teaching has always been a secondary passion of mine. For me, it is important to always make sure that my studio art practice is constantly evolving at a steady pace with my teaching. I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to work with so many incredible students throughout the years. I think that being a parent has helped me be a better teacher. What advice would you have for young people seriously pursuing art? Make something every day and trust your first mark. Creative energy manifests in many different forms, so don’t throw away any part of the creative process. It might gain a new life or make sense later down the road. Take chances. Make mistakes. Document your life and art process. Really great advice, thank you. Tell us, is there anything you are you really into right now, art-related or otherwise? I love art made by kids, right now, especially the art made by my sons. I have a collection that my wife and I have saved. Unconsciously, maybe the approaching realization that my kids might be leaving home soon has reignited my love for their drawings. The drawings represent honesty, and pure expression for me. Lately I have also been drawing everyday on old book paper that has been lying around untouched for many years.
CLAYTON // INTERVIEW
52
ISSUE 118
+
ISSUE 118
53
54
ISSUE 118
CLAYTON // INTERVIEW
OK very last question: where can people check out more of your art? My Instagram, @christianclaytonstudio, and my website, www.christianclayton.com. I‘m excited to have new solo work in a group show curated by Mark Murphy at 101 Exhibit gallery in Los Angeles. The opening is this July 21 and runs until August 26th. This July I am also traveling to China where I will be visiting three cities: Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, to do some lectures and workshops. This October I’ve been invited by Adobe Max - The Creativity Conference to do image making workshops in Las Vegas, Nevada.
No. 118
+
ISSUE 118
55
Photo / Andrew Jimenez
56
ISSUE 118
M I K E
B E R D I S
interview / aaron gomez Mike Berdis is another East Coast transplant who’s making quite a name for himself in the skate industry. He’s had a deck under his feet since he was just five years old, and when he was 12 everyone and their mother were comparing him to Ryan Sheckler. We’re stoked that we are the ones lucky enough to give him his first-ever, well-deserved interview. Dive into the next few pages to read first-hand what it’s like for an East Coast kid to leave it all behind to head out to California to chase his dreams – even if that means sleeping in your car with a broken window and a knife in hand for protection. And though this might be his first interview in print, expect to hear a lot more from Mike Berdis in the near future.
ISSUE 118
57
Photo / Andrew Jimenez 58
ISSUE 118
What up Mike, how are you today? I’m alright, traffic was hectic. Where’d you come from? Wilmington. The 405, huh? Yeah, no bueno. Let’s start with the basics: name, age, hometown… all that good shit. Full name? Or just Mike Berdis? (laughs) Did you put that down? Yep. Ok so… Mike Berdis, 21, Erie, PA. When did you start skateboarding? When I was five. I had a birthday at this indoor skate park and there was a blizzard. Pretty ironic – you don’t skate in the winter, but I started then. The park’s name was Shebang; it’s not there any more.
Do you remember your first setup? It was so long ago, I think it was a Wal-Mart board, plastic wheels, bushings, everything. It had a Buddha on it. My mom was always telling me to rub a Buddha for good luck. A neighbor kid stole it; I eventually got it back with it all spray-painted over the graphic. Haha.
Photo / Siomar Bueso
Who are you all riding for right now? DVS Shoes, Spitfire Wheels, Thunder Trucks, Fifth Avenue Skateboards, Footprint Insoles, Grizzly Griptape, WeedMaps, Blackwood, True School Barbershop, mom and dad (thanks for the love) and Gripdat. You’re originally from the East Coast, so how does skateboarding there compare to skating here? The ground is crazy… the ground there is like a cheese grater. The ground here feels like marble compared to back there. That’s kind of like the feel of it. But, the people on the West Coast are more laid back because you can skate all the time. The people on the East Coast you are more rushed to get clips because the weather is so different. Every winter we had to only skate in a parking garage – my drinks would freeze. I had to bike through the snow with my skateboard in a trash bag to keep it from getting wet. How long ago did you move to California? Two and a half years ago. A little bit before Go Skateboarding Day, I packed up two suitcases and here I am, chasing the dream. Did you have a plan for moving out here? I had a little bit of pocket money; I didn’t have to pay rent at the time of moving out. I was riding for a wheel company, Baby Dubs Wheels, and that covered my rent.
ISSUE 118
59
Photo / Andrew Jimenez
Tell me about your first couple months in SoCal. Sick. All I did was skate. I was going around with Andrew Jimenez to all these famous spots and parks and whatnotâ&#x20AC;Ś stacking clips. I also remember it not raining, which was a trip.
Photo / Siomar Bueso
60
ISSUE 118
How long did you stay at the Baby Dubs house? Because I know for a while you were sleeping in your car by Cherry Park. Originally, I stayed at the Baby Dubs house for like three months. Then, I went home for two weeks to see family and then when I got back here I moved into a place in Carson. And then I ended up not seeing eye-to-eye with the homie I moved in with and left there. I was couch surfing for a few weeks and then my grandpaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house sold and my dad inherited some money so he loaned me some cash to buy a car. So I bought a car through my homie Jason Martinez for $2500. Since buying the car Jason and I got close and I stayed in his backyard for two months.
Photo / Andrew Durso
Tell me about crashing in the car. So I’m always on call for my job. I work a forklift job, and I have to call in at midnight to find out my shift. Shifts would start either at 2, 4 or 6 a.m. Usually what I would do is couch surf or skate until I had to call in at midnight and those nights that I didn’t have to work I would find an empty parking lot to crash in. I’d get woken up by the cops saying I couldn’t be there, stuff like that. Didn’t you have a broken lock? No, it was my window. My window was broken, and it was all the way down.
What’s your living situation now? I live in Wilmington with Angel Munez and his family. I rent a room. Do you have any video parts or projects coming out soon? I have like seven or eight minutes of footage. Just trying to figure out where it would best go. Stoked to see what you have coming out. Any final thoughts? Thanks for having me, I’m stoked to be interviewing with BL!SSS. This is my first interview. Shout-out to everyone who’s helped me so far.
How was sleeping with a rolled-down window? Hella sketchy! There was a time at Cherry Park when I had to sleep with a knife in my hand. ISSUE 118
61
“HOLA” RADI C A L TI M E S IN S P AIN P HOTO S / P E R L Y
Austen Sweetin
There aren’t too many countries in Europe that have as much to offer in regards to surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding as does Spain. Home to over 3,000 miles of coastline, five mountain ranges (including Europe’s infamous Pyrenees) and countless skate parks, if you’re looking to get a board beneath your feet, Spain has it all. It’s no wonder the Quiksilver crew took some of its best from each sport and sent them on a European adventure to conquer Spain. And though they accomplished their mission in every aspect, we’re just featuring the snow portion in these four pages of BL!SSS.
62
ISSUE 118
Austen Sweetin. Bryan Fox Mat Crepel
Snowboarding in Spain is the real deal, literally. And by that we mean that only a few of the 30+ snowboarding resorts offer artificial snowmaking. And snow reports aren’t the easiest to come by either, as it’s much more challenging than, say, getting an accurate report from Canada or the US. But that doesn’t mean it’s not epic – it’s quite the opposite – and if you plan your trip accordingly you’re going to absolutely score. The Quik crew settled on Baqueira Beret. With its six main peaks and reasonable heli-boarding options it’s no wonder the resort has previously been voted “World’s Best.” The crew consisted of snowboarding teammates Bryan Fox, Austen Sweetin and Mat Crepel, along with skater Zach Miller and surfer Mikey February. Mikey hadn’t seen snow in over a decade so being dropped by a helicopter with some of the world’s best in the middle of the Pyrenees was, “one of the craziest experiences of my life.” Whether you’re looking for backcountry, groomed runs or unexplored terrain, Spain really has it all. So next time you find yourself in Europe or you’re planning for an adventure of a lifetime, we highly recommend you consider España because it has so much to offer. It might take a little extra research, but it’s the adventure that makes it all worthwhile.
ISSUE 118
63
64
ISSUE 118
Mat Crepel
Mat Crepel Bryan Fox
Random Fun Facts: The Spanish donate organs at a higher rate than any other country in the world. It’s a very kind country and a great place to lose a liver. La Tomatina is a festival held every summer in Buñol, Spain. It brings thousands of people together... all so that they can throw tomatoes at one another. It’s been around since the 1940s, though nobody is totally sure how it originated. Spain has the second largest number of bars per inhabitant out of any country in the world. Bar hopping can be quite literal here. The average price for a beer in Barcelona is 3.5 Euros. The Spanish were said to have invented the stapler. That was back in the 1800s. If you get your car towed in Spain (you might), the authorities literally leave a note on the street for you. At least they’re nice about being dicks. The Spanish typically eat dinner at 9 or 10 p.m., so expect to eat late and party even later. Mulhacen, the highest peak in Spain’s Iberian Peninsula, sits at over 11,000 feet. There are over 280,000 winemakers in Spain, so finding the right wine for your meal shouldn’t be a problem. Siesta time is real and typically happens from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. every day in Spain. You’ll need to keep that in mind when planning your daily routine.
Bryan Fox ISSUE 118
65
COLLECTION / LAUNCH PARTY
4 / 25 / 2017
The Icons of Surf in San Clemente hosted a celebration to launch the new RVCA X Astrodeck collection that debuted this past month. RVCA advocates, athletes, the entire Fletcher family and party-goers were all entertained by San Clemente’s own After School Special [A.S.S.], all the while Herbie’s new video series, The Thrill Is Back, played on the screen. Beverages were flowing, stories were being told and everyone seemed to be having an all-around good time. And it’s really no surprise that these two have teamed up, as RVCA founder PM Tenore has been family friends with the Fletchers for decades. It’s refreshing to see such quality product from two brands that have had such an impact in the surf world and continue to do so today. The collaboration consists of an Astrodeck branded tee, Wave Warriors boardshorts, an Astrodeck sandal and an Astrodeck Surf Pack backpack – pretty much every essential necessary for the modern surfer. The entire collection is available now at premiere retailers and online at www.rvca.com. Or you can do what we did and head down to Icons of Surf and grab everything you need today.
66
ISSUE 118
photos / delon isaacs / left to right: Ken & Hitomi Mockett with Herbie, Dibi & Christian Fletcher / Brophy, Herbie & Noah / After School Special [A.S.S.] / Herbie Fletcher / Astrodeck / Packed house / Christian Fletcher & PM Tenore / A.S.S. / Brian Cassaro & daughter
*
VISSLA C SMIC CREEK 2017
photos / kenny hurtado, noah mcpherson, jack coleman & paul and jason naude
This past month Salt Creek once again played host to the 16th Annual Vissla Cosmic Creek surf festival. The twoday extravaganza is a retro-style surf experience paying homage to an earlier era. The ‘60s and ‘70s were a pivotal couple of decades in surf history – it was a time where surfboards ruled the shops, shapers were gurus and surfing had a mystical soul about it – and Vissla’s Cosmic Creek brings us back in time to these days. It’s a nearly 48-hour extravaganza filled with surf, music, and nostalgia, and it’s just an all-around great time. The “surf event” itself is separated into seven main divisions based on age, with the addition of a “Pros” and a “Creators & Innovators” division for the final day. But, unlike other surf contest, before each heat competitors draw cards to see who gets the pick of litter from a plethora of historic boards supplied by Vissla. And that’s what makes this contest so unique and so much fun… It’s not the standard shred as hard as you can QS grinders event but more about style, good times and bringing it back to the golden era of surfing. It’s an event for the family that leaves everyone smiling ear to ear when it’s all said and done. After Saturday’s competition the entire beach crowd and contestants made their way up to the grassy knoll to what transpired to be a very Woodstock-esque performance by the Cosmonauts and DIIV, presented by D’Blanc. But let’s not forget to mention Orange County’s favorite grom band, A.S.S. (After School Special), who kept the beats going on the beach during Saturday’s afternoon of competition. And like years past there was plenty to do for all in attendance. The Shwack, Zico Coconut Water and Stumptown Coffee Roasters kept everyone fueled while MIZU gifted each competitor with a stainless steel reusable bottle and setup hydrating stations to keep everyone’s thirst at bay. Body surfing legend Mark Cunningham showed up with a car full of DaFins and encouraged anyone and everyone to join him in the “Body Surfing Expression Session.” And while Mother Nature supplied stellar conditions for the two days of competition, we’ll spare you all the play-by-play, heat-by-heat action; but when it was all said and done it was Kai McPhillips winning the “Minnows” (14 and under) division, Will Allen winning the “Wax Snatchers” (15-18), Connor Macleod for the “Storm Riders” (19-24), Nick Holdman for “Crystal Voyagers” (25 – 34), Scott Finn for “Morning of the Earth” (35-44), Casey Wheat for “Shaded Souls” (45 – 54), Paul Naude for “Legends of the Sea” (55+), Rob Machado for “Pros” and Jason Bennet in the number one spot for “Creators and Innovators” division. To see full results and a recap video of all the action, click your way over to www.blisssmag.com.
Rob Machado
Patrick O’Connor Body Surfing Expression Session Crew
Vince de la Pena & Bobby Lockhart
Thomas Campbell & Mark Cunningham
Keegan Fong Jason Bennett
Kalani Robb
Jax Machado
68
ISSUE 118
Rod Brewster
No. 118
WORDS / SPENCER PIRDY
+
Tube of the Year Award / Shanan Worrall Photo / Jamie Scott
Paddle Award / Ben Andrews Photo / Fred Pompermayer
Billy Kemper Ben Andrews
TAG Heuer XXL Biggest Wave Award / Francisco Porcella Photo / Bruno Aleixo
Francisco Porcella
Jamie Mitchell
Paige Alms
Wilem Banks
This year was a changing of the guard in a multitude of ways. First of all, we were at a brand new venue, the Pasea Hotel, right down the street from the heart of Huntington Beach. That’s right, no more splitting the parking lot with Angels fans at the Grove. Instead, the 2016-17 WSL Big Wave Awards (formerly the XXL Awards) took place at this beachside resort, a far more appropriate locale with a bit more of an intimate amount of attendees than last year. The night began with cocktails at sunset, and a majority of the world’s best big wave hellmen cutting loose and indulging after a year of risking it all for the sake of adrenaline – and a little paycheck if they were to be so lucky. While many household names – Gmac, Carlos Burle, Greg and Rusty Long – graced the red carpet, there were also quite a few little-known names to emerge. Guys like Francisco Porcella, the eventual winner of the “Biggest Wave Award,” that was earned from a wave that had him looking more like a snowboarder rushing down a high-altitude cornice than a XXL wave. Another notable was Santa Cruz ripper Wilem Banks, who earned “Wipeout of the Year” for getting completely upside down pitched on a 40-foot Mavericks face. He popped up from the altercation, swam to a boat, coughed up blood and lived to fight another day. Badass! Last but not least for the new faces was Maverick’s local Ben Andrews. Ben won the award for “Biggest Paddle Wave.” Thing is, Ben has been catching bombs at Mavs for years, but the dice just finally rolled his way this time around and the charger got what he rightfully deserved. As far as usual suspects go, Billy Kemper and Jamie Mitchell were it. Billy took out “Ride of the Year” for his perfect ride during the Jaws contest this year. Billy has had a tough year with his mom falling ill, and gave a touching acceptance speech that had everyone giving him a standing ovation. Jamie Mitchell took “Performance of the Year” for being consistently on swell after swell, winning the Nazare contest, and for his sheer skill. It was well deserved. In retrospect, this past big wave season wasn’t as action-packed as the El Nino winter of 2015-16, but it showed that the new and/or unsung breed of chargers is hungrier than ever. This new crew will challenge the older pack and vice versa, which should lead to some exciting years to come! 70
ISSUE 118
NEW OFFICE RAGER
6 / 1 / 2017
The boys and girls at Electric decided to kick off summer the right way, with a good old fashion rager. Well, to be honest, they were celebrating their brand new offices, and with all the reps in town for sales meetings it just seemed like the right thing to do. And we couldn’t agree more as June seems to be the month where industry parties become a weekly occurrence and there’s never a dull moment. That being said, the Electric crew set the bar high with a live mural by James Haunt, free booze (which amazingly never ran out), musical performances by After School Special (A.S.S.) and Captain’s Quarters and catered by California’s finest, In-N-Out Burger. And when the formulas right, the masses show; and while we didn’t do an actual headcount, there had to be at least 500 or 600 people throughout the new headquarters and packing the massive parking lot out back. It was nonstop smiles and high fives as the who’s who of the industry all seemed to be in attendance. And why wouldn’t they be, the new Electric offices are like a dream come true with top floor ocean views, a private gym, ping pong tables and pretty much anything else you could ever want. Big thanks to Eric Crane, Ian Foulke and the rest of the Electric crew for the great time and a great start to the summer. We look forward to many more of these in the years to come.
72
ISSUE 118
left to right: Eric Crane & Ian Foulke / Captains Quarters rocking out / Jani Lange, Russ Swarts & Joel Olenik / James Haunt painting / John Van Hamersveld art / Cycle Zombies / Justin Glikman, James Haunt & Robert Shaw / Matt Shadbolt & Johnny Monson / MatNos Okazaki & Ryan Kingman
INTER // VIEW
No. 118
What is the story behind Frankie & the Witch Fingers? We’ve been around a little more than four years now. We all met in Bloomington, Indiana. The dudes were all going to IU and I was just there fucking around trying to play some music. I knew everyone because our bands had played some shows together and I had jammed some songs with Josh in his basement. I bumped into Glenn at a show one night and he was like, “Hey man if you got any demos, you should come over sometime to record on my eight track.” I came over the next day and we recorded the song Sidewalk. Glenn, Josh, and Alex were all playing together in this band called Prince Moon Dog. That band kind of organically fizzled out due to their front man Alex Barrett moving to NYC, so I slid right in and we started Frankie. I once heard an audience member say, “It looks like they’re entering a different dimension,” referring to Dylan and Josh soloing during one of your shows. Do you go to a different dimension? What’s it like there? Man, Josh is always creating portals to other realms! I like to think of the sounds he makes as a giant demon monster that he has somehow tamed. When he starts his guitar ritual that big gnarly thing pops out and starts ripping shit up, and he’s all like “YAH!” I try to channel the energy of the demon myself and hold it down on some rhythm; I don’t do much soloing though.Your music is psychedelic yet seems to have its own twist. How do you describe it? I like to think of us as lysergic holy rollers that make good ole’ rock ‘n’ roll music! Channeling the energies of a Pentecostal happening while spreading the good word of freak-outs and higher learning! I hear you guys have a thing for bagels. As a band, how many bagels do you consume a week? I’ve been so lucky this year. I got a rad job at Belle’s Bagels, and I eat so many bread wheels! My boy Alex has about thirty of our carb discs frozen at home, last I checked. Glenn eats a bagel a day, and always has. Josh is Jewish so... yeah we eat a fuck ton of bagels. Do you find a psychedelic influence in bagels? We find a psychedelic influence in all breakfast foods, not that bagels are JUST FOR BREAKFAST! Bagels are portals to satiation! Also, those colored bagels they have on the east coast are pretty far out to look at, but I wouldn’t eat that shit if you paid me to. If I cast a spell on somebody which of your songs should I be playing in the background? You know, I reckon that would depend on what kind of spell you’re attempting to conjure. We’re more about trances and cartoon devils and freaky shit like that. Just pop on a song and see what happens. Hopefully you get possessed! I hear through the grapevine that Glenn will enter a pun competition. Is this true? Glenn says and I quote “I entered ten puns in a competition, hoping one would win. But no pun in ten did.” Who are you currently listening to? At this very moment we are sitting at an airport in Moscow listening to Justin Bieber. It sounds like Smurfs having sex or something. Pretty weird stuff…What can we expect from Frankie & the Witch Fingers this summer? Dude this summer/year is shaping up to be pretty awesome! We’ve got a new record dialed in and ready to release to the world thanks to our friends at Permanent Records, and we’ve got a really fun tour that we’ll be announcing very soon! Staying busy and high as always. Frankie & The Witch Fingers jams are available on Permanent Records.
74
ISSUE 118
RE
RE VIEW S
No. 118
VIEW S
Ryan Reidy The Hi Hat, Los Angeles, CA / Wednesday May 17th, 2017
PHOTO AND REVIEW BY DAVID EVANKO
Since moving to LA, ex Thunders frontman Ryan Reidy has spent most of his time translating his Lindsey Lohan fever dreams into music. For the most part, he has kept these songs to himself, leaving us on edge and teased with anticipation. Until this May when he finally let loose, giving us the first taste of his psychedelic white trash space odyssey garnished with violent feedback and gamma ray synth lines. Lucky for us he already has a collection of shows lined up for this summer.
REVIEWS BY MAX RITTER
REVIEWS BY ROB MOLT
The Rubs / Impossible Dream / Hozac
The Moonlandingz / Interplanetary Class Classics / Chimer Music
Some seriously impeccable power pop songs with some punk scuzz by Chicago band The Rubs.
British experimental electronic group, the Eccentronic Research Council, once made a concept/spoken word album about a girl obsessed with a singer. The band in the fictional story is called The Moonlandingz (Ziggy stardust anyone?). Anyway, they decided to make it a real band and invited psych rock outfit, the crazy, Fat White Family, to join. Imagine The Cramps in a disco spaceship with a bunch of vintage synthesizers – total rock concept art and too much fun.
Louisiana Red / Sweet Blood Call / Fat Possum
Dream Joints /Just Like Medicine / Bleeding Gold Records
Fat Possum based in Mississippi has always been a trusted treasure chest of unique and often un-appreciated blues artists and Iverson Minter (Louisiana Red) is no exception. Red has over fifty albums to his name and a recording career that began in 1949. This is a reissue of his amazing album Sweet Blood Call.
Out of the catacombs of San Diego’s sonic rock mosque, the Casbah, comes one of our music mullahs, Mike Turi. The Wild Wild Wets front man and purveyor of our occasional San Diego Freak Outs, comes with his first solo/home-recorded project, Dream Joints. It’s an LP of dense, woozy dark wave, which surfs a psychedelic line of wobbly baritone vocals and mid-tempo-layered post-punk. This is a reverbfilled, moody carpet ride you’ll want to stay on, Allah willing.
Bang! The Bert Berns Story
Dead Cross / Self-titled / Ipecac / Three One G
Must see biographical documentary on the relatively unknown 1960’s behind-the-scenes hit maker and undisputed musical genius Bert Berns. No, The Beatles didn’t write Twist and Shout.
The term “supergroup” always sounds so lame. What makes them super, the former bands, their jackets and hair? These guys don’t need that. Dead Cross is Mike Patton, Dave Lombardo and Retox members Justin Pearson and Michael Crain, and their brand of metalcore is better than any supergroup. Spastic, yelping to crooning vocals, insane drums and the immeasurable speed of the guitar and bass deliver hardcore’s highest power. Not your bag? That’s OK; the whole thing is over in half an hour.
Sheer Mag /Need To Feel Your Love / Wilsun RC
Guantanamo Baywatch / Desert Center / Suicide Squeeze Records
If you’ve asked me in the last two years what new band I am most into I usually reply Sheer Mag. This band rips my head off. If I could buy stock in this band I would. June is the month I spend my days waiting endlessly for this record to come out.
Riding your bike back from the lake, you noticed she wasn’t riding with you, damn. It’s midsummer and your buzz is fading like the evening sun. Back on Main Street you stop for smokes and a six-pack, and there she is. With a smile she asks, “There’s this sloppy, 3-piece, Portland garage surf band playing a house party. They’re a lot of fun and totally jam. Wanna go?” “Hell yeah,” you say. “Sounds perfect.”
ISSUE 118
75
TAJ LINDBLAD Age: 14
Hometown: San Clemente, CA
Favorite Surfer: Kolohe Andino Sponsors: Quiksilver Lost Surfboards Oakley Cuater lindblad / 118 Photo: Jason Kenworthy
76
ISSUE 118
Quick Turn-Around Time â&#x20AC;¢ Pick-Up & Delivery Service
Screen Printing â&#x20AC;¢ Banners â&#x20AC;¢ Embroidery Patches â&#x20AC;¢ Online Fulfillment â&#x20AC;¢ Trucker Hats Logo Creation â&#x20AC;¢ Band Merch â&#x20AC;¢ Stickers
949 228 8799 â&#x20AC;¢ 247MERCH COM 16442 GOTHARD ST. #D â&#x20AC;¢ HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA. 92647
@247MERCH