BL!SSS Magazine | September 2007 | #1

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48 // GREG LUTZKA 58 // SUPER TASTE 60 // BRUCE IRONS 72 // CHRISTIAN FLETCHER 74 // QUIkSILVER BOWLRIDERS: MALMO 82 // YADIN NICOL 84 // DANIEL RUSSO PHOTO PROFILE 96 // BURTON’S ABOMINABLE SNOW JAM 106 // FALL FASHION 118 // DAVID CHOE: ARTIST PROFILE 130 // MICKEY NEILSEN 132 // TAMPA OR BUST 144 // BALI 156 // LET’S LIVE PREMIERE 158 // WeSC FALL FASHION 160 // SWEETWATER PRO-AM 162 // YOUNG GUNS 3 164 // VOLCOMICs ART SHOWS 166 // JACK’S 50TH 168 // Matt Costa 170 // Dan the Automator

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Photo: JackColemanphoto.com

Editor-in-Chief nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com

Editor joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com

Creative Director mark paul deren madsteez@blisssmag.com

Music Editor tim bergevin tim@blisssmag.com

advertising ads@blisssmag.com

contributing Photographers Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Jason Kenworthy, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran

contributing writers Willie Marshall, Josh Spencer, Aaron Astorga, Daniel Russo, Liz Rice, Matt Patterson

contributors David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton 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.

Cover Art: David Choe

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NIXONNOW.COM

I’ve been putting together magazines for a long time now, but this is easily the most ambitious and challenging issue that I’ve ever attempted. This whole thing started with a nudge from some special folks in our industry, and after an amazingly rapid and sometimes painful birthing process, has resulted in the much anticipated first issue of BL!SSS magazine. Our plan here at BL!SSS is to supply you with a monthly magazine that encompasses all aspects of the boarding lifestyle. A lot could be said here about what we’re about and what we’re going to do, but to be honest with you, we’re getting sick of talking about what we are up to.

Instead, we think it’s time to let BL!SSS speak for itself. There is so much quality editorial in this issue that it’s tough to pick out a few highlights to mention here, but I’ll try. The Bruce Irons interview came out sick, especially since we had Kaiborg behind the dictaphone. Thanks Kai – you did a great job. The fashion shoot that Dominic put together was amazing, just like the lovely model Chelsea. Everything in here turned out unreal. The photography of Daniel Russo, the Lutzka piece, Malmo, David Choe’s art – it’s really endless. There were a lot of people that were instrumental in helping our new project materialize, and a special thanks is required from us to those of you who played crucial roles in the launch of BL!SSS Magazine – you know who you are, and what you mean to us. I’m also super grateful for the support thus far from those who believed in us enough to trust us with the advertising dollars that make our publication possible – we look forward to great things to come. BL!SSS will be at your local surf, skate, snow, coffee or random shop all across America on the first of every month. Welcome to our journey.

- Nick Kalionzes

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Photo: JackColemanphoto.com

DOLLS AREN’T JUST FOR KIDS

The Art Nazis are at it again, this time with some crazy looking dolls from Circus Punks. Apparently, these toys are extremely limited and are already pulling in big bucks on your favorite online auction websites. With names such as Dalek, Tim Biskup, Gary Baseman, there’s bound to be something for everyone, check out circuspunks.com.

M.I.A. TOSH TOWNEND LOSES HIS HAIR...

Nah, just kidding. But you’d think he might be after being on the road for over a month filming the Weenabago Projekt 2. Shit, they took this thing across the country this time around and the clips I’ve seen are straight ridiculous. Look for the release in early ’08.

CHELSEA - BL!SSS MODEL The best thing thus far about running the new mag has got to be the super smoking feline we had strutting around the office one hot summer morning. I mean, Dominic promised the goods but Chelsea is just phenomenal. Needless to say not much work was getting accomplished with that caliber of beauty gracing our presence. You’re welcome back anytime Chelsea, anytime.

Ear fetish

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The crazy Swedes over at WeSC have done it again. I just got sneak peak at their newest catalog and its just filth, absolute awesome filth. Tons of great new product that I’m sure will be going for premium on eBay and other internet sites. These are guys are just making everything these days. Big Jim swung by to check out our new digs and brought some original WeSC Swedish drinking glasses as a housewarming gift. They even had a little kickoff/soiree launch party a couple weeks back in to celebrate their new headphones now available to the public. Check out wesc. com for all the goods.

Kala No Sophomore Jinx on Maya Arulpragasam’s latest effort. The record self-described by her as “shapes, colours, Africa, street, power, bitch, nu world and brave” is a lot to swallow but that is why she rules. Songs like Jimmy (which is a cover of a song from a 1982 Hollywood movie) show the continued experiment with the sound that brought M.I.A. to our attention two years ago. Locked in with producers Switch, Diplo and even flavor of the month Timbaland has the album delivering colors as bright as Maya’s clothes. Don’t miss out on this one!

BRA BOYS The Abberton boys are rumored to be living the highlife in Santa Monica after a few pre-screenings of their documentary “Bra Boys.” I don’t know how ended up with a bootlegged copy of this several months ago but I’ve been having nightly private viewings at my house for anyone I can persuade to come over. Definitely the best surf documentary I’ve ever seen. There’s so much hype behind this thing, I’ve even heard Hollywood is in the midst of a feature film based on the documentary.

Be sure to catch a future screening at ASR and Surf Expo.

THREAD

THE ENEMY We’ll Live and Die in these Towns Warner Bros UK If imitation is flattery than Paul Weller is a proud man. UK wonder kids The Enemy have arrived bringing a debut album that is as much a tribute to The Jam as it is too the other great UK bands of the 70’s and early 80’s. The sing along “You’re Not Alone” and the anger displayed in the lyrics of “Aggro” show that the band has fun but is not afraid to tell people they think the modern world sucks! Be the first on the block and download this now, as it’s not available in the US.

ATTACK OF THE GROMS So if you haven’t come down to good ‘ol Newport Beach to check our new BL!SSS Headquarters yet, then you don’t know about the grom dilemma that occurs when running a magazine next to Cordell’s new boardshop. Yeah, of course we love groms. We love beating them, taking their waves and making them clean our office. And they love us too, just check the smiles.

zune zune zune...

You probably already know this, but the peeps at Microsoft finally decided to stop counting their money long enough to develop an answer to the iPod epidemic. The Zune has arrived – and although they only have a 30-gig player, which is surprisingly similar looking to an iPod, Microsoft’s Zune does have quite a few unique benefits. Not only does it have picture and movie capabilities, but it comes also equipped with a radio player and the ability to transfer files and chat to other Zune users in your area. Not a bad start but still a long way to go. Unfortunately, like everything Bill Gates makes, it’s far from being mac compatible but still a neat little gadget worthy of a mention.

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With all the advances in digital media these days, it’s nice to see a few people are still sticking to the good old days of 16 and 8mm film. Patrick Trefz’s newly released surf flick, “Thread” was filmed around the globe, weaving a visual story of sight and sound through a look at some of the most stylish people in our world: Joel Tudor, Taylor Knox, Ray Barbee, Joe Curren and Tom Carroll to name a few. Check it out for yourself at threadthefilm.com.

AVISO’S RUSTY Kompressor We’re seeing more and more of these black beauties adorn the lineup as the Aviso crew has inked quite a grip of top shapers. The Rusty Kompressor is bringing back some old-school flair with the double-wing swallows and a wider design. Perfect for the not so perfect conditions at your favorite surf spot, or anywhere on the East Coast.

UNZIP & JACK It Mad Max ain’t got shit on this jacket as the boys from Hurley have put out another seemingly flawless piece. With the crossover in action sports at an all time high, expect to see more and more motogear coming from all the big boys. This jacket is ideal for anyone with a big hunk of metal between their legs and not so bad for knocking fixies off the road either.

HEATING UP THE BLOGS Blogs are pretty much America’s last gasp at a truly free press, well besides free, independently published magazines like the one in your hands.

There’s a certain freedom of not holding back because of some old pissed off publisher’ s shitty ideas or the fact that you may want to compare some c-list celebrities crotch shots with a packet of smoked deli meat. With corporations like Fox News that are so busy pushing their right-wing political agendas to keep their advertisers happy, you gotta breathe relief at some non-censored shit in this world. And sometimes you don’t really give a shit whether what you’re reading is trustworthy or not – as long as it gives you a good laugh and a way to waste an extra ten minutes on the web while you’re at work. Here are a couple of staff favorites that you should check out: http://www.whalecock.blogspot.com/ http://www.rvcaclothing.com/blog/surfing/index.html http://www.insight51.com/wp/usa http://www.monsterchildren.com http://www.sabrevision.blogspot.com http://www.skatedaily.net http://www.vice.typepad.com/vice_magazine

SIN HABITS Six years in the making from the SH Crew, “Sin Habits” is the brainchild of relocated Chicago homies Pete Sutfin and James “Shize” Wilschke with performances by Aaron Artis, Knox Godoy, Tjaden Brewer, Tosh Townend, Wes Lott and others and rising ams Pat Pasquale and Neen Williams. Be sure to check her out.

MAE

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Singularity : Capitol Virginia Beach natives Mae’s major label release is fueled with what has made Emo kids all over the US pack into crappy clubs to see them live. On this record the band revs up the sound delivering harder cuts that may scare away some fans but will eventually lead the band to a bigger and better place. Listen to the opening track and you’ll get the picture. Then proceed directly to “Sometimes I Can’t Make It Alone” and it will be on, or not.

ATTACK OF THE TEEN IDOL

Talk about toys, I’ve never someone who’s had it so good. Hot rods, sport cars, trucks, skate parks, houses, boats, motorcycles (is there anything he doesn’t have?) and the kid is just barely legal. Dominating nearly every event he enters, you gotta start wondering what he’s got left to prove. With his new MTV show [The Life of Ryan] just launching, you’re sure to see plenty more of this little destroyer.

iPHONE PORN It’s 2007 and with that being said there’s no excuse for not being a little tech savvy these days. I don’t mean that everyone out there is going to know how to hack into the IRS, but if you can’t get dandy with a little email on your phone than you gotta get with the times. For all of you out there that slept through computer class, there is really nothing to fear and it all just gets easier with new gadgets like Apple’s iPhone. With all the hype surrounding this little device we’re sure you’re already bored with seeing it again but let me tell you, this thing truly is amazing. From the first time I popped mine out of the box and had it up and running I knew phones would never be the same. Everything that you can access on a computer you can get on an iPhone, so imagine when you’re sitting in you car, stuck in traffic and you whip that thing out and start jamming up on all the free porn sites. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s the best $600 I’ve ever spent.

EYE CANDY Oakley - Frogskin oakley.com

Smith - Domino smithoptics.com

BARREL CAM Got a sweet little visit this past month from the masterminds behind the Camroc. They were kind enough to let us demo the Sling Shot (their latest digital movie, picture, voice, mp3 player) and talk about some future digital camera/ camcorders that they’re working on. These guys got some serious shit up there sleeves as they are well on their way to developing a highly compact HD camcorder along with several key action sport accessories. They’ve already released their underwater case and are gearing up to debut the mountable micro-camera. Check out all the goodies at the upcoming shows.

RUSTY REBORN We’re not the only ones walking around with smiles on our faces all excited to be doing something new as Rusty North America has just completely re-vamped their crew. The three handsome devils above, Scott “Pod” Banuelos, Charlie Setzler, and Casey Fleming are about as busy as anyone can be.

Waking the sleeping giant ain’t an easy task but with the right crew expect big things to come.

Good on ya fellas and thanks for swinging by.

VZ - Elmore vonzipper.com

Sabre - The Dude sabrevision.net

Dragon - Brigade dragonalliance.com

Smith - Domino smithoptics.com

VESTAL The crew at Vestal have invested quite a bit of effort and time into updating their website. Going live just this past month, I’d being lying if I told you I wasn’t spending a good amount of work time checking out interviews, music videos, photo shoots and of course some insane new product at their new and improved web home. Check it out for yourself to see what I’m talking about – vestalwatch.com. And when did a watch company start making better apparel and accessories than most of the heavyweights?

Hoven - Victoria hovenvision.com

Anarchy - Rally anarchyeyewear.com

THE CRIBS

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Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever Warner Bros Records The Jarmon Brothers third record is smooth, which is a bit disappointing from a band that absolutely destroys live! This record is still really cool but let’s chalk up the production of Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos to the missing energy the band bashes out night after night. The working class anti-hipster rock is still in effect so make an effort to get this record. Check out the tracks “I’m Realist” and “Men’s Needs” if you’re a first timer and then catch them live!

PARIS + LYON = LOVE Fresh out of the slammer Paris has been hitting the streets hard and looking for a man to settle down with. Just this past month she was spotted with more than one boy toy as she was living the free life out on the town. Seen here with Lyon Herron, Paris just couldn’t keep her hands off of this Malibu man-child. Go to 4lyon.com to make a difference in this world.

CRASH, BURN & LIVE Neck braces and wheelchairs never go good together but considering you’re even alive after rolling your van three times with a car full and kids and toys on an Baja excursion is a blessing in itself. Marko Foam’s, Ty Peterson got the worst of things with four pelvic fractures, broken ribs, six broken vertebrae, and a punctured lung but as you can see is well on his way to the road of recovery.

KLINGIN’ ON

MONEY FOR BLOOD Sounds like college days to me. I ain’t gonna lie, was more than one occasion I was sitting next to the hobo with a tennis ball in hand watching the liquid gold spill from my veins. I’m by no means suggesting this to any of you kids out there but it just so happened that every Tuesdays were dollar-beer nights at the local theatre so every other Tuesday I was in the clinic and the buzz was that much cheaper. But that’s a whole other story, this flick is about skating and spills but rest assure there’s a hobo or two in there.

VOLCOM+BOOZE+CONDOMS = SEX! Our favorite Florida ripper and WCT rookie, Gabe Kling has been on quite a roll lately. Kling has been in form, making the quarterfinals at the US Open of Surfing before heading over to Japan and scoring his first major win in the WQS 6-star Yumeya Billabong Taraha Pro. We’re super stoked for Kling and so is Matix, who are so stoked that they are giving him his own signature trunk, oddly enough called the “Klinger.” For a preview of the trunk stop by the Matix both at either ASR or Surf Expo and check it out. It will be available in surf shops come spring 2008!

new Hosoi skateboards Daniel Cardone ‘Dagger’ - All terrain ripper from Italy has won many contest internationally in both street syle and concrete parks and bowls. He has a fast and loose style. An international member of the Daggers, he lives skateboarding.

Sergie Ventura ‘Fork’ - High flying Sergie Ventura blasts some of the biggest airs around in backyard pools, skateparks or the tradional vert ramp. Look up and you’ll see Sergie.

Andre Genovesi ‘Lions’ - Brazillian streetskater who’s smooth and stylish and is known for making the technical tricks he does look a lot easier than they are.

Christian Hosoi ‘Cross’ - Through trials and tribulations Christian Hosoi still comes out on top. Probably the best stylish skater to ever live. He skates fast, goes big and looks good while doing it all.

Richard Mulder ‘Anchor’ - Super clean style and technical, Mulder is on it.

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What is better than a bar giving away free booze?

Nothing. Well, maybe a hooker giving away free sex.

The point is that bars usually don’t give away free booze and hookers definitely don’t give away free sex. But when Volcom decided that they would have a little gathering at their local bar, The Little Knight, they knew one thing that could get them a little closer to getting everyone laid was to give out a lot of free booze. So while the girls and boys we’re out getting drunk on Volcom’s tab, they threw out a bunch of custom condoms at the bar. Those who stayed just sober enough to pull it together and bring home a girl that night got the chance to, “Say Hello to my Little Knight.”

I remember years ago at Tampa Am there was a bidding war going on between various clothing, shoe, and board sponsors. Companies were throwing around some pretty hefty offers as young Greg tore the roof off the muggy masonite playground. See, Greg could really give two shits about any of the industry nonsense, he just wanted to skate, leaving many a team manager (myself included) having to call their bosses and explain why one of the best new talents in skateboarding turned down their big money offers. In an industry where talent sometimes takes he backseat to image Greg has been able to create a career for himself on skills alone. As you’re about to read he’s a man of little words, he’d rather let his skating do the talking…

Where were you born?

I was born and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At age 18 I moved to southern California and have been out here ever since.

Where do you live now?

Huntington beach

Nollie N.Slide

180 N. Grind

How long have you lived there?

I moved out here with two of my good friends, Jon and Pat from Milwaukee that I grew up skating with. I lived with them for a year at the Regency Palms. Jon ended up moving back and Pat still lives out here in Long Beach. I ended up buying a house in Huntington Beach.

What was the first board you rode?

Channel 1 board, Independent trucks, Spitfire wheels, Lucky bearings

How long have you been skating?

I have been skating for 11 years.

Who were some of the people that influenced you when you were young?

The top pros that influenced me growing up skating were Tom Penny, Jamie Thomas, Andrew Reynolds. Other influences were my family, friends and music.

How did you start skating?

I started skating with friends I grew up with in Milwaukee we all started skating in 6th grade.

Who influences your skating now?

Traveling, having fun skating and progressing with friends is what influences me nowadays.

Switch F/S T.Slide

T. Slide - 270 out

What’s your favorite thing to skate?

I try to skate everything but if I was going out to have fun and skate with some friends I would want to go skate a sick bowl.

Any big trips planned soon?

I am going to China in a month for a huge contest out there and to film stuff for the new Globe video we are working on.

In the last year, where are some of the places you’ve gone to skate?

Australia, China, Japan, Europe, Canada, Russia.

Who are your sponsors?

Almost skateboards, Globe Shoes, Independent Trucks, Bones Wheels, Fkd Bearings, Monster Energy Drink, Oakley, Kicker Car Stereo, Sun Diego

What’s been your favorite destination or spot?

I’m really stoked on skating in Australia, the people are super cool and the spots are fun.

Do you like being on the road?

I love to travel and check out new places but there is no place like home.

Which home?

Huntington Beach. It has the weather, girls, skate spots, night life, surfing and my friends.

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So tell us what skating means to you?

Skating to me is a feeling I get and an expression I give off… First love.

So how’s this Globe project coming along?

I’m working on my part right now and also working with Chris Ortiz on a Transworld interview.

Anyone you want to Thank or give props to?

I would like to thank my family and friends for all the support and all my sponsors for backing me and believing in me and helping me push my skateboarding career.

Nollie B.Slide

y b b BMoartinez

smithoptics.com /bobby

You didn’t actually think we’d publish an action sports magazine without giving our loyal readers a little something-something to drool over did ya? Let me present to you Ms. Tahna Lamar. Born and raised in sunny so cal, we couldn’t pass up this 18-year-old Palos Verdes beauty when thumbing through shots for our first edition of “Super Taste.” When she’s not busy strutting her stuff on various music videos (Fiddy who?), commercials and photo shoots, Tahna spends her time perusing skate premieres with her little brother.

Agency: Otto Models

Photo: Dominic Petruzzi

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Photo: Carey

Interview b y Kaiborg

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Photo: Bielmann

Photo: Bielmann

This interview by Kai Garcia took place while playing a round of golf on the North Shore of Kauai on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007.

So Bruce, what’s a day in your life like on Kauai in the summer?

Well, there are no real waves here in the summer but if there’s a little wind swell I can surf, get a little practice, ya know. But I’d most likely be fishing in the summer. Hopefully the ahi’s are biting somewhere, so I’d go chase ‘em, try to get ‘em.

What about the golf game?

Oh yeah, I forgot. Golf a lot. I love to golf. A lot of golfing, fishing and you know, a little bit of surfing. But most of the time I’m just relaxing in the summer time at home.

Photo: Bielmann

Photo: Carey

What are your days like in the winter on Kauai?

Winter days I’ll wake up. Actually, usually I sleep in, but if the waves are going to be big and good I’ll wake up really, really early. If not, I’ll just wake up whenever, check the waves at Pinetrees or wherever, surf, cruise with the boys, surf again and maybe go golf in the afternoon. Just basically relax. When I’m at home I just like to chill and cruise and relax – not think about contests or anything. Just have fun you know. Contest time is work time, then I’m in work-mode, but when I’m at home it’s all about relaxing.

Bruce: So Kai, the last few shots you took you hooked one into the trees and then worm-burned one, I don’t even know into the bushes. What do you think of that?

Kai: I don’t know what to think cause I don’t even know where the balls went. I think I’m in trouble.

I think you’re one of the best players on tour right now, I think a couple guys can agree to that, you’ve come a long way. When are we going to find out who’s the man on tour?

I’ll be ready to take Kelly down in about two years.

Bruce: Kai, why’d you cheat on that last hole?

Kai: I’m all about winning and I really gotta beat you on this round.

So are you excited about your new room at Pipeline?

I’m completely ecstatic. The last couple years I couldn’t stay at the Volcom house cause it’s kinda rowdy and it’s hard to focus and it’s no place for my girlfriend to be.

But now at Gerry’s house, that place is a dream fucking come true. When I was younger, we used to hang at Gerry’s house, but only outside with all the boys. Now it’s our house and I get the top floor. I’m so stoked on Volcom – the best move they ever made.

Photo: Bielmann

Sequence: Bielmann

Photo: Bielmann

Do you think it’ll give you the mojo to finally do something this year?

It’s definitely gonna give me some good confidence waking up and looking at it everyday. Hopefully we’ll have good waves and it’ll be a good winter, so I can’t wait to move in.

So how do you feel about the boys from Kauai who are almost there but not quite? Guys like Barca, Merle, etc.

What are they lacking?

You know, it’s not as easy as everyone thinks. The WQS is hard, it took me I think four or five years and I almost wanted to quit so many times. The waves are so shitty, you’re gone for a long time and they have to run the events no matter how bad it is. You do shitty in a couple contests and it’s real discouraging, you know what I mean. I’ve cracked so many times, but then you get on a good run and you can make it, you can get there. It’s hard man, those guys all surf so good, if they got on tour and got to surf good waves all the time they’d do so well. You just gotta grind it out in the little shit and get through it, keep pounding away.

And then once you get on, you’re there. When you make the tour, the first year is the hardest; I had a hard time you know. You try so hard to get there and then once you’re there sometimes it’s not really what it seems, because a lot of those best spots in the world you think its gonna be

Photo: Carey

Photo: Bielmann

Photo: Carey

Photo: Bielmann

double hull, cuts through the big chop, it’s beautiful.

6-8 feet and perfect but like Teahupoo has been, you get there and it’s 2-3 feet, kinda onshore, not really barreling.

So you gotta be able to surf the shitty waves there too, just like the ‘QS. You gotta stay focused and stay confident and just keep trying your hardest and you’ll get there. I can’t wait to see those guys make it, especially like Barca and those guys – they’ll make it, they just gotta keep plugging away.

So who do you think is the hottest up and coming kid now?

Um… Kalani David. He surfs, skates a halfpipe. He’s going to

be the next freak of nature. I hope.

What are the favorite boards you’re riding right now?

JS has been shaping my boards for the last couple of years and they’re the best short boards I’ve ever had. His boards are good, he’s on fire, he’s young, easy to communicate with and he surfs incredible too, you know. He can ride the boards he shapes and if you don’t surf well on a board, he’ll take it out and show you how, and he’ll shit on you.

What about your bigger boards – the 7’0’’ and up?

I used to get Tokoro’s, and of course his boards are still incredible, but I’ve been working a bunch with JS lately on the guns and his boards are just as good as the best ones I’d had from Tokoro, so I’m confident with his guns. I ride his boards from short boards all the way to the top.

So are you still riding motorbikes?

Nope, gave up motorbikes a couple years ago. People kept telling me they were dangerous and eventually everyone gets hurt, and so did I, so I gave them up, sold it. I still love them, and I’ll definitely get into them again when I get older and

I don’t have to worry about not getting hurt, cause they are fun.

What kind of car are you driving around now?

I got a Cadillac CTS-V, nice little fast racecar, but my chick drives it mostly. And I have a nice Chevy truck, diesel, lifted nice and big to pull my boat to get me in and out of the water on the ramp.

What other toys you got, skis, boat?

Right now I have a Honda 4-stroke ski that Red Bull got me, that thing is nice and fast and a 22-foot Hawaiian sea cat fishing boat. It’s incredible,

I heard you drove your boat from Oahu and crossed the channel, how was that?

It wasn’t that bad, we just waited for a nice glassy day.

I went over there with Lyon Hamilton and the guy that built the boat. We left at like 3:30 in the morning from Hawaii Kai. It was all glassy, down swell, and he got to tell me all about the boat on the trip over. It was really fun, a good experience, beautiful. We caught some fish and had a good time, I’d love to do it again actually.

So how do you deal with all the fame and groupies throwing themselves at you? It must be pretty hard?

It’s really easy… You find a really good girl, like I have, that takes care of you. She keeps me in line, cooks for me, helps me deal with all my business and is there for me when I’m all down-and-out at the contests. Basically, keeps a good head on my shoulders. That’s why I love my girlfriend Mia. Solid. That was solid. How did you develop such a good feel for the barrels of Pipeline, Tahiti, pretty much anywhere?

Growing up on Kauai, the waves break in shallow water, barreling on reef, sometimes on dry reef. You just grow up surfing it, getting pounded and getting comfortable

Photo: Bielmann

Photo: Bielmann Photo: Bielmann

Photo: Tom Carey

with it and thinking that’s how it’s like everywhere. Pipeline and Teahupoo are just bigger versions of the kind of weaves I grew up with and I guess I got a feel for them at a young age and it’s just comfortable. But I guess it came a little easier for me coming from Kauai. Its still scary, but I love it.

But even you have told me that you have some weird special bond with pipeline, right?

No, I don’t think I’ve ever said that, but I do really like the wave. Ever since I was a young kid I’ve been fascinated with it. Going there, watching it and surfing it, who wouldn’t love that wave? It’s the best wave in the world and you get the best reward from it. I love that place.

gotta see through that and do what you gotta do. I got a little crew that I always hang out with, Occy when he was around, my brother Andy, Parko, Mick, Freddie P, and Cory Lopez. It’s fun, it’s like a boys club ya know.

But a lot of time you gotta surf against the same guys you stay with so then it’s strictly business.

But then when you’re on the beach it’s all good. Some of the spots I’m not all that stoked to go to, but that’s the way it is, you just gotta find a little something to get you psyched and motivated and just stay focused an positive. Pretty much all of the guys on tour are my best friends, and they take care of you – you go where they live and they take care of you there and vice versa, there’s a lot of camaraderie. I love it.

So how’s the tour? Do you still enjoy it, is it still a grind, who do you travel with, are you still excited to go places?

What’s the deal, talk to me.

Yeah, you know, I still have the pump, it’s exciting to go to certain spots. The waves are not always going to be good and that’s kinda a let down, but you

So big brother is getting married huh? That’s gonna be a big one?

Yeah, November 25th. You and I are both in the wedding, it’s gonna be a big one. Lindy’s a good girl, keeps him focused and his head on straight. I’m stoked for him. You know they are perfect for each other. Of course

it’s gonna be a fun wedding, a lot of the boys are going to be in town, a lot of Australians and a lot of guys from the tour. It’ll be a tight crew, and I’m stoked for both of them, I’ll have a sisterin-law.

I’m really happy they both found each other in this life, that’s a great thing these days. So how’s your new management?

It’s killer. One of best friends, Blair Marlin, is my manager. I’ve known him since we were little kids back in the NSSA days.

I couldn’t be more stoked, it helps me out so much and I still got my Uncle Mark and my parents too. If it weren’t for the people I have looking out for me, I wouldn’t have any of this.

I’m super stoked on the people I’ve got working for me, all my family and friends. It’s super comfortable for me and that’s a good thing not having to worry about any of that stuff.

So how was that boat trip you just went on?

It was sick. I went down to Mexico on the Royal Pelagic with Wooly and Eckert, my brother

Andy, Dean Morrison and a bunch of others. The boat is an old Alaskan crab boat that they gutted out and put in 5-star rooms, mean movie room, good food, it’s so nice. Terje was there, fun waves, good friends, good fun, just a fun get away, not worrying about contests or anything. Just surfing and having a blast, probably one of the best surf trips I’ve ever been on.

OK, wrap it up: I just want to thank all my sponsors: Volcom, DC, JS, Body Glove, Oakley, Red Bull, Da Kine, Nixon. My parents, Uncle Mark, Blair, my whole family. Without all them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today, I’m so stoked to get all the support from these people with no pressure, they let me do what I want to do without that – you know. I’m stress free. And of course all my friends, Kauai boys!

Kai: Ok Nick, that’s it. Good luck on your guys’ new mag, hope you guys all the best, we’ll be right there with you guys all the way. Good luck and go get ‘em tiger, Aloha.

Words & Photo: Geoff Shively

I would never expect to be bombing down the freeway on a mission to Ultimate Hobbies just minutes before they close. One thing I’ve learned since I picked Christian Fletcher up hitchhiking on my bike last year (carrying a board and a bag of Great Mex) is to expect the unexpected.

With one minute to spare, we successfully achieve those-assholes-thatcome-in-1-minute-before-closing status. Christian picks up a new flying apparatus, the “Focke Wulf” a few propellers, some RC geek porn and we’re out. “I’m so addicted,” Christian says with the widest of kid-onChristmas eyes, excitedly flipping through the pages of the latest ”Fly RC” magazine. Really though, this shit is pretty fun - it’s imaginative and challenging, I can see why people get so addicted. Unfortunately, as with most good addictions, it gets really expensive really fast. If you look close at the photo of Christian holding his new toy, the thing is actually in two pieces. It flew for 15 seconds, banked a couple of slick turns, made a valiant effort to stay in the air but in the end, what I believe was an evil tail wind, sent the Wulf into the ground at our secret, not so legal, Costa Mesa baseball diamond airport. The glue couldn’t take hold before the sun set and before I knew it our flying day was over. One thing is for sure, besides that he won’t ever be on time, Christian Fletcher is one of the most interesting people I’ve met in recent years. More importantly, he’s probably one of the most unrealreal persons alive (shhh, don’t tell anyone). Oh yeah, he plays music too, but who doesn’t these days.

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Words: Tomi Toiminen Heat, blood, sweat, beers, hamburgers and some awesome skateboarding. That’s what was on the menu at the 2007 edition of the Quiksilver Bowlriders in Malmo. Contrary to last years dancing in between raindrops, the Viking gods looked down on us and pleased the weekend with sunny skies. Once again 48 concrete soldiers had gathered in the biggest concrete park in Europe to battle for the 35,000 Euro prize purse.

Thursday was kicked off with the last of the qualifying series to give out the last four wild cards left to enter the comp. Followed up by opening ceremonies and some beverages to clear the concrete dust from throats.

Friday morning was blessed with clear, sunny skies and the heats were on. Round one was to sort out the men from the boys, as out of the 36 skaters only 12 would go up to face last years 16 best seeded skaters. Even in the early heats you could already tell that the locals were going to be the ones to beat. Some of the standouts for the day were Jocke Olson who converted his vert skills into smooth fast lines and airs over transfers. Young Norwegian, Fredrik Austbo was flying all over the park, as well as Ross McGouran from London, England with his stylish skating and kickflip BS grabs over the bump. As the sun was not going to set, the sessions kept going all through the night until the wee hours of the morning.

On Saturday, the skaters and crowd alike were anxious to see the likes of Rune Glifberg and to take measure of first days advancers. Rune was confident and went thru his heats with flying colors. Local hero and skate park designer John Magnuson showed that he was going to be the man to beat in the Semis. The local flag was waving for both Jocke Olsson and Casper Plass and also for legendary Nicky Guerrero. Basque skater, Alain Goikoetxea was in his best form as well, easily securing a spot in the semis.

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Rune Glifberg

Sunday was the final day, using the words of DD, “Every heat was a final,” as guys went head to head under another day of blazing sun. Between the Semis and Final, it was time for the “tricks for cash” at the backyard pool session, which was joined by legends like Ben Schroeder, Eddie Reatagui and none other than Steve Salba. Some of the highlights were Daniel Cardone’s FS flip over the stairs on the shallow, Big Ben’s BS Boneless and BS smiths on the shallow end.

Alain Goigoetxea

Nicky Guerrero

John Magnuson

The crowd had gathered over to 6000 strong to see what was to be the first time in the history of the Bowlriders - an all-European showdown. Nicky Guerrero, Mathias Nylen, Ross McGouran, John Magnuson, Alain Goikoetxea and Rune Glifberg were all there to make history. Rune was on fire hitting every transfer, tearing the deep end to bits and finishing off with a cabalerial heelflip indy grab on the deep end. Rune was chased by John Magnuson most of the tough 10 minute heat, Alain was equally flying around over every hip, ripping

the deep end, throwing tricks like hurricanes to fakie cross the flat wall. Ross impressed the crowds and judges with huge FS alleyoop melons, a BS nollie 360 on the wall and smooth lines. Nicky was cruising with his usual casual style, Matthias went for make and or break and tried the massive transfer from the mid part to the deep end and the crowd went wild as the results were read out as the two locals took home the first and second place.

Ross McGouran

1st Rune Glifberg 2nd John Magnuson 3rd Alain Goikoetxea 4th Ross McGouran 5th Nicky Guerrero 6th Mathias Nylen

Vince Del Valle

Mathias Nylen

Chris Senn

Daniel Cardona Nicky Guerrero

Duncan

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Photo: Geoff Shively

We were lucky enough to have Aussie ripper Yadin Nicol swing by and check out the new BL!SSS Headquarters just days after we opened our doors. And even luckier for us, he brought his hot ass chick along with him. While we weren’t trying to hit on her, we did manage a couple of seconds to talk to him about Hurley’s new flick, Sound and Vision, Vol. 1 slated for a worldwide debut during the Boost Mobile Pro and this is what we got from him:

Just kidding. How’s it feel to be a big movie star?

I’m not really a movie star. I’m not Harry Potter or anything. So until I get a movie like that I’m just a country kid who cruises around and surfs.

I try to picture myself not falling on my face.

Do you think this is the final step that’ll bring you up to celebrity stardom level?

Surf movies won’t make you a celebrity. Might get a few looks in a surf shop but that’s about it.

What are your lifelong goals?

Have fun and get some good waves along the way.

So how’s your chick?

Not bad…

What’s the one thing you do every time to amp up before you surf?

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Who do you look up to in this world?

People who are having fun and doing their own thing.

How does it feel knowing that your little surf flick is going have over 300,000 people watching, making it the largest surf film debut to date?

Having that many eyes on my crook melon… yeah, it’s weird.

Hope they like it. If not, boo-hoo!

If there were one thing you could change about this world, what would it be?

Girls that think they’re cool, half of them aren’t. Nah! I guess a little less war would be more appropriate. Not sure how you spell that. That’s another thing I would change, no spelling mistakes. As long as it sounds like the word then what’s the problem.

photorusso.com

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China Walls (Falls) frozen in time.

Flynn Novak, my guinea pig, calculating the shockwave that is inches from his board.

Crusty Rusty Long just as curious as me, wondering what’s going to happen to the glass window above him.

Gavin Beschen calling me out at OTW. I gave him a high five as he passed by.

Whenever I go out, the people always shout! Not when I first started shooting. “Russo shoots photos? What? Let me see my shot Russo. Are you kidding me? Those suck, you’re too far away. How’s the fucking horizon? It’s all crooked.” Having some heavy criticism from some of the boys like Jason Frederico and Flynn Novak helped me fine tune my shooting to where it is today. Growing up on the North Shore with the best surfers in the world is a surf photographers dream. But tuning my skills to match theirs took a few seasons, some sacrificing, and many hours to get where I am today.

Nowadays, I’m just enjoying the ride and making sure I don’t forget how lucky I am to be doing what I do. Photography was here and there from a young age. Movies and stills have been around my family from back when I can first remember. My dad used to film a lot with his old super 8mm, documenting the family adventures across Hawaii. My brother, who is 7-years-older than me, took photography in high school along with everyone else from the North Shore. It was a class to take not because of the material, but for the teacher (Miss B). He would always setup white bed sheets in the house and shoot portraits of his friends and me. I never took the class and never really picked up a camera until I was about 19. A friend of mine who was a photographer gave me a Minolta 35mm. I started experimenting, shooting here and there but not too much. It wasn’t until I was about 20 when I started thinking about water photography. I would be out in the water surfing and I would find myself really noticing the action and wanting to freeze those moments that made me go “wow”.

I knew what I wanted, but I didn’t know where to start nor did I have the money to buy whatever I needed to get me swimming and freezing those moments. I was working part-time at Haleiwa Joe’s as a busser and going to college in town full-time. Whatever I was making at work was gone due to rent and other bills. I was in route to finish school in 18 months and start a career in Computer Science.

Photography was just a hobby and it never went any further than that. I quit Joe’s because I was not making enough money to do what I needed to do. So I got a job as a valet in town working at a few restaurants and hotels at night. This gave me a little financial freedom

to put some money towards a water housing. I went simple and the cheapest route, a Canon 630 with a 15mm fish eye lens. I slapped that into the best housings ever made, (Tarro Pascal) and I had my first set up. It took me about a year to save up for everything. It was just a hobby so it didn’t matter to me how long it took. So now I had my camera in the water trying to figure out what to do. Meanwhile, I was about to graduate from college and start my career working indoors 9 to 5 everyday. I stopped for a second and told myself I need to go on a trip before this happens, so I packed my stuff and went to Australia for two months. While I was there I thought about my upcoming future and was not too excited about it. I couldn’t picture myself working 9 to 5 everyday in Honolulu knowing that 45 minutes away the best waves in the world were going off and all of my friends were scoring. So of course I chose to put the career job on hold. I picked up a few more shifts at the valet job and just surfed and played with my camera everyday. I started learning about how the light plays a big role in creating those A+ shots and what types of film works for certain conditions. It took me a couple years to really figure out what was going on. I was learning the technical side of things and I wasn’t even thinking of the business side because it was just a hobby and I had my steady income from my night jobs. My third year of messing around I shot a role of film one morning at pipe and when I got the photos back, I knew I had something special. Not knowing what to do with it, or knowing what the value of a photo was worth, I got taken advantage of. No names to mention but I showed it to the owner of a company and he instantly saw the marketing $$$ signs. Me, not knowing how to sell a photo or evening knowing how to answer his questions, gave into his first offer and his terms of purchase. It basically turned into a nightmare after someone told me what I had done. It could of happen to anyone in my position though. The good thing that came out of it though was that it got published around the world and people were surprised when they found out who shot the photo.

I used this as momentum and tried to keep up the quality of that image in every photo I shot. On the way down to Puerto Escondido for a surf trip with friends I left my box of photos at my brothers house.

Jack Johnson snuck out for a couple, so I snuck a couple paparazzi shots for Rolling Stone.

Jamie O’Brien three hours after his first round of the pipe masters this winter, working his 9-5 job.

I somehow run into the weirdest dogs when I travel.

This dog was just hanging out on the eastside of Tahiti.

I was sitting outside the lineup at Puerto shooting with my (HAPPY FACE) lens. I told Daniel Jones to just punt one cause I was trying to get a silhouette. We got this instead and it’s now one of my favorite images.

Here is Danny Fuller about to land on the rocks. Not really. This is in Australia a couple months ago at a random beach break the day before he saw Rat Traps and said, “I want nothing to do with this wave.”

That was my portfolio at the time and I would carry it everywhere I went. I would pull out a slide every time people asked to see my photography.

At the time my brother was working at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach. While I was down in Mexico two brothers checked in to the Hyatt. They were there trying to get advertisers to buy space in a new surf mag they were creating. Since my brother was working there he mentioned my name and told them what I was doing on the side. They asked to see my work so he handed over my box of slides to them, and they ordered a slide projector and went through every single one of them in their room. On their way back to Hawaii they told my brother to tell me to call them when I got back. Long story short, I called them and started submitting to their mag. It was a great opportunity for me to jump from hobby to published work. But I knew I could do more and I needed more resources to let me express it.

I started knocking at the bigger magazines doors trying to get a foot in. To be honest, they didn’t give me the time of day and rarely responded to my emails. It wasn’t till May of ‘06 when I returned

from Puerto Escondido with a really great image that I actually got some attention from the big mags. Steve Sherman took a look at the image and he immediately asked me to work for him. I couldn’t believe it and that moment was the first time that I considered photography as a possible way to make an income for myself. My first magazine trip was to Gnarloo [West Oz] and I solidified my position with Surfing Magazine and they gave me the green light to shoot wherever I wanted in the world. I still have a lot to learn on both the photography and business side of things. Neither is easier than the other but the business side has definitely become more time consuming.

So here I am trying to improve my hobby and everyone wants to shoot with me and go on trips these days. I’m not complaining but just enjoying the ride and looking forward to future of what this “hobby” will bring. thank you for all the people who have supported me.

A couple days before this day Reef got a clean one at Pipe right before the sunset. Then he got this wave and then we went to Tahiti and scored. He met me in Mex and got the best day during my 6-week stint. We then went to Australia and scored. We somehow connected and just keep scoring each time we got off the plane.

Anthony Walsh in the Canary Islands. Just doing what he does best charging. This is the only wave that I felt uneasy shooting.

I shot this one from my ski. I was trying to stay way inside for the sand bar section of Pipe. Almost got sucked over on this one because I had it in reverse when I was trying to go forward.

Mikey Bruneau at an outer reef on Oahu. Something about the foam and the strong offshores always makes me stare at this photo time after time.

Ezra Sitt telling me that it’s better after the morning offshores.

He was right on this day. Nah, this is actually a painting I did this year in Puerto on the down time.

TJ Barron boosting a reverse three. This day I was just trying to get different angles and it worked on this one.

Jamie Sterling negotiating the boils and an afternoon low tide at his home break. This was the wave of the afternoon.

Kalani Chapman owning his playground again. He just plays with Pipe each time he drops in and he’s always one of my favorite guys to work with out there.

Mikala Jones in Baja. I was shooting off a ski trying to get the shot. Mikala was coming off a rib injury from Pipe two weeks before and we had no shots from this trip. He was determined to get something and here it is. MJ has to be one of the hardest working free-surfers out there.

Me and Mt. Hood in the background.

Snowboarding is my other hobby.

Energy from across the world comes to North Shore each year to perform the best live show in the world.

Words : Tawnya Schultz Photos : Adam Moran The average person may find the thought of snowboarding after recently celebrating July 4th bizarre, maybe even impossible. Well lucky for us snowboarders, we’re not average. In fact, for those out of the shred scene loop, it’s actually a reality to play on the slopes year round in the U.S. at the majestic Timberline Resort in Mount Hood, Oregon.

Utilizing the snow for what it’s worth, Burton brought together snowboarding’s crème de la crème, kicking off the 08’ season officially at the fourth annual Abominable Snow Jam. It’s the largest pro event of the summer and marks the first Ticket to Ride Tour (TTR) stop. As the three-day extravaganza neared, the quaint town of Government Camp became infiltrated with snowboarding’s elite, including Peter Line,

Danny Kass, Gretchen Bleiler, Eddie Wall and Keir Dillon. It was definitely the place to be and be seen.

High Cascade Snowboard Camp hosted day one at their on-hill facilities, building a massive quarterpipe that launched boys and girls twenty-five feet plus in the air. For those who haven’t been fortunate enough to witness a live quarterpipe competition, the only word to explain it truly is insane. The pros showcased why they make the dollars they do as they slid from the steep drop-in and straightlined to the lip going huge, high above the Burton flags and photogs. The craziest thing was that the competitors managed to continuously hike back up several times and entertain the crowd again and again, eager for one more shot at the cash.

Crashes were inevitable and a few shreds took worse slams than others.

Chad Otterstrom, Louie Vito, and Gretchen Bleiler definitely went huge more than once but also fell from the sky pretty hard too. Jake Blauvelt, Mason Aguirre, and Scotty Lago

Danny Kass

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Elena Hight

Kelly Clark

Kevin Pearce

were also standout performers. Lago’s week ended up better than most, winning best trick with an alley-oop 720 Truck Driver in the quarterpipe, second place in halfpipe, and best trick in slopestyle equaling cash, a Rolex, and a Harley-Davidson. Damn baller. Other highlights include witnessing the legendary Peter Line hitting huge airs in the quarterpipe. It’s always just an honor to watch someone of such status shred no matter what he’s doing.

Night one ended with a bang at Snowboarder Magazine’s twentieth anniversary party at the local pub, which meant free beer for all. Hip-hip hooray! No one could complain about that.

Although many pros wanted to party hard all night long, the halfpipe comp started early the next day, keeping the night mellower than the norm. To no surprise, Danny Kass, Kevin Pearce, Lago and Keir Dillon held down the men’s category continuing to push the envelope. The same rings true for the

ladies with Gretchen, Kelly Clark and Claire Bidez rounding out the podium.

Day three was all about newbie Torstein Horgmo leaving Hood with the fattest pocket, 20 G’s to be exact and the cardboard key to a Volvo of choice. He won both the quarterpipe and slopestyle events. Congrats lucky. Mister spin to win, Chas Guldmond, and fresh face, Dan Brisse, rounded out second and third. Transworld Snowboarding’s September cover girl, Hana Beaman was another big winner with the quaterpipe win, second place slopestyle win, and a Harley-Davidson bike. Go Hana!

Props also to Salt Lake City’s Erin Comstock and Oregon’s own Megan Gitner, going home with some spare change after the slopestyle event. For those of you wanting to take a break from summer next year make your way out to where winter never ends and join all the lucky peeps at the ASJ. Peace.

Scotty Lago

Kevin Pearce

Jake Blauvelt

Luke Matroni

Mason Aguirre

Danny Kass

Mason Aguirre

Hana Beaman

Scotty Lago

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Interview by Liz Rice Choe is one of those rare characters that constantly surprise me.

Every time I speak to him he is somewhere different – telling me stories many would never believe of his adventures with dinosaurs, boat rides down the Mississippi, hitchhiking across the county and train jumping. I first met Choe when I started working for RVCA, I came to work one day and he was napping in PM’s office. Fast forward to now, after years of knowing him and traveling with him on RVCA ANP trips, he has started emailing me updates of his latest adventures. If you ever watch him being interviewed or his amusing interaction with others, you can tell why people open up to him. He humbly and unassuming asks questions and honestly listens. The art of communication is just one of his talents…

Describe to people what you are all about?

I try to live everyday of my life like a lyric from one of the first two Korn albums. Korn is not just a tremendous band from the greatest genre of music from the last 100 years, (rap-metal) Korn is also a state of mind. I learned that after trying to look for them in Bakersfield with no luck. They were with me in my soul all along. It’s not just a band; it’s state of mind! Today’s lyric is, FUCK THAT!! FUCK THAT SHIT!!! Tomorrow’s is Ratbim-rahawk sabim, rada-yee-ma.

Ahintaboo, rata-in razisa who, from their song, TWIST. How would you explain your artwork?

My whole life I’ve been dirty Dave. The dirty styles rule all other schools and styles. The layering, the personal touch to everything, I’m from the school of dirty styles, but it’s more than just style and surface, it’s every dirty thing that’s inside you.

Dirty styles is painting on found object besides a blank piece of paper or blank white wall. This started for me when my dad would bring home used Xeroxes from work so I could crayola all over the backs, then moved onto painting on bus benches and other shit on the street because I couldn’t afford canvases. So even before you start, there’s some history, there’s some spills,

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chills and marks. Then you keep creating more history on top of that; spilling, spraying, dripping, creaming, collaging, making a mess. All this ugly dirty shit and hopefully the end product being something that’s tolerable and beautiful… something born from that filth. Creating hope from dark beginnings... the fucking dirty styles. It’s therapeutic as hell. It sounds easy, but most people really suck at it, and a lot of p eople try.

What’s your favorite way to travel? Planes, trains, boats or automobiles?

No money in my pocket, no one waiting for me at the airport, and nothing but my hands and brains to get me through the day. I’m the most comfortable when I’m the most uncomfortable.

Has there been a time in your travels when you thought – maybe I should turn back?

I like to think everyday is a good day to die, so second-guessing myself and looking back only fucks with my head. Just recently Harry and I were in Tijuana trying to illegally cross into the U.S. We had on huge sombreros and were eating Mexican corn. We got needles and shit from the farmacia and shot ourselves up with the testosterone of four NFL football linebackers and ran for seven hours straight through rat and shit infested tunnels and over barbed wire fences while La Migra was on our asses the entire time. I didn’t look back once. Our cameraman was horrified, that’s gonna be the first episode of “Thumbs Up” season two. (You can see it at VBS.TV) When do you find time to create? Or is the madness that you come across while on the road what inspires most?

I’m blessed to be able to live off my hobbies. I try to respect that and not take it for granted by creating something everyday, no matter where I am, no matter how tired I am. Whether it’s a doodle or a lyric on a napkin.

How did you get involved with RVCA?

About five years ago, my roommate in San Jose, Luis Mendoza (who’s an awesome photographer) had a red RVCA shirt with white letters. I didn’t know how to pronounce it, but I was mesmerized with the letters.

Then a little bit later I got a manager, Dorothy Hersey. She’s an awesome lady who used to manage Peter Beard’s career. She said to me, “Are you gonna be difficult like Peter and need two whores and a mountain of coke to get out of bed in the morning?” I told her, ”I’m allergic to drugs and gayer than the color fuchsia.”

She said this is gonna work out fine. The first day she showed up to my house she was wearing the same exact shirt Luis always wore and she told me her friends ran that company. She put me in touch with Pat, who was the only Asian guy in Costa Mesa and found out one of my favorite artists, Aaron Horkey, had designed that shirt and was their in-house designer at the time. I was down with Pat and RVCA since then.

Every time you come to Costa Mesa where do you stay?

I spend 9 months out of the year living out of hotel rooms. There’s nothing more lonesome than a hotel room, and there’s nothing even more lonesome than an Orange County hotel room. I’m Korean, I’m all about family. Pat has a great wife and three great kids.

I love kids, they have no bitterness or sarcasm and I’d rather crash on his couch there than ever stay in a hotel room.

What are you focusing on these days?

Career seems to be going well so I’m trying to focus on MY mental health. Well, I guess people that have known me for a while, know I spent a gigantic part of my life dedicated to unscrupulous activities and a serious dedication to crime. Three years ago I left that life behind, not knowing what a huge hole it would leave in my life. I had spent so much time and energy focused on no-goodness, to just stop abruptly like that had me wandering aimlessly through life, like a Korean zombie.

I was blessed to find hope in the form of Jesus Christ, and his light and love filled every dark corner in my heart and soul and I felt like I could go on with life and be really happy.

But such is the self-destructive nature of most artists, that I soon stopped going to church, my bible started to collect dust. That huge gaping black hole returned to my life twice as big, twice as dark and twice as hopeless. At this point most people don’t think I have a real problem because no drugs and alcohol are involved but that hole is so fucking big. The lies I need to tell myself to even get out of bed in the morning.

That huge hole, that gigantic dark chasm in my chest that I fill with overeating (today, I had a King Burger with an egg and chili fries for breakfast, for lunch I had enough spaghetti for two people and pinkberry for dessert, and then I had pinkberry again less than an hour later. For diner I ate 10 pieces of Korean BBQ at my mom’s house and for my fourth meal I had Del Taco but drove to Taco Bell first because I like their hot sauce better. All this is littered with soda’s and Twix bars), video game addiction (It’s not unheard of to find me screaming online at 9-year-old boys from China while playing Warcraft 2 online at 4am), sexual addiction gambling addiction (They know me by first name at most casinos and I have my own table at the Wynn Buffett) and non-stop traveling and touring, running away from all my problems

so I never have to deal with reality.

I know what you must be saying, where’s the problem? Sex, video games, gambling, seeing the world. I won’t lie, my life is pretty awesome, but I’m getting tired. I just got home after being gone for three months, I’m in therapy and I have all the classic artist pre-requisite’s: Manic Depressive, Bi-polar, ADD, Dyslexia. I’m getting vigorous acupuncture, and chasing it with mild electro shock therapy. Who knows if any of it will work, I’m addicted to the road, I’m happiest when I’m lost in a place I don’t know. Sorry if I depressed the fuck out of anybody.

What’s the next trick up your sleeve?

I don’t really value material possessions, so even though every douche bag who thinks they know shit about anything keeps telling me to invest in real estate and gold or stocks or whatever, thanks for the advice dudes, but I don’t want your life. I hope I don’t come off too arrogant right now, but with my money I invest in myself and my family. Besides being successful I have two things in common with every hobo on the street. I hate, hate, hate authority and answering to anyone, being told what to do, and I hate, hate, hate responsibility. So I end up doing everything myself, when no one believes me or believes in me, I believe in myself more than anyone. I have amazing books, music, movies, radio shows, anything that’s creative and entertaining, all inside me ready to blow up like a Korn song (like the intro to BLIND). I’ll always paint, that will never stop. But get ready for some new shit, the entire first season of “Thumbs Up!” Is on vbs. tv, youtube and myspacetv, and we just finished shooting the second season. He hitched and hiked from Tijuana to Alaska, it’s only like ten thousand times better than the first season.

What has been your favorite trip to DATE? Definitely the Congo, it was unreal. The best part is I don’t even have to tell you about it you can watch it right here. http://www.vbs.tv/player. php?bctid=572020907

How did you meet Harry?

Harry’s my man. The year was 1989, we were at a Korean summer camp and everyone there was into Bel Biv Devoe and Bobby Brown and shit. Me and my brother Jimmy had long hair and all we did was listen to both sides of “Appetite for Destruction” over and over again. We were immediate outcasts and then comes along Harry, this weird looking dude who’s singing along to all our songs. We were like the three amigos and he’s been the fourth Choe bro ever since. I can’t even tell you how many times Harry and my brother got arrested together.

One of the kids in Harry’s group at the camp was involved in that kidnapping/murder so they could all get better SAT scores or something. I just found out he got AIDS in jail and died. Don’t send your kids to catholic school or summer camp, nothing but fucked-upness comes from it.

Does Harry go everywhere with you?

I’ve never told him this, because he’s really sensitive, but it is actually quite creepy when he makes direct eye contact with me or we cross swords while tag teaming chicks. Ewww, just kidding that’s gross.

He’s the Oates on my hall, Axl is nothing without Slash. Horny Kim is fucking Guam Cruise.

How would you like to be remembered when it’s all said and done? Is that a depressing question?

It’s extremely depressing, let me unwind by playing eight hours of non-stop videogames peppered with two beat off sessions and I’ll get back to it.

O.k. I’m back Uuumm I don’t know how to answer that I just want to live a full, fearless life, with no regrets. If I died tomorrow I’d be content.

Less than a week ago I was at the Arctic Circle, for the hitchhiking show, and I wanted to forge on into the Great Unknown while the film crew was homesick calling their girlfriends, trying to get earlier flights home. They rallied together and said, “Dave, we’re having a mutiny against you, you’re too much, we can’t keep up, we’re not you, we’re tired, we want to go home.” I said c’mon you

fucking pussies it’s a great fucking day to die, a year from now, ten years from now you’re not gonna remember being sick and tired, all you’re gonna remember is the amazing adventure we had. C’mon, get up, let’s go! And they said, “Fuck you Dave.” We got home two days later, everyone went back to their lives except me, I kept rolling. And while I was on the road, I got messages from everyone saying, ”I hate reality, I hate my job, I’m sorry I came home, I wish we stayed on the road, you were right.” I don’t care about being right or wrong. I just want to live. http://dirtyhandsmovie.com http://davidchoe.com http://davechoe.blogspot.com

WHAT HAPPENED In August 2005, I was arrested at the Honolulu Airport after my truck was searched by the DEA without my consent or a warrant and no probable cause. They found 660 grams of Crystal Meth (Ice) inside. I spent the next year in the Federal Detention Center fighting my case in Hawaii. When I was arrested they took my passport and because of my extensive traveling around the world surfing, I was considered an extremely high flight risk. So any type of bail was denied, twice. In all honesty, I thought I would be looking at something like 3-5 years. They said if I would plead guilty they would ask for 11-14 years and if I fought it at trial and lost they would ask for the max of 19 years. The Federal court in Hawaii has a 99% conviction rate, the highest in the nation. In pleading guilty, I qualified as a first time offender for a safety valve (there’s a ten year minimum mandatory sentence on this charge). The judge could go below the 10 years but since I refused to cooperate in any way I was sentenced to nine years in federal prison. People that cooperate get less time. That was not an option, I wouldn’t even consider it.

I’m currently at the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc, CA. But I didn’t get here overnight. The time I spent in the FDC in Hawaii was the hardest for me. You have to understand you’re locked in an enclosed unit the whole time. The first time I could feel the sun and fresh air was 13 months after my arrest. That’s really hard to deal with when you’re raised on the beach your whole life. It affects you both mentally and physically.

First I was sent up to Sheridan, Oregon. I spent six months there before being transferred down to Lompoc. The only good thing about Oregon was I was able to spend time with my 89-year-old grandmother who lives in Oregon. You learn really fast as a convict that you have no rights; I could be transferred tomorrow without notice or reason. For someone who’s been traveling around the world surfing for 25 years, having all your rights taken from you is incomprehens ible, just ask Sunny Garcia. And there’s people in here that have years worth of time in the SHU (Special Housing Unit). To me, the hardest part about doing time is that hour or so it takes you to fall asleep at night after the lights go out. When you’re thinking about family, friends and what you’ve done in your life. Where you’ve been and where you are now. I’m a very strong-minded person. If I was released today I would paddle out in any size waves, even though I might be a little out of shape after sitting in the FDC in Honolulu and Oregon for 19 months doing nothing. But the boys here are getting me back in shape by playing handball everyday. We also have weights so by my release date (2013) I will be ready to do what I love to do, SURF!

THE MESSAGE

“I would like people to understand I’m doing this for one reason not for myself but so hopefully someone will “get it” and not end up here with me.”

If there’s anybody that thinks there’s anything cool about going to prison I say, “Fuck You.” If you choose to take this path in life this what you have to look forward to: Your house, cars, toys and money that you have is gone. That beautiful girl you sleep next to, she might be around for the first year or so, but come on, be real, she’s gone. The only thing you really find out is who your real friends are.

They’re the ones that are not involved with the dope. The rest are gone and they’ll pick up anything the DEA hasn’t confiscated on their way out. I know first hand. It happened to me and 90% of the people in prison. But more important than all this shit, they take our freedom; your freedom to live, to be able to make your own decisions on anything to do with your life. The emotional and financial strain that you put your love ones through is beyond comprehension. I truly did not realize and my never know how many people this bad decision I made has affected. The time spent away from loved ones is irreplaceable. It’s gone forever! The average drug sentence in the Federal system for a first offense is ten years, second time is twenty to life and if you’re stupid enough to try for three, it’s life. And you don’t have to get caught with big amounts, you just have to get caught. And sooner or later you will. You would not believe how many people are in prison with 10-20 year sentences for dope. The government will not hesitate. There’s only about one percent of surfers that are outlaws, the rest are average people. We don’t need or want anymore in federal prison, it’s not worth your freedom. So if you’re not willing to give up every aspect of your life in 30 seconds don’t do it, just walk away!

If anyone has any question of any kind, male or female please feel free to write me anytime. And females, onepercenters need love too.

Aloha,

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Mickey Nielsen #92403.022 FCI Lompoc 3600 Guard Rd Lompoc, CA 93436-2705

“You can pretty much count on closing down the bar and even some after hours spots when you’re rolling with Markovich.”

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Justin Strubing Crail Tap

FS pivot fakie David Loy

Flying by the seat of our pants from one place to the next with barely anytime to just take a minute to breathe. Some of us have become so accustom to this lifestyle and it’s quite normal to travel continuously while living out of a hotel room and a travel bag. It’s safe to say our lives are far from normal, but this is the lifestyle we love and that’s what drives us to keep rolling down the road.

For anyone who works in this industry it’s a crazy life of traveling, working, partying and skating. It’s all part of the deal so the best thing to do is to make the best of the situation by organizing a good skate trip that involves more skating than milling around a tradeshow or a contest. For this particular trip we would spend a week between two events skating and shooting

Frontside air Markovich

BS tailslide Justin Strubing

photos on our way to the next destination.

around the Orlando area for a week before heading up to Tampa Am.

When planning a trip like this having the right people on board makes all the difference in the world. We had mix between a crew of veterans, Justin Strubing, Kris Markovich and up and coming ams: Vince Del Valle, David Loy and Robert Lopez Mont. It was looking like smooth sailing all the way, of course that’s not always the case and there’s always sure to be some kind of drama along the way, but that’s just how things go when you’re on the road. We were to stay and skate

When I think of Orlando the first thing that comes to mind is this full on tourist destination with Disney World and all that bullshit that would make you want to avoid the place like the plague but over the years Orlando and Florida in general has become a skating hotbed, producing some of the best skaters in the business with rippers like Reynolds, Lenoce and many other respected pro’s who choose to still reside there. From Jacksonville all the way down to Miami, the Florida peninsula is peppered with good spots and some really cool people.

Markovich had also spent some of his younger years in Florida as a young up a coming skater and has that nice southern hospitality about him that he’s kept till even today and that’s what’s really cool about the east coast. There’s just a different kind of vibe out there that welcomes traveling skaters passing through town.

During our stay in Orlando Robert ran into some friends from his hometown of Puerto Rico and decided to hang out and celebrate seeing them by getting completely hammered and taking what he ended up later calling “Shamu” back to the hotel for some afterhours action. I felt bad for poor David and Vince who were sharing a room with Robert. David was definitely not feeling it and woke me up by pounding on my door at three in the morning to crash

Stale Fish Vince Del Valle

BS smith Aaron Astorga

in my room. When he came in he was so bummed, I asked him what was wrong and he just said Robert was doing a fat chick in the room and he couldn’t sleep and that was all that he needed to say. The next morning when Robert woke up he said, “Shamu is in my bed”. We all got a good laugh out of it the next day except for Vince who had to endure the whole ordeal till the next morning.

Strubing and Markovich definitely had a boy’s night out as well that evening returning to the hotel in the wee hours of the morning with some funny tales of chaos that night. When the veterans go big, you better be ready because these guys know how to party and have fun so you need to be prepared for anything that comes your way. You can pretty much count on closing down the bar and even some after hours spots when you’re rolling with Markovich and if Full Tilt Wilt makes a late night appearance you in for some real entertainment.

We spent the next four days hitting up some good local spots around the Orlando area. One night we cruised over to local ripper Tim Kulas’ house where he has constructed a sweet backyard mini bowl with pool coping and a crazy tree ride. The freedom of a backyard sessions is great, do pretty much whatever you want and not have to worry about getting busted or kicked out. With beers flowing and a good session with the locals the vibe was right and some great skating went down. Vince blasted some big airs and crazy tree rides and the rest of us enjoyed the fun corners and pool coping throughout.

With a wide variety of spots in Orlando there was something for everyone to get them stoked to skate. Strubing and Vince killed this cool barrier spot under an overpass beneath one of the busiest freeways in Orlando. It was amazing we lasted long

“Having the right people on board makes all the difference in the world.”

Rail Ollie Robert Lopez Mont

“we wanted to slap the stupid wench sitting at the table behind us” enough in the middle of the night with lights and everything to get some photos before we got the boot from the local “po-po”. Another good non-bust spot was this old loading dock that we hit up for a couple sessions and ended up getting a couple good shots.

We also skated this brick bank spot that with really fun, tight transitions and corners that made for some really fun sessions, so we ended up going there almost every day to warm up. One day the Listen crew showed up and we ended up rolling around to some spots with them, which was cool. It was NFL playoffs time and we went into a TGI Friday’s to watch a game and have a beer. Unfortunately, our team lost and we wanted to slap the stupid wench sitting at the table behind us on our way out the door for being so loud and obnoxious every time the other team had a good play.

We scoped out this crazy rail downtown that had some good potential but needed some fixing, so we hit up Home Depot for some supplies to get the job done. We secured the base of the rail with some Bondo the night before and came back the next night, lit the rail up and Robert killed the thing right out of the gate with some lip slides and tail slides.

We went to this school that had a bunch of big gaps and a rail, where Markovich blasted over a huge gap while Vince and Robert opted for the stairs and rail. Robert took out two birds with one stone and gapped over the rail as well clearing everything, which was massive. Vince kick flipped the rail easily and that spot was done. It was time to move on to our next destination, which was Tampa. We dropped Strubing and Markovich off at the airport, said our goodbyes and hit the road for Tampa.

Our time in Orlando was fun and productive which made our drive to Tampa not so bad. Upon our arrival in Tampa it was right back to the chaos, skating and partying. We hit up Ybor City one night, which I can barley remember due to not wanting to lose my position at the bar and getting over served by the bartender but that’s pretty much standard for Tampa.

Before I knew it the long trip was quickly coming to an end. Our time on the road was fun but it’s always nice to get home after a being on the road for 10 days or more. Having it been a fun and productive trip keeps everything in perspective and keeps you looking forward to the next mission ahead. We all had a good time skating together and having some fun at night, sending us home with good feelings from the trip.

Till the next time you get out of town and out on the road just remember all the good times to be had out there, it’s what we live for.

So get the crew together, make a plan and let the good times roll. AA

Words: Matt Patterson Photos Courtesy: Gravis

Ten years ago, a trip to Bali meant a hellish three-leg flight with multiple layovers and a guaranteed jet lag that would render you useless for days. Your trip would most likely be made up of some stupid surf sessions around the airport and in Kuta with some incredibly crowded sessions on the Buhkit Peninsula. Uluwatu, Padang and Impossibles are amazing waves but when you surf them with three hundred and seventy eight Aussie and Euro tourists it quickly looses its lore. If you were lucky you could jump on one of the world’s sketchiest eight-hour bus rides and end up in G-Land, maybe Desert Point. Maybe.

Today that’s all changed. Simple flights with minimal layovers have you acclimated to the Indo schedule within a day. The city of Kuta and the famous Legian Road have turned into a Balinese version of Huntington Beach’s Main Street complete with multiple Quiksilver Boardriders Club’s, Billabong stores and Volcom retailers. But by far and wide the best thing that has happened down there in the last decade was the development of a few new roads.

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Dave Rastovich

Ian Walsh is Hawaiian veteran who knows to spend his summers in Indo putting together video parts and photo shoots.

Rizal Tanjung is the undisputed heavy champion on Indo and Bali in particular, but his ultra-recognizable face makes him a legend everywhere in the world.

The new areas of the peninsula that have been exposed by these roads are home to countless perfect reef breaks of every variety. Over the last six or seven years you have seen countless photos from these spots even if you didn’t know where they were. Spots like Karamas, Chu Chu Can, Canggu and Senur are world-class waves with minimal crowds.

However, sometimes those crowds include the world’s best surfers hard at work. Every surf company on earth has used the virtual surf photo studios to capture their necessary imagery for upcoming ad campaigns, movies and editorial pieces. And while Bali is not a new destination by any stretch, a new wave of “Bali Issues” of Surfer, Surfing, ASL and Stab Magazines are breaking out like a rash in the surf magazine world.

The local scene in Bali has also produced a crop of surfers that can only be described as world class by any standards.

While the whole surf world knows Rizal Tanjung, most international surf mags have only recently exposed the amazing talents of Betet Merta, Bol, Marlon Gerber and Dede Suryana.

So, while the world continue to shrink, bringing us all closer together with faster flights, faster downloads and faster ding repair, Bali has made its move into the forefront of favorite surf spot destinations once again. Every North Shore standout spends a good portion of their summer in Bali for a reason. If only the early pioneers of Uluwatu knew about Karamas…

Benji Weatherley

Matt Patterson

Growing up with these breaks as his backyard Rizal can go turn for turn every single guy in the WCT top ten on a day like this. Imagine that Riz was one of those little kids with the broken boards surďŹ ng Kuta beach when he was a little kid. Today he is a living legend who commands the respect of every pro on earth.

Dave Rastovich ďŹ rst came to Bali as a young teenager and won the World Grom Contest. That trip changed his life. He came home with tattoo’s, a shaved head and a new look on life. Today he is easily the most spiritual surf pro out there.

Canggu frontside air

Ian Walsh

Riz-T

Justin Quirk

Marlon Gerber is Rizal’s brother in-law and the owner operator of UN’s hotel – ground zero for traveling surf pro’s. With a bag of tricks like this he can put Josh Kerr to shame on a daily basis.

Another unnamed spot better than your own break

Choi, Jaime Frazackerly and Peanut // Remy Stratton, Nick Trapasso and Lewis Marnell // Photo dudes: Atiba and Michael O’Meally // Remy is always secure with the Volcom Security around // Steve Stratton, Wooly, Jake and Remy Stratton // Lewis letting the dreads down // Jake Duncombe and Luke Croker // Clifford, his lady and Peanut // Remy Stratton, Matt Mumford and Peanut // Andrew Mapstone and Choi The end of the summer is the perfect time for all the new movies to premiere.

Its sweltering hot out, all the girls are wearing next to nothing, cold drinks go down smoothly and everyone is itching to see the next big thin. So when Volcom premiered their newest skate flick, Let’s Live – dedicated to the life of Shane Cross and focused on their Aussie skate team (which is taking the world by storm), of course it was going to be in Hollywood.

It wasn’t the first showing though, the boys had just come from two weeks of touring Australia and New Zealand, so you’d think that they’d be pretty worn out

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after all the nights of raging. Kids from Oz are made from Kryptonite though and they kept the party going for another three weeks as they stormed the US. This was the first USA showing of Let’s Live at the Vine Theatre in Hollywood.

Dustin Dollin, Jake Duncombe, Lewis Marnell and Chima Ferguson flew over from Australia to head up night and after showing the movie to a packed house, the crew headed down the street to kick it off at LAX. Needless to stay, the mood was set for the rest of the trip and as you can imagine the party continued throughout the rest of the country.

Photos : Herman Jimenez

We Are Party People // Greger Hagelin, Scott Oster, & Jim Shubin // Hottest DJ Ever // Strutting Hard // Dynamic Duo // Cobrasnake with Cory Kennedy // Party Peeps // WeSC Headphone – Zune Listening Center // Tasty Treats

In what could only be described as, “the hottest party in a minute”, our good friends at WESC recently threw a little get together at their LA store. They wrangled up a few hundred of their closest WEACTIVIST friends and family and got together to show off their fall collection.

Complete with a full runway fashion show, music by a litany of DJ’s, pastries, free booze and a shit load of really, really hot girls.

WESC also took this time to launch their new series of headphones.

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Zune collaborated with them to help showcase the line by creating WESC content filled players and bringing in a cool listening station.

There are a lot of crazers up there in LA-LA Land all promising “the party of your life time”, if by chance, you get so lucky as to get invited to one of these WESC parties, Activate your Activist-ass and get there.

You will not be disappointed.

Photos : Tony Butler : Words : Mike Murciano

Asher Nolan // Ben Bourgeois // Alek Parker // Naughty // Machado // Cheetah Butt // Tim Curran // Sweetwater // Tommy ‘O Brien // Boucher, Timmy // Machado

The Sweetwater/Reef Pro/Am is probably one of the best events held on the east coast and if it isn’t yet, it’s sure to be in the next year or two. For those of you that have never been to Wrightsville Beach, NC it’s time to pack your bags and make the trek. The vibe of this event is like no other, with crowds comparing to the US Open and an all-star crew from the east and west coasts. Wrightsville Beach is a true surf town with some very noticeable southern hospitality.

Held in less than favorable surf, this didn’t stop the event from being a complete success. The best surfers on the east coast along with the entire Reef and Hurley team showed what was possible in the poor conditions. There were some serious battle standouts including: Jeremy Johnston, Alex Parker, Nick Kovak, Austin Wade, Jeremy Scwarts, Matt Keenan and Aaron Cormican. Though it wasn’t until the final that everyone really started to pay attention that a true rivalry was to be

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settled - an east vs. west coast battle. The final consisted of Rob Machado, Tim Curran, Ben Bourgeois and Asher Nolan. East coast came out on top with all fins firing. Asher was the standout in the final and had a well-deserved win. Benny received 2nd, with Tim Curran and Rob Machado following respectively.

Celebration of east coast domination quickly ensued with a night out on the town, with the best chaperone you could ever have in Wrightsville Beach, the mayor himself – Ben Bourgeois. If you ever get the chance to pass through Wrightsville Beach for the Sweetwater/Reef Pro/Am don’t pass it up. The nicest people, prettiest girls, great town and pretty fun waves to sugar coat it. Thanks to the boys at Reef for putting on a great show and thanks to the Sweetwater crew for holding the event.

Julian Wilson // Dane Reynolds // Brad Gerlach, Jack English & Friend // Jeff Flindt, Dude & Gabriel Villaran // Dynamic Duo // Clay Marzo Under the Gun // Reeco, Barca, Bam Bam, Daniel Jones // Chaos // Omar // Rye Craike with the Ladies // David Nuuhiwa & Friend

The World Premiere of YG3 went down at Quiky HQ in HB during the US Open. As you can see, there were some lovely sights to be seen but the big hit of the evening was the video! YG3 stars Dane Reynolds, Clay Marzo, Julian Wilson, Ry Craike, Jeremy Flores, Mini Gun Garrett Parkes along with 8x’s World Champion Kelly Slater show YOU how its done!

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Travis Millard Art // Mike Sieben Art // Mike Aho Art // 126 La Brea Gallery // Jim Phillips Art // Neil Hamburger // DJ Wade // Los Angeles Showing // Matt French Last May, Volcom launched a worldwide art show tour and 60-page comic book in support of their biggest Volcom Featured Artist Series line ever. Most of you kids these days are probably thinking that comic books are for nerdy, confused kids that have no social skills… and they are, but they are really cool at the same time.

At least this one is.

The Volcomics book was born from a love of the underground comic movement and created to capture its raw energy and low-fi means by recreating a comic book that is authentic down to the paper stock and page count.

The book took over two years to assemble and features legendary skateboard artists Jim Phillips and VCJ as well as some of the biggest creative contributors to

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skateboarding today - Michael Sieben, Todd Bratrud and Travis Millard. In addition to skate-art heavyweights the book features artists/athletes from the worlds of surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding such as Mark Appleyard, Ozzie Wright, and Jamie Lynn.

The art show series began May 19th at Fuse gallery in New York City and continued through the summer with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and London. The openings included drawings by all of Volcom’s recent Featured Artists, as well as scribblings by all twenty-eight artists that contributed to the book. Volcom produced over 30 thousand copies of the comic for free, so if you haven’t gotten your hands on one yet, you’d better hurry. You can also view the entire book by clicking over to www.volcom.com.

Photos : Sharon Marshall : Words : Hamilton Endo

PT & Bobby with TWS crew // Pat O’Neill // Tim Bernardy // Bob Hurley // The Jack’s Girls // Brasil Babes // Dick Baker // Randy Lewis // Max Judo // Pat @ Susie The who’s who of the surf industry descended on Huntington Beach on Thursday night of the US Open to celebrate Jack’s Surfboards fifty years of retail in a huge white banquet tent at the foot of the HB pier.

appeared in the ‘60’s photo with Duke Kahanamoku and the Jack’s Skateboard Team, “the longest standing rep” to Tim Bernardy and “the longest standing vendor” to O’Neill.

There are not too many surf retailers in the world that can claim to have had the doors open for fifty years. The location on the corner of PCH and Main Street has become a cultural icon, especially the two-story red brick building that housed the store until the early Nineties when redevelopment replaced it with the 50,000 square foot Mediterranean building of today.

In accepting the O’Neill award, Pat O’Neill himself told a great story of an early encounter of doing business with the Jack’s family. He had come down from Santa Cruz for an appointment with the late “Big Mike’ who backhanded him across the store into the wetsuit rack for bribing the store personnel with free wetsuits without his approval. As Pat said to the audience, “I learned an important lesson that day, don’t do anything with Jack’s without asking!”

If you were fortunate enough to be named as a key vendor by the Jack’s family over the last fifty years, you got to come up and get presented with a one-of-akind beautiful black period surfboard with gold Jack’s 50th logos and a chance to tell your story.

Of special note were awards to Randy Lewis as “the original team-rider” who

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There were many great stories in the evening, with some didgeridoo un-plugged entertainment from Aussies, Max Judo, which continued late into the night at the Duke’s front bar with some Jack’s nightcaps.

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Words: Tim Bergevin Photo: JackColemanphoto.com

It’s 10:30pm on a Sunday at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, and the people who are rolling up expecting to sing Karaoke are actually walking into a secret Matt Costa show. It’s hot as fuck and some dude in a wife beater in front of me has on some deodorant or body spray that makes me want to spit Budweiser on him. It’s unfortunate but I can’t bring myself to it because it’s Matt playing and the bottom line is that he’s really good. The pretentiousness that we are used to seeing in bands and artists is with all clichés aside, checked at the door. Those types of artists don’t call you from Wahoo’s while having lunch inviting you out to the show. They also don’t call you back the next morning after their show from an airport bar where you get the feeling they are hung over because the first comment they make when asked about the consumption of Jameson the night before is, “The day after is always a better feeling.”

Matt’s upcoming record, “Unfamiliar Faces” finds himself changing and taking steps in new musical directions. “You grow and change and if it doesn’t change a little bit than I don’t think it’s natural. No one is the same person they are as the years go on,” he says. Songs like Vienna, which has a distinct Serge Gainsbourg vibe highlight these changes, “When I wrote that song I hadn’t listened to that kind of music much.

But then I really started to listen to things like Sergio Mendes and Buena Vista Social Club.” It’s these influences that make this record not a replay of “Songs We Sing,” his first record.

Playing tonight in front of friends and family, you get the feeling that Matt feels that way about his band. They are not just hired guns.

“These guys have been an influence on me musically. That is why I chose to surround myself with good musicians. Great musicians force you to be a better player.” And on the music that the band has turned him onto, “You hang out with someone so much and they are sharing music with you. I think that is what music is all about, discovering new things.”

Though the record is called “Unfamiliar Faces” when you hear the new songs you still know its Matt. The shy and excited stage manner in the past is replaced by just the excitement that he has for making music and performing it live. “On the first record I tried a bunch of stuff out and was just trying to feel my way. This record came together in a more natural and quicker way and I think that is the way a record should be made.” Natural is a great term as it describes his stage presence and personality. Even when heckled by someone yelling “Free Bird” or “Ohio” Matt easily quips, “Ohio, I think they grow corn there or something cool.”

With the records release pushed back from it’s original October release date so the band could take some more time to rehearse and do a small tour before it drops, Matt and company find themselves on some opening dates for one of his favorite artists, Modest Mouse. “When they asked us to do these gigs I said, oh shit, exclamation, exclamation, exclamation!”

Having had such a quick turn around from the last tour to the recording of the new album, tonight’s performance does not see Matt miss a beat. Except for forgetting to change Harmonicas and having to stop mid-song before picking the song right back up from where they stopped. It’s a novelty that he, the band and all in attendance can’t help but laugh at and continues the theme of what makes Matt, Matt.

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Words: Tim Bergevin Photo: Self Portrait

When you finally arrive at Dan’s New York City crib, the first thing you’re greeted by is some 60-year-old dude sitting on the stoop taking pulls off a bottle of Popov vodka with no teeth and no brown bag on the bottle. It seems weird at first, but it sets the tone for what is to be a long evening of booze as he proclaims, “the bar is now open!” when we walk upstairs.

If you are unsure of whom Dan the Automater is, we can start the list with a few things. Dr. Octagon, Gorillaz and Loveage are just the tip of the iceberg from this classically trained violinist who turned his instrument in for turntables.

As Dan heavy-handedly pours the drinks, he thinks he’s doing you a favor by pouring four parts whiskey, colored with a splash of Coke. Dan talks quickly and excitedly about the two projects he is about to turn out. “You gotta hear this thing I’m doing with Patton,” is the first stop. Having collaborated before on Loveage, and tracks on the last Handsome Boy Modeling School and Patton’s own Peeping Tom record, these Bay Area natives like to eat, drink and collaborate. While serving as tour DJ on the Peeping Tom tour, the two started putting together a collection of songs.

“This is the stuff people want to hear Mike doing, not that his other shit is not great,” he says. Currently under the working title of “Crudo”, it harnesses Dan’s old school hip hop vibe and his ability to turn out some heavier ended songs, with the Patton flair that only his voice is capable of. “Mike can sing and he can rap, people will be into it”.

Currently shopping the record to find a home and a release date, Dan’s other project is amazing. A collection of tracks with a host of different artists collaborating that will blow your mind. “Please don’t mention the guests,” he asks, “we are still working on the clearances!” People want to fuck with Dan, bottom line. His pedigree speaks for itself and he has gained the credibility to jump back and forth and work with hip-hop’s underground and indie rocks elite.

It seems funny but Dan is probably more proud of his in-home bar than any of his projects. As he gets up and makes you another strong drink his mind starts going about what to get into that evening. “My boy owns this spot we need to hit,” and “my guy is rolling with seven ladies let’s go find him!” are two of the million ideas he has. When I mentioned he “commiserates” with Patton, he expects it of you if you’re hanging with him.

As the food arrives from some random Lower East Side Italian joint he waxes about this past years Bacardi Tour. “Man, I had dancers on the tour! They were on a bus driving around the country; I just flew in for the shows.” That may sound a little diva-ish but it’s not. The man has way more important business to attend to than sitting in a bus for two months with a bunch of Bacardi chicks.

His mischievous nature and genuine friendliness gets Dan into all kinds of situations, which makes his list of friends just plain weird. Like the Indian gentleman who originally hired Dan to work a mix for a project and paid him in cash that had the strange scent of Curry all over it. “I’m not sure where that money came from, but I got paid and now we are friends.” Its story’s like these that permeate out of Dan and probably inspire his creative genius.

After showing up at the club where his friend and seven chicks are and finding out that smooth Jazz was the playlist with a ten dollar cover, we move on to some dirty spot in the Lower East Side. After many, many more drinks we split up only for him to send me a text saying, “Hey, I just heard from my friend that you could have worked the sandwich.” Unsure of what that means I hit him back, “The drunk bar girl sandwich?” I’m glad I missed that!

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AGE: 13 HOME: Encinitas, CA SPONSORS: Volcom, Plan B Skateboards, Independent Trucks, Nixon, Boost Mobile, Monster Energy Drink FAVORITE SKATER: Danny Way

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Photo: Mapstone

AGE: 17 HOME: Haiku, Maui SPONSORS: Hurley, Dragon, Reef, Nike 6.0 FAVORITE SURFER: Fred Pattachia or Bobby Martinez

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Photo: Kenworthy

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