Concrete Skateboarding Issue 122

Issue 122 December 2012 free

Issue 122 December 2012

Art Blender russ pope Sound Check tame impala video links #prettysweet Five Spot cory kennedy

LIMITED EDITION

MANCHESTER MORE INFO AT LAKAI.COM

L A K A I L I MI T E D F O O TWE AR T H E S HO E S WE S K ATE BIEBEL / JOHNSON / MARIANO / CARROLL / HOWARD / WELSH / ALVAREZ / GILLET / BRADY / JENSEN FERNANDEZ / TERSHY / ESPINOZA / HAWK / WALKER / PEREZ / sequence by Colen / ad #162 / lakai.com + crailtap.com supradistribution.com / lakaistickers@supradistribution.com

GUY MARIANO SMITH GRIND LAZER FLIP

CROOKED GRIND | BLABAC PHOTO

SEE MORE OF DAVIS TORGERSON AT DCSHOES.COM/SKATEBOARDING

OUT NOW! AVAILABLE ON iTUNES & DELUXE EDITION DVD PACKAGE

OUT NOW!

A Two Disc Set; SD DVD & HD Blu-Ray Disc. Includes bonus features & footage exclusive to the package. Plus digital downloads & a 48 page booklet.

STARRING: ALEX OLSON / VINCENT ALVAREZ / BRANDON BIEBEL / MIKEMO CAPALDI / BRIAN ANDERSON / CHICO BRENES / SEAN MALTO / CORY KENNEDY ELIJAH BERLE / MIKE CARROLL / ERIC KOSTON / RAVEN TERSHY / GUY MARIANO / JERON WILSON / JESUS FERNANDEZ / JUSTIN ELDRIDGE KENNY ANDERSON / CHRIS ROBERTS / MARC JOHNSON / DANIEL CASTILLO / STEVIE PEREZ / RICK HOWARD / RICK MCCRANK / GINO IANNUCCI

AVAILABLE ON iTUNES & DELUXE EDITION DVD PACKAGE A Two Disc Set; SD DVD & HD Blu-Ray Disc. Includes bonus features & footage rettys e e t v i dedownloads o. com #&pra e48t t ypage s w e ebooklet. t exclusive to thewww.p package.

Plusw digital STARRING: ALEX OLSON / VINCENT ALVAREZ / BRANDON BIEBEL / MIKEMO CAPALDI / BRIAN ANDERSON / CHICO BRENES / SEAN MALTO / CORY KENNEDY ELIJAH BERLE / MIKE CARROLL / ERIC KOSTON / RAVEN TERSHY / GUY MARIANO / JERON WILSON / JESUS FERNANDEZ / JUSTIN ELDRIDGE

issue 122 • december 2012

FEATURES

Will Marshall 360 flip photos

Brian Caissie

Opportunity Walks cover photo & caption by

Kyle Camarillo

Pretty sure I’ve driven my car to every San Francisco spot I’ve ever shot a photo at. Not because they’re far away; it’s just easier and faster with so much equipment. But for this photo of KEEGAN SAUDER, it was the first time I walked from my house to the spot. Prior to this, the school in front of my place has only been good to me for a ledge and flatground—nothing really to shoot. This staircase was built as part of a recent renovation at the front of the building, and Keegan attacked before they could add on the rest of the un-hittable hubba lining the set. After rolling away from this FRONTSIDE 180 we walked back to my house for tea and crumpets. Oddly enough, I’m pretty sure this is his first Concrete cover.

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Hayden Kelly boardslide

photo

Antosh Cimoszko

issue 122 • december 2012

kevin tierney

departments

Rise & Shine – Sean Cronan words

Ben Oleynik

While attending NYC’s School of Visual Arts in the early ’90s, Sean Cronan’s professor told him that he would never make a living from shooting skateboarding. Needless to say, Sean didn’t return to SVA the following year. It’s a good thing, too.

Sean has not only made a living from skateboard photography, he has also documented some of the sickest moments in East Coast skateboarding over the past two decades. Currently, Sean is the director of photography at Zoo York and shot the New York with Ian Twa feature (p.32). With an endless list of world travel, ads, editorial and covers, it’s easy to see that his prof at SVA didn’t know shit. Follow your dreams, kids. Every photo you see of Sean’s is a testament to that. seancronanphotography.com

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RYAN SHECKLER SWITCH KICK FLIP / COLOGNE, GERMANY

TIMEBOMBTRADING.COM FACEBOOK.COM/TIMEBOMBTRADING

Existing as Canada’s longest-running skate magazine has its privileges, one being a deep archive that spans back to 1990.

So each issue we take a random look at the past…

ISSUE #67

November 2003 Josh Evin R.I.P. (1981-2010) ollie [o] Brian Caissie

Anyone that’s been to Hastings bowl in Vancouver knows how big and scary the transitions can be. The locals are a hardcore breed that charge the lines and make it look easy, but even the most seasoned Pros who’ve carved this concrete know that the volcano is a difficult feature.

Even on your best day you’ll be lucky to ollie a couple feet high over the top, but to Josh Evin this was a minibump.

I’ve been on the road with him many times over the years and whether it’s street or parks he always went for the hardest thing around— nothing mellow for this guy.

Shooting with Josh always kept me really alert.

This was not a planned cover at all, just an average day at Hastings. While the sun went down and the darkness was setting in, Josh got the speed burst needed for this massive ollie, and made it look effortless. He even did a few because I shot it on 35mm film and wanted to be sure.

While waiting for days to get the slides back from the lab I was nervous, but it all worked out. You’re missed by many, Josh, and the great stories will continue to be told.

—Brian Caissie

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OSCARMEZA FS 50-50 • PHOTO ARTO SAARI

ULTRA LIGHT • INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH • GUARANTEED FOR LIFE DESTRUCTOTRUCKS.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/DESTRUCTOTRUCKS |

DISTRIBUTED BY ULTIMATE

for you.

distributed by ultimate

Hey, this was unauthorized.--->

“Like� this with your dollars at your local skateshop - there are plenty of Toy boards

This space has been ripped away just for the photo credit---- > Photo by: Atiba Jefferson

THE HUNDREDS

Loud Headphones

There are a lot of choices out there these days for your apparel dollars. Loads of brands, too. This piece by LA-based streetwear mogul, The Hundreds, was in response to all the high-end fashion houses designing pieces with animal motifs. The Hundreds teamedup with artist Joe King to give you their take on the trend, and we’re happy they did.

Joe Boulliot, Thrasher photographer David Broach, and Krooked Pro Mike Anderson are the guys behind the price-point-friendly brand, Loud. The team is impressively stacked, and you’ll find signature-coloured buds from Bryan Herman, Nuge, Sammy Baca, Kenny Anderson, Frank Gerwer and more. Want to share tunes with the homies? Try Loud’s iPhone-friendly Party Horns. Let’s not forget, a dollar from each sale is donated to the cochlear implant foundation, Let Them Hear. Win-win.

Hyenas Crewneck

Headphones & party horns

thehundreds.com

loudheadphones.com / letthemhear.org

REAL SKATEBOARDS Starting July 2012, REAL riders were returning to their hometowns for a visit, but more importantly to go skate. Antoine Asselin, Peter Ramondetta and Alex Perelson chose to push Vancouver for a couple days, and were joined

by Van-based REAL rider Nick Moore. With input from Supra Distribution, REAL created a limited-edition capsule collection (board, tee, sticker and custom grip) to go with their Pushing Vancouver video. Hit the link: realskateboards.com/pushing/vancouver

C1RCA

Fellers Parka

Based on this time of year, warm jackets are something to invest in. And you can safely assume that Whitefish, Montana’s Sierra Fellers knows the merits of a good parka. His signature piece has that classic Americana style, which never really seems to go out. It’s well-insulated with a storm flat on the front zipper that goes right up to the chin. Oh yeah, there’s a camo lining for extra cred. c1rca.com

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collection compiled by casey jones

Pushing Vancouver Deck

DVS

Hawthorne Boot

DVS always comes with weather-resistant kicks this time of year, and the Hawthorne is this winter’s boot of choice. A nice rubber duck toe and gusseted tongue complete with a moisture-wicking lining will help keep your feet dry and warm while trudging through the winter elements on your way to the indoor. During a deep freeze, the Cold Grip Technology outsole designed by DVS keeps traction on point. dvsshoes.com

ETNIES

JP Walker Waysayer

etnies has partnered up with Salt Lake City’s JP Walker, one of their veteran snowboard riders, to offer the Waysayer as part of its Skyline Collection. The boot comes equipped with waterresistant leather, a gusseted tongue and a supercomfy STF DTTF Pro 1 footbed to help you blast through snow banks and slush without making your dogs bark from being cold and wet. etnies.com

LAKAI

Carroll Select All-Weather

Whether you’re into rain-rolling, or want spilled beer to bead right off when your local bar hosts a mini-ramp night, the best thing about this weather-resistant shoe is that you can skate it. Or you can simply have the shoe option if you’re not into putting boots on. Classic skate-mid styling designed to keep the wet out, coupled with a tacky gum rubber outsole to help you out on the slippery stuff. lakai.com

HUF FOOTWEAR Team Signature Series

HUF comes through with an epic four-shoe series of signature colourways, each representing team riders along with their respective board sponsors. They’re packaged with a special co-branded gift as well. Here’s how it breaks down: “1984” model x Dan Plunkett x Skate Mental (includes a bottle opener), “Genuine” model x Brad Cromer x Krooked (with a pair of Krooked “Eyes” socks), “Southern” model x Joey Pepper x Expedition (with a pair of Expedition socks), and the “Mateo” model x Josh Matthews x Think (includes a Think beer koozie). hufwordwide.com

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follow all your favourite brands at: ultimateskateboarddist.com facebook.com/ultimatedistribution instagram: @ultimatedist

RUSS POPE a rt i s t - de s ig n e r - m a r k e t e r - c o m pa n y ow n e r

F

or over 20 years Russ Pope has been very busy.

He originates from San Luis Obispo, just a bit north of LA, but now resides in Orange County. Since he was 16, Russ has been involved in many different aspects of skateboarding. He’s started a few brands— Creature, Scarecrow, Myrtle, Transportation Unit (his current brand)—and has had gigs for a others like Black Label, Duffs and Fallen.

Currently, Russ spends his days at Vans handling the men’s apparel marketing. By sunset he starts

painting and working on his art deep into the night.

As a family man, Russ has been able to find the fine balance between his home life and personal creative that not many people can juggle. And the evidence of his success lies in the strength of his work.

His art is filled with characters and creatures that always seem to be looking for a bit of trouble to get in to. His painting and drawing style are hand created with bold areas of colour and solid lines. Russ draws inspiration from many areas of life as well as from

other artists such as Barry McGee, Chris Yormick, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Picasso and Gonz.

The work Russ produces translates well onto products, and his socks for InStance are a project where his art is truly immersive. Since his productive days and nights tend to blend together, there are sure to be more products, such as an upcoming Vans shoe collab, and shows coming soon. —Randy Laybourne

clockwise from top left:

“Russ Pope is a modern-day renaissance man.

He has seen and done it all in this constantly changing world of skateboarding. It’s pretty amazing when you think about how much one person can accomplish in his life. Many of us have trouble getting up in the morning, but not Russ. I think he prefers to get the most out of every minute of the day.”

—Jay Croft 18

Concrete skateboarding

Transportation Unit “T.U. Coin” deck Transportation Unit “Hummingbird” deck Transportation Unit “Knife & Fork” deck Bones “El Raton” hat Bones “El Raton” tee Bones “Los Otros” STF wheels Transportation Unit “Initials” tee Captain Fin Co. “Red Hand” surf fin Captain Fin Co. “Longboard” surf fin Transportation Unit “Curb” tee InStance snow socks 411 Vol. 14 Issue 3 art direction

russpope.com

“Last Call� by Russ Pope. Created exclusively for Concrete Skateboarding.

visit concreteskateboarding.com to download art blender wallpapers for your computer / iphone / ipad.

JIMMY CARLIN

Fakie FS Heelflip Photo: Zaslavsky www.omitapparel.com

www.facebook.com/timebombtrading www.timebombtrading.com

words

DAVID EHRENREICH

photos

BRIAN CAISSIE

When I called up Mike the day we planned on doing this interview, he was already skating the Plaza and had plans of heading downtown to street skate. It was a cold fall day by Vancouver standards, but a dry one, which is all that really matters. I eventually met up with him at the world famous cruise ship tourist walkway better known as New Spot, which saw its heyday and heavy video coverage in the early ’90s.

While we skated, more and more of a posse began showing up, including Mike’s co-workers and some old friends of his from Saskatoon, SK. It was actually the closest I’ve ever been to experiencing New Spot’s “Golden Days”—back when Virtual Reality was being filmed. Moses and Colin weren’t around, but we did have Keith Henry skating flat and talking to tourists, Tyler Warren filming a line, Seth Cardinal skating over a bench with Mike, and at least eight of us jumping down the stairs before Jake Kuzyk stops to show us a clip he just filmed, while a security guard approaches to kick us out.

Mike has injected himself directly into the thick of our strong present-day skate scene, and what I never knew before this interview is that it was exactly his goal. This 22-year-old from Saskatoon has become the newest Canadian rider for LRG, Expedition-One and Lakai, but it didn’t happen overnight.

He’s worked on this for years.

After New Spot, we sat down on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, another downtown classic, to have some beers and a good chat. I would attempt to draw the conversion away from skating, but Mike would just bring it back. He’s got skating on the brain. It’s his main concern.

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You’ve told me you enjoy talking about music. Do they bump The Guess Who’s “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon” in all the bars back home?

Not as much as you’d think, but it should be the anthem. They’d probably play a techno remix of it though. I’ll hear it on the radio and be really stoked because The Guess Who are from Winnipeg, so they know what’s up with the Prairies.

Has your dad ever covered that song?

He played piano in a cover band for years, but I’ve never heard them do that song.

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You should get him to cover it, and then you can skate to it for the next video by your shop sponsor, Ninetimes. Can you play the piano, or any instrument?

Nope, I never got into it. I played the drums a little when I was younger; there would be instruments all around the house. At a young age I started listening to rap so I was attracted to the drums—the snare and stuff. I look back, and wish that instead of doing nothing, like watching TV or whatever, I could’ve learned music from my dad; played with him and my grandpa, who plays the trumpet.

Who’s the most famous Saskatonian to you?

I want to say Chris Kendall [visit therawadvantage.com]. He’s pretty outthere and the most OG. Kevin Lowry, too. But I’ll go with Kendall.

I was thinking Gordie Howe, but I love that you went with Kendall. Did you graduate high school?

Missed it by one credit, but I still got to walk the stage and I fucked that up, too [laughs]. There was a special order you’re supposed to follow and I just kinda walked over and grabbed my diploma.

Are your parents supportive of your life choices?

Always. Since the start, my dad would say: “Do what makes you happy, no matter what.” He would drive me to the skatepark every day after school. It was a hockey rink-turned-skatepark in the summer with a bunch of metal ramps you could move around. Regarding skating, I think my mom only gets bummed on the noise because I’d skate in the garage during the winters while they were trying to eat supper.

Did you skate a lot in your garage? I feel like every Canadian skater can relate to this, and had a special setup of some sort.

I had this tiny stop sign bar I would mess around on. We lived in a newish neighbourhood with fairly big houses around, so a lot of my friends had unfinished basements we’d set up ramps in. By spring it was great watching the snow in your driveway recede a little more each day. I miss that.

What was the first video part that made you think: “I want to be that dude?”

Koston in The Chocolate Tour. Well, during that whole video I was just, “Oh my God!” The California thing, it just made you want to be there. ...and he skates to Master P. Yeah, it’s great. What set me off even more was P-Rod in Street Cinema. He was younger and I could relate to that, but he was on a level way past me and a lot of people. It’s funny, you look at someone else like they’re a fucking king,

but then you realize they’re just an average person. You could do it, too.

You seem to make friends with anyone and everyone, like a security guard while he’s kicking you out, for example.

Yeah, there’s no point saying something nasty to get someone bummed.

Then they’ll get someone else bummed and you can start a negative domino effect, which I try and stay away from. How are you ever gonna get respect without giving it to others?

Your working situation at A&B Party Rentals in Vancouver has become somewhat legendary—10 skaters at one business. Soon kids will be applying just to hang with you guys. I’m going to list some work scenarios; I’d like to know who you’d want to be paired with the most when a particular situation arises, and why.

OK, this sounds great.

Scenario #1: You get a flat tire at night on the highway in the rain and the phones are dead.

I want to say Lil’ Diesel [Tyler Warren] or Derek [Swaim]. That’s a situation where you want to stay calm. I’m going with Tyler because there was a situation we were in, but we did have cell phones. Basically, I got the moving truck stuck in West Van and we were totally tripping.

What happened?

The road was skinny and we bottomed out on the turn from the driveway.

The hitch dug into the pavement and the further forward we moved the closer we got to a cliff. We took a shovel and started breaking the tree that stopped the truck from backing up further. Luckily the people weren’t home because it was right in front of the house we just picked up from. Eventually we had to call the boss, who called a heavy-duty tow truck. There was nothing we could do.

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[o] Keith Henry

Scenario #2: A “Stiffler’s Mom/Mrs. Robinson” type is the only one home during a late pickup. She is naked in her hot tub and insists the two of you join her or she’ll file a formal complaint.

That’s sweet [laughs]. Coolest scenario. The Gator [Tyler Gaucher] ‘cause he’s hilarious, and there was one time we did encounter a very taunting older woman. Our boss warned us before that she was a man-eater. So I made a bad joke like, “Call us later, we’re a party company!” It made no sense, and she’s like: “Well, you have my number” and invited the two of us to a Canucks game with her. We didn’t end up going because she seemed sketchy.

It’s more just finding out if you got it.

When you move on to another job, what do you hope it will be?

Skateboarding is what I’ve always wanted to do for a very long time. I always had the plan to move to Vancouver. You have to look at skating a little like a job if that’s what you’d like it to be one day. Mark Gonzales said something along the lines of: “There’s a fun approach to the things you want to accomplish,” because jobs are fun if you like them. Skating would be a good job.

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I don’t know if Gonz said that but he certainly lives like that, and I agree. Did you ever make a sponsor tape?

Oh yeah. Ninetimes shop in Saskatoon got the first one. As a kid, friends and I were bro-camming pretty regularly. We’d make little videos and from those you could then make a sponsor tape. I’ve only given them to the shop.

Getting sponsored by brands happened through meeting people and getting asked. I believe if you think about something, you’ll attract it to yourself.

Think about what you want to do, then make it definite with your actions.

When you’ve been out filming with Jake Kuzyk and I, did you have a plan about what you wanted to do?

I do feel like when a plan is put into action it works. But often without a plan the day turns out even better. Mostly having the intention of wanting to accomplish something, and then just doing it.

Did you enjoy filming a part?

I totally enjoyed filming for SUPLEX! It’s having a project outside of work.

Skating’s already fun, and then filming and shooting photos just adds a little purpose. A lot of people don’t do anything after work it seems. No extra curricular activities. Girls will want to hang out, but if I haven’t skated all day... “Do you like skating more than you like me?” Do you really want me to answer that truthfully? Yes [laughs].

[o] Keith Henry

photo: jeff budro

56MM | 101A PARK FORMULA WHEELS

words

BEN OLEYNIK

photos

SEAN CRONAN

New York City is an interesting one to say the least. The congestion, pollution and exorbitant cost of everything make the place somewhat repulsive. However, the culture, endless opportunities, and sheer magnitude of the five boroughs draw in some of the most talented people from all over the world. As a skateboarder, if you visit New York City, I bet you’ll be back.

I’ve lived in NYC for the last five years and every summer the city is inundated by skateboarders from across the globe. My favourites, of course, coming from just north of the border. The ground may be rough in New York, but no worse than Canada. And the spots? Well, you already know they’re amazing. Combine everything that makes NYC what it is with direct five-hour flights from Vancouver and there’s more than enough incentive for Zoo York International Pro Ian Twa to visit every summer.

A few months back, Ian did just that, and rolled to NYC for two weeks with Mike Vince to take in all the city had to offer and shred with some of his Zoo York teammates— including Dave Willis and Chaz Ortiz. I still find it crazy how fast two weeks in NYC can go by. Much like every time Ian visits, as he was about to leave the conversation quickly turned to just how magnetic the city truly is. He’s plotting his return, and I’m looking forward to it.

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Frontside half-cab 5-0 revert

How many times have you been to NYC?

About eight times now. I usually come every summer for at least a few weeks.

Where did you end up staying?

I stayed in Brooklyn at the Opera House Lofts. My homie, Taylor Clark, hooks it up. I’ve stayed in the same apartment almost every time I’m in New York.

You must love the city to keep coming back.

It’s just a concrete jungle. You skate the streets and find new shit.

It’s a good feeling when you get home from skating and you’ve actually been on your board all day long.

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True. You were out here with Vince. What was a typical day like for you guys?

Me and Vince have been to New York together a bunch of times.

A typical day would be waking up at the Opera House, getting some breakfast, and getting on the J Train. Generally, try to meet up with a filmer and hit one of the boroughs to get some footage.

When night hits, we usually meet up with you and Marianne to get some dinner at one of New York’s best spots for Thai food. After dinner we generally go back to your place and chill out or go skate Midtown. That’s an average day in NY. Nothing crazy, but always a really good time.

Front crook to fakie

Do you have a favourite NYC spot now?

I like skating Midtown at night. It can be a little hectic with people and security guards, but the spots in the area are bomb and you’re right in the centre of Manhattan. Up in the mix.

You got a chance to shoot with Zoo York videographer RB Umali and photographer Sean Cronan. What was that like?

It was dope. I’ve been out shooting with Cronan a couple times on previous trips, and I had met RB before, but never filmed anything with him. Both are super down-to-earth dudes, which makes it easier for me.

Chaz Ortiz

frontside 50-50

The tricks you filmed are dropping in the Zoo York video, True East. Are you hyped on the shit you got out here?

It’s alright. I only got out with RB a couple times. We got some cool stuff in Midtown one night. For me, I feel like there is so much to skate in NY, I could film at a different spot there everyday for a month. I wish I had some more time, but with short trips you just try to make the best out of what time you got. I am definitely hyped for the video, though.

You also got to skate with some of the Zoo team.

Yeah, the first couple days I went skating with Chaz, who’s super mellow in person, and he definitely has serious moves on his board.

I thought it might be kinda weird, but it was cool right away. I also went out with Dave Willis, Jamel Marshall, Kevin Tierney and Andre Beverley. All those guys are super sick. I’ve kicked it with Dave and Jamel a bunch, so it feels like I’m just out with the homies skating.

I’ve been on a number of trips with you and you always seem to have mad energy. What’s the secret?

Motivated by the hate [laughs]. Drink water and stretch those legs.

Oh yeah, and I drink like five coconut waters a day; better than any energy sports drink on the market.

I hear you. I’m trying to get on it, too. NYC is known for its food. Which spots do you like?

The food in New York is so bomb. We always go to that Thai spot called Klong. They have this tamarind chicken dish that is proper as fuck. And I always go to Junior’s, which is some touristy shit in Times Square, but their cheesecake is the bomb. In Brooklyn, there’s

this chicken place called Pies ‘n’ Thighs, which is different chicken dinners and desserts. And for Canadians, every bodega deli is a goto for lunch or breakfast sandwiches.

It’s crazy because New York summers are so hot, you just skate to get everywhere and just sweat all that shit off.

For real [laughs]. That’s what Vince and I were saying.

What about seeing the sites and architecture? Do you partake in the touristy stuff at all?

Not really. I went there with my family once, like nine years ago, and we did a bunch of touristy shit. Went to the top of the Rockefeller Center and hit a bunch of museums. I remember the Natural History Museum being creepy as fuck. All these real animals stuffed and set up in rooms that are depicting their natural habitats.

There’s good shit to skate out front though [laughs].

You get to see all the buildings and bridges and neighbourhoods anyways by just skating all over the boroughs.

Exactly. We had a sick view from the roof of the Opera House. The city is amazing.

Ben Oleynik nose manual

Dave Willis

frontside noseslide

Mike Vince

nollie nosegrind

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Backside kickflip

NYC is also known for its nightlife.

You get caught up?

Sometimes I get a little loose. This time I kept it real mellow. But if you wanna go out in New York your possibilities are endless. There is usually some shit cracking off or you can just lurk down to the Max Fish and find some homies there, guaranteed.

If someone is visiting the city, what’s a spot they need to skate?

I’d say the Financial District as a whole is a must-skate area. You can get it in pretty good down there on the weekends. Security and people are so thick on the weekdays, it’s basically a write-off.

Who are your favourite skaters to come from here?

My favourite skaters to come out of New York are Gino, Keenan and Zered. I don’t think Zered was born there, but when I think of New York’s skate scene, he definitely comes to mind.

Definitely. What about artists from here?

Big L, Jay Z, Biggie. Those dudes are all mainstream these days, but I grew up listening to all three pretty religiously.

When will you be back?

Hopefully real quick. Maybe next summer I’ll come out for a month or two. Every time I come back it feels fresh for me, so I don’t see myself getting over it anytime soon.

zooyork.com

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© 2 0 1 2 J S LV C O R P. | D I S T R I B U T E D B Y U LT I M AT E

JAMIE PALMORE | LATE NIGHT WOVEN | WORKER PANTS

W W W . J S LV C O R P. C O M

THE

words

G

rowing up in Canada in the mid-to-late ’90s there seemed to be few cities in the country where skateboarding was accepted and flourished. Sure, every town had its own scene, but it seemed like above all, Vancouver was exploding into not only a Canadian destination but also a worldwide skate mecca. So, like many skaters during that time, I packed my bags and headed for the West Coast from Ottawa. My cousin, Adam Green, who also lived in Ottawa at the time, was a few years younger and instead chose to head back to his birthplace of Montreal. Sometimes I wonder if he made the wiser decision.

Matt Meadows

photos

Brian Caissie

design

MEEP Creative

Montreal always had a vibrant scene and there was never a question that it was also rife with talent. I remember visiting the old Taj Mahal and watching guys like Barry Walsh, Marc Tison, Eric Mercier and Raj Mehra destroy the place on a level I thought only existed in videos. But even with such talent MTL seemed to somehow remain off the international radar. That is until recently…

Today, Montreal is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Brought in by a new group of skaters who have been mentored by the old guard, the city has continuously bred some of the rawest and most diversely talented

skaters on the planet. Furthermore, Montreal’s influence has spilled over its geographical limits, drawing in skaters from across the country and abroad. I’m willing to bet that any top Canadian skater, be it AM or Pro, has spent some time there.

Whether it’s the allure of the city’s women, food, culture or just a litany of new spots, it’s safe to say we may be on the verge of a Montreal migration!

So if you’re thinking of visiting La Belle Province’s most well known city, here are a few tips for you when you visit… or relocate.

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Brandon “Beaster” Bandula b acksmit h p o p out

No French? No Problem.

The first thing I always hear from people who haven’t been to Montreal is that there is a real concern about the French language barrier. But what most don’t know is that you’re very rarely stuck in a situation where English can’t be used.

New Brunswick-born Josh Clark was never intimidated by the potential problem.

“I went to a French school for 10 years, so I am actually fully bilingual, but I have a lot of friends that are completely English here as well. For example, Kyle MacDonald moved here the same day I did and he has gotten by fine. His girlfriend is actually French and he is fully English and that has not affected their relationship at all.

Montreal is completely bilingual, like if you don’t speak French you can still get by 100 percent. Like anywhere you go to eat or order something, the people working will

most likely also speak English; if not them, the person beside them. You don’t need to know French to come here. That’s just a lie to scare people away.”

Many are unaware that the language door swings both ways. While it’s unlikely that you’ll find someone from Quebec stressing about their lack of English as they travel throughout downtown, Montreal’s West Island is predominantly English. JS Lapierre is one Quebecer who learned the majority of his second language after moving to the city.

“I’m from an hour south of Montreal—a little village in the middle of nowhere called Notre-Dame de Stanbridge. I’ve been living in Montreal for about four years and moved in with Josh [Clark] and Adam [Green] when I was 16. At first I didn’t speak very much English at all. I could have little conversations but I had a really strong

French accent so it was hard. I think I’ve gotten better since. I also think living with Josh and Adam made a big difference ‘cause they were always speaking English around me. It really helped me out.”

Thanks to a unique vernacular that’s been developed by the French and English speaking population of the province (better known as Franglais or Frenglish), newcomers with little knowledge of French can follow along with most conversations.

Adam elaborated, “The way we speak French here is terrible. I mean, anyone who has ever taken even a French course in high school can understand the conversations.

We really have the most broken French in the world here. We’ve basically butchered the language. It’s not uncommon to hear something like ‘J’ai besoin de new shoes.’

Totally broken [laughs].”

Josh Clark

fro nt s id e n o se g rin d to f a kie

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Max Fine

sk in ny rid e - o n b ac kta il

“It’s a very liberal city.

I’m not saying other places like Vancouver or Toronto aren’t, but Montreal is just very open to any lifestyle and any desire.”

Adam Green wallie to b ack lip

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Nick Moore

o llie to fro nt sid e wallride

Drivers Need Not Apply: Stick To Your Board One of the more unique aspects of Montreal is the lack of car dependency while visiting the downtown core. With a series of one-ways and narrow alleys, visitors and locals alike will opt for alternate forms of transportation, which as a bonus by-product has fostered the discovery of numerous previously unknown spots. When asked about how he get around, Adam noted: “We used to ride Bixi bikes [public bicycle sharing system] but they got too expensive, so now I ride a cruiser board everywhere unless we’re actually going skating. On those days I just bring my regular board. The way I see it, there’s no point in paying for public transportation in this city. Everything is really

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accessible and everything is close enough to skate home from any spot.”

Mitch Barrette spends most of his time bouncing from Ottawa to various locations but knows when he gets to Montreal it’s best to park his ride. “There’s so much stuff to skate that you don’t really need a car. It’s really easy to skate from place to place. It seems like in other cities like Vancouver or whatever you have to do a lot more driving to get to spots. And Montreal traffic sucks.

Jams happen at the weirdest times; you never know where or when it’ll hit, so it’s best to just avoid the situation altogether.”

Zander Mitchell

fro nt sid e 180 switch cro o k f a kie

Mitch Barrette

h alf- cab cro o k revert

JS Lapierre

bac ks i d e ki ckfl i p

If You Can’t Handle ‘La Joie De Vivre,’ Beware of Montreal!

One thing Montreal doesn’t have a lack of is beautiful women and great nightlife. Being skaters, it’s no surprise that we’re drawn to the island city. When speaking to JS, he was quick to point out the merits of living in MTL, “The lifestyle is way better, in my mind anyways. It’s like when you go to Ontario getting beer and stuff is way harder, it’s a real hassle. That is, compared to here where you can just walk out your front door and down to the Dep [short for Dépanneur, basically a corner store]. There is always stuff going on in the city, too.”

But much like its European relatives, with the ability to always avail oneself of alcohol and other vices, a few have found it easy

to become party trap prey. “It’s a very liberal city,” said Adam. “I’m not saying other places like Vancouver or Toronto aren’t, but Montreal is just very open to any lifestyle and any desire. Like, we’ve had to send people back to where they came from because they get here and have too much access to booze and drugs or whatever.”

Reaffirming Adam’s out-of-towner suspicions, Mitch said, ”I definitely do a lot of drinking and partying when I go there, so it can be hard at times to get up the next day and skate. But if you can find a way to balance the two, the city can be pretty perfect.”

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Josh Clark

b acks id e n o seblunt

Josh Clark: Tour Guide Extraordinaire When visiting a new city, or moving there for the first time, it’s good to know the right people. After living in the city for some years now, Josh Clark has become Montreal’s unofficial tour guide for out-of-town talent. When thinking back, I remember him showing around Sean Malto while he stayed in the city. Asking Josh how he landed the role he said, “Yeah, I don’t really know how that all happened. I guess my name just gets thrown around. Like if a team comes to town I’ll often just get a call and they’ll be like: ‘Hey, come show us around.’ I’m super down for that cause and they will often have a car so we can go to some really sick spots outside of the city’s core. I really do like showing people around, even when I’m not the one doing the tricks. I like to be a part of skating as much as possible. So I’m not sure exactly who made the tour guide thing happen for me, but whoever it was, thanks ‘cause I’m stoked.”

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As a fellow local, Adam has also done his fair share of playing host to outsiders but admits his time spent performing guiding duties pales in comparison to Clark’s, “Honestly, I have done a little bit, but Josh is really the guy who has taken over that department. But just off Sherbrooke alone, there are tons of spots. And it’s mandatory to bring them to our later-in-the-day spot, Parc Lafontaine. It’s pretty much where we just chill, drink beers and there are a bunch of ‘C’ benches as well. But yeah, going back to the point, Josh really is the official city tour guide. He knows all the young kids and now because of his new TM job our house has basically turned into the DC Canada hostel [laughs].”

Andrew McGraw b acks id e 50 -50

Montreal, ‘Je T’aime!’

So once you have visited the city, should your buddies and family be worried that you’ll be ditching life in your hometown for life in MTL? According to the members of Montreal’s premiere skate house, absolutely.

“I have never even thought about leaving.

Not once!” said Adam, “I mean, if I had all the money in the world, I may go to SF for the winters or something but I would always come back to Montreal. Just to be here in my backyard, in the alley, hanging with my guitar and my dog. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Plus, you would be a damn fool to deny that the women here are insane! Not to mention that the ratio is a thousand to one for us as well [laughs].”

Similarly, JS is fine for a short trip but never likes straying far from home. “I do miss it a lot when I go. I suppose it depends on where I go. If it’s the States or something, I really like coming back home. But if it’s Ottawa or somewhere close, it’s easier ‘cause I’m not so far away.”

And of course, Montreal’s most well-known tour guide, Josh Clark, couldn’t imagine living anywhere else outside the city’s limits, “I think Montreal will be my home for a while.

It works perfect for me and I feel like you will see more and more people start trying to make the move here. There’s just so much untouched stuff to skate—it’s amazing!”

Guy Mariano

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TE Koop

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EXPOSURE

Wade Desarmo Nollie 180 Nosegrind [o] Brian Caissie

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57

Nate Lacoste

Wallie Front Crook Fakie [o] Rich Odam

Dave Hnatiuk Halfcab Heelflip [o] Sam Fidlin

EXPOSURE

Phil McKnight Bluntslide Transfer [o] Will Jivcoff

Sam Chouinard Hardflip

[o] Brian Caissie

Concrete skateboarding

59

Magnus Hanson Nollie 360 Flip [o] Rich Odam

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Charles DesChamps Frontside Boardslide [o] Sam Fidlin

EXPOSURE

Jessy Jean Bart Crook Pop-Out

[o] Nathan Éthier-Myette

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Michael Ray Frontside Flip

[o] Antosh Cimoszko

EXPOSURE

Spoken Like a True Skate Rat

The Scott Decenzo Interview words: robert brink

“I was on a C1RCA trip to Seattle,” Scott Decenzo begins. “We were right by the Space Needle and I had some guy buy me a bottle of wine because I wasn’t of drinking age yet. I couldn’t find a bottle opener and I asked this old lady who was walking by because she looked like the kind of person that would have one in her purse.”

“I was like, ‘Alright.’”

“The thing about it,” says ex-C1RCA team manager Mario Miller, “is he goes to her house, drinks the wine and ends up coming back to the hotel with her late husband’s sweater on.

But when he gets back to our room he doesn’t say anything about it. So 15 minutes later someone’s just like: ‘Hey, Scott, did you get a new cardigan or something?’ And he’s all ‘Oh yeah, it’s this lady’s husband’s,’ and the whole story about him going to her house for a corkscrew in the first place comes out. He never said a word until we asked him. You know if that happened to you or anyone else, you’d get back to the hotel and be like ‘You’ll never guess what happened!’”

“So we get to her place and open the bottle,” Scott continues.

“She was pretty nice, so we just hung out and drank a little.

She seemed pretty lonely, too. I’m sure she appreciated the company because I don’t know if she really had that many friends. Her place was a fucking wreck. She was a wreck. She was on all these meds and stuff. She wouldn’t stop talking and I was just sitting there thinking to myself: ‘Alright, I gotta get outta here soon.’”

“Oh, yeah,” Scott reacts, after some prodding from me, since I already knew there was more to the story, “I took her husband’s sweater, too. It was cold and it was a long skate home. Her husband passed away and she had all these old clothes and was trying to get rid of them. I was like, ‘Oh, I kind of like this’ and I just took it off her hands. She was happy to give it to me. She had some candles sitting around so I asked her if I could take one for wax. It was sick. We used that wax for the rest of the trip!”

“She was like, ‘No, I have one at my house though. C’mon, let’s go get it.’”

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design: randy laybourne

Concrete skateboarding

Photo: bart jones

Half-Cab crook to fakie Photos: Brian Caissie

“He’s kind of a hard guy to write about,” Magnus Hanson says of his good friend Scott Decenzo. “He’s a humble beast. He never complains about spots—he just makes it happen. He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen skate, always doing new tricks like they’re his old faithfuls. And it seems like he’s more determined now than ever before.”

Everyone I surveyed for intel prior to this

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interview had similar reports; the general consensus being that Scott is simply a skate rat and all-around good dude.

Apart from that, most anything you read about Scott consists of him being asked about (or paired-up with) his older brother Ryan, who, in the last few years, has been a coverage and contest machine. Scott, on the other hand, has been flying under the radar. Word around

town is he’s on a serious filming mission for the upcoming Plan B video, avoiding winters in Vancouver by trekking down to live with Ryan in weather-free Huntington Beach, California.

“I’ve been trying to skate a lot,” says Scott. “I was back in Vancouver skating for most of the summer, then in Toronto, too. I’ve been filming as much as I can for this Plan B video—just stacking footy.”

He s a humble beast.

He never complains about spots he just makes it happen. –magnus hanson

Frontside 50-50 through the kinks Photo: James Morley

Kickflip backside 50-50 Photos Rich Odam

I just do my best and film like I m filming for anything else.

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“I like having Vancouver and Canada footy in my parts. Obviously, Cali footy is sick too but having some rough stuff and bad spots in Canada is sick. And also, you look back at it and it’s cool, like, ‘Oh, I remember that era when I was in Van all summer.’”

Being an AM on a team as legendary as Plan B with people like Sheckler, Danny Way, Torey Pudwill, Felipe Gustavo and PJ Ladd also filming parts for the brand’s upcoming video, you’d think the process would be nerve-racking for someone like Scott. But he’s surprisingly calm about it.

“I just treat it like it’s a normal video part,” explains Scott. “I don’t know if the

footy will stand up to the footy of the other guys on the team, but you can’t let that discourage you. I just do my best and film like I’m filming for anything else. At the end of it all you just gotta pick your best stuff for your part. There’s nothing else you can really do.”

“I’ve definitely been a Pat Duffy fan forever,” Scott says, reflecting on his teammates and slot on the Plan B roster.

“He’s been awesome to me. Sheckler and PJ are so awesome to watch. Whenever I have a chance to watch Danny Way or Colin McKay skate, that’s always a blessing!”

bluntslide to gap Photo: Antosh Cimoszko

Scott’s also been learning that life in Southern California is a wise strategy as far as a career in skateboarding is concerned—a move that could elevate him to the ranks of his brother and many other Canadian Pros he looks up to who are doin’ it big in the States.

“I’d like to think I’m on my way to following in the footsteps of my brother or other Pros from Canada. I love California and I’d like to spend tons of time here. I try to stay as long as I can because of my sponsors. It’s easier to be productive and always good to mingle and shred with people down here. Who you’re going out filming and shooting photos with makes a big difference. A good crew of people really helps. If you go out with a staff photographer for a magazine then you’re kind of going down the right road. Ryan definitely knows a lot of people and always brings me on the raddest sessions. This way I always have a chance to do my best, which is awesome.”

Speaking of Ryan, despite a threeyear age gap, the two came up around the same time. Both were originally sponsored by Element through S&J Sales. However, in the last five or so years, Ryan’s ripping has propelled him into a world of high-profile sponsors, big money contests, a Pro model shoe, the ender of Darkstar’s latest video, Forward Slash, and lots of exposure.

You can’t help but wonder if—aside from the possible advantage of having your brother open some doors for you, show you the ropes, and always having someone to go shredding with—there’s a downside or if Scott ever harbours any frustration or feelings of being in Ryan’s “shadow,” so to speak.

“I don’t look at it like that at all,” says Scott. “I learn a lot from him. He’s definitely a motivating factor. Ryan is always down to skate and film. He’s got a plan and I really admire that—how he’s always on point, always wants to go street skate and how he’s busy going to contests and stuff.”

His mind just revolves around skating. –ryan decenzo

Barley Grind Photo: James Morley

Nollie frontside noseslide Photos: Rich Odam Concrete skateboarding

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Front Blunt to Fakie Photo: Rich Odam

“He’s a super-mellow guy who’s addicted to skateboarding,” Ryan explains. “If there’s something he wants to accomplish with his board, almost nothing will stop him from achieving that goal. He’s always trying to come up with new ideas to make something skateable or uncap some other thing, or how we can avoid security to skate this or that. His mind just revolves around skating.”

“We’ve been best homies all our lives and would skate downtown Vancouver eight hours-a-day,” Ryan adds, “taking the bus there and back, eating pizza and drinking Slurpees and two-litre bottles of Coke all day.” [Author’s note: Scott’s been known to pee brown after drinking entire two-litre Cokes in short spans of time.] “We’d also always build our own rails and boxes and whatnot. I remember always getting pissed when he would wax something too much.”

“As far as our skating goes,” Ryan continues, “we can do a lot of the same stuff but I’d say he’s got switch backside a little better than me, but my switch frontside is a little better than his. We used to get in fights over the randomest shit when we were younger, but it’s definitely brought us closer together.”

Apart from his brother Ryan, Scott’s always been inspired by other Canadian skaters, especially the Red Dragons.

“I look up to a lot of people,” Scott explains. “There’s not really any specific person besides the Red Dragons that I look up to. I look up to everybody pretty much and I just like watching skate videos a lot. Emerica videos are good, Baker videos, too. Anything gets me hyped. I like watching ledge parts if I’m gonna go skate a ledge, or mini-ramp parts if I’m gonna go to a ramp. Like, Chris Haslam and Daewon Song are so sick in Cheese & Crackers. I watched that one this morning before going to skate a mini.”

Photo: rich odam

Scott continues talking about his brother: “Maybe it’s good for companies and media—like easier to market both of us or something. I don’t know, but I don’t mind at all. It’s awesome. I like it.”

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“I also just watched this awesome documentary on Terry Fox,” Scott continues discussing inspirations by mentioning the famous Canadian whose downtown Vancouver memorial plaza is a popular skate spot. “He lost a leg to cancer, got a fake one and set out to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. He was running a marathon a day or something—so much that his artificial leg wore out and he had to have it replaced. He’s a legend. People like him, who have so much willpower and dedication to whatever they’re doing, really inspire me. And there are tons of people out there like that.”

Interviewing skate rats is difficult sometimes.

They usually don’t have much to say because they eat, sleep, breathe, drink and shit skateboarding. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Chances are, if you’re reading this interview, you’re a skate rat yourself—or were at some point. That means you know exactly what it’s like to have skateboarding pumping through your youthful veins with such fervor that nothing else in the world exists or matters. There’s a simplicity to it that’s really admirable, even enviable. These days, people are going grey and chewing their nails to the bone—losing sleep worrying about the economy, global warming, staying

Kinked boardslide pop-out Photos: Rich Odam

employed, gas prices and how many Instagram followers they have—while their life is passing by right before their eyes. A conversation with someone like Scott helps you realize that there was a time when none of this shit fazed you and all you wanted to do was skate with your friends, learn new tricks and drink more soda than your parents would ever allow. All roads led to being on your board as much as humanly possible.

A few of Scott’s friends mentioned he was interested in and has a knack for woodworking, and that down the line, once his skate career is over, perhaps he could make a living off of it.

“I don’t really know,” Scott says. “I’ve never really looked into how much income it is or whatever. But I’d be stoked to do that. It’s always fun. I’m down for whatever. I’ll work wherever, whenever, whatever. I haven’t really thought of that, I’m just trying to skate.”

Spoken like a true skate rat. And who else but a skate rat would be stranded in an old widow’s Seattle home drinking wine and, while assembling his exit strategy, ask permission to take one of her candles for ledge wax? Respect.

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Jeff is one hell of a character to be around, and you can always count on him. Whether it’s helping you out when you’re having a hard time, buying you Jäger shots or lending you money, Jeff’s got your back. Beyond any doubts he likes to party, yet hangovers seem to have no effect ‘cause the next morning he’s out ripping the streets. Now go watch Jeff’s SPARKS video part on YouTube to see how gnarly he is.

—William Cristofaro

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OVERALL CHAMPIONS

FAN FAVOURITE AWARD BASED ON YOUR VOTES

BEST SKATER AWARD

MAGNUS HANSON CHOSEN BY ERIC KOSTON & STEVE BERRA

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Markus is one of my favourite skaters; it’s insane how many tricks he’s got on lock. I’ve known him since he was around nine years old and he’s progressed so much, to say the least. I’m stoked he’s getting some coverage, and I’m sure you’ll be seeing more. Don’t forget this mug!

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There couldn’t have been a better way to meet Johnny than by sharing a bag of Goldfish crackers with him at his local park. He’s definitely grown up a lot since then; just a good kid who’s always smiling. We don’t have a picture of him hanging up in our washroom for nothing…

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NEXT ISSUE: ISSUE 123 // february 25, 2013

matt saville words

John Lucas

For someone with a reputation as something of a recluse, Kevin Parker is a pretty friendly guy. Or at least that’s the impression the frontman for Australian psychedelic-rock outfit Tame Impala gives when he’s reached on tour in Austria. You could be forgiven, though, for assuming that Parker lives a hermetic life. After all, he does live in Perth, Australia, which has been described as the world’s most remote city, and he did name the latest Tame Impala album Lonerism. The previous one, released in 2010, bore the navel-gazing title Innerspeaker, and its standout track, “Solitude Is Bliss”, contained one of Parker’s most telling lyrical couplets: “There’s a party in my head/And no one is invited.”

On the line from Vienna, however, Parker refutes the perception that he’s a loner. “At the moment I’m not alone at all, because I’m on tour with my friends,” he notes, adding with a laugh, “The last time I was alone was when I went to the toilet.”

There may be something to the notion that the musician relishes his moments of isolation, however. Consider the fact that Tame Impala is essentially a one-man creative outlet, with Parker writing all the songs and recording all the parts himself. “Generally it’s just me slowly putting songs together,” he says. “That’s just the

way it’s always been. It’s totally a solo project in the studio, but no one seems to consider it that. Everything I’ve read has just been ‘Tame Impala, the band.’ I’m not really put off by that or anything. It’s just the way people see it, because they see a bunch of guys on a stage playing the songs, so they assume it’s a band, but it’s totally not. When we play them live, we all get together and take the song that’s already been recorded and interpret it. We just sort of have fun with it, basically, and that becomes the live version.”

Impressively, Lonerism sounds like the product of a group of people. It’s all Parker, though, and while the Fab Four vocal harmonies and acidwashed guitar licks of songs like “Mind Mischief” and “Apocalypse Dreams” suggest he hasn’t lost his taste for paisley-skies psychedelia, there are plenty of elements that set this LP apart from its predecessor. Foremost among these is Parker’s ample use of keyboards, adding layers of pastelwashed synth tones to tracks like “Why Won’t They Talk to Me?” and “She Just Won’t Believe Me”.

“I was just feeling like looking to other things to get new crazy sounds,” he explains. “I’m always trying to find the craziest sound, you know—the thing that sounds the least like it comes from

Earth. It’s really difficult to do that with guitars, because whatever you do with a guitar, it’s usually going to end up sounding like a guitar. It’s going to have that kind of earthy, rock ’n’ roll feel. But with synthesizers, they just start in a completely different place. It was just really kind of exciting to have this whole new playing field of sounds and emotions.”

As much as Tame Impala’s music makes ideal blissout fodder for those who like to indulge in things green and leafy, Parker’s command of melody makes it worthy listening for those who simply want to hear a good tune. Some might hesitate to call it pop, but not Parker, who claims he’s got an entire album’s worth of songs just waiting for his fellow Aussie Kylie Minogue. The man loves hooks, and he doesn’t care who knows it.

“As long as you do something that feels cool, or sounds cool, or gives you some sort of emotion, then nothing’s ever too cheesy, or not cheesy enough,” he says. “It really just depends what you consider to be pop and what you consider not to be pop, which is a totally subjective thing anyway.”

Are you listening, Kylie?

tameimpala.com

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curated and written by

David Ehrenreich

I’ve never missed a review slot during the time I’ve been writing this page for Concrete, but for the first time we’re breaking the mold by calling in Supra Distribution TM, filmer and editor Dane Collison to help me out by writing about Pretty Sweet. Reason being, I skipped the Vancouver premiere days before deadline for a road trip to San Francisco. It’s heartbreaking because I haven’t missed a SHT Sound production since The Chocolate Tour premiere in 1999, but it’s hard to turn down the excitement of a skate adventure. So here goes...

pretty sweet prettysweetvideo.com

While walking with Guy Mariano to the Vancouver screening of Pretty Sweet on November 17th, I asked him his thoughts on the film. “I think it’s really sick how all of us older guys are peppered in around all the new young bloods,” he began explaining before getting distracted by a downtown spot he remembered from an old video.

Guy continued with a different train of thought: “You know, it’s all about Canada, really. Without it there would be no Rick Howard. No Rick Howard means no Girl Skateboards, then I wouldn’t be here right now!”

60 pound-plus rig to his chest in order to get shots that skateboarding has never seen before. Spike Jonze wasn’t blowing up a parking lot this time, but after an inspiring heli-cam intro, Vincent Alvarez sets the screen on fire with Cory Kennedy’s debut Girl part as a follow up.

Girl and Chocolate have come back heavy since their last film, 2004’s Hot Chocolate, and the cast is big enough to sink a ship, making it impossible to mention all the amazing parts here. Again, Ty Evans teams up with Federico Vitetta, who strapped a

The breakout parts from Stevie Perez, Raven Tershy and Elijah Berle are scattered around some of the OGs who are still raising the bar. Toronto’s Will Arnett provides words of encouragement to the team, and Jack Black performs some second-angle duties while pumping up the troops. Guy wraps it up with a message board-lighting bang, marking Pretty Sweet as another solid part of the Girl Family legacy, and a look at the faces that will shape their future. Go watch this film. —Dane Collison

BA KE A N D DESTROY

SUPLEX

b akerb o y sd i st. c o m

Like Wes Anderson movies, Baker videos are becoming parodies of themselves.

Instead of waiting for the bird’s-eye shot of a handwritten note and a slow motion walk to a Nico song, it’s Theotis rapping in a van, Herman smoking blunts, and dudes making weird noises and performing bizarre handshakes.

LOTS of weird noises and bizarre handshakes. Baker has done such a good job showcasing their riders’ personalities; as each name appears on screen we know exactly what’s in store. As expected, Reynolds is a true inspiration for his team riders, who despite wearing the persona of complete piles are once again producing incredible footage and pushing the limits of their skating. Figgy is the hero of this saga, along with runners-up Cyril Jackson and re-inspired father Sammy Baca. Bake and Destroy is a homie video for the entire skate community.

90

Concrete skateboarding

vimeo.com/ 52252499

Yep, I made a video and now I’m promoting it. Not for my own sake, but for all the skaters and contributors that worked so hard to help me. It stars a bunch of my friends: Mike Campbell, Tyler Warren, Will Blakley, Jamie Maley, Cory Wilson and Brett Gifford to name a few. The casting selection revolved mostly around not being a kook and the willingness to film a video part without the use of a car, almost entirely within walking distance of the Vancouver Plaza. For years people talked shit on the lack of spots in downtown Vancouver and then had footage skating some generic beige 8-stair in the suburbs. SUPLEX is our attempt at showcasing Vancouver skateboarding the way we like it. Roaming around and filming, we’d run into other crews of people skating every day, so we’re not alone.

Vancouver is better for skating now than it’s ever been.

cory kennedy

ben colen

Cory Kennedy does not give a fuck. He’d tell you himself. He’s quick to do shit like get pot leaf henna tattoos on his nipples, call a limo to go to a strip club on a Tuesday, order $362 worth of corduroy hats from eBay in one sitting, and short circuit the iPhone in his pocket by pissing his pants. He does what he feels, and when he does that on a board it looks ridiculous. I lied; Cory does give a fuck about the Trunk Boyz. It’s back-panel for life. He’s not “normal,” but he’ll try to tell you he is.

—Sam Smyth

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Lake Stevens, WAsh. Perks

Purchases

#PrettySweet Hustlers

1. Family 2. Friends 3. Green 4. Not so overpopulated 5. My lady

1. Hot tub 2. Ramp 3. Zip-line 4. Corduroy hats 5. Weed

1. Vincent 2. Guy 3. Malto 4. Stevie 5. Eli

Questions From Strangers

Beverages

Bad Habits

1. What’s your best trick?

2. Do I look like you?

3. Can I hit that?

4. Do you have any dubstep?

5. Can I have your board?

1. Water 2. Miller High Life 3. Chocolate milk 4. Schmidt 5. Rainier

1. Lazy 2. Drink 3. Smoke 4. Never answer my phone 5. Black out

Seattle’s Finest

Go-To Music

Pocket Items

1. Jordan Sanchez 2. Josh Jones 3. Kate Kennedy 4. Mike Lind 5. Orcas Island

1. Chunk 2. Smif-N-Wessun 3. Hank Williams 4. Brenton Wood 5. Totally Insane

1. Bag of weed 2. Switchblade 3. Chocolate card 4. Papers 5. Speakers

Flatground Champs

#PrettySweet Travel Destinations

Canadians

1. Kenny Anderson 2. Payton Kennedy 3. Mike Lind 4. Ray Barbee 5. Mike Mo

1. Barcelona 2. Nicaragua 3. Pacific Northwest 4. China 5. Panama

1. Rick Howard 2. Rick McCrank 3. Neil Young 4. Mark Appleyard 5. Tom Green

Concrete skateboarding

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