BLISSS_F13_JJF.indd 1
8/15/13 11:12 AM
#ENJOYTHEORIGINAL The AMPHIBIANS available at QUIKSILVER.COM
AT HOME IN AND OUT OF THE WATER.
QS-003924_SEPT_BLISS_AmphibiansSpread_21x13_F.indd 1
6/28/13 11:03 AM
– ERIK ELLINGTON
/
LIZARD KING
WINDSOR JAMES
/
BOO JOHNSON
– KR3WDENIM.COM
0813_KR3W_BLISSS.indd 1
/
TERRY KENNEDY /
DANE VAUGHN
/ /
TOM PENNY
/
KEVIN ROMAR
BJORN JOHNSTON
/
/
SPENCER HAMILTON
CHEWY CANNON
/
LUCIEN CLARKE
– BOO JOHNSON – K-SLIM CHINO THE ORIGINAL KR3W FLEECE HOLMES SNAP –
8/14/13 1:57 PM
CORY KENNEDY BY DMOT E, 2 013 . MIXED MEDIA. PORTR AIT BY KENNETH CAPPELLO.
T H E
B A L A N C E
R V C A . C O M
O F
O P P O S I T E S
VNS_BLISS_AV_NATIVE_AD.indd 2-3
SKATE.VANS.COM
ANTHONY VAN ENGELEN
©2013 Vans, Inc.
8/14/13 4:02 PM
Reef_HaleiwaBridge_Blisss_Spread_21x13.625.indd 2-3
BILLY & MIKALA N 21 35' 18.56" - W 158 6' 30.12"
reef.com
J U ST P A S S I N G T H R O U G H
8/21/13 9:41 AM
1)050 /&--: 3*%&3 +".*& 0#3*&/
&/(*/&&3&% '30. 5)& */4*%& 065
1)050 /&--: 3*%&3 +".*& 0#3*&/
9 %SZ !. 5,42! ,)'(47%)'(4 #/-0/3)4% -!4%2)!, #/-02)3%$ /& !. h8v #(!). /& (/,,/7 3425#452%$ &),!-%.43 7)4( 350%2)/2 (%!4 2%4%.4)6% 02/0%24)%3
Artist: ESPO
UNTITLED BY MICHEL L E BL A DE, 2 013 . ACRYLIC INK. PORTR AIT BY KENNETH CAPPELLO.
T H E
B A L A N C E
R V C A . C O M
O F
O P P O S I T E S
W e
H a v e
P r o d u c t
o f
A l l
E z e k i e l u s SEPT_BLISSS.indd 3
H a v e
I s
13
N o w
BRYANT ESLAVA
Photographer: Bryant Eslava (bryanteslava.com), Models: Eric Lyle Lodwick (vogueadventure.com), Tess Oakland Videographer: Trevor Wineman (trevorwineman.com) Ezekiel: Danny Kurtzman, Ian Hutchison, Ryan Winship Mark
View The Full Lookbook At Ezekielusa.com Vimeo.com/ezekielusa Instagram: Ezekielclothing
AWHN
, C a l f o r n i a
F.13 BY
e l u s a . c o m 8/16/13 11:26 AM
masthead
EDITOR-IN-CHI EF nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com
EDITOR
joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com
CREATI VE DIR EC TOR mark paul deren : madsteez madsteez@madsteez.com
A SSISTANT EDITOR spencer pirdy spencer@blisssmag.com
EDITOR AT L ARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com
SKATE EDITOR chris ortiz chris@blisssmag.com
SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com
MUS IC EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com
ADV ERTISIN G ads@blisssmag.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson, Derek Bahn
CONTRIBUTOR S
Matt Patterson, Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Spencer Pirdy, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon
THE SQUIRE
BL!SSS Magazine
Thome Pr ingle Th rough The E yes of Delon Isaacs
413 31st Street
SEPTEMBER 2013
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.
If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com
Handmade / Heartfelt / R AEN.com
BLISSS_RAEN_Pringle_0826.indd 1
ARTIST: ESPO
8/26/13 3:01 PM
- UP 3 t .PTT #FBOJF t ɨ F 1SJWBUF 44 t ɨ F $ISPOP t .JUU 1SJOU J1IPOF $BTF
nixon.com
KARMAFLAGE_COLLECTION_DPS_BLISS.indd 1
8/2/13 10:39 AM
randoms
CRAP DUNFEE SHADE The visionaries of Crap Eyewear have just put the finishing touches on Derek Dunfee’s signature shade the Garage Land. Derek is known for riding giant masses of water, but his talents go beyond just surfing, as he’s pretty much a renaissance man. For somebody as well rounded and on the go as Derek, a specific shade was required, and thus, the Garage Land was born. This suave-looking, simplistic sunglass is one for every occasion. Whether you’re checking the waves at some deep-water, big-wave location off the grid, roaming through the city streets or lounging poolside, this shade encompasses it all. Check for this shade at your local shops or head to crapeyewear.com today.
NIXON SUPERTIDE SURF IN THE HURLEY EXPRESSION SESSION Have you ever wanted to surf perfect Lowers with Rob Machado and only four other guys out? Well, now you can… if you have a hefty sized piggy bank, that is. Hurley just announced that they’re giving away five spots via an online bidding auction for the Hurley Lowers Pro Expression Session that’ll be going down sometime from September 15-21. There’s no doubt that there’s a number of wealthy surf die-hards out there willing to shell out the dough to have one of, if not, the world’s most crowded lineups literally to themselves. The best part of all of this is that everyone wins in the end because the proceeds from the online auction will go to the San Onofre Foundation, a foundation that’s helping to keep the San-O/Trestles region pristine and untouched. Bidding has already started and ends September 5th, so head to myab.co/events/7T/ or text the word “Hurley” to 52182 and let the bids fly!
Nixon wants you to become in tune with the moon’s magnetic power on our ocean’s shores so that you’ll be on top of every tide push and pull and know exactly when to pounce. The new Nixon Supertide is as light as a feather on your wrist, yet it still packs all of the functions you could need with a high-resolution tide display acting as the icing on the cake. The Nixon Supertide comes in an assortment of vibrant colors, but our favorite by far is the neon yellow/moon glow style. As usual, Nixon has made another must-have timepiece that every surfer/water enthusiast should never leave home without. Visit nixonnow.com or any fine retailers to pick up your own Supertide.
MATE & CREATE
OC RAMPS X TJ ROGERS When you think of a switch 360 down a twenty-stair in Hollywood there is only one name that comes to mind. That’s right, TJ Rogers. And OC Ramps is proud to announce TJ as their newest member to the team. After his jaw-dropping part in the recent Blind video Damn, most people would assume that Mr. Rogers’ talent could carry him wherever he wants. However, it’s the man’s character and outstanding personality as well that have earned him a spot on the OC Ramps roster. Always with a smile on his face and screaming “Woooo,” TJ’s energy is contagious and the OC Ramp folks acknowledge that it’s a pleasure to have him involved in any skate session, let alone a business. For more on TJ’s exciting skating and new partnership, head to ocramps.com.
30
Misfit Surfboards and ourCaste clothing have come together, mating and creating a new breed of surfboard that’s turning heads and twisting minds. This next-generation model of Otis Carey’s, aptly named the Mermaid Killer, has it all. At first glance the outline of this board, combined with ourCaste’s signature suave patterns, will have you licking your chops. The MK features a low nose rocker giving it plenty of paddle power and an entry feeder channel that gives the board amazing lift. The nose has two pivot points for grabs, turns and rotations. The tail also has a feeder channel for control, speed and release. This board is the future of surfing and we’re psyched that the Misfit X ourCaste relationship has produced such beautiful offspring. Visit misfitshapes.com or ourcaste.com to view and purchase more epic goodies.
randoms
BRIXTON BAGS
This Fall Brixton is making a move into the realm of bag making, and we got a sneak peek at what’s to be expected, and let’s just say they’ve hit the bullseye on the first attempt. Brixton is proud to present two new bags: the travel–friendly Bixby duffle bag that comes in a sturdy cotton canvas and features a Velcro skate strap for your board and hidden shoulder straps for use as a backpack; then, there’s the Basin backpack that features a suede bottom, padded shoulder straps and multiple storage compartments including a laptop compartment and bottom cinch strap that allows you to easily carry a jacket, blanket, and any other on-the-go essentials. These two suavely functional bags are available just in time for back to school, so head to brixton.com or your local retailers.
TIPPSY UE BOOM One of our favorite artists/humans Jason Maloney swung by the office the other day to show us a new speaker he and Ultimate Ears just collaborated on. The speaker is the UE Boom, a go-everywhere, 360-degree wireless speaker that has the sound quality and power to blow the roof off of any house party yet can conveniently be carried in one hand. The real kicker though comes in the Maloney artwork that’s covering the whole speaker. Jason’s signature character Tippsy the Elephant is colorfully collaged all over the speaker, giving this thing unique Maloney style. Now, we’d love to say that there’s plenty of these badass speakers to go around, but that just wouldn’t be the truth. With only 500 available and that number quickly shrinking, you all better head to apple.com ASAP to grab your limited-edition Tippsy UE Boom today.
LIBTECH As surfers we’re constantly looking for boards that offer up more opportunity for innovation, last longer and are friendly to the environment. Well, LibTech has answered our prayers and used modern technology and precise design to allow you to push your surfing to the limit in all categories. LibTech is using a 100% closed-cell recyclable foam and a castor bean-based resin with an exclusive elongated cell structure combined with a basalt weave glass, which is 10x stronger than traditional glass fiber. This board has flex like a P/U and the strength of goliath. Pop, flex, non-toxic and memory foam make it so the board doesn’t get that “dead” feeling. The LibTech line includes boards in the Ramp, Bowl and Vert series that serve anyone’s style. LibTech’s skate-inspired surfboards are built for fast, high-flying, actionpacked fun and are guaranteed to turn any session into an absolute blast. Check them out at libtechwaterboarding.com today for retailer locations and more information.
ALPINESTARS SOUND SERIES COLLECTION Alpinestars is integrating sound and sport with an exciting new collection for fall. In collaboration with Aerial7, the Alpinestars Sound Series integrates advanced audio technology with apparel fashion and style. The collection includes the Soundcheck Fleece which features sound series speakers and the Tank Headphones. The fleece is the perfect cozy item for the upcoming cooler fall temps, and you can cover your ears in style with highquality headphones that pair perfectly with the it and other items in the Alpinestars clothing line. Go to alpinestars.com or finer retailers to view the new collection today. 32
JANS HEALTH BAR Over 40 years ago Jan’s Health Bar opened in Huntington Beach and was one of the first of its kind to offer healthy, deliciously tasting fast food that catered to those who enjoyed living an active lifestyle. Fast-forward to today and Jan’s has just recently opened its second location just up the road from our office on 17th street in Costa Mesa. Jan’s is always on our radar come lunchtime, and whether it’s one of their sandwiches, smoothies, salads or any other scrumptious treats, we always leave there with our taste buds feeling perfectly satisfied. Check them out in Costa Mesa at 250 E 17th street suite D or at the original location off Main Street in HB for a meal that’ll instantly make you a regular.
MATT HENSLEY
randoms
THE FOLD
Sunglasses are essential possessions that protect us throughout the day and keep us all looking trendy. Unfortunately, shades are one of those items that gets commonly misplaced, broken or scratched, leaving you out of pocket for a new pair. Luckily, the folks at Spy Optics came together with team rider John John Florence to put an end to the many misfortunes that can occur with shade handling. They’ve brought to us the signature John John frame with multiple hinges that’ll fold up neatly into any pouch or pocket of your choosing. It’s the same stylish John John frame with a new durable twist, and the Fold John John shade is available via spyoptics.com or at your local retailer today.
MI CASA ES SU CASA With the ending of one era comes the beginning of another: The Avalon Bar on 19th Street in Costa Mesa recently shut it doors and a group of friends has snatched up the location and are getting set to unleash CASA to the rest of the world. Designed, operated and hosted by four of the handsomest fellas in the industry: Marty Kish, Dylan Radloff, Justin Ruiz and Roland Barrera are gearing up for their grand opening on September 14th. Expect live music, classic cocktails, industry heads, lovely ladies and nothing short of a great time. With weekly music residencies lining up, industry events and a full liquor license, expect CASA to be your favorite go-to bar in the neighborhood. Rumor has it that if you drop Marty’s name to the bartender you’ll get a free drink.
SOL REPUBLIC DECK PORT The all-new Deck portable wireless speaker from Sol Republic is one of the most eye- and ear-catching speakers we’ve come across in a long while. The Deck is the only wireless speaker featuring 360° full sound, super-power wireless range and Heist mode, allowing up to five friends to pair at the same time and take turns controlling the music. The Deck comes with plenty of convenient features, has a simple-yet-modern look, and, most of all the Deck delivers powerful sound that you can feel. We’re going out on a limb and giving this speaker two BL!SSSful thumbs up. Now, make like a hungry hyena to solrepublic.com or anywhere Sol Republic products are sold and feed your audio senses what they deserve.
BOZWRECK SNOWBOARDS
BOB MEISTRELL The legacy that Bob Meistrell has left behind is one that is rarely achieved by any a human. Bob and Bill Mesitrell grew up diving and surfing, setting standards for which we adhere to today in both sports. When Bob and Bill co-founded Body Glove in the 1950s, they changed the game for all ocean-goers, and today their achievements can be seen in every aspect of water sports and activities worldwide. Aside from ranking in the most elite category of waterman his whole life, Bob Meistrell was a family man, devoted to his wife of 62 years, sons, grandchildren and great grand children. The Body Glove family and the entire waterman community celebrates Body Glove’s 60th anniversary this year and remembers both Bob and Bill Meistrell for their wonderful achievements and for the wonderful legacy they’ve left behind. Join Body Glove on September 15th in celebrating Bob’s life for a memorial paddle out at the Redondo Beach Pier and pay homage to a man who bestowed us all with great gifts. 34
Good times, fresh snow and a good group of friends is what it’s all about. And with the 2013/2014 season just around the corner, may we introduce you to a train wreck that you’ll want to be a part of: BozWreck, coming off a four-year hiatus, has reared its ugly, cult-followed head once again. Led by the lifestyle aesthetic of its cofounders Matty Ryan and Nate Bozung, a full line of boards (including a pro model for Keegan Valaika) alongside a handful of soft goods, are set to give BozWreck their muchanticipated revival for 2013. Product will be available this October at finer retailers and online at bozwreck.com.
$" $ $ $ $ $ $ !
$ $ $ $ $ #$
$ #
$ $ $ $ ! $ $ $ # % %##!& #* #!
(" / / # !/ " /
(% # % / $$% & &
#% / "/ / " / $ %&
%'/ %#''#
(% / !/ #("
/ % ' ' / #% & #$&
! " ' " / + ' #"
## / " / ) %
#" # % / #*
- &'/ / #*./ %,
Raen Optics, Squire, raenoptics.com
Alpinestars, Psycom Jacket, alpinestars.com
Brixton, Basin, brixton.com Lira Clothing, Aloha Crew, liraclothing.com
Black Flys, King Fly, blackysusa.com
Vestal, Hex, vestalwatch.com
Matix, C matixclot
Vans, Washboard, vanssurf.com
Roark, Naki, roarkrevival.com
Moskov moskova
Volcom, Vorta Colored Sgene, volcom.com
36
Reef, Diamond Tail Backpack, reef.com
Ezekiel, Keenan, ezekielusa.com
ourCaste, SeraďŹ n, ourcaste.com Yea.Nice, Tropical Backpack, yeanice.com
CRSL, Fancy Breed, crslco.com
IVI, Sepulveda, ivivision.com
RVCA, Jeano Jacket, rvca.com
Hurley, Stecyk Printing Press, hurley.com
Catch Surf, Checkered Pal Tee/Surf or Die Hat/Marlow Coat, catchsurf.com
Freestyle, Shark Classic, freestyleusa.com
Moskov moskova
Electric Visual, Everyday Backpack, electricvisual.com
38
Words: Micah Ganske :: Photos: Kristy Liebowitz
My recent body of work, “Tomorrow Land,” is a series of paintings and sculptures that contrasts the failures of modern industry with my belief in science and technology to change our world for the better. The paintings start with the simple juxtaposition of a large shadow over an aerial view of depressed locations. The shadows cast are of things that symbolize what I refer to as “Aspirational Technology.” These are things that represented, or still do represent, the progress of modern civilization and the glory which the future can hold through our ingenuity. The locations are towns, neighborhoods and population centers which have been recently abandoned or depressed due to industrial negligence. The contrast of this imagery
40
shows what I’d say is a realistic optimism of our capability. My recent sculptures are also derived from similar subject matter, and they are created using 3D-printing technology. This is a process, which is in itself a harbinger of the amazing things to come. The newest sculptures are inspired by rotating space habitats proposed by NASA in the ‘70s. Rather than the Utopian countryside found in the original drawings, however, my sculptures present the more realistic outcome of what our first forays into space habitation will be; my ring-worlds are strictly mining and industrial facilities. The structures within are directly modeled after buildings from the locations in my paintings to remind us that we’ll always be “ourselves,” no
matter how advanced our technology may become. I simply want to make work that engages the viewer in a conversation about what interests me the most: Our technological future and destiny as a species. Even though there will be bumps along the way, I believe it should be rushed into headlong. Some of the technology of the future will be used irresponsibly or simply for evil, as has always been the case. However, the progression of science and technology also represents the evolution of our species. Do we need to be smarter? Yes. But we don’t have to wait millions of years to naturally evolve. We can do that through our ingenuity. Creating a body of work that can open a dialog about these ideas is what I am working toward with my art.
The shadows cast are of things that symbolize what I refer to as “Aspirational Technology.”
SHARK CLASSIC 100 M STOPWATCH
FREESTYLEUSA.COM
COUNTDOWN TIMER
WATER RESISTANCE
Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photo: Ryan Donahue I’ve known of Luc for quite a while. He’s as soft spoken as they come. Imagine your quietest friend, then take it down a few more notches and you’d have Luc. However, just as we’ve seen with countless other skilled craftsmen, there’s more to Luc than his well-mannered demeanor would lead you to believe. After living the first two years of his life in Venice, Luc and his family relocated a little further south to Orange County. Soon, Luc was immersed into the scent of freshly brewed coffee at the famed Alta Coffee House in Newport Beach, a spot that Luc’s mother still helps run to this day and the same building where Luc can most frequently be found. Luc grew up mesmerized by the nearby shipyards, getting lost all day in them as a child admiring the labor that countless hands endured in their creation. At age 11, tragedy struck in the form of Luc’s dad passing away. As the eldest he was thrust into the role of the man of the house, helping to take care of his younger sibling and taking charge of any handy work that needed to be handled. “I remember being 11 and just having a sledge hammer in my
42
hand and taking out one of those giant commercial fridges and just having to smash the shit out of it,” Luc says. What started out as dirty work – demoing cabinets, pulling old upholstery – then shifted to finer repair jobs on chairs, which eventually led to his yearning for knowledge of woodworking and furniture design. After high school Luc traveled to Europe and returned home finding self-employment as a woodworker to be his most lucrative and efficient option to fund his future travels. Then, orders started pouring in and Luc’s travels were halted momentarily. He was building everything from fences to decks to chairs and doing it all in his own unique way. Luc acknowledges that although it’s what inspires him, classical woodworking can be stagnant at times, and that he seeks an avant-garde approach in his work. “For instance, that table top over there,” Luc says as he points to a finished coffee table inside his Costa Mesa office. “All the strips of wood are not matched at all, something that goes against what most
woodworkers practice. I figured I’d go as far from matching as possible and have it as an abstract table top.” While many of Luc’s pieces of work resemble intricate displays of art, he doesn’t quite see it that way. “I don’t want to call myself an artist, I’m a woodworker – that title just seems more honest,” he says. Having spent time under the tutelage of older traditional Santa Cruz woodworkers, Luc has come to take a deeper appreciation for his chosen profession and for the minimalist lifestyle it can provide. “It comes back to that saying, ‘Do what you love and you never have to work a day in your life.’ Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s not even work,” he remarks. Don’t be fooled though, Luc is booked with plenty of work, with his clientele base growing more by the day. He’s currently working on a piece for all of Olympic swimmer Aaron Peirsol’s beloved medals, along with interior furniture design for houses in Orange County, New York and Colorado. Most might see woodworking as a pillaging of nature’s most vital resources, but Luc is environmentally
sound in his approach. He is well aware of what types of wood can adversely affect the earth. “If someone wants something out of wood that’s just kind of raping the rain forest, I actually will just refuse to use it,” Luc says. Most of the wood Luc uses are domestically sustainable wood and every last scrap is utilized. A Walnut rocking chair or maybe even a Maple coffee table with Luc’s signature designs are well within the cards. On any given day you may spot Luc driving around Costa Mesa, Newport or Laguna in his tan Ford Ranger. His truck will most likely be riding low from the large amounts of lumber tightly packed into his bed, ripe for the chiseling and ready to be enjoyed. “All I really want is for people’s lives to be more comfortable, and to make it enjoyable for them to hang out in their houses or wherever they may be.” A simplified approach for someone whose hard work is reinventing the craft one table, chair or couch at a time. If you have inquiries about Luc’s work, email him at lucheasleydesign@gmail. com, follow him on Instagram @ lucheasleydesign or call him at (949) 293-8587.
“I am fascinated by the effect of the natural landscape on our collective and personal imaginations and the way that we think of wildness today.”
I’m an Edinburgh-based artist/illustrator (born in Cumbria in 1989) and have just graduated from ECA there. I am fascinated by the effect of the natural landscape on our collective and personal imaginations and the way that we think of wildness today. And so, for each piece I usually focus on a landform to research and draw, weaving together all of the different layers of micro
44
and macroscopic knowledge from folklores to biological structures to create surreal and playful map-like pieces. The circular piece here is based on the stories of a forest ceiling, reflecting the hypnotic effect of staring into a forest roof that, at first, looks like an abstract jumble and then slowly the different elements and character emerge. I’m really interested in that shift between pattern
and image and illusion, and I enjoy playing with skipping between the three. The long painting is based around tales of monoliths – over and underwater mountains – solid and still amidst a buzzing, living world. The little lithographs are from a series based on caves, all of which can be seen at natasharussell.tumblr.com. I like just working in any way
that seems to suit the land that I’m looking at; the forest is linocut, the caves stone lithographs and the monoliths watery ink. At the moment I’m spending my days looking for places to print, enjoying the summer, working on murals and illustrations and exploring and gathering thoughts for more sea and water pieces – a giant print about storms is next, I think!
KIRON JABOUR WEARS THE HD3 FLUXUS BOARDIES FIND OUT MORE AT ALPINESTARS.COM/HD3
Photography: Dominic Petruzzi :: dominicpetruzziphoto.com // Model: Alana Campos :: Vision Models :: @AlanaCamposs
Alana Campos is no stranger to BL!SSS Magazine. She was featured in the 6th Annual BL!SSS Bikini Preview [issue #70], and we liked her so much that we couldn’t help but give you another taste of this Brazilian beauty. No need to thank us for bringing her impeccable beauty into your lives again, because, let’s be honest, this is about as close to Alana as you’ll ever get. Retouch: JasonSchorle.com
48
Words: Jason Jaworski :: Photos: Alexander Tarrant I arrived at night. Looking outside the window of my cab, the city pushed by in a blur - its streets and buildings wet with a recent rain. When I got to the house, Dave’s assistant greeted me and showed me where I would be staying. I laid down and in two blinks and one dream it was morning. Down the hall I heard a door open and a few moments later, there he was: David Choe. I can remember a long time ago when we were both shitting our pants and running around San Francisco like idiots, both broke but needing nothing with money, before everything and anything - just two friends hanging out. Dave was preparing for his next big show then. I asked him what it was like to not be able to afford his own work. After a long pause, he leaned over and said that everything he ever made or did had in it some piece of him that he would never be able to get back, that this was what made it worth what it was and for him it was priceless. We quickly joked about it being similar to (comic book character) Spawn’s powers, but it was one of those moments in a conversation that happens so often with Dave where the words become simultaneously poignant and cogent while somehow also becoming comic. So there he was, standing in front of me while I was occupied with that previous memory, his hand gripping the doorway while asking what we should eat. And though he knew nothing of my thoughts, we gave each other a hug and walked out of the house to a taco cart while he told me about his first show in over four years being held at the Museo Universitario del Chopo. The new body of work is blinding in its color. Working with a palette similar to that of his murals in Colorado at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts that he collaborated on with
50
artists DVS-1 and Joe To, the new work sees him progressing further with his craft. Using his selfdescribed “dirty style,” Dave moves effortlessly between mediums as varied as his simple and refined watercolor work, to his sprawling graffiti murals, to the oil and mixed media works painted on canvas, wood and metal, to his intricate installations and sculptures. His work is contradictory – all at once refined and meticulous while also being sporadic and free-form. Along with the work he has created himself, there are several “exquisite corpse” watercolors that Choe collaborated on with the legendary Mexican surrealist Pedro Friedeberg, the last living Mexican surrealist to be recognized as part of the movement from its leader, André Breton. The title of the show, Snowman Monkey BBQ, is derived from a set of words I would hear all too often when I used to accompany Dave on his gambling rounds. From what I remember, “Snowman” refers to the “8” card (where the number mimics the shape), “Monkey” refers to any kind of face card, and “BBQ” refers to the moment when a person is one card away from winning. Dave’s titles, as with his work and person, always have that same comic poignance about them. Where someone might see a jumbled grouping of words, for Dave it means something much more - to moments when he was screaming on the floor of a casino with tens of thousands of dollars either having just been lost for nothing or gained enthusiastically. His new work shows and reminds us that all that really matters in the end is honesty, both its essence and entirely raw form. And from his paintings to his person, it is the foundation for both what he is and creates. I left Mexico City a few days after him, thinking again of that conversation in San Francisco so many years ago. Looking out the window of the plane: the city and all its lights, dwindling and winding down into smaller and single spheres, glinting back between shrouds of cloud, the plane further and farther up and each building blinking back like its own star.
Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Courtesy © ASP Prior to the start of the 2013 Billabong Pro Tahiti final, Kelly Slater had a 100-percent win ratio when placed into a final in the ever-spectacular lineup at Teahupoo. A frightening little bit of information to behold if you’re about to take on the 11-time world champ. That is, unless you’re Adrian Buchan. Ace has a bit of an edge over most of the tour in that he’s topped the king once before in a final, going back to 2008 in France when Ace played the spoiler for Kelly’s 9th title clinch. This, along with the confidence Ace had built throughout the entire Billabong Pro, factored in greatly to his chances for rising to the top of the podium at the end of the day in Tahiti. As a whole, the Billabong Pro was more than contest organizers and competitors could have hoped for. A bleak forecast outlook at the beginning of the waiting period left many fans disenchanted and some surfers sighing in relief with the news that the life threatening “Code Red” days of a year ago wouldn’t be making another appearance. That being said, Teahupoo is a dangerous wave at any size, and when a swell delivered on the first few days of the waiting period there were plenty of broken boards and bloody cuts to keep everyone’s guard up. Each day of competition seemed to grow better with 10s dropping and claims flying. Jeremy Flores, recipient of the heaviest wave award, was the onfire surfer during day two with a fluid backside tube attack that looked remarkably polished, giving him equal rights as one of the best backside tube riders on the planet right now. His relaxed approach under pressure made him a favorite in any heat. The wave that gave him the award was a deep west-bowl that jacked into one of the bigger barrels of the whole event and produced a foam ball ride worth remembering. Then, there was John John Florence’s usual thrilling performance. His approach right now is so natural and in-tune that it’s almost not like watching surfing and more like viewing a magic show. John’s wave selection was impeccable and he would always
52
Ace Buchan
Slater
find himself taking off from deep up the reef into a below-sea-level pit, oftentimes not grabbing rail in the most critical spot as if to toy with the place. He was having fun and it showed, even with an ankle brace on. In the quarterfinals John bagged what was hands-down the wave of the event, with a long first barrel and a second one that he casually snapped into and sat in for as long as possible. Unfortunately for John, this 10-point ride was the climax of his 2013
Billabong Pro campaign and he was left without a backup score. Ace stuck to his gameplan, didn’t give up and powered out two 9-point rides for the victory against John.
Pattachia. Freddy, who is filling in as an injury wild card this year, and Kai, who was seeking a re-qualifying spot, both earned their heat wins with hard charging and quarterfinal finishes.
Other enjoyable performances on the final day included Julian Wilson, Parko and CJ Hobgood, who all put on a show in the near-perfect conditions. Two surfers who are more than capable of stellar results in heaving lefts are Kai Otton and Freddy
Kelly was consistent with his usual intelligent, contest-savvy surfing. Even when he’s not 100 percent on fire, Kelly finds a way, and he did all the way to the final. As for Ace, he was driven and rose to the occasion throughout the event, dispatching off
Mick Fanning
John Florence
more than a few heavy-hitters on the final day, including Jordy, John John and Mick en route to the final. As Kelly and Ace sat in the lineup to begin the 2013 Billabong Pro final a couple of questions begged answering. Would Ace be able to beat Kelly twice in a row in a high stakes final setting? Or would Kelly peak at the perfect moment and leave Ace bloodied and beaten by heats end?
Josh Kerr
Just as he’d done leading up to the final, Ace took charge right away. He locked into the highest heat score of the final, a 9.67, on overall one of the most memorable waves of the event with a committed, weightless drop, knifing it under a critically thick lip. Ace was spat out and emerged hooting in rejoice, knowing that he’d just gotten a jump on the champ. Midway through the heat controversy arose in the form of a priority dispute.
Ace went for a wave and looked as though he’d lost his priority. The judges disagreed and in turn we saw a visibly ticked off Kelly Slater slapping the water and raising his hands in disappointment. The heat continued on and after Kelly went for a wave that petered out, Ace locked in a 9.27, hooting again as he came out in the spit with clenched fists. Ace knew he’d put Kelly up against the ropes. Kelly made a valiant attempt at a comeback
Freddy Patacchia
and had himself within range, but a wave of the 9.87 caliber that he needed never reared up for Kelly to finish the job. So, after five long years Ace returned back to the top of the podium and was crowned the 2013 Billabong Pro champ. He dedicated the trophy and the win to his Tahitian family and was grinning from ear to ear in
disbelief about what he’d achieved. It was a truly gigantic win for one of the surfing world’s most humble and gracious ambassadors. For now, Kelly sits atop the world rankings, looking spry as ever and poised for another world title. He’s definitely an adversary you’d rather not meet in a final down the back half of the year. That is, however, unless you’re Ace Buchan and you’re headed to France.
Kai Otton
Photos: Derek Bahn & Livery Design Gruppe To say that the Hurley Printing Press was a great success would be a vast understatement. What started as an idea to bridge the gap between artists and consumers turned into an event that drew large amounts of funloving fans, giving them the ability to interact with icons of the art world. The first stop was right off Main Street in Huntington Beach during the US Open at the Livery Design Gruppe. For six straight days the public was able to view and purchase work from the likes of Rime, Madsteez, Dalek, Craig Stecyk, Tim Hendricks
and the Hurley Art Department. Streetwalkers meandering through the US Open madness were instantly attracted to the event. Day in and day out the lines stretched around the block, with folks looking to purchase the limited-edition tees and prints for sale. What made the event even more special was the intermingling of artists, athletes and common folk that’s rarely seen anywhere else. The Hurley Printing Press drew the likes of surfers Nat Young, Yadin Nicol, Kolohe Andino, Lakey Peterson, Carissa Moore, Conner Coffin, Julian Wilson and skaters Jay Adams, Curren Caples and
Greyson Fletcher. Basically, it was the place to be on any given day. At the same time that the streets of Huntington Beach were flowing with the creative juices of the Printing Press a similar display was taking place just a short jaunt northbound at the Agenda Tradeshow in Long Beach. During all hours the show’s attention was redirected toward the main entrance where the Hurley Printing Press was up and running. Guests were lucky enough to walk away with party-favor tees that were truly one-of-a-kind. The last stop of the California Printing Press tour fell right
outside of the doors of BL!SSS headquarters. This time around the vibe was a bit more subdued, with patrons from Bear Flag Fish Market and passersby enjoying the added aesthetic and opportunity to grab limited edition t-shirts freshly printed in front of their eyes. It’s not everyday that you’re given an opportunity to interact with artists and likeminded folks while viewing creativity unfold before your eyes, and the Hurley Printing Press brought this and a whole lot more. The platform for the Hurley Printing Press was a genius idea and we’re excited to see more unique visions sprout from this concept.
Agenda Vegas
Madsteez x Rob Machado
56
Tim Hendricks
When asked “What’s in store for the future?” Hurley artist J.P. Olson replied, “We can look forward to hand-printed editions from some legendary tattooers. We just printed an eight-color serigraph with Tokyo Hiro of Japan and are talking to Richard Stell about possible prospects. For me, the coolest is getting young kids like Adrian Morris and Max Joliffe cranking on a press that’s as old as their grandparents. Either way, stay tuned for more tasty posters and prints from the Hurley Printing Press.”
CR Stecyk & Greyson Fletcher
CR Stecyk, Ron English & Tim Hendricks
Conner Coffin & Joshua Harris Julian Wilson Jason Maloney, Madsteez & Dalek
JP Olson
Livery Design Gruppies
Rime & Ryan Hurley
Kolohe Andino & Nat Young
Greyson Fletcher
58
rGBËJ GFFCt
Words: Ozzie Ausband :: Photos: MRZ Long Beach slept under a dark sky. Clouds shoved past the harbor and kept a chill in the air. I drove through the city and out across the 710. Nosing the car through a tangle of overpasses, I pointed it east and sped into the dawn. The sun spilled across the hills. I was headed to Peter King’s home in San Bernardino. He had bought a house and it was lauded to have a fantastic pool in its backyard. I had heard of it through the grapevine. This would be my first visit. Invitation. The story of its discovery changes,
depending on who is the teller of the tale. The essential facts remain the same. A few of the local pool skaters in the area were looking around one day. Steve Alba, Billy Rix, Ed Ancheta and Adam 12 were out and about. Pool skating. They saw that the house was a foreclosure. The property had a vacant look to it. The grass was dull and dry. Trees and bushes sagged in the hot wind. Steve Alba eased the car to the side. Gravel crunched under the tires. One of the guys pulled himself up on the wall and looked over. Marvel. Discovery. The pool was emptied and the
word crept out. It was perfection in plaster. Perfectly situated obstacles and a mellow transitioned radius throughout made this pool an alltime classic for skateboarders. Pools are seldom so good. We find so many. Some are rideable but they often fall short... They will have a great deep end or the shallow is great but the face wall has kinks or is too steep. The list goes on and on. The pool at Peter King’s house is very user-friendly and rideable. Supposedly when Steve Alba was riding it shortly after it was found, he took a run
and commented, “This thing is ridiculous.” The moniker stuck. Over the years it has been ridden by people from Finland, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, China, Germany, Austria, France, Italy and just about every state in America. Ridiculous is a Mecca in some ways. It is our concrete and plaster church. Pool skating is our minor religion. It is Mi Numi. This thing that we do... through it all, binds us together. Ridiculous allows us all to be one. It speaks a universal language we understand, Skate.
Al Brunelle
Duane Peters
Kyle
Tristan Rennie
Salba
Malba
Photos: Courtesy © ASP (*unless noted) There’s just something we need to touch on before it’s lost into obscurity. On the last night of the US Open, as many professionals, workers and fans of the best in surf, skate and music were unwinding with a few drinks after a weeklong event, we saw Main Street in Huntington Beach turn into a free for all of goons and wanna-be gangsters. They wailed around like toddlers hopped up on Ritalin with no purpose in sight but to put a damper on a competition that welcomes everyone. Maybe they were trying to mimic the ‘86 riot that saw cop cars burned and the lifeguard headquarters destroyed. Whatever their intentions were, their cowardly acts were stopped far short of what transpired
Alejo Muniz
62
over 25 years earlier. Thankfully, a lot of the idiots involved were arrested due in part to their derelict ability to out themselves via Facebook and other social media channels. Bottom line is that incidents like this tarnish action sports events as a whole, and we hope to never see anything like this again. Now that we’ve got that off our chests, let’s talk about an inspiring week in surfing and skating. This year Huntington Beach was graced with its first-ever, all-cement bowl on the sand for the Van Doren Invitational. It was a bowl that any world-class skatepark would dream of and, in fact, the design for the bowl was inspired by the legendary skate
park du Prado bowl on the beach in Marseilles, France. This combined with an invite-only format that spanned from 40 of the best pros young and old, as well as rising amateur stars, made the Van Doren Invitational an all-time affair. On Saturday and Sunday spectators were given the pleasure of viewing the best transition skaters in the business light up the artistically accented, modernly molded Van Doren bowl. To add even more of a special twist to the event, the judges welcomed one of skateboarding’s original innovators, John Cardiel, to the panel. Everyone from Vincent Alvarez and Curren Caples to Christian Hosoi and Omar
Hassan were putting on a show, flying high and throwing mind-blowing runs together in the jam format. Ronnie Sandoval and Raven Tershy were the favorites early on. Raven ended up finishing third overall. Greyson Fletcher blasted enormous frontside no-grabs and earned himself a second-place finish. But it was Ben Mitchell who ended up beating everyone with polished lines that gave him the nod from the judges. Ben walked away with $25,000, a black checkered custom guitar and one gigantic gold shoe from Vans that was sure to attract many a bikini-clad ladies his way. Overall, the event was a huge success with everyone invited and the crowd of spectators enjoying
every second of the action. As far as musical attractions go, every centimeter of sand was packed with feet on Friday evening as Modest Mouse and Matt Costa took the stage. Sweet tunes subdued the intimidating crowd and it got everyone set for the weekend. Just like in skate, the US Open of Surfing always has an uncanny ability for drawing in some of the world’s best surfers. This year with Vans headlining it was no different. World Tour surfers of the upper echelon showed up, as well as ‘QS rippers, all looking to slug it out and make some heats. It’s definitely not the quality
of waves on offer, but rather the electric atmosphere that surrounds the contest that brings the stars out. And with the promise of a $100K first-place check acting as the primary hook, it’s no wonder guys like Slater and Dane return year in and year out.
surfers came from the dream tour. Matt Banting was the lone surfer not of the elite ranks, but his surfing didn’t show. Instead, it revealed a frightening attack on the soft lefts and rights that he chose to seamlessly weave across.
This year rumor has it that the partyhard lifestyle surrounding the event caught up to Kelly, making him late in his round of 24 heat which he ended up narrowly losing to Michel Bourez. Aside from Kelly and Brett Simpson losing earlier than expected, a good chunk of World Tour favorites moved onto the final rounds of competition. By the time the quarters rolled around, seven of the eight
Matt took out Jordy Smith and continued into the semifinals, but he was stopped by the surfer of the event, Alejo Muniz. Kolohe Andino used his Southside knowledge to dispose of the tough-to-beat Bede Durbidge and secure himself a spot in the final. A win at HB for Kolohe would’ve all but started a riot on its own, stretching from the streets of Huntington all the way south to San
Ben Hatchell
Photo: Michael Lallande
Kolohe Andino
Clemente. In the end, the neighboring cities were spared due in part to Mother Nature’s lack of producing waves in the Alejo versus Kolohe final. That being said, Alejo Muniz earned every cent of his $100K and was deservedly crowned as the Vans US Open of Surfing champion with a focused and fluid approach that stayed consistent in every heat. For now, the dust has settled from another memorable US Open. Vans did an amazing job, and we’ll hopefully see most of you good folks next year. But please, please keep your ne’er-do-well friends at home!
Greyson Fletcher
Raven Tershy
Michel Bourez
Tony Trujillo
Jordy Smith
er
Bede Durbidge
Ben Raybourne
Curren Caples
Julian Wilson
26"-*5: (00%4 %&4*(/&% 0/ 5)& $"-*'03/*" $0"45 Autumn/Winter 2013 Photos By Jack Belli Facebook.com/LatitudeSupplyCo Twitter.com/LatitudeSupply Instagram: Latitude_Supply_Co
Photo: Adam Wallacavage 68
Interview: Adam Wallacavage What floor do you live on in your apartment building, and do you have an elevator? I live on the 4th floor. The building was listed as a walkup, and when I saw the elevator I took the apartment. The fact that the apartment was habitable was a lucky break. Is it in SoHo NYC? “I live in the village wherever I go I walk” – Mike D. Did you ever own a car? No, I’ve owned a couple scooters, one Honda and one Vespa. Was that in NYC or back when you lived in Philly?
I had the Honda in high school. I own the Vespa now; it’s in storage in Philadelphia. I’m looking to buy a car though. I think my first one will be a Crown Victoria. That’s a perfect car for you. For some reason I’m remembering a photo of you dressed as a cop or something, or maybe it’s just because you said Crown Victoria. Speaking of which, it took me 20 years and a thousand spins, but today I learned on Little Red Corvette Prince sings, “Girl you got an ass like I’ve never seen, and the ride is so smooth, you must be a limousine.” What other artworks confer new knowledge after 20 years? Let me know, I’m interested.
Did you ever think about how different your influences world be if you had been driving around in a car all the time instead of walking or taking trains and basically looking at your surroundings instead of just focusing on the road? Do you think it has made you more aware or is it just an aspect of living in a city? I never gave a thought to it. I’ve always been a pigeon on public transit. I love public transit, and I have never known the stress of a parking ticket. Tell me how that feels Adam, I don’t know. I look at the city as a commuter. Just another blood cell in the arteries of the city. Haha! The last ticket I got was when we were loading paint in my car in front of the Love Letters Clubhouse. I think I made you pay for it. If I didn’t, you’d be stressing! I’ma leave the driving to you. You don’t want me
driving, I’m like a teenager behind the wheel. I love to relax in places with no people, but I work best in places densely packed with humanity. You actually don’t know parking ticket stress, you park on Broad Street. Which, legend has it, no one has ever gotten a parking ticket ever. They tried giving out tickets to people who parked in the middle of the street but the locals rioted and flipped all the cars and lit them on fire, as legend has it. Actually, the fact that people park in the middle of the street is way more mind-blowing to out-of-towners than any cheesesteak or soft pretzel. The city should start promoting that aspect of Philly and increase tourism while battling obesity at the same time. Let’s just keep south Philly parking our little secret. Maybe we could promote brotherly love; it would be nice to see
Philly get over racism. If it did, the city would be swimming in development dollars. It’s doing pretty good where I live. But back to NYC… what was it like working in Coney Island? Such a densely populated place in the summer but something of a ghost town in the off-season. It’s so close to the ocean and just a 30-minute train ride home to the middle of NYC. And how is it doing after hurricane Sandy? Coney got hammered, but not as bad as Rockaway. I think it’s all operational now. Coney in the winter is a magical place. Coney Island proprietor Ben Harrison had me come down one particular winter evening when the Cyclone had a lit up cross at the top of the ride. And next door Astroland had a lit-up Star of David in a similarly high spot. And finally the crescent moon was in the right spot, so all three
religious symbols lined up he said, “Is there a more peaceful place on earth?” Whenever I see the Cyclone on TV or in the news or something I’m always stoked that I know the guy who repainted it a few years ago. Have you been to Rockaway? Ari says he has been going out there a couple times a week. I’ve been going to Asbury! That’s my spot. What? That’s my spot! What are you doing there? I know the girls from Parlor Gallery and the bowling lanes have been after you to do something. Madam Marie’s daughter is my advisor, and I got a platinum membership at the Silverball Museum. Tell us about the ICY Sign Shops.
There are ICY Sign Shops in Brooklyn and North Philadelphia, and we got a cell phone in Johannesburg that gets calls all the time. Are you still working on Love Letters? How many have you done and in how many cities? We are Love Letters to industrial or postindustrial cities all over the world. We have several cities lined up, but each requires solving several problems. So really, we’re just waiting to see if stars align, just like any other relationship. How many people are involved and what are their backgrounds? There’s 7-11 of us, depending on the job. We all love letters. How do you feel the work you have done with the sign shops and the
Love Letters in different cities has helped your gallery presence? Are you still showing in galleries? I’m just wondering how you feel about that because it seems like why bother putting a show together that lasts just 3-4 weeks when you could be doing murals and more permanent installations like the ICY Sign Shops? ICY Signs is really about keeping a couple sign shops busy while I make paintings. I design and consult and brush when I’m needed, but I try to spend most of my workday working on my fine, fine art. The public art projects take 3-5 years to get everything in place, then typically two weeks to paint. I think being versatile with what I paint makes me paint better paintings and paint better walls. I had two solo shows in the past year, but I’m not doing another one until it’s at the Whitney Downtown.
Pants – RVCA rvca.com Hat – Brixton brixton.com Poncho – Stylist’s own Boots – Stylist’s own
74
Photographer: Sinuhe Xavier :: sinuhexavier.com Stylist: Jardine Hammond :: jardinehammond.com Hair/Make-Up: Heather Cvar :: heathercvar.com Model: Ariel Beesley Wilhelmina Casting: Shoot It Productions :: shootitproductions.com
Hat – Brixton brixton.com Sweater Tank – Vince vince.com Bralette – RVCA rvca.com Shirt (around waist) – Volcom volcom.com
Wrap – RVCA rvca.com Shirt – Oakley oakley.com Bracelet – Mr. Kate mrkate.com
Denim – Volcom volcom.com Vintage Jacket – Stylist’s own Vintage Hat – Stylist’s own Boots – Stylist’s own
Sweater – Lira liraclothing.com Shirt – Element elementbrand.com Denim – Volcom volcom.com Bracelet – Mr. Kate mrkate.com Vintage Hat – Stylist’s own Boots – Stylist’s own
Hat – Brixton brixton.com Sweater Tank – Vince vince.com Bralette – RVCA rvca.com Shirt (around waist) – Volcom volcom.com Bracelet – Mr. Kate mrkate.com
Jacket – Zara zara.com Shirt – Stylist’s own Denim – Stylist’s own Shoe – Stylist’s own
Words: Kevin Duffel There are two types of interns out there: the ultra obnoxious ones you want to fire within five minutes of meeting (which unfortunately is the majority of free laborers out there – you get what you pay for), and then there are the one who are actually talented, sensible, and who make you want to fire a current employee just to make extra room on the payroll. Cameron Strand migrated from Detroit in 2011 to intern at Transworld Skateboarding. While all of us office jockeys recognized his gift for shooting after his first day on the job, I’ve watched his compositions quickly go from good to Gaberman over these past two years. Plenty of kids out there know how to capture gnarly tricks with technical proficiency and decent lighting. But, very rarely can they present skateboarding as an art form. Cameron is one of the select few who doesn’t need to rely on his subject or environment to better his photos. Quite the opposite, his photographic eye will always render his subject and environment into a work of fine art, no matter the context. And that right there, is the definition of a great photographer.
Denzel White : Roll In 82
Nate Greenwood : F.S Feebs
Braxton Powers : Gap 5-0
Ryan Alvero : B.S Smith
Daniel Knapp : F.S Flip
Nick Zizzo : Nose Grind Pop In
Forrest Edwards : Switch 5050
Norman Woods : F.S Feeble
Ben Fisher : Wallie
Dolan Stearns : Tre Flip
Brendan Keavney : Smith
Cameron Strand
88
Interview: Sean Sullivan :: Photos: Sean Sullivan (*unless noted) Holy fuck, I think I have to retire after conducting this interview. It’s probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever read. I really hope you have the space to run every single word of this, as we cannot censor anything for the good of the American people. AMERICA – what is it to you? Are you proud to be an American? Guns, guts and glory built this country! Even though these days it seems to be a cholesterol-filled mayonnaise pie, what makes me proud to be an American is the fact that I write this interview on a lake with a beer in my right hand, gun in my left, spliff in my mouth and a bald eagle freely soaring above my head! Who are you, where are you
from, what do you do and what makes you happy? I’m from Colorado. I do whatever the fuck I wanna and my friends make me happy. People see you snowboard and they are like, “That guy is f**king crazy!” What goes through your mind when you put your shred gear on and strap in? Is it a @ drschmeckleandmrhymen thing? Absolutely nothing goes through my mind when I strap in; that’s why I like it. It’s the only way to make the voices stop. (Get naked, Dylan. Get NAKED and KILL them all!) You travel a ton. What was your most memorable trip from last winter? Turkey ‘cause it’s a place I normally wouldn’t get to go to
and never imagined it would be snowboarding that took me there. We saw mosques, royal treasure, I ate goat meat and cheese… then I shit my pants and got food poisoning at the contest! But everybody decided to split the money, so I got paid to listen to techno and sit in shit pants that day. The last winters you seemed to be on a mission - street trips, backcountry missions, contests, Grenade Games, massive park jumps at Snowboarder Mag’s Superpark... It seems like a lot of riders these days just focus on one thing, but you seem to show up everywhere and destroy everything. What’s the deal with that? Life is diverse in its own, so you gotta treat your snowboarding
how you wanna live your life. I like to get down to businasty anywhere, any time on anything, snowboarding or not. Or maybe I’m just not bitchmade. What riders did you look up to growing up when you were a little grom? Did you ever have an experience with one of your favorite pros that sticks out in your memory? I always looked up to Jeff Anderson ‘cause he’d just fuck up the biggest shit! Same with Chad Otterstrom ‘cause he could ride everything. Scott E. Wittlake was always ahead of his time and David Benedek ‘cause he could ride anything regular or switch. When I was 12 I had a huge crush on Gretchen Bleiler… Shit, maybe I still do. My buddy Lakota and I
met her and got a pic with her. Then, I saw her again and got it signed and won her a stuffed animal out of the claw machine. I still got my photo; you still got that animal, Gretchen? What’s up? Who do you like to watch ride nowadays? Your girlfriend! Describe an ideal week of snowboarding, your choice of crew, terrain, location, lodging and post shred activities. Straight up, Bear fuckin’ Montaña. Always good people and good vibes there. And you get to hit up Vegas on the way in and out! Post shred activities consist of strollin’ up and strokin’ Sqwee and drinking
30s of Coors Banquet, which you can’t get in Colorado and it fuckin’ sucks! Dylan Alito is given a million dollars to throw a snowboard contest with no rules – you can do ANYTHING you want. Describe your contest. First off, it would be in the homeland, Colorado, at a nasty little strip club called Dandy Dan’s! First up would be the women’s section, what I like to call the win-a-date-with-DylanAlito-rail-jam! But the girls will be sliding different rails than the dudes. For the intermission, Ted Nugent escorts two beautiful Bengal Tigers out to the center stage. He’s playing a makeshift guitar that he and I made earlier that day from a .50 caliber rifle right after we slaughtered a
water buffalo on his Texas land. He still has bloodstains on his shirt. Strippers as well as the winners from the women’s rail jam enter the stage and dance on poles with the lovely tigers lying majestically at the base of the poles. The dudes start shredding while The Nuge rips it. The dudes are hittin’ rails or whatever, nobody really cares, they’re absolutely mesmerized by Ted, tigers and titties! The boys’ need a rest as well as Ted. The strippers and tigers are in their element, and they hold position on stage. Everybody is a little tired so we need some soothing music, and who comes out none other than Rod Stewart! I join him on stage for winning the Rod Stewart mullet
lookalike contest the week prior. We serenade the crowd with all of Rod’s greatest hits. At the finale, when the crowd is expecting an encore, Rod hits us all with the biggest surprise imaginable. Rod turns to me and says, ‘Dylan, I had an affair with your mother back in her Playboy days that carried on ‘til a couple of years ago. You are my lovechild. I always knew you could grow a manly mullet that resembles that of a lion’s mane, and your voice, your voice makes Michael Bolton sound like Pee Wee Herman!’ The crowd goes wild. They want an encore so we hit ‘em hard with Do Ya Think I’m Sexy while strip teasing and pole dancing with the strippers. It all ends in a tiger ride, where the tiger sets me back atop the rail
Photo: Aaron Dodds
wanted any money; he just wanted to be popular again, even if it was just for a brief moment. The entire prize purse of 1 million dollars is awarded to yours truly! I retire with my new father to his mansion in England where we sip sangria and watch matches of the Celtic football Club (Rods’ favorite). By the way, I never took that bitch who won the rail jam on a date. With Rod the Mod as my father I could court any woman desirable!
The The rail rail that that no no one one else else would would step step to. to.
jam stage. All the other riders are ready. I get dressed and we commence the finals of the rail jam. As the finals start, Rod retires from the stage and people prepare for the final act. Rumors of the Rolling Stones or Bruce Springsteen are running rampant. But no, someone no one could imagine is coming. The stage is dark with a silhouetted figure with his back to us. A beat drops that is all too familiar to the entire crowd. The only problem is that the musician for this particular song has been deceased for years. It all becomes apparent as the lights are thrown on and Weird Al Yankovic is on stage
preforming his original rendition of Michael Jacksons’ Beat It with his song Eat It! Simultaneously, as the riders are snowboarding, they all ironically start eating shit! I land every trick I try. Matter of fact, I land every trick every other rider tried for them! As is tradition, in most dreams, I win the competition! The women who competed in their “rail jam” won no money (except for the money we all threw) and a date with Dylan! Rod Stewart and Ted Nugent decide that I’m so badass, they ain’t even gonna charge me for playing. And Weird Al never
Have you got an idea of what you want to do next winter? Sponsors calling the shots, or is Alito? Yeah, everyone is pretty selfish in the means of they only care if they get their way. So both them and I have different ideas. I’m just tryin’ to do what I want cause that’s the beauty I thought came with the job, freedom. Guess I was wrong! With so much content on the web, the formula of big video projects and snowboard movies we grew up with has drastically changed. Where do you fit into all this and
Gotta pay to play.
where do you want to go with your snowboarding in the next few years? I fuckin’ hate the Internet and all the Google generation fucks. I ain’t good on CPUs, never will be. I stand my ground with DVDs, got a huge collection. DVDs show the camaraderie of a crew, which is what snowboarding is about. Not being a vain, self-centered piece of shit who wants attention to themselves ‘cause daddy ain’t hug ‘em enough. All you hipsters ain’t got shit to prove, sissies! Shout-outs to anybody who has helped you or any haters who have tried to hold you down? Open microphone, let it rip. Yeah, I’d like to thank all my sponsors, all my friends who’ve ever inspired me to shred! Big thanks to Ryan Boyes for always trusting and believing in me and putting me in the position I am in now! I’d like to send a big FU to Danny Kass! Thanks for being a dramatic bitch and not inviting me to Jamaica when I won your stupid contest! Like it or not baby, here I come.
Words: Kurt Midness :: Photos: Gary Copeland // Crowd surfing is considered a sport in the Volcom skatepark // Someone’s excited to have hands all over him // Aqua Dolls gettin’ down and dirty // Audacity amping it up // The Garden, doin’ what they do // Skating, booze and a bag of ice on top of your head // Moms bring your groms // Security at Volcom is no joke As the U.S. Open of Surfing was winding down, a wicked party was forming in Volcom’s new private skatepark. Hosted with the good folks at Burger Records, the plan was set to deliver some potent rock and roll. The erstwhile fashion models in the Garden brought some low-end thunder and spastic drums to their tightly packed set. With enough verbal dexterity to slip in some hooks, the Garden primed the crowd for more live action. The Aquadolls followed with some sweet jams of their own to a crowd that seemed to know every song. The place
108
practically blew up when Audacity played. Bodies flew every which way as these guys showed how seasoned they are at delivering some raw power amidst a sea of excitement and sweat. The night closed out with Gap Dream, whose set provided a much-needed comedown. You see, Gap Dream is definitely in the chill spot. The free beer was a nice compliment to the good vibes. With an all-ages crowd joining in on the fun, Burger Night at Volcom was a classic good time for all who could make it. I propose that Volcom throws these parties on the regs.
CHRIS GREGSON FS FLI P / SAN D I EGO, ca / ph oto: d rago n ette WWW.ACTIVERI D ESH O P.CO M
ACTIVE_Bliss_CHRISGREGSON_SEP13.indd 1
8/12/13 3:20 PM
Photos: Chad Yanagisawa // The IVI logo in lights in front of DJ SkraTchy kicking things off right // Thank you tank tops // Bruce Irons and Hailee Wade, Chippa Wilson and Enich Harris // Mesmerized by the lights… // Steve Kelty and Ian Walsh, shaka and the thumb // The man himself, VICE // That’s a good looking belly right there // VICE turning up the heat // IVI CEO, Pete Fox and Chippa doing A-OK
On Saturday July 27th, the night before the US Open finals, premium sunglass upstart IVI (pronounced eye-vee) partnered with Jack’s Surfboards to throw one of the best parties of the summer with brand ambassador, LA and Vegas legend, DJ VICE. Openers DJ Skratchy and Big Syphe primed the crowd before the event shifted into party mode for VICE. Giant monitors on either side of the screen displayed images all night from crowd shots and social media of people around the world remotely partying and tagging their pics with #IVIxVICE. The huge IVI logo in lights in front of the DJ booth was in motion all night along with
96
tons of lasers, spotlights, and strobes. Right around 1 a.m. VICE whipped the crowd into a frenzy of high-tempo beats topped with a blast of confetti cannons. As if it was on cue, the Red Bull bus pulled up and poured more partiers into the crowd. Brand owner Pete Fox was seen rubbing elbows with Bruce Irons, Ian Walsh, Chippa Wilson and more into the wee hours. Not one we’ll soon forget. For more info, visit ivivision.com or @ivivision on Facebook, instagram and Twitter.
Photos: Blake Richards, Garrett Fierstein, & Ian Zamora // Pro division champion Killian Garland // Dylan Goodale, Luke Davis, Killian Garland & Nathaniel Curran // Luke Davis // Nathaniel Curran // Dylan Goodale // Evan Caples // Famous Malibu Pier Paddle Out // Therasurf Session
It’s hard to believe that it has already been seven years since the very first Malibu Invitational. That’s seven years of making memories, seven years of great competition and seven years of enriching lives. The legacy lives on and each year has seen exponential growth in terms of competitions, supporters and of course donations. This year was another great success story with more spectators than ever and over $20,000 raised to benefit Nathaniel Curran’s The Young and Brave Foundation – a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the youth beat cancer. The two-day event saw intense competition from the invite-only list of pros, legends and masters. With contestable 2-3 foot surf, Malibu’s First Point delivered some action-packed heats that were quite entertaining to watch. With the majority of the masters division (59+) having decades of experience in the lineup, it was Craig Kozolowski who was standing atop the podium when all was said and done. Rounding out the masters final was Dave White in second, Scott Lewis in third and Don Kraft in the fourth-place position. The legend’s division (40+) saw just as intense competition, as Evan Caples took top honors, Donald Day finished in second, Steven Lippman earned the number-three spot, and rounding out the legend’s division was Mike Chipko. The pro final was a smoker and
98
at any given point any one of these competitors could have taken the win, but on this particular day the light shined down on Killian Garland. San Clemente’s Luke Davis took second-place honors, Nathaniel Curran earned third, and Hawaii’s Dylan Goodale finished in fourth. Between competitive heats were THERAsurf sessions, which provided opportunity for special-needs children to get in the water, surf and experience the positive healing energy that Mother Nature has to offer. Founded by local Malibu surfer Jimmy Gamboa, we must say that this was the most inspiring part of the entire event. Special thanks go out to the long list sponsors, hosts and everyone else involved to make this event happen: Imperial Beer, Vans, Val Surf, Audi, Freedom Artists, Duke’s Malibu, Sicky, Quiksilver, Skullcandy, Volcom, Hurley, Reef, O’Neill, Matix, RVCA, Alpinestars, Surfline, DVS, Rusty, Nixon, Channel Islands Surfboards, Sector 9, Vestal, Rip Curl, Famous, Von Zipper, Aqua Hydrate, Neff, Smith Optics, Carver, Rasenberg Financial, Malibu Family Wines, Karma Tequila, Rockstar, Ola’s Mexican Grill, Tony T’s Pizza, ResQwater, Caffe Vita and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. ‘Til next year…
Photos: Anthony Acosta & Grant Hatfield // The man of the hour, Chima Ferguson (right) and brother // Tough as leather, light as a feather: The Chima Pro // Jamie Tancowny, Jerry Hsu, Tino Razo // Ladies man, Anthony Van Engelen // The Blackouts DJing (Ako and Atiba) // Chima introducing Cat Power // Atiba Jefferson, Sean Malto, Jeff Lenoce and friend // Johnny Layton and Jamie Tancowny
It was a calm Friday night in Echo Park, that is until Chima Ferguson and hundreds of his best pals showed up to celebrate the night on Chima’s behalf. Vans Pro Skate welcomed Chima Ferguson to their illustrious signature team with the introduction of the Vans Chima Pro, and they figured throwing a little soiree in his honor was in order. The party was hosted at the ever-popular L.A. nightclub, The Echo. The private celebration brought together over 300 of Chima’s friends, including fellow Vans team riders, for an intimate and breathtaking live performance by Cat Power (joined briefly onstage by Chima himself) and DJ sets by The Blackouts. Vans presented Chima Ferguson with a commemorative Vans Chima Pro bronze shoe, while partygoers enjoyed traditional Australian meat pies from L.A.’s Bronzed Aussie in honor of the
100
Sydney native. Joining the festivities for a brief break from filming for the upcoming Vans Pro Skate video, Vans pros Anthony Van Engelen, Gilbert Crockett, and Daniel Lutheran along with friends Jerry Hsu, Mickey Reyes, Neckface and many more helped partake in an unforgettable night. As Vans’ newest introductory signature skate shoe in over five years, the release of the Vans Chima Pro inaugurates Chima Ferguson to the ranks of Vans Pro Skate signature riders Steve Caballero, Geoff Rowley, Tony Trujillo, and Anthony Van Engelen. Featuring fully-fused DURACAP reinforced canvas and suede uppers, and Vans Pro Lite construction (on average 30% lighter than traditional vulcanized styles), the Chima Pro is unlike any other: Tough as leather, yet light as a feather!
BLISSS_AMPER.indd 1
8/28/13 1:35 PM
Words: Debs Choi/Master Plan Communications :: Photos: Ortiz // Ryan Sheckler & his team // Fred Water Helicopter ball drop // Wahoo’s Wing getting Kelly Slater grub // Ryan Decenzo tees off // Tim Gavin & Ako // Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg with a nice swing // Greg Bretz sinking the putt // Justin Eldridge checking the course // Sean Malto on the chip // Travis Pastrana, Shooter McGavin & pal // Good form for Ako Jefferson
102
Ryan Sheckler’s 6th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, put on by the Sheckler Foundation, went down on July 29th at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The event exceeded expectations raising over $225,000 for the foundation’s “Be the Change” initiative. Kelly Slater, Travis Pastrana, Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, Sean Malto, Ryan DeCenzo, Alex Midler, Davis Torgerson, Wilmer Valderrama, Danny Masterson, Chris McDonald (a.k.a. Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore) and many more were in attendance.
As the sun began to set, the golfers gathered in the Trump National Clubhouse for dinner and the live auction. The live auction brought celebrities and other generous individuals together to donate funds and help the foundation’s “Be the Change” initiative, and there were definitely some spirited bidding wars. One of the highlights was Travis Pastrana’s $18,000 purchase of a swimming lesson with Olympian Michael Phelps. At Pastrana’s request, Shooter McGavin (Chris McDonald) agreed to attend the swimming lesson.
The event kicked off with Red Bull’s $10,000 putting contest, which got the golfers in the groove for a shotgun start. The course overlooks the ocean, and it seemed like there was a party on every hole. The round of golf was quickly followed up with happy hour and the greatly anticipated Fred Water Helicopter Ball Drop, where Dan Morilak won $5,000.
After the auction, Kelley James entertained the tournament attendees with an amazing set, and he was joined by 11-time World Champion surfer Kelly Slater to write and play a song for the finale. The Sheckler Foundation’s “Be the Change” initiative exists to help injured action sports athletes and children in need. The generosity of the event attendees, volunteers and sponsors was incredible!
LIMITED EDITION AVAILABLE IN 7.75, 8.00, 8.25, 8.50 WITH ARTWORK BY SYLVIA JI
TEAM RIDER: ALEC BECK | PHOTO: MATT SMITH
2013_BLISS_WhiskeyBoard_ALEC.indd 1
8/20/13 3:21 PM
Interview: Max Ritter :: Photo: Emily Quirk Diarrhea CHA-CHA-CHA, Diarrhea CHA-CHA-CHA. From Papa John’s Pizza to the top! The new Diarrhea Planet album is out and called I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams. It is available at fine retailers everywhere. They are rich with Diarrhea for sure. Pick up the goods! The Diarrhea questions first, of course. Tell us about that time when you had to tell your granny you play in a band called Diarrhea Planet for a living... her reaction? My grandma just chuckled and didn’t seem surprised in the least bit. I’ve always loved potty jokes so my whole family has gotten used to my sense of humor. My grandma did tell me that she did not like our first record at all because it was too rowdy. She likes the new one a lot though. She even headbanged a little to it! Even now, at this point, it still has to feel kind of good when you roll up to a venue and see Diarrhea on the marquee? Still a win? Oh of course, it feels awesome. I always take pictures of it and
104
post them with captions like “got ya.” It always feels like we played a big joke on the entire city that has to look at the marquee. The four guitar players… I am starting to wonder why you don’t you see more bands that have four guitar players and why it does seem to work with DP. I think it is a lineup that has not been followed traditionally so a lot of people have not even considered four guitars to be an option. It is also more expensive to travel with that many people, but it’s definitely worth it. It works for us because we learned how to listen to one another and stay in our roles within the band. The first step in trying to make your band sound pro is learning your role within the band and figuring out how to best utilize it in a way that compliments everyone else. Having a big head gets you nowhere; got to be a team player. At any point are you like, “Fuck, we can drop just one guitar player and have so much more room in the van.” No, not really. We have toured with only three guitars before,
when all of the guys had finished or dropped out of college. It was okay and we made it work but I think we all really missed the four-guitar sound. Sometimes three just doesn’t cut it. The new record sounds huge and live. Talk about working with Titus Andronicus frontman Patrick Stickles and how he made the album better. It was really fun hanging with Patrick and the Titus crew in the studio. He is a very encouraging dude and did a good job of pushing us a little when he was there. Also, his sense of humor kept everyone in high spirits. It was a blast. What did you guys try to do differently on this go-round? It definitely is a little more serious lyrically ... Definitely more serious subject matter. We slowed down a lot and tried to focus on playing more mid-tempo (at least to us) than we ever had before. The songs were also much longer. It was great tracking live because everything felt much more natural. The good and bad of working
at Papa Johns? The good: awesome co-workers, the best boss, you can tour and they will hold your job, free pizza and a super easy job. The bad: super redundant, not the greatest pay, you quickly realize that no one could enjoy working at PJs for their entire life. Name some Nashville bands people need to hear? No Regrets Coyote, Bully, Richie, Cy Barkley and the Way Outsiders, Kopecky Family Band, Evan P. Donohue, Ogg, Fox Fun, D. Watusi, PUJOL, Natural Child, Heavy Cream, Study Hall, the Apache Relay, and of course Jeff the Brotherhood! Shout-out Citay: Shout outs to Donny Hosey, Laura Lee, Tough Gus, Party Mage, Danny Herman, Big Mike Harris, Keegan (t-shirt klub), Jake “The Steak” Orrall, Holland Nix, Bobby E. Orrall, Jon Prine, Futurebirds, Volcom, and T-Swift (kisses)! Diarrhea Planet’s I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams is out now on Infinity Cat Records. JEFF backs ‘em so you should too!
Yeasayer Live Review & Photo: Max Ritter The Observatory : Santa Ana, CA August 12, 2013
This one was smooth sailing, minus the fight that broke out during the band’s encore. Double shakas go out to bass player guy for just straight jumping into the crowd to break it up. After that was sorted out, everyone started doing push-ups and flexing and it was all good, YEEEWWW! Alright, in other news …
Reviews: Max Ritter
Sic Alps She’s On Top EP Drag City
Kelley Stoltz Double Exposure Third Man Records
Cosmonauts Persona Non Grata Burger Records
Tomorrows Tulips Experimental Jelly Burger Records
Sic Alps no mas. Final release from longtime Bay Area band. RIP Sic Alps. Going solo…
Kelley has a garage in SF behind his house that he converted into a studio called Electric Duck, and it is basically heaven for vintage recording geeks and musicians that like to record to tape. It’s where he spends every day producing other notable SF band’s records and making his own magic, like this first single from his new album, “Kim Chee Taco Man.” I peed my pants when I heard it.
Maybe their best yet! Third LP from the psych punker bums Cosmonauts. Check out their new video for their single “Shaker,” directed by Burger video-wizard Steele O’Neal and filmed by Jamie Heinrich. Shout-out on the nice insert photo in the LP by the man/myth/legend photographer Nolan Hall. “What Me Worry” is the ultra-mega jam.
Sophomore album available now! The special three-hundo peachcolored vinyl edition looks smooth like an egg yolk dancing on your turntable. Al Knost is one of the nicest dudes ever and he loves to make BEAUTIFULLY BUMMED OUT BEACH POP JAMZ!
106
108
Rider: Griffin Colapinto
Photo: Joe Foster
Live life in the bowl
www.banzaibowls.com
0018_HO13_Project_BA_BlueShoe_Sngl_Blisss.indd
Trim: 10.5” W X 13.625” H
Bleed: 0.125”
Layout Scale: 100%
Shoe design by Brian Anderson
SUPER IOR STA BILIT Y A ND PROTECTION