Issue 115 October 2011 free
PROS & BROS
Tour Gatlyn /// Svitak /// Tumia Ploesser /// McEntire
Maritimes with
Studio
Cariboo
Brew Team
Issue 115 October 2011
Cameo Wilson in
Sin City
Identity David Gravette Five Spot Lizard King Sound Check Wooden Shjips Art Blender ANDREW POMMIER
MARTY MURAWSKI BACKSIDE 180 NOSE GRIND. PHOTO: TYLER BUSH
DVS SHOE COMPANY 955 FRANCISCO ST. TORRANCE, CA 90502 DVSSHOES.COM
CHICO BRENES KENNY HOYLE MARTY MURAWSKI TOREY PUDWILL DAEWON SONG LUIS TOLENTINO JERON WILSON MARK BAINES LUCIEN CLARKE FLO MIRTAIN PAUL SHIER
IGNITION THE IGNITION SHOWN IN TAN NUBUCK. SEE MORE STYLES AND COLORS ONLINE AT: DVSSHOES.COM
SUPRADISTRIBUTION.COM DVSSTICKERS@SUPRADISTRIBUTION.COM
MACHOTAILDROP EDWARD & THE MANWOLF’S TAIDO AVAILABLE NOW AT FINER SHOPS WORLDWIDE MACHOTAILDROP THE MOVIE COMING SOON BECOME A FAN: FACEBOOK.COM/MACHOTAILDROP
éSSKATEBOARDING.COM TIMEBOMBTRADING.COM FACEBOOK.COM/TIMEBOMBTRADING
FOURSTAR 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BLACKPACK LAKAI LIMITED FOOTWEAR : THE SHOES WE SKATE JOHNSON / MARIANO / CARROLL / HOWARD / WELSH / BIEBEL / LENOCE / CAPALDI / FERNANDEZ / ALVAREZ / ESPINOZA / TERSHY / HAWK / GILLET / BRADY / JENSEN / ad #149 / lakai.com + crailtap.com supradistribution.com / lakaistickers@supradistribution.com
ISSUE 115 /// October 2011
32 (Mari)Time CAMEO WILSON’s 40 TEAM CARIBOO 50 62 PROS AND BROS It’s About Damn
Sin City
NOT JUST CRACKIN’ COLDIES
A WEStERn CANADA EXCURSION
10 14 16 20 22 26 74 86 94 98 100
Rise & Shine Geoff Clifford Identity David Gravette Inventory Art Blender Andrew Pommier BA.KU. PROPAGANDA Beast Of Gevaudan Both Ends Of The Lens Torey Goodall EXPOSURE gallery Young Bloods gilbert / piekarski / morin Video links Sound Check Wooden Shjips The Five Spot Lizard King
Forced Entry cover photo / contents sequence and caption by
Brian Caissie
This is one of those DIY spots in Metro Vancouver that everyone wants to skate. Looks good, right? Well, it’s not easy to roll there, that’s for sure. In fact, it’s so rough that COREY KLIM chose to skate a soft-wheel filmer setup, partly because the ground is rough as dirt. It’s also very hard to get into the area since the city put a huge fence around the whole complex. We had to make a hole to get in, and after climbing up an eight-foot wall with all our gear, Corey got right into working the angles at this spot by popping a high BACKSIDE KICKFLIP. Thanks again to Magnus Hanson, who made this place skateable with multiple trips and bags of cement.
Visit concreteskateboarding.com on your desktop or mobile device to watch the Issue 115 commercial.
Concrete skateboarding
7
NOSE GRIND. SAN FRANCISCO, CA -PHOTO: DAVE CHAMI circa 2011
FEATURING THE MAXSON C1RCA.COM
Josh Clark
Rise & Shine “I’ve been dorking around with cameras since I was little,” Geoff mentions, “and I started really getting into shooting photos around 2004.” It’s been working out well for him, as you’ll see in the “It’s About Damn (Mari)Time” feature on p.32. When you inquire about his age, Geoff will be the first to tell you he’s “18 going on 34.” But the latter is actually true. When he’s not at home in downtown Montreal’s Plateau watching “silly cooking shows” with his significant other, he can be found toting camera gear around town with any given group of rippers from the city’s extensive and ever-growing talent pool. The ideal skate conditions for Geoff would be “a good day at Peace Park with no police and minimal crackhead nonsense,” and it would be considered a total success if a “mean sandwich” from Chez José landed in his hands. As for this Halifax-to-MTL transplant’s favourite French term, it’s: “Ca c’est trop steez ca.” 10
Concrete skateboarding
geoffclifford.tumblr.com
frontside noseslide
Photograph by: Joe Hammeke
Photograph by: Michael Burnett
distributed by Ultimate
timebombtrading.com facebook.com/timebombtrading
Go to etnies.com to watch the AIMLESS video and see who the new etnies team rider is!
Identity
David Gravette
“Chaotic genius” is perhaps the best way to describe Creature Pro David Gravette. This Issaquah, Washington-born, Portland, Oregon transplant always seems to pushing the limits of what most would deem as either sane or possible. Whether he’s skating, partying or getting tattooed, you can always be rest assured there is no half-measure in this 23-year-old’s vocabulary. After putting out consistently charging video parts for nearly a decade, and jumping on every roadtrip available, one can only wonder: “What makes a man of such character tick?” Read on to find out… —Matt Meadows
Top movies in your rotation?
Detroit Rock City is one of the best movies of all time. Can’t forget Fubar for all the Canadians, and Run Ronnie Run is a fuckin’ classic.
Best things about being from the Pacific Northwest?
Nature is probably the top one; there’s rivers to swim in and float on, fishing, shooting guns. It’s cheaper with less traffic and less douchebags.
Favourite inspirational quote?
My grandpa died when I was six, and my dad gave me his World War II-issued Colt .45.
Top tattoos you have?
I like the “Dang Me” noose tattoo on my left forearm. There’s “Spliff Life” with the stoned skull and weed leaf behind it on my right calf. It was done by Chris Adams, who did my first board graphic.
Story behind the name of your C1RCA shoe, The Lamb?
The longest-running nickname I’ve had is “Baby Lamb,” which I got on my second Creature trip when I was 17. I had a pinched nerve in my back that hurt so bad, and I’d let off these weird noises. I guess it sounded like a lamb.
How many surgeries have you had? Seven. Two on each of my hips to remove scar tissue bursa sacs and dead tissue from infections; I severed my left thumb pretty much off, so I had surgery on that and my right ankle twice.
What’s your worst habit?
I’ve got a bad habit of getting too excited and being an idiot on the first day of trips, then getting hurt. I’ve done it a whole bunch.
Best things about visiting Canada?
Poutine, cheap weed, and good people watching down on Hastings Street in Vancouver. Pretty much it’s the awesome skateparks in Vancouver; I love snake runs and fly-outs, for sure.
brian caissie
David Allan Coe once told me through a song that “You gotta learn how to pick ‘em, son / learn how to lick ‘em, son / learn how to stick ‘em, son…”
Most prized possession?
14
Concrete skateboarding
distributed by Ultimate
inventory
Powell-Peralta x Pro Ripper Board
To commemorate Pro Skates’ 25th anniversary, Ultimate Dist. East General Manager Norm Macdonald thought it would be only fitting to bring things back to the original roots. Enter Powell-Peralta and the legendary Ripper deck by Vernon Courtlandt Johnson. It was the first board ever sold at Pro Skates in Halifax. Kris Burns from Ultimate East put together an amazing custom collaborative graphic for a shop that’s been keeping it legit on the East Coast. powell-peralta.com / proskates.com
Spitfire
Mike Anderson
Manderson’s signature wheel is new for Fall ’11 and is part of the Spitfire Wide (SFW) series. It features a lighter conical cut and because of the wider profile, you can ride the fire with unmatched control and speed. They’re available in 51, 52 or 53mm. Get ’em and burn.
Altamont x GWAR
dlxsf.com/fall11/sf
Pit Tee
Leave it to Altamont to always keep you guessing. With many collabs since the brand launched in 2006, here’s another to make you smile. And it’s the very first brand to collaborate with heavy gore metal band, GWAR. Altamont is down with the band’s massive sci-fi/horror-inspired costumes, obscene graphics, lyrics and politically charged stage performances. The Pit T-shirt is available at less-than-ordinary shops.
collection compiled by casey jones
altamontapparel.com / gwar.net
Quiksilver x The Baitshop
Hold Fast Tee
Quiksilver teamed up with The Baitshop in Toronto to create a pop-up shop and showcase its skateboard apparel collection, with pieces inspired by their Pros— Alex Olson, Danny Garcia, Reese Forbes and Justin Brock. This collaboration with The Baitshop also led to producing limited-edition boards and T-shirts. Hats off to them for creating a unique way to showcase product in a solid joint effort. skate.quiksilver.com / thebaitshop.ca
16
Concrete skateboarding
L E O
R O M E R O
A U S T I N C A I R O C O R Y
K E N N E D Y
D A V I D E D
S T E P H E N S F O S T E R
R E Y E S
T E M P L E T O N
J A M E S J O S H
H A R D Y H A R M O N Y
J U L I A N
D A V I D S O N
K E E G A N K E V I N
N E S T O R
T H E
S A U D E R
“ S P A N K Y ”
L O N G
J U D K I N S
B A L A N C E
O F
O P P O S I T E S
R V C A . C O M T I M E B O M B T R A D I N G . C O M F A C E B O O K . C O M / T I M E B O M B T R A D I N G . C O M
inventory C1RCA Combat
Widow—Ramondetta
How can you not love Peter Ramondetta? Low key and gets it done. The same with his fifth signature shoe from the C1RCA Combat Division. Not a ton of flash, but a shoe that’s been designed with strictly skateboarding in mind. The Widow is only available in skateshops, and it’s a slim-profile vulcanized beast that comes stocked with Dura-Lock—an insole that improves arch support, and locks your heel into place. c1rcacombat.com
DVS
Chico De Mayo Mid
As a way of commemorating Chico Brenes, DVS released a special shoe on the Mexican national holiday, Cinco de Mayo. Naturally, this mid-top has been designed, tested and approved by the man himself. It’s a slim-fitting, minimally padded, pig suede mid made with Flex Feel technology to ensure better grip and board feel. It also comes complete with custom artwork. Go rip ’em like Cheeks. dvsshoes.com
Emerica x Toy Machine
China Flat
Ed Templeton and Emerica go together like PB&J, so this chill-seeking Toy Machine collab only makes sense. It’s an ultra-thin slip that features a vulcanized natural gum rubber sole, and the Tempster’s classic Transistor Sect character rounds out this art-inspired chiller. Brought to you by two legends in the game, and you’ll find them hanging at a skateshop near you. emerica.com / toymachine.com
SUPRA
Bandit—Penny
Anything with Tom Penny’s name on it is going to get my attention. The man is a living legend. Tom has been on SUPRA since Day 1 and comes in classic with the new Bandit. The lightweight cupsole design is equipped with the SUPRAFOAM-injected heel for and a premium-grade EVA sockliner. Whether you’re out on the town or out at the park, SUPRA gets it done once again with the Bandit. suprafootwear.com
18
Concrete skateboarding
WHITE GUNNY TUF C H A D M U S K A S I G N ATUR E M ODEL
SUPRAFOOTWEAR.COM
A R T B L E N D E R // ANDREW POMMIER
A
ny skateboarder that’s been roaming their local shop the past few years has seen the art of Andrew Pommier on skateboards, tees, decks, wheels and shoes. His hooded, costumed and anthropomorphized characters have a sense of suburban melancholy and, with a smoke in hand, are contemplating what to do next with their lives, or maybe just that afternoon. He was able to escape the rocky-and-polluted mining town of Sudbury, Ontario through his pencil and paper as a child. Once done with
high school, Andrew made his way south to Toronto and did his post-secondary education at Ontario College of Art & Design, graduating in 1996. While visiting Jesse Van Roechoudt in San Francisco, he introduced himself to Scott Bourne and passed along a ’zine filled with drawings. Andrew’s first skateboard graphic was for Scott, who rode for Death Skateboards at the time. Since then he’s done many other decks for Toy Machine, Element, Girl, Manik, Heroin and Landscape. The Momentum Wheel Co. utilizes his skills for every season, and aside from creating art for product, Andrew
also gets his hands dirty with illustration for magazines. His characters have appeared in SBC Skateboard, Transworld, Thrasher, Juxtapoz, Complex and Monster Children. For the past few years, Andrew has called Vancouver home and can be spotted biking, skateboarding, and attending a mishmash of art openings around the city. This past year has been jam-packed for Andrew, with solo and group shows in Europe, the U.S. and, of course, Canada. —Randy Laybourne andrewpommier.com
clockwise from top left:
Coda “Flame” deck Heroin “Howard Cooke” deck Heroin “Zombie” deck Landscape “Snowy” deck Momentum “Darwin Rojo” wheel Momentum “Darwin Haslam” wheel Momentum “Darwin McCrank” wheel Momentum “Toeda Hamburger” wheel Momentum “Power Snake” wheel RVCA “Ltd. Ed. 2011 Coachella” tee Driven “Bourne With Bach” deck Coda “Snake” deck
“Andrew has hands with big plans. They are constantly connecting major league wild brainwaves to paper and canvas through forests of lines and rivers of paint. His imagination is a world without end, and we are grateful for what this man doeth with his days.” —Lori Damiano // Artist and Animator 20
Concrete skateboarding
visit concreteskateboarding.com to download art blender wallpapers for your computer and iphone.
“The Collected Events of a Sunny Afternoon� by Andrew Pommier, created exclusively for Concrete Skateboarding.
BarRi er kult / The Range Of Propaganda chapter 4: beast of gevaudan photos brian caissie
After a brief hiatus due to the release of the 2011 Concrete Photo Annual this summer, the Barrier Kult’s militant propaganda continues to spread its undead evil this issue. The Beast Of Gevaudan’s tale is riddled with dark root lineage that twists and intertwines at length from Europe to the British Columbia coastline dating back to the late 1700s. An eerie discovery on natural transitions in both Gévaudan, France and the Nootka Sound region in Canada comes full circle, which reveals the B.O.G.’s eternal penchant for tight transition violence as a key BA.KU. member. —Frank Daniello
The story of the Beast of Gevaudan is one of mystery and violence, but there are clues that link the beast to the forests of British Columbia. It’s a story of knife violence in south central France in the 1760s; one of the contracted killers of the Beast (Man Beast—beast of violence and fang knifing). One titled as Francois Antoine found clues to the obsessed mania of the “Black Haired Beast.” During one of the evenings of hunting, Antoine discovered a large grey rock fragment at the base of a large tree, which resembled a violent “ramp.” Upon returning, he inspected the fragment and carved upon it was a statement of prehistoric propaganda: “Home serre de violence de transition comme bete.” Which translated as the dark, cold, plague and tree rooted meaning: “Tight transition violence and man as beast.” In related dark mystery, Captain Cook’s haunted travels took him into the West Coast. In the 1770s, his anchored ships gave him and his crew opportunity to investigate the areas and practices of the Nootka First Nations. A legendary story, the visit had one of his crew members also discover a dark and haunted rainforest tree trunk that held a similar fragment of rock that had mysterious carvings inscribed: “Bestia de la transicion apretada de maderas knifing.” Which translated: “Beast of the woods tight transition knifing.” Horror was stricken into the mind of the crewmember; he remembered the legends of the wild man and cannibalistic woman of the woods: Dzunuk’wa. It was assumed that Esteban José Martinez wrote the text, but he did not reside in Nootka Sound until the 1780s. The dark mystery thickens, which in contemporary times the Barrier Kult’s Beast Of Gevaudan is representative. His acts of the human beast were spread from France to the Lower Mainland. His trickery is the key to his lineage in plague spreading through more lines of barrier knifing and the coarse fur bearing disease of BA.KU plague. Whatever militant and bestial forces drove the message of tight transition violence across the oceans, drove the B.O.G. to the shores of Canada’s West Coast.
—Depth Leviathan Dweller
1
Legend
2
Captain Cook (1728-1779) = originally from Yorkshire, England, James Cook was an explorer, navigator and cartographer who mapped the entrance of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763). Nootka First Nations = named “Nootka” by Captain Cook in 1778 when he discovered Resolution Cove (Nootka Sound) on the west coast of Vancouver Island, the First Nations people of the area are actually called Nuuchah’nulth. Dzunuk’wa = a figure of mythology derived by the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations group, whom originated on northern Vancouver Island. She is known to bring wealth, but is feared by children because she steals them with cannibalistic intentions. Esteban José Martinez (1742-1798) = a navigator from Seville, Spain, who was known for his exploration of the Pacific Northwest.
22
Concrete skateboarding
beast of gevaudan - switch fs feeble 270 out
distributed by Ultimate
distributed by Ultimate
,9
<" 4*(/"563& 536$, NN
XXX PSJPOUSVDLT DPN
intro
Frank Daniello
stills and captions
Copenhagen, DK Torey Goodall
Ollie Photo: Alana Paterson 26
Concrete skateboarding
alana paterson
THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF Torey Goodall
DO THE RESEARCH AND MAKE IT HAPPEN, which is precisely what Vancouver’s Torey Goodall did when it came to transforming his higher education into an international adventure. His road to Copenhagen, Denmark, actually began by relocating to Montreal from the West Coast in 2009. There he attended Concordia University, majoring in Geography, and credits the city for reinvigorating his skateboarding. As a result, Torey filmed for Jeremy Elkin’s 2010 release, Elephant Direct, sharing a part with long-time pal Bradley Sheppard. The 25-year-old Quiksilver Canada, HUF Footwear, Real, Spitfire and Thunder teamster knew that becoming a Quebec resident had its advantages when it came to post-secondary. He applied and was accepted for a bursary that would support him through the remainder of his education, and allow him to finish his Geography Degree at the University of Copenhagen. “I heard good things about the city from friends,” Torey explains. “It’s mid-sized, so it’s not overwhelming at all, and everyone bikes to get around. More than anything, it’s just a free-minded city, and even though Danish is a very confusing language, luckily, I could attend school in English and everyone speaks it there.” He made the move in January 2011, referring to the Scandinavian winter as “pretty harsh,” but he managed to hit the city-funded Copenhagen Skatepark indoor until the April thaw exposed what the streets had to offer prior to his lateJune departure: “The scene is really good; amazing skaters and lots of spots. It’s actually one of the best cities I’ve been to for skating.” Torey will be the first to claim “accidental art” when it comes to the following snapshots taken with his thrift store-acquired 35mm Olympus Stylus: “I shot a bunch during my last month in Copenhagen. A lot of the photos look super art with these weird dots and fades because the camera is kinda fucked up [laughs]. I think it’s completely broken now.”
Jessup Tray
Main Strip
Sofa Surf
Glifberg Gold
Berlin Bound
Closet Party
“These are some of my closest friends in Copenhagen. On the far right is Hjalte Halberg, an amazing skater who just turned pro for Pontus Alv’s board company, Polar. Left of Hjalte is Emil Østerby, and the other guy serving us beers on his board is Alexandrino Ferreira Da Silva, a.k.a. Dino. He’s hilarious, and he’s like Keenan Milton reincarnated when you watch him skate.”
“That’s Frey Wilkinson, who’s a really good friend of mine. He actually spent a couple months at my place in Vancouver recently. I couch surfed his spot in Frederiksberg a lot because my place was such a dump. He was trying out a new look for this photo [laughs]. Naw, he was just in the middle of shaving his head while we were super hungover.”
“Vancouver’s Aaron Chan came and stayed with me for like a month-and-ahalf, just lurking. I think this is a funny picture because he looks super-cool guy. This is actually in Berlin when a few friends went there for a quick trip. It’s an eight-hour ferry and bus ride from Copenhagen, and it only costs 30 Euros to get there.”
“This is accidental art [laughs]. I was having lunch with Emil at Aha, which is supposedly the best falafel spot in town. It’s on Blågårdsgade—a street in a part of town where a lot of younger people live called Nørrebro. It’s one of the main hangouts, with lots of bars and cafes, and they shut it down for big street festivals in the summer.”
“This was shot during the opening of that sick, new outdoor skatepark in Copenhagen that Rune Glifberg helped design. It’s located in a city park called Fælledparken. These are just dudes I skated with a bunch out there, and they’re getting wasted because of all the free beer at this big-ass party [laughs]. On the right is Magnus, alongside Emil, Thomas and Reds.”
“I had a funny little room at my place in Amager. Greg Papove, my roommate in Vancouver, was visiting along with my friends Louise and Kristin from Toronto. We were fully partying in my closet-sized room one night and they were putting on all my clothes. Greg’s wearing my leopard print shirt and blanket that Bradley Sheppard gave me for Christmas years ago.”
Canal Dips
“The city centre has these lakes dividing it, and a canal system. This is in Islands Brygge, pretty much downtown, in a swimming area on the canal that lots of people use. The day before I left, my friend took this picture of me and Greg Papove jumping in off a big wooden structure that’s kind of like a diving board with all these different levels.”
Sauna Sundays
“Christiania is a part of Copenhagen that started as a hippy commune in the ’70s. They were old military barracks that people squatted and developed. It’s kind of an ‘anything goes’ sort of place. They have this bathhouse that only costs five bucks, and kicking it at the sauna is a super Danish thing to do. This is a photo of Hjalte Halberg sitting on the steps.”
Mandatory Sixer
“This is a posse shot at Jarmers, the ledge spot that everyone meets at right downtown. I went for one last session before I left town. Everyone is always drinking beer in Copenhagen, so if you show up to this spot and you don’t have a six pack of Tuborg or Carlsberg, it’s like: ‘What are you doing?’ It’s a really expensive city, but beer is really cheap.”
28
Concrete skateboarding
Frontside bluntslide Photo: Alana Paterson
photo: fritz
to visiting my old stomping grounds on the East Coast of Canada, especially when it’s with a group of people who have never been there before. One thing I’ve noticed about people from other parts of the country (and the world for that matter), is that no one really knows jack shit about the place. They have these clichéd ideas that everyone from there is a fisherman, eats seafood three times-a-day, and that we’re all really nice and hospitable. Bullshit. I’ve never even fished once in my life, I hardly ever ate fish and I dare you to walk around Dartmouth or Spryfield, Nova Scotia, past dark. You’ll find out how “friendly” everyone is real quick.
Myself and filmer Dave “Curly” Pelletier, along with most of the Studio Skateboards team (I mention “most” because for reasons to be discussed later, Mike Fyfe missed the ride down), including Jai Ball, Darrell Smith, Jean-Mat Vincent, Kyle MacDonald and Joey Larock, hopped in a blacked-out Suburban to discover the “Real East” for over a week during the summer. I think that myself and Kyle, who’s originally from Dartmouth, or the “Dark Side” as it’s sometimes referred, were both excited about taking advantage of the rest of the guys lack of knowledge of the area. We were to play tour guides, basically making things up the whole time.
The only scheduled event of the trip was a demo in the town of Riverview, New Brunswick, so we had some freedom to roam around and check out spots in nearby Moncton before heading to Halifax. Kyle and I filled everyone’s head with enough lies and disinformation to safely prevent any of them from returning again. All in all, I think it was a sweet trip. —Geoff Clifford
Concrete skateboarding
33
The plan always seems simple, but attempting to get eight skaters to do anything on time never is. So when our 8:30 a.m. rendezvous time turned into 10:30 a.m., with no sign of life from one Mike Fyfe, the usual sigh of frustration turned into wild guesses as to his whereabouts. You see, Mike has a wildly unpredictable side, kind of like drinking on an empty stomach; you could have a great time or vomit violently. After dozens of unreturned texts and calls, we finally drove our rented, black Suburban out of Montreal at 11:00 a.m., hoping and praying that he wasn’t in a ditch somewhere. When my phone finally rang at 11:30 a.m., hearing Mike’s dejected slurred voice brought a small grin to my face. He was alive. When he told me why he missed the ride, my small grin turned into a giant ear-to-ear smile. A wise man once said, “sometimes you go to jail and sometimes you don’t,” and on that hot Friday 34
Concrete skateboarding
morning in June, Mike Fyfe said it. So with Mike on the next bus to Moncton, our crew headed to the Maritimes with one crazy story already in the books.
This tour came together thanks to our good friend, Surface skateshop owner and Riverview, NB park administrator, Ross Smith. Supporting us since Day One, he was able to get the town of Riverview to bring our team in instead of a team from the States for their annual Sun Fest event (take note, that’s how you help build a Canadian industry!) It’s guys like Ross who support local that make it all worthwhile, and true to form, continued the legend of Maritime hospitality. Whether it was food and booze around every corner, places to stay or showing us around, Ross and his crew made our lives easy. With only one demo on a five-day trip, we were stoked to hit the streets of Moncton and the surrounding area. After three days of skating,
barbecues, talking shit on Keith’s porch (our strong silent-type host), we made our way out to Halifax. Kyle MacDonald’s hometown, and by his account—the Compton of the East Coast. Gya.
Most of the team had never been to the Maritimes let alone Halifax. Kyle was pumped, but Kyle’s always pumped. He’s got his own time zone, one where nothing starts before three coffees, showers are optional, and casual banter is 24/7. He can talk you through anything, and when tensions would simmer high due to too many smelly dudes in a small van, Kyle’s verbal gems broke the stress every time. Halifax was awesome; rad spots (I would drive back just for brick banks), beautiful views and one of the best outdoor parks I’ve ever skated. Although trying to hit spots in the middle of the week is never easy, we got a lot done as well as ate dope fish and chips near Pro Skates.
While searching for a Future Shop on the last day of the trip somewhere outside of Halifax, Geoff accidently missed a stop sign coming out of a strip mall; enter sirens and a seriousass cop. With his big head eyeing us through the driver’s window, he called it in: “Run a check on license plate number blah, blah. I’ve got eight males in a black Suburban.” Pause. You see, when Jean-Mat and I rented the truck, we were stoked. I mean, these things are balling. You feel half-gangst’, half-FBI swat team and all the way good.
Little did we know that for an ex-NARC cop who just finished 10 years undercover, these vehicles are to drug dealers what Volkswagen vans are to hippies. But thankfully, after a few routine questions and the aforementioned explanation as to why he stopped us, he let us go without a ticket and left us with a well-learned lesson: you can rent a black Suburban, but wear a suit when you drive it. So all in all the trip went like this... Joey killed it as usual; Mike made it out and got tricks
as well as added to his lore; Jean-Mat skated his ass off but had bad luck with photos; Darrell is still dreaming about Keith’s back deck; Geoff is a frickin’ soldier (last one to bed, first one up); Curly Dave is like the Incredible Hulk, but tried his best to remain as Bruce Banner; Kyle solidified his place as road trip entertainer, and as for me, I felt like the old, crusty dad vacationing with his kids, having controlled fun, always a little worried about time and making sure everyone makes it home alive. At least I got a decent air mattress.
Concrete skateboarding
37
distributed by Ultimate
TYLER SURREY - WALLRIDE 2 BS NOSEBLUNT WWW.SK8MAFIA4LIFE.COM - PHOTO CONNELLY
distributed by Ultimate
wo rds by Dane Co llis on • PHOTOGR A PHY BY R ICH ODA M
as Vegas. Sin City. “The Entertainment Capital of the World.” How else would you get a raging flood of non-stop tourism in the middle of the Mojave Desert? Easy. Construct a world-class, 6.8 km strip of casinos, hotels, shopping districts and top-notch restaurants. With three hundred-plus sunny days a year, add all of the attractions (distractions), it’s no wonder why this city has become a tourism mecca. Millions of dollars have been invested in building internationally renowned resorts to host some of the world’s most famous show bills like Cirque du Soleil, Elvis Presley and The Beatles. The city’s repertoire has been consistently influenced by Hollywood. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems almost unlivable. More like an oasis where three or four blurry days of vacation result in thinned-out wallets and never-ending stories for your friends who couldn’t get the weekend off. It makes it hard to not wonder what it’s like growing up in such mayhem… Enter Cameo Wilson. Although Cameo was born in Richmond, just outside of Vancouver, he spent the better part of 19 years in Vegas. Elementary school, high school, and his first skateboard all happened a stone’s through away from the infamous Strip. Now Cameo is back and forth between Vegas and Vancouver, pushing himself skating. I guess the saying: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” doesn’t apply to everything.
40
Concrete skateboarding
BLUNTSLIDE.
How far away from the Strip, or downtown, did you grow up? Is the Strip even considered “downtown?” No. Old Vegas, Fremont Street, is considered downtown. Now the Strip is basically in the middle of Vegas, and everything surrounds it. I grew up in the southwest area of the city. Nice neighbourhoods, but then the north side is kind of ghetto, and it gets even worse as it goes east. I grew up right, in a good place.
Do you ever gamble? No. Never with my own money, anyways… I’ll use someone’s money when I’m sitting next to them like, “Dude, you’re wasting your time,” and then they end up giving me two bucks to shut up [laughs].
What’s the bad part of town like? It’s basically just right behind the Strip, and it’s called Henderson. Not the type of ghetto like in Vancouver. There’s no crackheads, just prostitution, project housing and stuff. It’s almost like a dedicated area to be a slum.
What was school like in Vegas? Fuck, dude. I got kicked out so much. I got to know a lot of people in Vegas from going to so many schools. I first got RPC’d in the fifth grade—that means a Required Parent Conference and a three-day suspension. After the first one, it pretty much just happened all the time to the point where I got kicked out.
There’s so much money flowing, it seems like Vegas would have a higher crime rate. Do you consider it to be a violent place? No, not really. I don’t think so. It’s not even like Vancouver where every night on Granville Street downtown you see a fight. The Strip is pretty mellow. People just have fun.
42
Concrete skateboarding
Then you go to the slots? Well, yeah. They have nickel slots. Plus, they serve free cocktails, so we post up there.
Did your public school career continue that way? In middle school, I started in a brand-new school and got kicked out two weeks in for running down the halls silly-stringing girls [laughs]. In the next school, there was this huge beef between Mexicans and skaters, so I got kicked out for fighting. After that I gave it one more shot at another school and it didn’t work out, so I guess it ended my career at school. I made it to being a senior.
FRONTSIDE SMITH.
How did you get into skating down there? I used to rollerblade. I used to fruit-boot before I started skating [laughs]. I was living next door to Sammy Baca’s best friend and he’d see me rollerblading. One day he came out and was like, “If you’re gonna live here, you’re not gonna rollerblade.” So the next day I went out and copped a skateboard! What is skating like in Vegas? I know it get’s crazy hot there, does that make it difficult to skate in the summertime? Yeah, but it’s something that you get used to after a while. It’s so hard not to skate when it’s always so beautiful out. Last time I was there we thought ahead and brought out a few coolers full of tall cans. That was tight. On a bit more of a dramatic note, do you remember Tupac’s tragic Vegas death in 1996? I was so young, dude. Probably like eight years old. That shit was crazy. I just remember my sister being so in love with him and Biggie, and when that happened, she was devastated. She was convinced that Tupac was coming back on the seventh day or whatever. It got to the point where my mom had to find autopsy reports just to show her the facts. My sister lost her mind! It was crazy. Heavy stuff. Do you know where the crime scene was in Vegas, right near the Strip? Yeah. It’s ridiculous, man. It’s crazy there were no cameras that picked up what went down in a place that’s so popular, you know? On the opposite note of bad vibes, what’s up with the heavy-ass Pharmacy team? It’s not a team. It’s a family. Family with a “PH.” That’s what people don’t get, and that’s why the team is stacked because the “phamily” is so huge. Once you’re a part of it, you’re down for life. Even though there are heavy hitters like Leo Romero and Bryan Herman, do those guys find time to roll with the Pharm squad? Hell, yeah! Herman was with us in Tampa this year for the contest. All the homies are so tight. 44
Concrete skateboarding
BACKSIDE FLIP.
Who, in your opinion, is doing it big time for Vegas right now as far as skating? I’d have to say my boy, Phil Meranto. Braydon Szafranski is still holding it down. Kenny Anderson is still killing it, Sammy Baca. There’s lots of Vegas heads. To me, Sammy seems as Vegas as it gets. Doesn’t he have yours and his hometown park, Desert Breeze, tattied all over his stomach? Would you consider getting one? [Laughs] Yeah, that’s my park. That shit’s gnarly. I would get like a D.B. for Desert Breeze. Just the initials. I did get Las Vegas tattied on my arm. I love that shit! How did you meet Kenny Anderson? Just from skating at the Breeze. I pretty much grew up skating around him and he helped me out with getting me where I needed to be with skating. He was like a mentor. He’s been around forever. He’s just so down to kick it and talk to you and chill. He’s definitely just a kind, rad dude. Speaking of Vegas skaters, what’s up with The Vegas Video we’ve been seeing teasers for? The Vegas Video is going to be tight! By the homies, for the homies, kind of thing. As far as when it’s going to come out though, who knows? There’s no schedule or anything. We just film and have fun. It’s going to be a sick video, though, look out for it! Do you run the strip clubs very often? By the sounds of it, they have a few of those establishments in Vegas. Dude! The last strip club I went to there was called Hustler. It was so crazy. I showed up and my homie Jordan Gibo and a few other friends were there. This place was two stories, girls everywhere, and it cost $25 to get in and $1 beers. I ran into this girl I was in band class with who worked there as a dancer. Let’s just say shit got crazy! Well, that about wraps it up. Thanks, Cameo. Thank you, sir. Anyone who hasn’t been to Vegas, go there and get buck! 46
Concrete skateboarding
BACKSIDE SMITH.
50
Concrete skateboarding
Billy Mitchell photo:
without saying that the world of skateboarding has fundamentally changed over the past decade. What once was a sport that operated on the fringes of society can now be found on every television across the globe. With its ever-growing popularity, skateboarding has attracted all sorts of new sponsorships. From Street League partnering up with The U.S. Air Force to skaters like Paul Rodriguez riding for Target, non-skate brands have come out of the woodwork in full force for a piece of the pie. The only problem is, while it’s all fine and good for a skater to cash a corporate sponsor’s cheque, one has to wonder: What has signing a deal with a company that has no long-term vision of skateboarding actually done for the sport? Essentially, in the
Kickflip Brian Caissie
skater’s attempt to get his while the getting is good, he has partnered with a company that is merely looking to exploit his abilities and our sport as a whole. So does that mean sponsorship with non-skate brands is a no-no? Not exactly, all it means is teaming up with brands that not only have the skater’s best interest at heart, but also respect and wish to preserve the integrity of the sport. Case-in-point, the story of Cariboo, a micro-brew crafted by the Prince George, BC-based Pacific Western Brewing Company, which was established in 1957. While many other companies sought out skateboarding and view it merely as a tool to reach a new demographic, Cariboo never thought that way. It was actually skateboarding that chased the Brewery.
Nick Moore
Frontside Crail Grind photo: Louis Feller
Spencer Hamilton
Backside Heelflip Brian Caissie
photos:
Paul Mulgrew, Cariboo’s Vancouver-based brand manager, reminisces about how the relationship between skateboarding and Cariboo grew organically, like a friendship rather than a business merger: “Tyler Holm approached me with some initial videos that really sparked off our culture movement. They were funny, youthful and very watchable clips.”
In providing Holm complete autonomy over the team, Cariboo was taking a leap of faith. For the first time in recorded history a beer company was about to sponsor legal-age skateboarders! But there was one major problem to address: since skateboarding is primarily a youth-driven sport, how can you promote a beer brand without promoting drinking?
Similarly, it was evident to Holm right off the bat that he had approached the right people. “When I got in touch with Paul, he was stoked right away. And as we built our relationship through the videos I was involved in, I asked Cariboo if having a skateboard team would be something they would be into since I was talking to some friends about it at the time. They were fully down and said: ‘If you put in the work to get it going, we will back you a 100%!’”
“It’s a touchy subject,” says Holm. “We once made a Nick Moore video of him actually drinking a beer and we got some heat for that. In the end, we can promote the brand but not actually the drinking, ’cause no one wants kids to be getting drunk. Skateboarding and kids are good, but mix beer in there and everything will go wrong real fast.”
Concrete skateboarding
53
Mike Schulze
backlip to fakie crook photos: Joel Dufresne
54
Concrete skateboarding
Corey Klim
Switch frontside bigspin photos: Brian Caissie
Unsurprisingly, Mulgrew agrees with Holm’s philosophy on the matter: “We are definitely caught up in sending the right message whenever possible and reacting when we make mistakes. The team has been given strict instruction on the government’s liquor regulations and they do a great job.” Now that Holm and the brand were on the same plane, Cariboo Skateboarding began to move in leaps and bounds. Tyler started to hand-pick a team that would eventually consist of the crème de la crème from Vancouver’s skate scene. C1RCA Canada’s Corey Klim, remembers fondly how he was picked up by his first beer sponsor: “I first got hooked-up with Cariboo through Tyler. He was doing a bunch of promotional stuff for them and was talking about making a team. I was like, ‘Damn, that would be sick to have beer sponsor. No one is doing that!’”
Sheldon Meleshinski was equally excited when he was asked to join: “I heard Cariboo had a skate team, and I was just so curious on how to get on, like everyone else was I’m sure. Then one day I was at the plaza with my dawgs when Tyler Holm approached me and asked if I was interested in riding for Cariboo. So, I played it cool and asked him what was expected from a rider. He said, ‘You just need to skate and drink the beer.’ No shit!” As Holm secured more and more riders he was faced with the question as to how to spread the word of “The Boo.” Much in keeping with the grassroots nature of the brand and drawing on his experience in making videos, he and fellow SixOhFor Media founder Kyutae Kim decided to produce a series of viral video ads. Since they featured the company logo and straight-up gnarly skating, whispers about the beer quickly became louder as people from across Canada and internationally wanted to know more about the brewing company.
Adam Fontaine
Switch backtail backside flip out photos: Rich Odam
Even in one of their recent viral videos, which takes a shot at the typical hot girl beer ad, Holm, Kim and Cariboo remained mindful of how they wanted to display the brand and skateboarding. Instead of picking what Rob Dyrdek would call a “dime piece” type of girl to merely strut about the park in a bikini, they found Washington State’s Tina Keene who can actually skate mini better than most of her male peers, prompting one Hella Clips user to write: “Cariboo! Get that shit to the States!” Today, while skateboarding continues to raise awareness about the company, it is its reforestation efforts that have taken mainstream news by storm. Known as Cariboo’s “Refresh & Reforest” campaign [cariboobrewing.com/campaign/reforest], the brand reached a milestone in 2010 when it made a commitment after partnering up with the BC Ministry of Forests to plant at least 150,000 trees over the next three years. Mulgrew explains the company’s motivation to become involved in BC’s reforestation efforts: “From our re-launch in 2008, we have been supporting reforestation. The inspiration came from our hometown of Prince George, where the pine beetle was taking over. That was why our Refresh & Reforest campaign was born.” One team member, Sean Lowe, was quick to point out that parallels can be drawn between skateboarding and Cariboo’s reforestation work: “I think it’s tight and it really coincides. Seeing as how skateboards are made of wood, it just seems to make sense.” 56
Concrete skateboarding
Tyler Holm
Front crook photo: Brian Caissie
58
Concrete skateboarding
Sean Lowe
Switch 180 to 360 flip drop-down nose manny photos: Rich Odam
So what lies ahead for the beer brand that is continuing to help preserve the integrity of skateboarding and BC’s forests one beer at a time? Well, it seems that Mulgrew has no intention of stopping the brand’s forward momentum: “Cariboo Brewing presented Olio Festival [oliofestival.com] in Vancouver this year and that was a major investment and move for us, so we focused on making the Cariboo skate team and Olio a success.” Holm also sees the potential of new projects in the near future: “We’ve toyed with the notion of a Cariboo video, maybe not full-length but at least 15 minutes.” So now that Cariboo has paved the way and set the standard for beer sponsorship in the skateboard world, will we see brands like Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Budweiser, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith’s, Heineken and Corona follow suit? It’s tough to say, but team members like Meleshinski remain optimistic: “Yeah, definitely. I mean, Cariboo is on the right track! Look at the great variety of companies that use skateboarding to market their shit.”
Mulgrew also believes his skate team is a feather in the company’s cap. Understanding that long-term loyalty is something that is earned, the brand manager stated he is proud to be involved with the current generation: “I feel we have to build generational growth to catch up to some of the majors—or at least keep them at bay. I believe there has always been an unheard youth movement and we are just proud to be a part of it.” Reflecting on the bond forged between Cariboo and skateboarding, it becomes obvious why the brand has a vested interest in persevering the purity of our sport. In a world where corporations are quick to exploit for the promise of a quick buck, Cariboo differs from the pack. Just as it understands that the key ingredients to making a good beer comes from the preservation of our natural resources, it sees equal importance in maintaining the integrity of skateboarding for future generations. And for that we raise our glasses. Cheers, Cariboo! cariboobrewing.com/booskate
C1RCA STORE WARS 2011: THE BATTLE BEGINS THIS FALL VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SHOP’S VIDEO ON PUSH.CA WINNER REVEALED NOVEMBER 1ST, 2011 PRIZE DETAILS: s¬ ¬).¬%,%#42/.)#3¬%15)0-%.4 s¬# 2#!¬8¬@9/52¬3(/0 ¬#534/-¬3(/% s¬053( #!¬3(/0¬6)$%/¬02/&),%¬!.$¬/.,).%¬3(/0¬!$¬#!-0!)'. s¬#/.#2%4%¬3+!4%"/!2$).'¬%$)4/2)!,¬!.$¬# 2#!¬34/2%¬7!23¬!$¬&%!452).'¬4(%¬7)..).'¬3(/0
distributed by Ultimate
Danny Tumia frontside pivot
words
David Ehrenreich Randy Ploesser Rich Odam
captions photos
Almost no one knew each other the morning of this trip, and as we stumbled blindly into Ultimate Distribution TM, Skull Skates Pro and fearless leader Craig Williams’ crazy zigzag of B.C. and Alberta, I assessed our situation. From the U.S of A we had veteran Pro and 1031 owner, Kristian Svitak, along with two rookies Pros: ’06 Tampa AM winner, bigspin activist and Think Pro Cody McEntire and SLAP Pals-approved Randy Ploesser, who ditched the Birdman for The High 5. Also on board was Stereo AM Josiah Gatlyn from Florida, who was recently thrust into Internet fame by The Berrics, and balancing the scales we had a blue-collared janitor and Sector 9 rider from Portland by the name of Danny Tumia. In the van-mix were eager flow bros Skylar Kehr (Bones Wheels) and Caleb Davies (Toy Machine). Driving would consume a large portion of each day, and many times the schedule would read: street spot, demo, long drive. Craig’s persistence in avoiding cities was that of a zombie movie, so we quickly found beer as our only outlet to road legs, sore bones, van fever and the general lack of women. Well, Josiah discovered coolers, but that’s another story. While Craig and Kristian exempt themselves from the substance abuse, they were very much apart of our endless summer. Craig has extensively traveled western Canada for the better part of his post-pubescent life, so he knew the best beef jerky stands, the owners’ names at motels, and facts about every place we stayed or passed through. In Craig we put our trust, and despite being pushed to the limit of patience and mental sanity, he never let us down. It was a trip like all good trips—you drop in, ride it out and have the best time ever. Concrete skateboarding
63
Josiah Gatlyn 360 flip
I think anyone in the van would consider Josiah the life of the trip. I don’t know if he was serious or not, but he also said he’d never been drunk before and that he was drinking as an experiment to see why people do it. A couple Smirnoff Ice tall bottles (his drink of choice, apparently) and it was off to the races. Like some sort of slapstick cartoon version of himself, he’d fly off the handle hugging people, falling down, and just being a general hazard. Even with what might of been his first hangover, he did this 360 flip pretty easy.
The Pros & Bros had four demonstrations on the schedule, with dates in Salmon Arm, Edmonton, Medicine Hat and Castlegar. Demos, while important, can be draining for the skaters and brought up reservations about how much street skating could be accomplished. But to everyone’s delight, as each new one came and went, it felt better than the last.
64
Concrete skateboarding
Cody McEntire
nollie bigspin backtail stall backside flip out Cody Mac has a hard-boiled, no-bullshit attitude that typifies a lot of people in the region he’s from. This attitude doesn’t mean he’s just a letthe-skating-do-the-talking person, something that someone of his skill and consistency would have no problem pulling off. On a particularly long van ride one night, while quite snockered, he ditched his usual reserve and the Texas in him really came out. During a hostile takeover of the DJ controls, he sang outlaw country at the top of his lungs and made everyone a target for his verbal abuse. It was amazing.
“Cody had commandeered the music to exclusively Hank The Third and David Allen Coe.”
Skylar Kehr rock to fakie
Skylar possesses an enviable amount of youthful, destructive energy. A “shoot first, ask questions later” sort of mentality that I can only imagine gets him in a lot of trouble. Two thousand dollars worth of trouble this time after a hotel incident involving a knife, a mattress, and new bedding. Sometimes this sort of attitude can come across as irritating and contrived, especially with how popular it is to market in skateboarding these days, but with Skylar it is absolutely genuine and awesome. His raw exuberance obviously comes across in his skating.
Life in the van, though tedious at times, always produces the best memories. Ticks excluded. We’d all heard horror stories of Lyme disease, but reality hit when the ticks infiltrated every crevasse of our van. Randy, Craig and Cody up near the front remained calm, but the rest of us lost it. Danny was so scared he’d refuse to kill them himself, flicking them spastically at Kristian and I. Like junkies having spider hallucinations, we felt them everywhere. These bed bugs of the mountains forced a full van cleanse and roadside inspection of all possible-infected personal. 66
Concrete skateboarding
Kristian Svitak sill stall to fakie
While watching Kristian skate this it was obvious he was no stranger to crusty spots that most people wouldn’t even consider skating. Being from the Midwest like Kristian, I also harbor a certain sentimentality when it comes to skating such things. Kristian said he was hurt but it didn’t seem to slow him down. Hell, if I was the consummate veteran pro hurt on the trip, I would just sit in the back of the van, drink beer, and take pot shots at all the new generation AMs in my general vicinity. Kristian seems far too friendly and mature for that, though.
“The thirst to travel is almost unquenchable...”
Craig Williams 360 flip to fakie
I figured Craig would simply fill his role as van driver/whip cracker and that would be that. Somewhat to my surprise, Craig is a 39-yearold skate rat. I almost laughed a couple times when he said, completely earnest, that he was “blowing it” because he hadn’t got a photo yet. Do 39-year-olds shoot street photos? If tres can look this good at his age, it gives me hope for the future.
Caleb Davies While on an adventure the brain works differently than while accomplishing normal activities. It’s really the only viable excuse, because even once the ticks were gone things were changing. Van fever set in. Skylar was colouring his own teeth with black markers; Josiah had dicks and bull’s eyes drawn on his face; Danny fell to a bet-banning speech; Randy had lost his slingshot; Cody had commandeered the music to exclusively Hank The Third and David Allen Coe. Luckily, the van fever also worked in our favour. When we’d lurch to a halt, it would be right down to business. Calgary, for example, was a half-day stop with a full session at Mills Beach before checking five spots and eventually wreaking ship at the infamous bike path wallride. Four boards and numerous feet made it into the Bow River. Despite some serious slams, Kristian, Caleb and Skylar all got tricks and it was off to another city before sundown. 68
Concrete skateboarding
switch 180
An obvious gnar factor of bikes and pedestrians coming from five different directions and a river right after the landing (which claimed a board or two), made this spot insanely hectic. Caleb had been robbed repeatedly on this switch 180 when all the sudden an old man came skidding around the corner on his bike and slammed. He stood doubled over right in front of the spot before Caleb, bloodied from his own slams, said in his heavily inflected Alberta accent: “Hey there, bud, you mind movin’ over a bit there?” I had to stifle laughter as I helped the poor old guy on his way.
“Four boards and numerous feet made it into the Bow River.”
“With Pauly Shore looking on approvingly, we all took turns skating...” Danny Tumia invert
Danny sat bitch in the back seat, between Kristian and Cody almost the entire trip, so they knew his life story, and many other stories that covered a wide spectrum of quality. Spots like this are why you need a “good at vert” guy like Danny on every trip. How often do you come across a ramp in a giant plastic dome in the middle of the mountains? I, being a decidedly “not good at vert” guy, sat at the campfire just outside the dome with the rest of the crew. I remember the absurdity of watching Danny try wall plants nine feet up in the dome, while Josiah drunkenly ran in circles babbling and giggling like a high school girl who had her first taste of raspberry schnapps. It was one of those “this is why I skateboard” moments.
Craig had arranged for local royalty to show us around, and they awaited at each destination with open arms. In Calgary, it was Devin Morrison and Dustin Henry. There was Glenn Suggitt in Edmonton, Roger Bruinsma in Red Deer, Sean Lowe in Salmon Arm and Eugene Voykin in the Kootenays. Over in Kamloops, we had Derek Swain and Matt Berger. Each stop left us wanting to stay longer, but also knowing we could miss out on what would be in store another day. Once such evening, in a location that shall remain anonymous, we were treated to a nine-foot high by 16-foot wide ’80s-style vert ramp encased in a plastic bio-dome. With Pauly Shore looking on approvingly, we all took turns skating until pure fatigue finally put a nightcap on the session. It was a place and time that rekindled those early memories of skateboarding—the feeling you’d found something very special. It’s why we go on trips, why we explore, and why we take the time to meet new people. The thirst to travel is almost unquenchable; throw skateboarding in the mix and it becomes mandatory. See you next time on the road. 70
Concrete skateboarding
Randy Ploesser ollie
I really didn’t understand this guy. I don’t know how he got on this trip. He smelled, was constantly drunk or hungover, and barely skated. The kids at the demos had no idea who he was, and he didn’t seem like he wanted to try to impress them either. He’d just roll around smoking cigarettes, glaring at people, and saying, “Fuck Canada” under his breath. It must of took every bit of strength he had to huck that sack of shit over this pole. To make it worse, he constantly made fun of me! He’s a bitter, talentless prima donna and I hate him.
visit concreteskateboarding.com for exclusive videos from the pros and bros tour.
distributed by Ultimate
Derek Swaim
fakie inward heelflip photo Brian Caissie
Concrete skateboarding
75
Lee Yankou
Frontside Smithgrind photo dan zaslavsky
76
Concrete skateboarding
Dan Redmond
Kickflip to frontside tailslide photo joel dufresne
Paul Liliani
switch backside 50-50 photo jeff comber
JS Lapierre
frontside nosegrind photo will jivcoff
John Hanlon
Backside Smithgrind photo brian caissie
Concrete skateboarding
79
Jessy Jean Bart
Backside nosebluntslide photo nathan ethier myette
Andrew Wenckstern
switch frontside Bigspin photo will jivcoff
Concrete skateboarding
81
JP Grenier
Frontside heelflip
photo Nathan Ethier Myette
Mike Fyfe
Switch frontside crooked grind photo geoff clifford
Concrete skateboarding
83
ARTOSAARI
D2 REMASTERED . ULTIMATE CONTROL TEAM DRIVEN PERFORMANCE . REMASTER SUPERVISED BY ARTO SAARI
ARTOSAARI . SAMMYWINTER . STEVEFORSTNER . JAKEJOHNSON . TONYCERVANTES DESTRUCTOTRUCKS.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/DESTRUCTOTRUCKS DISTRIBUTED BY ULTIMATE
distributed by Ultimate
Youngbloods
photos jeff delong
kickflip
age:
19
sponsors:
lives:
Saint John, NB Ripper Skateboards, West 49
Chris is one of Saint John’s most up-and-coming skate rats. You can usually find him honing his skills at the Station One Skate Plaza, but he has no problem hitting up the rough streets of Canada’s oldest city. Watching him skate, you’ll immediately notice his smooth, effortless style and consistency. He’s a friendly, down-to-earth kid, with a lot of potential. Keep your eye on him for sure. —Jeff Delong
86
Concrete skateboarding
Distributed by: www.wickwinder.com
Youngbloods
age:
21
sponsors:
lives:
Ottawa, ON Top of the World Skateshop, DC Canada (flow)
Jon Pie is the new guy in town. I first me him at the éS Game of S.K.A.T.E. in Ottawa last summer. I immediately noticed everything he did was popped high and proper—a good characteristic for any skateboarder. He wasn’t in town long before he landed a spot on the Top team, which is a testament to how talented he is. Not only does he shred the gnar; he also has the best mentality and attitude towards skateboarding and everything else in life. —Terry Worona
88
Concrete skateboarding
photos terry worona
Blunt stall heelflip out
distributed by Ultimate
Youngbloods
age:
21
sponsors:
lives:
Quebec City, QC Element Canada, SUPRA Footwear, Exo Shop
When you first meet Alex, it’s hard not to be surprised. His great style and solid bag of tricks definitely make him stand out from others. The surprise doesn’t come from his skating, however, but instead it’s from his attitude. He’s extremely motivated and one of the nicest, most humble dudes I’ve ever met—a pretty rare thing to see coming from someone with his on-board abilities. When you put all of these traits together, it’s no wonder Alex has picked up some sick sponsors and so many friends along the way. —James Morley 90
Concrete skateboarding
photos reno gagnon
Kickflip noseslide
chocolateskateboards.com chocolatestickers@supradistribution.com supradistribution.com
subscribe online concreteskateboarding.com
Michael Mackrodt / kickflip to fakie photo eric mirbach
Est. 1990: Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original skateboard magazine
PUBLISHER Kevin Harris
frank@concreteskateboarding.com
PHOTO EDITOR / staff photographer Brian Caissie brian@concreteskateboarding.com
kelly@concreteskateboarding.com
ART DIRECTOR Kelly Litzenberger
associate designer Randy Laybourne lookforwardtothepast.com
casey@concreteskateboarding.com
Web / Prepress Dave Keras
copy editor Stephanie lake
Administration Dave Buhr
davek@concreteskateboarding.com
EDITOR-in-chief Frank daniello
Contributing Photographers Geoff Clifford, alana paterson, Torey goodall rich odam, Louis Feller, joel dufresne Dan Zaslavsky, Jeff Comber, will jivcoff nathan ethier myette, jeff delong terry worona, reno gagnon eric mirbach, ripley Johnson
Ad Sales Manager Casey Jones
Contributing Writers matt meadows, randy laybourne depth leviathan dweller, casey jones geoff clifford, Dane Collison David Ehrenreich, Randy Ploesser Jeff Delong, terry worona, james morley jenny charlesworth, deran chung
Concrete skateboarding is Distributed 6 times annually by Ultimate Skateboard Distributors inc. // east: 705.749.2998 // west: 604.279.8408 Subscriptions: 1 Year for $19.95 (includes shipping / taxes) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 issues including The Photo Annual subscribe online at concreteskateboarding.com or send cheque / money order to: Concrete Skateboarding Subscriptions | 150 - 11780 River Rd. | Richmond, BC | V6X 1Z7 concrete accepts unsolicited submissions, but is not responsible if such materials are lost or damaged. submissions sent via letter-mail must include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return sending. for further submission inquiries, contact submissions@concreteskateboarding.com. for retailer inquiries in regards to carrying concrete, please contact info@concreteskateboarding.com.
NEXT ISSUE: issue 116 // December 9th, 2011
distributed by Ultimate
Video Links curated and written by
David Ehrenreich
With new viral videos being released daily, it’s about time to update the classic formula of our video review page, encompassing a wider and more relevant range of media. With large productions and home videos being given the same attention, it’s an exciting time for skateboard media. We at Concrete present not only the latest-and-greatest, but hidden gems and web channels to keep an eye on.
B E A R LY
COWS AND COUSINS
This made-for-web video by Josiah Gatlyn (see more of him in the “Pros and Bros” feature on p.62) was released in four parts. The music is wild, and when these guys look back it will guarantee them a pat on the back for incredible foresight, or it’ll be highly laughable. The skating is terrific, and my favourite section is the finale featuring wallride aficionado Nick Zizzo. But if you’re in need of jaw-dropping stunts, the Part 3 “Friend Collective” is where to look. It’s also where you will find something very funny, and relevant to this Internet generation. A spelling error in a title card has been fixed with a YouTube overlay button. Considering the DIY nature of the skateboard world, the ability to release a product and then conveniently modify mistakes post-distribution? That’s pretty handy. Maybe soon you’ll be able to swap-out tricks, and replace them with upgrades.
Right off the bat, I have to tell you there’s a heavy bias in this review. Not only did I help film a little but I also have a little part in it— a premiere Cinematic Achievement. With that out of the way, my reason for writing this review comes from the same place as my desire to help out with the video. Lee Saunders and Jeff Falconer spent three years making a fun video with and for their friends. It was made on their dime and by their rules. Cows And Cousins is not only full of great skating but absolutely amazing hi-jinx. It boasts an eclectic cast ranging from Canadian skateboard staples like Richard Sarrazin, Nate Lacoste, Chris Connolly and Spencer Hamilton, to Canadian nightclub staples like Gio Namini and Dallas Ives. Check it out, laugh hysterically, get inspired, and go make your own.
D I A M O N D D AY S
S lub B uc k s
Along with being an album name for at least three different bands, Diamond Days is a Vimeo series or “vlog” (if you really want to use that word) by New York’s Rob Harris. Rob first appeared on Canada’s radar with his 2009 release: Rich Mahogany, and he’s since been releasing his Diamond Days series in between some recent video works for Quiksilver. Diamond Days is over 50 videos deep and it could be you and your friends, but it’s not. It’s Rob and his friends skating, hanging, partying—a cell phone and digi-cam diary of good times. The low-fi quality is endearing and they’re not only super funny, but also have Canadians (the DPOG to be specific) all over them. If you crave skating in New York but can’t afford the plane ticket, Diamond Days is a good vicarious substitute.
Slub Bucks is “A Suburban Exploitation” by Jordan Moss and Wade Power. It returns to the classic skate video formula, including a real intro montage complete with bails and broken cameras, along with individual part intros. Brandon “Beaster” Bandula, our National Manny Champion, sets the standard with his opening part, and Bobby DeKeyzer follows up with impressive flip-outs and a startling security guard knucks. And on it goes... Brandon Del Bianco, Will Marshall and TJ Rogers are other notable names that appear, but every section is strong and all the skaters clearly worked hard for full parts. My personal favourite is the lanky Charles Deschamps, a great example of how good you can be without really even showing up in magazines. Enjoy the nice houses, yards and cars while they last, guys. You’re talented enough to move out of suburbia, which means you’ll be kissing all those comforts goodbye.
uskocollective.com/bearly
vimeo.com/user1538103
94
Concrete skateboarding
vimeo.com/27602110
concreteskateboarding.com/?page_id=10888
Facebook.com/ConcreteSkateboarding twitter.com/concreteskate youtube.com/user/concreteskatemag vimeo.com/concreteskate
ripley johnson
Sound Check
Wooden Shjips words
Jenny Charlesworth
San Francisco psych-rockers Wooden Shjips are racking up points from holier-than-thou hipster blogs, but it’s their endorsement from director Jim Jarmusch you should really care about. Be skeptical of adjective-slinging bloggers, certainly, but the director of Down by Law and Mystery Train? Now that’s an opinion you can trust. “We accepted that as a victory,” organist Nash Whalen tells Concrete of being handpicked by Jarmusch to play the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival he curated last year in New York. “We were totally surprised he wanted us to play for him. It was a weird moment for me: here’s this guy whose movies have such amazing music in them, and to think he listens to our music in any kind of way. That’s an honour.” So when you throw on Wooden Shjips’ new record, West, do it knowing your listening library shares a title in common with Jarmusch. High-five yourself if you like, just make sure to have your fanboy moment before heading down the rabbit hole of fuzzed-out tunes. Once the face-melting opener “Black Smoke Rise” kicks in, you’ll be numb to the outside world. The full-body buzz you get from Wooden Shjips’ music has been the group’s strongest 98
Concrete skateboarding
selling point. They harness a sound that feels suitably San Francisco—probably a shock for those who knew Whalen as a kid back home in New England.
“Crossing” pump through the speakers. But it doesn’t matter, not at all. West’s promise lies in the head-rush-worthy stoner anthems, not talk of new frontiers.
“It’s so comfortable in San Francisco ‘cause you’re not going to stick out; in Vermont it was really easy to stick out,” Whalen explains. “There are so many more people to encounter here that open up your mind in so many ways. It’s a really homogenous scene in Vermont where everyone kind of looks the same.”
The disc also benefits from Wooden Shjips stepping up their game and heading into a proper studio. “Before we were really worried about sound bleeding, the type of microphones we were using weren’t very good… there were just a lot of limitations like that,” Whalen mentions. “Going into the studio, our engineer [and member of Trans Am and the Fucking Champs] Phil Manley was able to dial in really easily how we wanted our instruments to sound.
Whalen found his salvation by bucking up and going west. It’s there, in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, that he found other S.F. transplants who shared his obsession for hazy space rock. And it’s this journey westward that informs the band’s latest album. “There’s this mythology about the American West,” says Whalen. “People are always traveling there to find their fortunes, so a lot of the songs touch on that theme.” If you can follow the lyrics close enough to piece together this theme, feel free to report back to the rest of us—that’s a mission as futile as keeping the Jarmusch back-story in mind once droning jams like “Flight” or
“We definitely felt like before we were making these mid-fi records, so we wanted to take that a step further and give the record a lot more depth, and have everything come through in a more hi-fi way.” From the whirling ’60s organ and manic guitar riffs to the diamond-in-the-rough single that is “Lazy Bones,” everything on the disc does indeed boom through loud and clear. And, let’s face it, if it’s good enough for Jarmusch, it’s good enough for you. woodenshjips.com
The Five Spot
Lizard King
brian caissie
Having random shitty tattoos all over the place carries a certain chic weight these days, but having PLG inked on your wrist and SATAN carved into your chest puts you in a special category. Satan worshipper and passionate arbiter of the stunt-wood, Lizard King never ceases to entertain. And if frontside nosesliding the Hollywood High 16 or doing the MegaRamp on acid is any indication, his part in the upcoming Deathwish video is going to be gnar. So step back as Salt Lake City’s favourite demon spawn spews out a Five Spot. —Deran Chung
Motorcycles
Bad Habits
Pocket Items
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Harley Davidson All Custom Bike
Drinking Smoking Spending money Skating while hurt Not having enough bad habits
Passport Lighter Cigs iPhone A present for your mom
Movies
Beverages
Tattoos You Have
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Army of Darkness (’92) House of 1000 Corpses (’03) The Devil’s Rejects (’05) Nacho Libre (’06) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (’03)
Crystal Light (Raspberry) Coca-Cola Classic Lemon-Up (Lemonade/ 7UP mix) Vanilla Dr Pepper Every single alcoholic bev ever made except gay drinks
Passion Purveyors
Utah Skaters
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Mama Lizard Papa Satan The possum Big fish Utah homies Canadian cities
100
Concrete skateboarding
Oliver B. Dirty Hads Snuggles Mark White—the legend Dan Jones
UFC… juss kiddin’ For Satan SFK Salt Lake Mom
Travel Destinations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Scotland NYC Salt Lake New Zealand OZ
Favourite Gear
1. Anything with my name on it 2. Anything with Erik Ellington’s 3. 4. 5. 6.
name on it Checker shorts SUPRA slip-ons Stance socks Deathwish beanie
Comforts 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Going home Skating Salt Lake Camping Backyard bonfire BBQ with the homies
Off-Board Activities 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
RC cars Motorcycles Cadillac cursing Bitches Torture
photo: Gaston Francisco
distributed by Ultimate
Lilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Buddies Series - artwork by Alex Stursberg www.momentumskate.com
-
LEFT NOT
TO
RIGHT
PICTURED
-
DCSHOES.COM/SKATEBOARDING
The Chris Cole S Wild Dove
Half-Cab Noseslide 270 Heelf lip
Blabac .Sequence
SKATEBOARDING
/HR
The Leo. $ &ODVVLF 5H ,QYHQWHG $YDLODEOH $W )LQHU 6NDWH 6KRSV WLPHERPEWUDGLQJ FRP IDFHERRN FRP WLPHERPEWUDGLQJ