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photography • derek bahn artist • dakota gomez jumper • rvca randoms • 24 product • 28 gregory jacobsen • 30 c. finley • 32 toshihiko mitsuya • 34 super taste • 38 johnny marr • 40 sweat & vietnam • 42 grant hatfield • 44 volcom pipe pro • 46 case ma’claim • 50
joe foster • 56 fashion • 64 daan van der linden • 70 welcome to mammoth • 74 babes ride out • 78 2016 grand prix • 80 big brother shit show • 82 swmrs record release • 84 dead heavens • 86 reviews • 87 groms • 90
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Editor-in-Chief nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com
Editor
joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com
Creative DirectoR mark paul deren : madsteez madsteez@madsteez.com
assistant editor delon isaacs delon@blisssmag.com
EDITOR AT LARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com
SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com
MUSI C EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com
advertising ads@blisssmag.com
contributing Photographers
Jason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson, Derek Bahn, Tom Cozad, Bruce Beach, Robbie Crawford, Ryan Donahue, Joe Foster, Sean Sullivan, Delon Isaacs
contributors
Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon, JP Olson, Bruce Beach
BL!SSS Magazine
MARCH 2016
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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.
Artist: Case Ma’Claim If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com
@805BEER SEE THE BUMMY KOEPENICK STORY AND MORE AT 805BEER.COM
HURLEY JULIAN X NOLA WILSON COLLECTION
Each year Julian Wilson and his mother Nola, a breast cancer survivor, team up on a new boardshort to draw awareness to the most common cancer in women worldwide. Always in pink, the Julian x Nola Wilson Snapper boardshort is a Hurley performance piece constructed with a much greater purpose than just being one of the leading boardshort in the market. It’s estimated that 1.7 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and the Wilsons can’t stress how important it is for both women and men to get annual checkups, as well as build awareness and support in search of a cure. The Snapper Collection consists of a boardshort, the JW Snapper hat, and two Hurley shirts. Help spread awareness today, #ChicksCheckYahTits.
VANS PRO SKATE PARK SERIES
Vans is thrilled to announce the formation of its first-ever world championships of park terrain skateboarding with the 2016 introduction of the Vans Pro Skate (PS) Park Series. Over the next several months, top professional skaters (male & female) around the globe will have the chance to battle it out for a total prize purse in excess of a half-million bucks. The 2016 Vans PS Park Series season consists of four Men’s PS Global Qualifiers and one Women’s PS Global Qualifier occurring over five months and across four continents, culminating with the Vans PS Park Series World Championships. The five highest ranked skaters to emerge from the PS Global Qualifier system will challenge the top 15 pre-seeded exclusive PS Park Series elite pros for the title of park terrain World Champion in Malmö, Sweden on August 20. Track the progress and subscribe for updates of this new and exciting contest at www.vansparkseries.com.
CONVERSE CHUCK II REFLECTIVE PRINT COLLECTION
Light up the night with the new Converse Chuck II Reflective Print Collection. Launching the beginning of this month, Converse has updated its infamous Chuck Taylor All Star II with a series of street-ready prints that bounce striking patterns when hit by bursts of light in low-light environments, which is freakin’ nuts. This new release reimagines two of Converse’s most iconic prints, camouflage and stars and will be available in both hi-top and ox silhouettes. This new collection will retail for 80-85 US bones and will be available at all Converse retail stores and online at converse.com
THE ZILKER BY SANOS EYEWEAR
Coming straight outta San Onofre, infused with a little Austin, Texas twang, Sanos Eyewear has become one of our favorite brands for this fresh new year and one of our favorite pieces from Sanos range is the Zilker. Sanos Eyewear offers clarity through wood, as they’ve created an eyewear brand that is eco-friendly and natural while offering a durable, made-to-last product. Our featured product, the Zilker, is constructed with pear wood and is water sealed with a UV polarized lenses. The sun is no freakin’ joke, so order yourself a new pair of shades at www.sanoseyewear. com. And don’t feel guilty about shopping ever again, because a portion of every pair of Sanos shades you purchase goes to helping non-profits that work with Disabled Veterans.
NCHE WETSUITS
Come on, really! A new wetsuit company? In this day and age? It didn’t make any sense to us at first go, but after thorough examination and investigation, we’re all on board and admire the hell out of NCHE Wetsuits. Founded by Jarrad Howse, Simon Barratt, and Michael Eaton, these dudes have created a uniquely minimalistic and fashionable range of wetsuit products at incredibly affordable price points. Simplicity will never go out of style, which is what quality NCHE can’t stress enough with their all-new collection of zipperless, large paneling wetsuits. All NCHE wetsuits are built with the highest quality neoprene and materials, without any type of huge NASCAR logos commonly found on all other suits. Find yourself an all-new fitted wettie at www.nchesurf.com today!
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ROARK SIMA WINNERS
The SIMA Image Awards went down in all its glory at the Grove of Anaheim this past month. And though the majority of the industry heavyweights were in attendance, it wasn’t just the big boys taking home the trophies. Our dear friends over at Roark walked away with… drumroll please, both “Breakout Brand of the Year” and “Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year.” And honestly, how could they not – who else creates a company to take exotic trips across the globe to inspire the look of each season’s campaign? Kudos to you revivalists, kudos to you.
TRUST ME VODKA
The last thing in the world I’d ever trust is a bottle of booze. Well, I take that back, I’ve trusted you too many times my antagonizing friend, and though your name might convince me to order another Moscow Mule, you bet your ass the decisions I make are truly my own. This is one of the first alcohol brands that is getting its creative polish by its love from the art community. First to bat is none other than past BL!SSS Magazine cover artist Jeff Soto. It comes by the way of Trust Me Vodka, organic and gluten free. When you see this top-shelf beauty be sure to order a double. Trust me, it’s well worth it.
SHAUN WHITE BUYS MAMMOTH
That’s right, last month the “Flying Tomato” proved to the world that he, in fact, is madly in love with woolly mammoths. Or maybe he just sees the huge potential in what the Mammoth Mountain crew has been working on for quite some time and knows he can lend a hand. Either way, the Olympic gold-medalist is now a minority stakeholder in California’s largest resort. And this news comes after last year’s acquisition of Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. We’re sure that Shaun White and team Mammoth will be unveiling some new concepts in the near future. We’ll keep ya posted.
VOLCOM MOD TECH SURF VITALS
This has been one of the weirdest years for unpredictable weather yet, especially if you’re living in California. It could be hot as balls three days straight, and in a blink of an eye you could find yourself caught in storms, gale force winds, and all sorts of crap, which is exactly why you shouldn’t leave your house without a couple items from Volcom’s all-new Mod-Tech Surf Vitals. This range offers pieces like the sleek waterproof Stone Storm Jacket II, the all-new 50+ Anti-UV Lefty wetsuit tops and vest, and a whole range of heavy-duty tarpaulin/nylon construction Mod-Tech Surf Bags. The world’s a scary place, man, and Volcom wants you to be prepared. Look for this collection anywhere at core surf shops near you.
THE SESLA
Crafted from 20 years of skate footwear expertise, éS just released what they’re dubbing their best skate shoe ever. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a pair of the all-new SESLA and though they look like a run-of-the-mill skate shoe, they’re everything but. Key elements to this new release are their STI Energy Foam, which helps absorbs impact and redirects energy upwards and the new Thermothane toe cap, which increase durability and provides ultimate flick. Top that off with the fact that they are extremely lightweight and easy on the eyes and well… you might just have the best shoes ever from the éS team.
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left to right • Active, Pinnacle Coach Jacket - $44.99, activerideshop.com • Billabong, Surfplus Briggs Jacket - $89.95, billabong.com • Hurley, Blocked Runner $60, hurley.com • Lira, Arlon - $78, liraclothing.com • ourCaste, Pierre Jacket - $80, ourCaste.com • Quiksilver, Shell Shock Windbreaker - $60, quiksilver.com • RVCA, ANP Coaches Jacket - $65, rvca.com • Roark, The Savage - $120, roark.com • Ezekiel, Howser Jacket - $75, ezekielusa.com • Vans, Woodberry Windbreaker - $69.50, vans.com • Vissla, Charter Jacket - $65, vissla.com • Volcom, V & R Jacket - $120, volcom.com
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interview • liz rice mccray
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This month we had the pleasure of interviewing Gregory Jacobsen, the multitalented creator, performer, artist and all-around interesting human. To find out more about him, visit www.gregoryjacobsen.com. Ok let’s start out. What are a few of your favorite things? Ambiguity, confusion, shoes, noses, pumpernickel bagels, W&N Liquin, hair, no-wave and trombones. You describe your art as “absurd, grotesque, and a bit brutal.” Will you give us some insight to your inspiration behind the characters in your work? The characters are mostly extensions of myself – all of my insecurities and delusions of grandeur. They are beings that are sad and pathetic but also noble, superheroes of failure. I’m always focused on “flaws” that enhance beauty, that give an insight into a true personality. I’m always suspicious of perfection, even though I myself am always trying to obtain it. I either get bored or frustrated – I can’t figure out which one. My work swings between trying to bring this out in subtle ways and magnifying these traits to a cartoonish and absurd degree. I always strive to have an ambiguity in the work where it’s not clear how the work should be viewed. Sometimes it could be seen as mocking, but it always relates back to me – I’m often very hard on myself and I have ridiculous body issues. Interesting, I was going to ask you a question if there was an element of self-portraiture, but you’ve already answered it. What do you reference for your paintings? Nighttime dancers? Past lives? Adult novels? Malls? Butcher shops?
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I have a giant filing cabinet full of 20 years worth of reference material from magazines, printouts from the Internet, photos I have taken, etc. I try to organize everything into categories, but it eventually all ends up on my studio floor. I find the “reference material pile” to be beneficial to the work because I can randomly pull something out that might take a painting in a new, unexpected direction. A lot of the material is of figures culled from fashion photography, cheesecake erotica or amateur porn. I love the first for its aesthetic beauty, its often-stark compositions, and its (sometimes) experimental nature. With the cheesecake and amateur porn stuff, I love that it’s not these gross shaved and glistening stick bodies. They are regular bodies, flaws and all. I also have a lot of images of meat, messes, insects, animals, and food. What is too much? In terms of making a painting that is too upsetting, gross, or whatever? I go from trying to make things subtle – focusing on form, color, emotion, to just saying “fuck it,” where I make the most absurd thing I can imagine. But what is “too much?” I honestly think I hold myself back too much, so I can’t say. For better or for worse, I’m always trying to have a balance in my work. Sometimes some of the more grotesque elements can move the art into goofy or shock-art territory. The grotesque can often be a crutch. On the other hand, I should trust myself well enough to not give a shit. When all is said and done, this sort of hand wringing manifests itself in my work, and it’s what creates the dissonant notes. Do the characters that appear in the paintings have names and re-
appear more than once? Is there an on-going story being told? The characters don’t reappear, although I do have a type I gravitate towards, and I often find myself using the same names when I name portraits. Greta and Gertrude are common names for some of my portraits. It’s a name that is similar to mine, and phonetically has this blockiness and beauty that I really like. There isn’t an ongoing specific narrative to the work. I really don’t think or work that way. It’s too restrictive. I have a lot of themes that I touch on, and when looking at the past 15 years of my work there is a sort of implied narrative that runs through it all. It usually relates to growing up, having freedom to explore the secret spots where only the town’s weirdo kids would occupy: the woods, garbage dumps, etc. And all the sort of secret stuff we would do: lighting fires, having sex, all that sort of shit. What would you say is your artistic medium? I work in a lot of different media: music, performance, writing, sculpture, painting, drawing... All of the different forms work off of and inform each other. Being involved in performance and music is the biggest part of where my visual work comes from. It’s very theatrical, grotesque and comedic. Being in touch with this gives me a lot of fodder for paintings scenes, expressions, exaggerated gestures, etc. I was checking out your band Lovely Little Girls and really enjoyed it. Thank you so much for taking the time to do our interview. One last question: where can people check more of your art? At www.gregoryjacobsen.com.
Live | Travel | Surf
eidonsurf.com
interview • liz rice mccray
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This month we had the pleasure of interviewing the charismatic and lovely C. Finely about her elaborate geometric paintings and her wallpapered dumpster project. Make sure to check out more of her work at cfinley.com. Thank you C. Finely for taking the time to answer our questions. We will surely stay in touch. Will you please introduce yourself to our reader? I am best known for elaborate paintings, skillful use of color and activism through street art. Previous projects include the 2014 Whitney Houston Biennial: I’m Every Woman (a project that featured 85 female artists) and the Wallpapered Dumpsters Project: I Want to Inspire You. Currently I am creating talismans that are hung strategically to wake up to, creating imagery that is specific to what makes your heart sing first thing in the morning. It is so important to keep images that inspire beauty, joy and rapture in your home close to your heart. There is never enough color! You live and work both in Rome and New York
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City. How do you split your time? Lately it has been September through January in New York and February through August in Rome. But who really knows? It is important for me to stay flexible and to be spontaneous. Please tell us about your Wallpapered Dumpster Project? My mission statement is “I want to inspire.” My work is meant to excite! My Wallpapered Dumpster Project is all about the practice of loving the environment and inspiring people to view dumpsters as works of art. If this is accomplished, consciousness has been raised. Environmental activism does not have to be ugly, utilitarian, or simply images of landfills. In fact, it needs to be relentlessly glorious so that people will be inspired to take action. I do consider myself an ecosexual. The more exciting we make ecosex the better; everyone will come back wanting more. What are some of your consistent influences? The New York Public Library picture file, Chinese landscape painting, Matisse, Michelangelo, live
performances (dance, cabaret, La MaMa theater), Color-aid, Rome, Bernini, music, fashion, thrift stores, Venice, NYC, the cosmos. What mediums do you mainly work with? I am primarily a painter, and I like to paint with water-based mediums like acrylic and gouache. I also use wallpaper, costume jewelry and found objects. I like to stay open to the ideas and use whatever material necessary to create in the moment. Is collaboration a medium? I collaborate with dancers, performers, filmmakers, and lots of other artists. Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us? Where can people check out more of your art? I am very excited for two upcoming solo shows in September at the La MaMa Galleria in New York City. In November, I will have a show at the Greenlease Gallery in Kansas City. You can always find me at iamfinley.com, @iamfinley on Instagram and Finley Christine on Facebook. Please keep in touch and let me know if you want a painting to wake up to!
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Toshihiko Mitsuya is a Japanese artist/sculptor who lives and works in Berlin. Mitsuya’s main focus and artwork are sculptures made from aluminum foil, which he shreds, cuts, and folds into warriors, medieval battles, and shiny mythical animals. Toshihiko Mitsuya has been working with the medium of aluminum foil for many years, finding it to have “immense strength, while appearing fragile and delicate.” Mitsuya collaborated with architects, testing the foil’s durability in various forms of construction in order to create these life-sized
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sculptures of equestrian horses, armored statues, and warriors riding mythical creatures. When viewing his giant sculptures it is hard to fathom that all these brilliant and amazing sculptures are created from the common household product used traditionally for covering food and baking. Mitsuya’s sculptures range in size. His current series and latest installation, “The Aluminum Garden,” is a garden consisting of 180 small sculptures, or as
Mitsuya calls them, “structural studies of plants.” Toshihiko Mitsuya’s work is based on a mixture of various cultures, and the subjects and images are common to many countries all over the world. He has also produced flat works, composed of reflections from boards of stainless steel scratched with an angle grinder, which can be said to stand between sculpture and painting. Make sure to check out more of Toshihiko Mitsuya’s sculptures at www.toshihikomitsuya.com.
OFF THE DEEP END It’s hard to keep it under control with all the park sessions, parties and powder days going off this spring. Gather the crew and lose yourself in 20 ft of pure El Niño bliss – get up here.
HOLY BOWLY & POND SKIM • APRIL 17
photography • dominic petruzzi • @dominicpetruzzi model • hennessy • @ashotofhennessy • elite la models hair & makeup • beth carter • @bethcartermua
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interview • liz rice mccray photo • niall lea So, you are just starting your U.S. tour. Actually, by the time people are reading this interview you will have already hit the road and be somewhere in California. Please tell us about this tour – is there anything unique about this one? I played shows in the U.S. last year but I wasn’t able to get to the West Coast. I got to the end of touring in Europe and I felt that I had unfinished business and that I’d missed playing the new songs in California so we booked the shows. I like touring the West Coast. Being that we are a Southern California magazine, is there anything you particularly like/dislike about the West Coast? I like that the trends in music and fashion seem to change quickly. Living in the UK and coming back you tend to notice it more than people living here – it’s always been that way. The venues are good to play at because of the tradition of being an entertainments place. I’m playing the El Ray in LA, which is a place I like to see bands myself. I did Hollywood Forever at the cemetery on the last tour and that was good. Being vegan means I get to try good places to eat. It was just Real Food Daily for the longest time, which was great but there’s plenty of options now. I have a lot of friends in California who I miss when I’m in the UK; Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Mark Mahoney from Shamrock Tattoo and Hans Zimmer – there’s a lot of people. San Francisco has always been great for fans, and San Diego too I think. There’s a tradition of UK musicians doing well in California, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, The Cure. Tell us some things you love and hate about being on the road with your band? I like buses and being on the move. California is beautifully set up for it, the classic riding with your band on the bus after playing a show. What’s not to like about that? If I can find old bookshops that makes me happy, and somewhere that sells APC clothes. Airports are a drag, obviously. We have noticed how lovely you are with your fans – signing autographs before and after shows, taking the time to say ‘hi.’ What would you say is the most frequently asked question from your fans when signing autographs? I like meeting fans. They’re always very nice and it’s interesting to me to find out about who follows me. The most striking thing these days is the tattoos. So many fans get tattoos with a picture of me, which is always amazing. I see a lot of tattoos with “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” written; that’s become a classic thing with the Smiths fans. The most frequently asked question would be, “Why did it take you so long to do a solo record?” True. It used to be, “Will The Smiths ever reform?” But that stopped a long time ago. Even journalists have stopped asking that now, which I never thought would happen. Well, some of them anyway. Of all the songs you’ve written/recorded, do you have a favorite? And do you have a favorite song you love performing live? It’s a fantastic thing when your favorite song at any given time is a new one. I like this one I have at the moment called “Spiral Cities.” Some songs
I like for the riff or some for the words. We’ve started playing an old Smiths song called “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby” and that’s probably doing it for me at the moment. Tell us about your son Nile and his band “Man Made.” We interviewed Nile a year or so ago and he was lovely. Actually, I’m slightly obsessed with his song “Carsick Cars.” Will he be supporting you on this tour or will Man Made be doing their own U.S. tour soon? Nile’s just signed to Kobalt and the Man Made album is finally coming out in April. It was supposed to come out last year but he kept working on it. He’s a perfectionist. It does sound very good. He’s going out on another UK tour soon and then he wants to play U.S. dates. I think it’s a matter of getting an invitation. Those guys live in their van. What current musicians do you find fascinating and why? I think Savages are really good. I liked their first record and the new one is great. They have energy without sacrificing the tension, there’s a lot of tension in their music, which is uncommon. On a different take altogether is Mimicking Birds, who are very good and are opening for me at these shows. Such beautiful melodies but intense and deliberate. People should really try to see them if they can. Do you have any advice to artists starting out in the state of the music industry today? It strikes me that you need to be as autonomous and independent as possible. The economics for bands these days is so difficult. Just getting on to a stage without having to pay. I hate that culture of so called young promoters making bands hand over money and selling tickets to play a little club, and exploiting them and their friends. It’s like something from the fifties or something. Young bands have to run like a little army if they want to survive, but I’m an optimist and there will never be a time when young people won’t communicate through being in a band or following a band because there’s nothing like it. Look at David Bowie – started when he was 15 and was still doing it until the end. If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for all of us. Stick at it. Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us to look for? The new live album is just out. It’s called Adrenalin Baby and I’m pleased with how it turned out. If people want to know what me and the band actually do then it’s there on the record. I’ll be playing some shows with Hans Zimmer and the orchestra in Europe in spring, and I’m writing my autobiography, and then we’ll do another record. Last question and not to be depressing, but when all is said and done how would you like to be remembered? I’d be happy to be remembered as a guitar player. If I’m remembered as an artist too, then fine. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. You are a legend and are so lovely!
words • nate zoller photos • zoller/dylan gordon Dirt particles creep around my sunglasses and into my eyes as the motor roars beside me. It’s nine o’clock at night and I’m in the sidecar of an old Russian Ural motorcycle being driven by a Vietnamese man in a wife beater and cargo pants. To my right are two shades of black. The further is black and ominous and I am certain it’s a cliff. I haven’t seen the convoy in a few hours but that doesn’t matter. This was a mission from point A to point B. I had just met the driver earlier in the day yet I carried ultimate confidence that he would get me to the safety of our final destination – Tea House Shangri-La. Rewind a few days and you will see a group of revivalists dragging
surfboards, skateboards and cameras through the Hanoi Airport. It’s summer in Vietnam and a heat wave is reported to slam into us upon exiting the airport walls. “Us” consists of skateboarder Jamie Thomas, photographer Dylan Gordon, filmmaker Cameron Holland, photographer/moto enthusiast Chris McPherson, manager Brandy Faber, producer Rod Stewart, Roark CEO Ryan Hitzel and myself, surfer/photographer Nate Zoller. Big crew, big fun, let’s go. Conditions outside melted around 105 degrees with an 85% chance of soggy everything. Baby powder doesn’t stand a chance here. But the van was cold. Our little icebox on wheels took us over the brand new 8.8-kilometer Nhat Tan Bridge. Although luxurious and wide,
the bridge led out into a bottleneck of chaos. Zipping motorcades of women on scooters wearing windbreakers that covered the entire length of their arms ending just past the fingers. God help them not get a tan. The traffic resembled Jakarta; congested chaos filtered only by the excellence of each local driver. What I thought was going to take hours was over in 10 minutes. We were at the Essence Hotel before I realized we were out of the traffic jam. It was only a few steps from the van to the hotel, but once I got my gear out and walked through the front doors sweat lined my pores. On the other side was a 40-degree temperature change. My perspiration turned icy. Maintaining a stable body temperature would be no easy task on this 10-day journey. We ordered a bucket
jamie thomas lenin ride in hanoi • photo • gordon
of Saigon Specials from the staff and the swelling in our brains subsided. But Jamie wanted to skate, even in the ungodly heat. So we headed into the wet-hot summer to scout some local spots with local skaters. We ended up at the Lenin statue in downtown Hanoi where a perfect marble ledge was ready for shred. Unlike a lot of other countries, Vietnam has no problem with skaters riding all over the base of the statue. Lenin’s watchful eye is enough regulation among moral code in the area. The next day we ended up at Dr. Cuong’s compound. Cuong was the key piece to the puzzle of us getting some motorcycles that would run a smooth race. He would also be our guide in showing us the way to the upper highlands of the north. He outfitted us with four old Russian Ural bikes, one with sidecar and driver, and two old U.S. military Jeeps left behind from the war. After an hour or so we got the Jeeps strapped with gear, boarded our respected bikes and motored out the gate. I had never been in a sidecar before so I volunteered as guinea pig. The driver behind the Ural was a professional. He took me from the city to the country in a matter of minutes and everything around us changed. The towns got smaller and vertical mountains replaced the Hanoi high rises. That sidecar
was like a 3-D arcade game where I had no say in my immediate future. I had the Rolling Stones Let It Bleed album in my ear and that’s all I needed. After a lunch of dried fish things and Vietnamese Coca-Cola I got on a Ural of my own. The Russian bike was smooth on the pavement, and after an abrupt right-hand turn by Dr. Cuong we ended up on a single-track mountain road. At this point the sun was blazing down on us so hard that if you stopped to drink some water your heart rate would explode. Rod even suffered a mild heat stroke that he rid of through a couple Bia Ha Noi coldies. That small country road was dotted with little houses and massive rice fields. The kids in each mini community would hear the moto engines and come running out with eager smiles. We must have sounded like loud aliens flying by on our way to Shangri-La. By nightfall we still had a few hours left of expert dirt road riding to go. Potholes, steep climbs, sharp corners, sheer drops… basically I was out of my pay grade and so I relieved my Ural to the resilient Rod. That led me straight back to the sidecar and a bumpy unsettling night climbing toward Vietnam’s higher elevation. After endless bumpy corners we made it to the teahouse, the rest of the crew shirtless and broken down upon our arrival. Riding moto was eye opening but the heat was relentless, so we
jamie thomas christ air • photo • gordon
grabbed a ferry towards the Ha Long Bay island chain the next day. The ferry driver was charging through the choppy harbor inlet at what must have been 15 knots. Vietnamese ladies in high heals were getting drenched by the spray off the bow, one lady vomited onto her shoes it was so rough. We got to Cat Ba Island and boarded the 80-foot junque, the Cat Ba Imperial. Our captain told us they have to refurbish any charter boat in the island chain after 15 years with no questions asked. Even though our vessel looked out of the early twentieth century it was only a few years out of the shipping yard. For the next three days we were treated to fresh seafood meals in between cliff jumping and uninhabitable island hopping. We kayaked through caves into jellyfish laden inlets. The geography is unlike anywhere else in the world and I think I did a thousand backflips off the roof of the Cat Ba Imperial. We brought water filters along to give to local villagers and a small island off Cat Ba was perfect to do so. The only way to get around the island was by bike so we rented some and headed into the small town. Every time I have been present in distributing filters the reaction on the people’s face is always astonishment. In a blink of an eye their lives are changed forever, and it’s awesome that Waves For Water outfitted us with filters to distribute throughout the world.
zoller running from the heat • photo • thomas
jamie thomas at da nang’s dragon bridge • photo • gordon
zoller surfing the air waves • photo • gordon
zoller making the most of the one day swell • photo • gordon
cat ba imperial • photo • zoller
It’s weird doing a boat trip with no swell window along the way. I had my surfboards ready for any bump that would break but we would not find waves unless we hopped a plane to the coastal town of Da Nang. After 45 minutes in the air we landed in what looked like Vegas on the beach. Big high rises and brand new bridges were lit up to a tee. Everything was bustling the night we arrived, and it was a stark difference from the quiet Ha Long Bay island chain. We checked into the Chu Hotel and passed out in the fifth story corner room. I woke up to the sun at 4:30 a.m., looked out the window and saw hundreds of locals on the beach playing on a barge. I couldn’t believe how crowded it was so early. I ran down to see what was up, shot some photos of the chaos and by the time the sun had risen a few inches off the horizon the crowd started to recede. By 7 a.m. the beach was empty. I then remembered back to the Hanoi scooter girls and that nobody wants darker skin in this country because it means you are part of the labor work force and not well to do. Eastern ideals.
The waves that first day were small and East Coast-ish but it was breaking so we were on it. We went up the road a few clicks to none other than China Beach. Although us Americans are familiar with this name, the local Vietnamese despise it because of ongoing social conflict with the Chinese (they call the South China Sea and the South Vietnam Sea as well). This is where the American soldiers would come for R&R during the war, and I’m pretty sure it was the basis for the surf scene in Apocalypse Now. One local joked to me saying he has found bones in the sand on this beach. I believed him until I got home and did some research. There were no battles fought on this beach, all warfare occurred to the south quite a ways down. It made for a cool vision in my head for the rest of the trip though.
jamie thomas rise and shine • photo • gordon
Ten days in Vietnam with this hard-charging crew in this heat felt like a month. Our bodies had been tested and were beginning to hate us but we came out enlightened. I’m already planning a surf trip around what I learned from the locals, and with a coastline roughly the size of Chile I think the odds are pretty good in my favor. I’ll let you know how it goes.
jamie thomas getting a local tow • photo • gordon
Interview • ed templeton What do you do to pay the bills? The readers want to know. And when you are not paying those bills, what do you spend your time doing? I wear many hats and some of these hats help pay the bills more than others. I manage social media at Vans Skate; I run their Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter and whatever other hot social media tool is all the rage with the kids at the moment. The Internet is always hungry so I’m constantly feeding it content, posting and queuing up stuff throughout the week. I also sell vintage clothing online. My store, Cardigan King (www.CardiganKing.etsy.com), has kinda been taking off over the past few years so I’ve been spending a good chunk of my time sourcing pieces, shipping packages, and generally running my shop throughout the week. My girlfriend Ashley is the one who got me into selling vintage. She has a successful store too and also works from home so we are always together, which is pretty rad. I spend most of my time going to thrift stores, surfing, skating, and sitting in front of a computer. Being my own boss and working from home gives me a lot of flexibility with my schedule and that’s something I really value. What has been your best wildlife encounter in real nature?
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It’s a tie between two encounters, both very different. You were with me on the first one at the HB pier. The weather was terrible that day, real stormy and windy, but we decided to go to the end of the pier. Along the way we saw whales spouting out on the horizon. It was late spring and the Grey whales were migrating back north. As we got to the end of the pier I heard Deanna scream. We look down and it’s a mother Grey whale with two calves cruising right below the pier. Suddenly one of the calves breached and then the other. Then they started spy hopping and twirling around in the water like ballerinas. It felt like they knew we were stoked on seeing them and they were showing off for us. The other encounter happened with my friend Jordon, who at the time lived in rural Warner Springs located in the mountains east of San Diego. We were driving down a dirt road late at night right next to a cattle field when we noticed something moving off of the side of the road that just caught our headlights. As our car crept closer we see that it’s a coyote dragging something big across the road. We completely stop the car and watch while this coyote drags half of a cow carcass, the head, two front legs, and a trail of intestines behind it. That image has been seared into my brain ever since.
In this day and age why are you shooting film instead of digital? How can you afford it? When I first got interested in shooting photos, all the photographers I knew (you and Nick Haymes of Little Big Man) shot film, so naturally that’s what I picked up. This was back when digital wasn’t in everyone’s pockets and DSLR cameras were a clunky 2 mega pixels that only the rich could afford. I started out on a Canon AE-1 35mm camera, which I still use today. If I were to have started on digital I probably would have gone through 10 different cameras by now! I see the allure of digital cameras and how convenient they are, but I am afraid it would change my style of shooting by slowing me down, disconnecting with the subject, looking at the back of the camera and changing settings. It would also get rid of my favorite part of shooting film – the thrill of getting a roll back and going through the photos. When I buy film I usually do it in bulk online. It comes out to around $5 a roll compared to $8 a roll that the camera stores sell you. What people don’t realize is how expensive the processing and scans can be! But there are definitely ways to shoot film rather inexpensively. Is there a place you’d like to visit before North Korea or ISIS gets a nuke and blows us all up? I would love to visit Turkey and Morocco. Give me a pallet of color film and put me on a plane. Is there such a thing as “selling out,” and what would that be for you? Yes, I feel like there is such a thing as selling out. For a laugh, Google “selling out” and a photo of Metallica pops up first. Selling out for me would be if a brand or magazine hired me for a job and asked me to make my photos look like someone else’s work. Like, “Can you make this look like a Terry Richard photo?” – etcetera. Have you ever had a confrontation while shooting in the streets? Yes, I’ve had a few confrontations over the years but luckily nothing psychical. It’s usually people saying, “Don’t take my picture.” The worst it’s been is someone getting in my face and asking, “Did you fucking take a picture of my girlfriend?” at a grocery store. This was at the checkout stand and after he finished checking out I saw him waiting in the parking lot for me. He was pacing around fuming mad so I had to slip out the back door and walk the long way to my car.
At what age did you lose your virginity, and have you ever punched anyone in the face? (Both say a lot about a person.) I was 17, and no, I have never punched anyone in the face. In fact, I have never been in a fight before. Your new zine has a lot of brilliant color. What is your breakdown of color versus black and white? Are you going double camera some days? I always try and carry two cameras in my bag when I go out: a rangefinder with black-and-white film, and a point-and-shoot with color film. For practical reasons and for comfort I’ve just been carrying a point-and-shoot around in my pocket when I am out. If I know I am going to be doing a lot of walking I will carry both cameras and shoot primarily with black-and-white and have the point-and-shoot on deck if I see a nice pop of color. Recently I’ve been going out a lot at night and have been relying on the flash of my point and shoot.
There’s a lot of photos of a certain woman in your zine, who is this muse? That’s my girlfriend Ashley. We’ve been together for seven years and she’s been in every photo show I’ve had and on three covers of my photo zines – her legs are on the cover of my newest zine. She is the center of my world so naturally she appears in all of my work. She also has a great photographic eye and has helped me come up with some cool concepts for photos over the years. Is there a part of your work you dislike and would like to change? I’d like to change the amount of time I spend shooting photos. I need to take time out of my day and go out and walk the streets more with my camera. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? It came from a Mark Twain quote, “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.” What’s the end game for you? What is the ultimate goal you are working towards? I would love to have constant photography work coming in, representation from a gallery and a published photography book. I would like to turn my passion into a paycheck.
It sure seems like someone over there under the big stone has sold their soul to devil, because every time the surf forecast becomes available for the Volcom Pipe Pro waiting period the best swell of the entire season seems to stack up. This year was no exception, and as the staging was being built storms across the northern pacific were in full effect. But at that time, I don’t think anyone could have predicted exactly how good it was actually gonna be. When it was all said and done, many were saying the final two days of the event were the best consecutive two days of Pipeline in over a decade… and maybe ever. And day one was no slouch either, as 8- to 10-foot surf and light offshore easterlies made for unbelievable, breathtaking, nonstop action.
kelly slater • photo • bielmann
makai mcnamara • photo • bielmann
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We will save you all the gory details and the play-by-play antics, as there were literally dozens of mind-blowing rides, but if you wanna see all the action (and we advise you do) head on over to VolcomPipePro.com and be sure to watch the daily highlights and/or heats on demand. The first 10-point ride of the event came on day two when Hawaiian Zeke Lau snagged a Backdoor bomb and threaded his way through a near-impossible section. The other two perfect 10s of the event came by the way of North Shore locals Jamie O’Brien and McKai McNamara, both on proper Pipe, both on the biggest waves of the heat. Suffice to say, the locals have Pipeline on lock.
bruce irons • photo • lugo
jamie o’brien • photo • bielmann
photo • jack morrissey
photo • bielmann
photo • bielmann
gavin beschen • photo • lugo
mason ho • photo • vandyke
john florence • photo • lugo
chris ward • photo • vandyke
The perfect surf continued into the semis as Jamie O’ and McKai dispatched Tom Whitaker and Dusty Payne in semi one, and Kelly Slater and Bruce Irons took down South American Marco Giorgi and France’s Joan Duru in semi number two. And onto the final we go… Any one of the finalist could have taken this event as it seemed like everyone was in form and peaking when the starting horn blew. First to strike, and youngest of the four finalist, was McKai McNamara, scoring an 8.67 for a dreamy Pipeline barrel. A couple heroic wipeouts later and without a solid backup score, McKai stood number 3 atop the podium at the heat’s end. Pipe specialist Jamie O’Brien had a couple midrange scores, which secured him the runner-up spot, as it was Kelly Slater who was the unstoppable force with two near identical Pipeline waves where he was flawlessly spit out and into the channel. The fourth man in the final, Bruce Irons, had a bit of a shocker but still came away with “Todd Chesser Hard Charger Award” for his nonstop, last-minute antics throughout the entire contest. Well, that’s it for this year’s Volcom Pipe Pro. It cost many of us three days of work as we were glued to our computer screens but there’s always next year. And if I were a betting man, I’d be willing to bet that the 2017 Volcom Pipe Pro is gonna be seeing some of the best waves of the season once again.
jack robinson • photo • jack morrissey
koa smith • photo • bielmann
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interview • savage habbit
I cannot think of Case without thinking of the Ma’Claim Crew. You are a founding member of this beastly East-German crew. How did being part of it mold you as an artist then and now? It’s funny because I was actually Case years before we started our crew in 2001. Akut, Tasso and I really developed photorealism in Graffiti back then, creating a new technique that uses the spray can as our medium. So yes, it was a milestone in the scene as well as it was for me artistically. By the time we released our book Ma’Claim Finest In Photorealistic Graffiti in 2005 we had travelled a lot and painted tons of murals together. Almost at the same time we started our own projects, each of us going in directions with very different pictorial languages. It was a good learning experience for me and I´m glad it is part of my past - that is why I keep Ma’ Claim as a sort of “last name.” Do you still paint with them? Any illegal spots these days? No, we don’t really get to paint together. We tried really hard to do a reunion painting last year with all four of us, but we ended up painting with only three members due to the crazy logistics. And, I would never talk about illegal spots in public, come on, you know that! Bad boys move in silence (LOL). The ideas of “power” and “movement” have individually played key roles in your work. Can
erfurt erfurt
you tell us how and why they became recurring themes in your work? I grew up in a small village in Eastern Germany. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s the area was a Russian occupation zone and pretty much everything was dull. I can still smell the grey of my childhood surroundings. It was really quite depressing and what made it worse was that my family had access to the Western German TV programs so I knew there was a life beyond the borders, but I just wasn’t able to get there. When the Berlin wall came down in 1989 it felt like a huge relief, and this feeling is what still keeps me so motivated to travel whenever possible. I’m part of the generation that benefits from the peaceful revolution that tore down the wall and connected us to the rest of the world. It was a powerful movement made by mankind. That’s basically what these themes of “power” and “movement” are all about. I deeply believe in peaceful revolutions and the power of unity. I strongly disagree with the idea of any kind of borders that separate what should be united. You beautifully represent this power of movement through the universality of hands. What is it about hands that allow you to communicate your belief in peaceful revolutions and the power of unity? I was always fascinated by drawing hands. In fact, I recently found old kindergarten drawings that I
did at my dad’s house that show how much I was into painting hands. Hands easily communicate with others, which also helped me in the beginning of my career when my English was almost nonexistent and the only language I knew was German. A lot of artists write full paragraphs and messages about their work, but I wanted to have something that people can understand and relate to without written language – something that would give people the freedom to interpret. The beauty about public art is that you get to experience people’s reactions, and no matter where I painted my hands people understood the message behind them, even if I don’t use more universal hand signs. And you overlay these hands, which creates a sensation of literal “movement” across a wall or canvas. Where/how did this technique come about? How did it evolve in your work? What has changed in my work and technique the most since
the Ma’Claim years is the way that I integrate acrylics, brushes and rollers. I’m always trying out new techniques and adding them to my spray can work, especially while I work in my studio in Frankfurt. Me and my wife, Samira, always shoot the photo references to my paintings, and this one time she came up with the idea of double exposing the images to give them a more dynamic character. We tried it and loved the result, and that’s where the overlaying of the hands came from. Speaking of evolution since your Ma’Claim years, what artists have inspired and motivated you through your art career? I know everyone expects an artist to have a stock of artists he or she looks up to, but I was really never like this. Life pretty much inspires me. My wife inspires me a lot; she’s my muse. I think talking to her is what inspires me the most, and of course travelling broadens that.
case x pixel pancho
case x alexis diaz x berlin
amsterdam
los angeles
And how does constant travel affect you? It’s the best! With my passport I’m able to travel to almost every country in the world. I know how privileged that makes me, and that also makes me question our societies and borders even more after being exposed to so many places. One thing is for sure, my traveling experiences have taught me this lesson that there are good people all over this beautiful world; it’s really just the governments and systems that make the difference. You’ve more recently done some dope collaborations. What’s your favorite? Who would you love to collaborate with in the future? I love every collaboration that I’ve done because I respect and
love every artist I work with. Also, these are all collaborations by choice. The circumstances were totally different though with Pixel Pancho. For example, it only took five minutes after we were introduced to each other and then bam – we had our concept and painted it. Collaborating is so deeply rooted within graffiti, especially illegal graffiti and this is the culture that I’m coming from. I’m sure there are collaborations waiting for me. They usually happen spontaneously. Let’s see what the future brings. What are some highlights of your painting career? There are a few for sure but I always say, “Never judge a piece before it’s done.”
new jersey
interview • joey marshall
Joe Foster has come to be a staple figure in the Southern California surf scene. He’s made his name shooting photos in and out of the water and has played mentor to many aspiring young athletes, and he’s an all-around great human being. If you don’t already know Joe on a personal level, may we suggest you make an effort to befriend him, as he is one of those rare few that is so full of positivity that it is infecting. He can see the “good” in just about any and every situation and froths harder than almost anyone in the lineup. He’s one of the funniest people to be around and is unknowingly creating smiles everywhere he goes. He took a few minutes out of his busy schedule and the conversation that ensued went like this… Yo Joe, what’s new in your world? What have you been working on? I have been putting a lot of time in to music when I am not shooting. I have been working on a new full-length record with my band Blood Days and a few other side projects as well. Also been rolling up to LA County a lot. I love the lighting there and my boy Yves Bright has that area dialed. kolohe andino
Where’s your favorite place to shoot in California and why? I would love to be able to shoot Point Mugu but it’s really far and hard to get into. Creek is really fun but bang for the buck you can’t go wrong with Lowers. So much talent there and it’s just beautiful. Who have you been shooting lately? Lately I have been working with Kei Kobayashi, Vince Boulanger, Yves Bright and super grom Trevor Berry from Ventura. Do you have any photo trips planned at the moment? If so, where and with whom? It’s kinda hard to get away these days with a little grom of my own, but up and down the coast are what I’m into now. Who’s the hottest up-and-coming grom through the eyes of Joe Foster? Jett Schilling is unreal and on another level. I also think Trevor Berry from Ventura is showing a lot of promise for only being 12. His style is so fluid and clean. If you were able to shoot any wave in the world, where would you go and whom would you bring? The wave would be Point Mugu because it has left and rights and barrels to air sections. I would love to be there with Kanoa Igarashi, Torrey Meister, Nate Yeomans, Jett Schilling, Matt Banting and Kelly Slater.
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griffin colapinto
michael february
gunner day
jack boyes
Is surf photography it for you or are you planning on reinventing yourself somewhere down the road? And if so, what do you plan on doing? I love hardcore music and photography. Those have always been my two passions in life. I can do any of these things anywhere in the world too, so I am blessed with that. As far as reinventing? I think at this point it’s more like redefining. Trying to get better at what I do and not repeating what and where I’ve been the same way. Just a new approach on what I already do. You’re someone that doesn’t seem to be motivated by monetary accumulation. What’s the driving factor in doing what you do? Lol, yeah that’s a curse. As long as I can do what I love I am happy. What I do makes me and others happy, and that is worth more than any dollar amount to me.
john florence gunner day
brett simpson
isle anderson
matt passaquindici
tyler gunter
taylor clark
chris waring
Let’s talk about your music. For those readers who don’t know, give us your background story and what has been happening lately. In high school I was in probably the first known straight edge band in California. We were called Unity. Eventually that band turned into a band called Uniform Choice. Throughout these times, I had a chance to be a fashion model all over the world but never forgot my true love, music. After many years in Europe and Asia, I decided to come home and start a band called Ignite. We did pretty well and I found myself back in Europe again touring a lot but getting to see these same countries I had already seen again but from another perspective. I played and toured with Ignite for many years. At some point I got tired of touring and playing the same songs every night; sometimes we would play 78 shows in 90 days. It was just a grind, so I decided to leave the band and focus on photography. I started two more bands after Ignite that were not as time consuming. They were Speak 714 on Revelation Records and The Killing Flame on Equal Vision Records.
alex gray
jett schilling
jett schilling
pat gudauskas
So what’s with the band now? I am in one primary band now called Blood Days. We have an EP out on Coretex Records from Berlin, Germany, and the American version on Irish Voodoo Records titled “Last Day on Earth.” I am also working on a project/band called Unity World Wide which will be a global benefit to promote unity around the world through hardcore. I am the guitarist for these bands. In Blood Days, we all write the music together and we are very close to finishing up a full-length LP. When it’s all said and done, how would you like to be remembered? As a person who was fun to be with. An honest person, a person driven by passion and compassion. A good friend, a great father and loving husband. Thanks for your time, Joe. Anyone you’d like to thank or give praise to? Of course praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My parents for dealing and supporting this crazy kid, and my wife Iris Kern Foster for hunting me down from Europe and showing me what real love is and giving me the pride of my life, my little boy Oliver Kyuss Foster. These by far are the greatest gifts in my life.
kanoa igarashi
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photography • derek bahn • @dbahnphotos artist • dakota gomez • @dgome5 model • wasé chief • @wase_chief • nous model management hair & makeup • giovanna simington
bikini • billbong billabong.com
hat • hurley hurley.com
shirt • billabong billabong.com shorts • lira liraclothing.com
top • billabong billabong.com shorts • volcom volcom.com
jumper • lira liraclothing.com
interview • delon isaacs photos • arto saari
How old are you Daan? I don’t think most people would even come close to guessing. And, how long have you been skating? I’m currently 19 years old at the moment, and I’ve been skating for pretty much 10 years or so now. Where the hell is Veldhoven, Netherlands? Has there been a skate scene established there before you, and how’d you break out of that bubble? I’ve been in Veldhoven and that’s where I grew up. And yes, there is a very small skate scene in my hometown. I guess just traveling the world and skating on Volcom, Antihero and Vans trips kind of helped get out of the bubble. I remember the first footage I saw of you had a strong influence on tranny, and I kind of figured that’s all you did. Then, I saw street clips of you then I was like WTF? I don’t wanna sound like a dummy, but how did you get so comfortable skating both? Do you focus one thing at a time, or do you skate kind of everything? I don’t know really, I have different days. One day I’ll be into tranny, the other day I’ll be into street skating. Anyways, skatin’ is skatin’. Are you super influenced by European skaters and that kind of style or more American? Who are your favorite skaters that would surprise most people? I’ve got a lot of favorite skaters. But my top three right now would be Julien Stanger, Frank Gerwer and Fred Gall. Could you ever see yourself living in the U.S.? Yeah, I could see myself livin’ in California, but I’ll always go back home too. Hands down, what’s your favorite kind of beer? From your videos it looks like you really enjoy a nice beer. My favorite kind of beer is Jupiler – from Belgium. How’s 2016 looking for you? Are you currently on any trips or filming for any parts? 2016 is lookin’ good! I’ll be filming for the Volcom video probably ‘til March. The rest of the year I’ll probably go to San Francisco and hang out. I don’t know, I’ll probably be back and forth everywhere. What’s your five-year plan? My five-year plan? Haha, I have no idea. I try to look at it day by day.
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words • lauren burke photos • peter morning & kevin westenbarger Winter is back with a serious bang at Mammoth Mountain Resort this season. More than 20 feet of snow has already fallen so far, and the conditions can best be described as effin killer. El Niño has blessed the Eastern Sierra with more double-digit powder, and the terrain parks are absolutely pumping with some of the world’s best riders calling Unbound home. Chloe Kim, Mammoth’s 15-year-old snowboarding phenom, picked up her second X Games gold medal this season in women’s halfpipe, and Brandon Davis took home the snowboard slopestyle gold in U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth. New this season is the Unbound Transition Park, which includes six acres of bowls, hips, banks, spines, berms and bumps. With hundreds of different lines you can take, this skate park on steroids made from snow is the most fun you’ll ever have in a terrain park. Adding to our fleet of halfpipes is the 7-foot mini-mini pipe. Accessed from Forest Trail, the Jill’s Pipe joins the Super Duper Pipe (22-foot), the South Pipe (18-foot) and the Wonderland Pipe (11-foot). The events in the parks are some of the best we’ve ever had on the books. DC Snowboarding is launching their Hit & Run Global Tour at Mammoth with a big ol’ banked slopestyle course through South Park and the surrounding terrain. The legendary Holy Bowly is making its debut in the Unbound Terrain Parks – Holy Bowly is more of a snowboarding “dream session” than a traditional contest using only transitional snow features. To top off the event schedule is the annual JLA Banked Slalom and Snowboarder Magazine’s Superpark. The snow is deep, the storms keep lining up and the riding is as good as it gets – if you haven’t made it Mammoth yet this season, you’re blowing it.
danny davis
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shayne pospisil
shayne pospisil
shayne pospisil
jimmy goodman
judd henkes
gabe taylor
events
On Saturday February 20th, Babes Ride Out hosted its first ever Gallery Show and Zine release party sponsored by RVCA and Skullcandy. The party was held at Howl event space in Long Beach. Howl is a recently renovated, early 1900s building with a 2500-square-foot gallery space and private courtyard. Bikes lined the streets outside the event and the alleyway was filled with the sound of exhaust. Over 600 people came through the door to view the gallery space, which curated a selection of images that captured the 2015 Campout. Volume 1 of the zine featured photography shot at Babes Ride Out 3 by Heidi Zumbrun, Lindsay Lohden, Jenny Linquist, Stephanie Pacheco, Genevieve Davis, Jennie Warren, Monica Semergiu, Nathalie Kossek, Cindy Dulong, Virginia Hall, Claire Sheprow and RVCA advocate Andrea DoSouto. Proceeds from the gallery images, zine sales and custom RVCA X Babes Ride Out denim jacket by RVCA advocate Alex Matus all went to Moto F.A.M., a fundraising and awareness organization that supports fallen riders. Tunes by DJ Margeaux Agogo and DJ David Blowie kicked off the party followed by live performances by The Two Tens and The Black Tibetans! With a goal of raising funds for charity, showcasing the work of 12 talented photographers and reliving the good times had at B.R.O.3; the event was a great success! Babes Ride Out will continue to keep the good times, good friends and two-wheeled adventures flowing in 2016, with the first annual East Coast campout May 27th-30th, B.R.O. UK August 5-7th and Babes Ride Out 4 October 20th23rd in Joshua Tree. Photos • Delon • clockwise from top left • Babes Ride Out sign • Howl event space courtyard • Alex Matus • Members of Moto F.A.M. • Biker Babes • Biker Dudes • Photographs by Lindsay Lohden • Rikki Styxx of The Two Tens • Motorbikes parked out front • Adam Bones of The Two Tens • Nathalie Kossek Photograph • DJ David Blowie • Beer Guys • Tammi Tibetan
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words • lauren burke
The U.S. snowboarding team dominated the U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth from January 20-24, 2016. After El Nino showed up and dropped a few feet of fresh snow, the athletes took a break from riding powder to compete in both slopestyle and halfpipe in Unbound’s famed Main Park. Big crowds showed up slope side and on the Main Lodge sundeck to watch the action go down as some of the world’s best athletes showed their skills. Local boy Brandon Davis looked at ease on the massive jump line and technical rail section and came out on top of the podium, with Americans Eric Willet and Chas Guldemond in second and third, respectively. For the ladies, Mammoth team athletes Kelly Clark, Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro took gold, silver and bronze in snowboard halfpipe in front of a home crowd and all their friends and family. It was another great event for the books and we can’t wait to do it all again next year.
events
Photos • Kevin Westenbarger & Peter Morning Ladies’ Halfpipe 1. Kelly Clark 2. Kim Chloe 3. Maddie Mastro Ladies’ Slopestyle 1. Anna Gyarmati 2. Jessika Jenson 3. Karly Shorr Mens’ Halfpipe 1. Ryo Aono 2. Chase Josey 3. Gabe Feguson Mens’ Slopestyle 1. Brandon Davis 2. Eric Willett 3. Charles Guldemond
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#VESTALVILLAGE
#HIKE #FISH #CAMP #LIVEMUSIC #POOLPARTY #BYOH
(Bring Your Own Horse)
words • angelyssa granillo
events
DC Shoes packed the house at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of the DC x Big Brother Collection and the new “Best of Big Brother” book titled “Shit.” Dave Carnie, Sean Cliver, Johnny Knoxville, Mike Carroll, Jeff Tremaine, Jason “Wee-Man” Acuna, Chris Pontius and many more rallied together to reflect on the golden days of Big Brother Magazine and celebrate the exclusive collaboration with DC, and in true Big Brother style – nothing was off limits. Guests piled into the “Shit Show” and were greeted by Oompa Loompas in Big Brother tie-dye “Crap” tees, posing for photos in front of an ice sculpture that read “SHIT.” Partygoers passed around blow-up sex dolls for photo booth opps, carried Big Brother-inspired sweets such as rainbow lollipops and cookies shaped like dicks and boobs, and got a first-hand look at Dave Carnie’s pro model shoe. Throughout the night, the Jackass cast and Big Brother crew got together for drinks, photos and a ‘90s skateboard reunion. The DC x Big Brother “Shit Show” kicked-off at 9 p.m. and was buzzing until the early hours of the morning with dirty jokes and laughs as Big Brother editors and pranksters reminisced on the epic moments of Big Brother legacy. People got a first-hand look at the collection featuring the DC Sultan S shoe, t-shirts, a coaches’ jacket and accessories featuring classic Big Brother Magazine covers. On the way out, guests received a limited edition “Best of Big Brother” book and closed out the night with a Big Brother yearbook signing. Photos • Steven Treboux • clockwise from top left • Chad Muska surrounded by the “Shit Show” greeters • Johnny Knoxville posing for the shot • The Big Brother Crew in full effect • Jason “Wee-Man” Acuna all smiles • Sean Cliver, Jeff Tremaine & Rick Kosick with the greeters • Sean Cliver & Dave England • Chris Nieratko & Mike Carroll • Archived history of Big Brother • Big Brother inspired party favors • The “Shit Show” greeters • Sean Cliver & Chris Pontius • Giovanni Reda & Dennis McGrath • Rick Kosick & Dave Carnie posing with the Carnie Pro Model • Brandon Biebel & Bill Weiss
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words • lei hookano photos • derek bahn
events
The accepted formula for an 18, 19, 20, and 21 to 40-year-old’s “fun night out” consists of alcohol, music, maybe drugs, an eclectic group of people, and probably more alcohol. The SWMRS listening party, promoting the release of their Drive North album at Hurley headquarters in Costa Mesa, however, goes against that formula in the simplest, most essential of ways, making it one of the best events to hit this town in months… and I’m sorry if you missed out.
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Attracting local moguls like Mike Dirnt, Jeff Yokoyama, and 100 of the areas most in-tune youth, SWMRS rocked the Hurley skate park like it hasn’t been since the Stopnik brothers’ Cycle Zombies Skate Nights. They screamed about Miley Cyrus being a punk rock queen and the trials and tribulations of Los Angeles living and made everyone in the vicinity believe that Cool Records [SWMRS own label] has its ahead-oftrend edge. Above all, it was good music, good
people and an all around good time. And again… I’m sorry if you missed out. The listening party kicked off the band’s promotional tour around the U.S., with the likes of them landing back at Hurley, so keep your eye out for another SWMRS show in the next few months. That was your warning, don’t read BL!SSS next time knowing that, in fact, you missed out.
interview • max ritter
music
The following is an interview with the great Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools) regarding his most recent musical endeavor Dead Heavens from NYC. Can you give us a brief overview of your latest band Dead Heavens. How did the project come together, who’s involved, etcetera? It’s me, Drew, Nathan and Paul. The band started as my solo band but as we went along it became more of a band in its own right, so we decided to come up with a name. What is the story behind the band name? I have a t-shirt that says “Heavens” on it. I thought that was a good name but figured there must be a million bands called that. Dead Heavens gives more contrast and a different imagery that we thought worked with what we had done thus far. Since then we’ve done a lot to define the band, playing shows, releasing seven-inches – it takes on new meanings as we go. You’ve played in a lot of good bands since the early nineties. You are able to constantly reinvent your sound and try new things. Somebody hearing Dead Heavens for the first time would probably be surprised that it’s
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the same guy who fronted Gorilla Biscuits. What makes you want to leave one style and approach another? That’s how I learned; in HC bands don’t last long. I play differently with different people, gives me a wider experience. I’m kind of astounded that I managed to find another three people that I really mesh and feel creative with. It’s very fun. I read an article that cited the band White Fence as an influence to Dead Heavens. Interestingly enough, Tim Presley also once played in some hardcore bands. Can you elaborate on that influence. Yes, White Fence is definitely an influence, great song writing and production. Was cool to discover Tim was in HC bands – might be part of why his music speaks to me. How did the connection with Thrill Me Records materialize to do a seven-inch? Our bass player Nathan is from San Diego and introduced me to the Thrill Me guys. I love their aesthetic, Dusty Dirtweeds artwork, they’re cool people work with and they’re good friends. What made you decide to cover Can’s “I’m So Green” for the Feel Low seven-inch?
It was actually for a Can comp for Vice that never came together. We were happy with our version, don’t know that anyone else even recorded. I’m glad we found a place for it anyway. It really helped us along stylistically, tried different things. You just completed a short West Coast tour with Mrs. Magician, I love that band. How was that experience? Loved it, MM are super cool people and the shows were rad. A few people pointed out that we’re very California sounding, which I take as a compliment. Half of the band, Paul and Nathan, are from California, so nice to have a vibe for both coasts. Is there a full-length release on the way? Yes, working on it, summer time. Any chance we could ever hear a John Reis produced Dead Heavens album, HA! Wishful thinking? May the stars align :) Thanks, Walter! Dead Heaven’s Feel Low & History In My Hands seven-inches are available via Thrill Me Records. Their previous seven Adderall Highway is available through Velvet Elk & One Little Indian. Good stuff!
photo & review • max ritter
Tracy Bryant Thee Mens Warehouse, Anaheim, CA Saturday, December 13th, 2014 Tracy Bryant of the band Corners opening for Useless Eaters at Thee Mens Warehouse in 2014. Tracy has a new solo record out called Subterranean he recorded in a bunker in Tucson, Arizona, on Burger Records. I feel like I have seen these faces play so many shows in various bands over the last few years and it’s really fun to hear their craft evolving. Yeah dudes.
reviews • max ritter
Augustus Pablo East Of The Nile River Shanachie I don’t do much Reggae, but when I do it could be this reissue of the 1977 classic instrumental reggae album. It’s the ultimate Sunday morning kitchen lurker. I thought Augustus Pablo was a kind of strange name for a Jamaican. Looked it up and it turns out his real name was Horace Swaby.
Hendrix Burning Desire Legacy Posthumous compilation album of instrumental studio takes and rough demos first released in 2006 but never before issued on vinyl or sold in stores until this past Record Store Day. It’s a pretty good one for the collection. No one makes the guitar talk like Jimmy.
Rodriguez Cold Fact Light In The Attic I recently saw the documentary about Rodriguez entitled Searching For Sugar Man. Highly recommended film if you’ve never seen it. Rodriguez has been titled bigger than Elvis in South Africa. He was a nobody pounding nails in Detroit for years and had no idea this album had sold over half a million copies there.
Tall Juan Why Not? BUFU A kind of Ramones/Elvis, the Latin version recorded by Mac Demarco. The proper cover of “Chinese Rock” sold me.
reviews • delon isaacs
Animal Collective Painting With Domino Painting With marks Animal Collective’s tenth full-length studio album. How a band can make more than 5 LPs is a mystery and a huge milestone in itself. It’s not my favorite from these experimental geniuses, but this synth-heavy album does have a lot of good parts. It’s dark and playful but lacking that “je ne sais quoi” found in Merriweather Post Pavilion. Whatever with opinions, this album is deserving of a listen. Seth Bogart Seth Bogart Burger After releasing three albums as our favorite sweaty lover-boy Hunx, Seth has gone and reverted back to his birthed name for his second solo album self-titled Seth Bogart. This album is pretty fun to listen to and there’s something so absurdly inspirational about it. I listened to most of it while washing my car and shaking my butt to the poppy-synthy tracks of Forgotten Fantazies and Eating Makeup. If you’re around Fullerton for some random ass reason, head over to Burger and pick up this album from the source. Elliott Smith Heaven Adores You Soundtrack Universal Heaven Adores You, the album that shares the same title to the documentary on Elliot Smith, is finally out, and boy is it a dark but good little treat. This soundtrack offers many alternate versions, demos, and different takes on songs you have heard before, and tracks you probably have never listened to, all dating back to when our dark muse was just 13 years old. Pick up this album, watch the documentary and have yourself a good constructive little cry. Santigold 99¢ Atlantic As I was writing this review our creative director wouldn’t shut up about the time Santi pulled him and his fanny-pack up on stage before she preformed L.E.S. Artistes back in 2007, a time so confusing for the sexual identity of our dearest Madsteez. Almost 10 years later we find ourselves in 2016 and Santigold is back at it with her third album 99 Cents, in which we can find our artist on the cover undersold and shrinkwrapped with all her best musical and fashionable traits. These beats are dope.
DE
photo • foster
groms
Age: 12 Hometown: Ventura, CA Sponsors: Katin USA, Xcel Wetsuits, Roberts Surfboards & Avasol Sun Screen Favorite Surfer: Dane Reynolds
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groms
Age: 14 Hometown: San Diego, CA Sponsors: Sector 9, Gullwing Trucks, Tortoise Pads, Clairemont Skatepark & Farrill Metal Works Favorite Skaters: Rune Gilfberg Jerry Gurney & Jesse Alba
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