Table//Contents
a rticles
a.
22
fresh find Ryan Herron
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forewords Embrace the fail
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fresh find Kadian Maxwell
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guest editor Vern Laird
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fresh find Sean Imes
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photographer’s eyer Double Exposure
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soap box How Many Industries
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insta-faves Instagram pulls
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behind the lens RB Umali
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hammertime TRICK OF THE MONTH
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entrepreneur Angel Acevedo
b angers
b.
Table of ConTenTs
on thE coVEr: Jon nguyEn [back smith] photography :: rob collins contEnts: brEnnan hEur [frontside 50-50] photography :: bryan o’nEill
36 nashVillE, tn
50 yoshi tanEnbaum
42 stonE soup
52 Jason ross
48 andrE bEVErly
54 incEntiVEs
scenester
video daze small talk
small talk small talk
photo section
2014 | July/august VoLUME tEn ISSUE four
P.O. BOX 31628 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19147 215.310.9677
www.FocusSkateMag.com
CO-OWNER / MIKE MAZUR EDITORIAL DIRECTOR mazur@focusskatemag.com CO-OWNER / JUSTIN HEISTER ART DIRECTOR justin@focusskatemag.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT / ZANDER TAKETOMO SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER zandert@focusskatemag.com WEB / ONLINE STEPHEN OLIVEIRA CONTENT MANAGER stephen@focusskatemag.com WEB SUPPORT MATT KOSOY gonzo@focusskatemag.com COPY EDITOR JAMES WILLIAM CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS MIKE BELLEME, DANIEL BLECKLEY, ROB COLLINS, SEAN CRONAN, LUKE DARIGAN, ANDY ENOS, RYAN GEE, Nick Ghobashi, KARIM GHONEM, MIKE HEIKKILA, JASON HENRY, BRIAN KELLEY, BEN KILPATRICK, STEPHEN KNIGHT, SCOTT KRAMER, RICHIE McCORKLE, CHRIS McDONALD, STEPHEN OLIVEIRA, ALEX PAPKE, DAVID STUCK, XENO TSARNAS, ALLEN YING, DAN ZASLAVSKY
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BUDDY BLECKLEY, ANDREW CANNON, LUKE DARIGAN, RYAN GEE, Claire Laver, CHRIS NIERATKO, STEPHEN OLIVEIRA, ALEX PAPKE, ZANDER TAKETOMO, XENO TSARNAS Interested in Advertising and Supporting your Local Scene?
Call 215.310.9677 for more info Want to submit photos, editorial, or hate mail?
Send submissions to info@focusskatemag.com or via snail mail to the address above Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/FocusSkateMag Join us on Twitter at twitter.com/FocusSkateMag Join us on YouTube at youtube.com/FocusSkateMag Join us on Instagram at @FocusSkateMag Read full issues online at issuu.com/FocusSkateMag Focus Skateboarding Magazine is published bi-monthly, six times a year by Focus Skateboarding Magazine Inc. All contents are copyrighted by Focus Skateboarding Magazine Inc. 2014. Reproduction of any material requires the written consent from the publishers. All letters, photos, editorial contributions, and advertisements are accepted upon the representation that they are original materials by the author and/or advertiser. The author and/or advertiser accept full responsibility for the entire content and subject matter of their ads and/or editorial contributions. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author and may not reflect the views and opinions of the editor, staff, or advertisers of Focus Skateboarding Magazine. Any similarities between persons or places mentioned or alluded to in the fiction and real places or persons living or dead are purely coincidental. Advertisers assume full responsibility for the entire content and subject matter of their advertisements. The author and/or advertisers also will indemnify and save Focus Skateboarding Magazine harmless from any legal claims. Now either read this magazine, or go skate!
Sean Cronan
Fore//Words
Embrace the fail WORDS :: Mazur
Ah yes, the skateboard, such a simple thing. Seven plies of wood pressed together. Two chunks of metal bolted on that act as axles to four urethane wheels. For the most part, all skateboards are pretty similar. Sure, there are minor differences in concaves and the dynamics of a set of trucks, but they are all the basic concept I just mentioned above. What is it about skateboarding that makes it so amazing? What gives it its uniqueness as a sport and/ or art form? How, over its history, has it even developed into a lifestyle? A way of how you look at things in everything you do? I mean, how many times have you walked down a set of stairs and used your hands to pretend to perform various tricks on the rail or ledge. I’ve even gone as far as to pretend to do 360’s down them… Which honestly must make people very confused when they watch from a far. The uniqueness of skateboarding comes from the rider not the board. No one does the same trick the same way, with the same approach, snap of the tail, or perhaps angle at which they hold their arms throughout it. That is what makes it so amazing! And no one learns a trick the same way either. We all learn how to take our failures of landing a new trick differently.
focusskatemag.com
The art of failing at a trick is what I think really makes skateboarders different from the rest of the population. Not that the rest of the population is bad and/or wrong, but I just think growing up with skateboarding as your passion drives you to view things differently. Often time’s people are afraid of failure. To the point even that they don’t even attempt something. Skateboarders on the other hand seem to, indirectly, welcome failure with open arms. We as a culture, through a sort of Mr. Miyagi-type way of teachings, view failure as a way to success… If that makes any sense.
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Skateboarding’s biggest commodity may in fact be failure, but without that negative connotation it so often holds. It can be used when talking with friends and traded off as to what they have done differently to learn a new trick. Or, even the approach they took when hitting a new obstacle. They can use what didn’t work for them (failure) and pass it on to you to be used. It’s such a simple concept and idea that failure can be a commodity, but yet, can be so indirectly complex. Just like that of the simple piece of wood with some skates on it. A basic idea, but when given the drive of an individual, has exponential possibilities. I might have just stumbled on to something amazing here… Or, when I fell and hit my head the other day, I knocked a few screws loose.
Possibilities, and hella-pop, seem endless when Brandon Westgate puts his 7-ply to work. This front 180 illustrates that perfectly.
BRANDON WESTGATE FRONTSIDE FLIP
SEE MORE WESTGATE AT ZOOYORK.COM
Guest//Editor
Film Life WORDS :: Vern Laird
Filming skateboarding has changed so much from when I started. I got my first video camera for Christmas in 1986. It was a Sony 8mm video camcorder that recorded in analog. It was still a new technology for that time so not all the bugs were worked out. I used the camera for one day and it broke. I wasn’t skateboarding yet, I was riding BMX and I used it to film me and my friends riding bikes and doing the few tricks we knew. When I tried to play the footage back there was only audio, no video. My dad took the camera back and didn’t replace it with a new one right away because he wasn’t convinced that it would work. A year later for Christmas my dad got me another video camera, but this time he got me a RCA VHS camcorder, which was actually a step down in technology from the 8mm camcorder. His reasoning was that since the VHS format camera has been out for a few years, it would work perfectly and not break on the first day. He was right. I had that camera until 1992. I used it to make some low budget skate videos of me and my friends. It was really easy to edit videos since the camera worked as one VCR or deck to play the footage. All you needed was another VCR to edit to. I got robbed for my camera while I was ringing the doorbell of my friend’s, John Senesy, apartment. He lived on 20th and Walnut in the Rittenhouse Square section of Philadelphia. That was a nice neighborhood then, it still is now. That was the last place I ever thought I would get robbed. I was 17 and got jumped by 3 guys for my camera bag. My back was turned to the street and I got knocked out. I woke up and my bag was gone. That incident put me on point and that was the first and last time I was ever robbed. By that time the camera was on it’s last leg. Duct tape held most of the camera together. That camera has seen better days so I don’t know if those dudes were to hyped with what they got.
time to time depending on what I’m working on and who I’m filming. I’m helping Brian Panebianco out with Sabotage 4 and that video is all VX1000. I also have 2 HD cameras. I have a Canon 60d for filming lines and a Panasonic HVX200 for filming long lens. I’m too old for the heavy fisheye for the Panasonic, so I use the 60d with the Eazy Handle for lines.
So a year later my arm was back to 100% and I wanted to skate. But this was around the time of East Coast Urethane. I was living with Sergei Trudnowski and A.J. Mazzu who both skated for First Division Wheels. First Division got me a Sony VX3 Hi8 Camera, which was the top of the line. They got the camera for me so I could film all the First Division team riders for their upcoming video. Most of the team lived in Philadelphia and I was friends with everybody on the team so it was an easy job for me. Dan Wolfe was moving to California so I just stepped right into place. And then one day it was all over. Julies Reeves who worked for East Coast Urethane came to my house to tell me that the company was done. It was going out of business and he had to take the camera back.
The technology for video cameras has changed so much since my first camera in 1986 and it will always continue to change. Even the cameras on iPhones are good these days. There are so many options now. Even the GoPros’ shoot great video. And now that we are living in an era where people post stuff immediately to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or what have you… The luster of the skate video has almost been lost. I say almost because there’s some great stuff that still comes out, like the Supreme video Cherry, the Static videos and the Sabotage videos. And I still love the feeling of going to a video premiere and seeing it on the big screen for the first time. That’s so much better than looking at something on a computer screen or a phone. Right now there is way too much skateboarding flooding the internet and I am just as guilty as everyone else for contributing to it. I work for company, Bones Bearings, and it’s my job to market and promote my product and my team riders to fullest of my capability. Unfortunately, the end result is me clogging your feed on social media, but I try to put out quality stuff as much as I can. The Internet and social media are marketing tools that can be used wisely or abused by some companies; it’s a fine line.
I was sitting on a year’s worth of footage and didn’t know what to do with it. So I sent it to 411 Video Magazine. As soon as they got my footage, I got a call immediately from Colin Kennedy. He said, “Either we are all lazy out here in Cali, or you’re one of the hardest working filmers out there.” I told him that was a year’s worth of footage so don’t trip out, but I did work hard to get it. 411 ended up using most of my footage but it was also a time that the Mini DV format was taking over and becoming the industry norm. So I had to save up all my tip money, from delivering pizzas for Bertucci’s, for a year to be able to buy a Sony VX1000. Now that I had the VX1000 I started working for 411 as their East Coast filmer. I saved up for the Century Mark 1 Lens, which also became the industry standard for that time. I worked for 411 for 4 years from the East Coast before making the move out West. I filmed with all the main guys on the East Coast and went to all the skateboard events and contests to cover them for 411. I also went to Europe for them a lot. VX1000 and Century Mark 1 Lens was the industry standard until High Definition Video came around. I still know people who use the VX1000 and prefer Standard Definition to HD. I still have my VX1000 and use it from
I know I started out talking about some formats that some you are not familiar with, but I have been around basically since the invention of the consumer video camera. I was also around for the invention of the internet. I still remember a life without it. With the easy accessibility of video cameras and the invention of the internet and improvements of editing programs, it’s almost harder now to become a filmer for a company or get recognized for filming. The paid jobs are few and far between. Everybody is a filmer now. I always tell younger filmers, the way to really make it is to film with your friends and hope one of them become pro and hopefully you can tag along for the ride as their filmer. Or, move to California and try to intern for a company. Companies are always looking for interns.
focusskatemag.com
Nicolas Delvalle
I was without a video camera until the summer of 1996. At that time I was just getting over an injury. I dislocated my elbow trying to nollie 50/50 a flatbar on some abandoned bridge in Boston. I was doing physical therapy at the time so I wasn’t skating much. One of my roommates at the time, Brian Smith, was skating for Physics Wheels. He needed to film a video part and he just so happened to own a video camera. It was a Sony Hi8mm camcorder, which was the standard for that time. I told him I could film, even though it had been 4 years since I filmed skateboarding. Physics ended up
using all the stuff I filmed, which turned out to be half the stuff in his video part; with the other half coming from Ryan Gee. Gee told me to send an invoice to Climax Distribution, which owned Physics Wheels, so I can get paid for the footage. What? I had no idea people got paid to film skateboarding. I was freaking out. I seriously had no idea that it was a job you could get paid for.
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Vern Laird [front feeble]
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facebook/theevetrucks
Photographer’s//Eye
Double Exposure WORDS & Photography :: Alex Papke
focusskatemag.com
I have never been someone who likes to see sequences printed in a skate mag. Granted it is fun to be able to look at a page and watch someone like you would a video, but it takes so much out of the creative aspect of a skate photo. Personally I have always been a fan of seeing that one moment in a trick that justifies the entire thing. The only problems with that logic are those certain tricks that might just look awkward with only that one frame with nothing else but a caption to tell the viewer what trick is being done. Any nollie or fakie trick down a rail or hubba, for me, has always left me hanging when looking at only a still, because until you read what trick it is, you don’t fully appreciate the moment. Throughout my time shooting skateboarding photos I have always wanted to find a way that justifies those kinds of tricks in one frame but without doing it as a sequence. After thinking about the concept more and more, I remembered flipping through a mag a month or two back and seeing a photo shot by Matt Price of Daryl Angel fakie backside nosegrinding down a rail. For the photo he shot two images, one of him popping and one of him grinding, stitched on top of each other to create a double exposure. I was so hyped on the photo because technically it wasn’t a sequence, but it still showed the two most important moments in the trick and it overcame the issue that I once thought of as impossible to beat. After seeing this photo I searched for other double exposure skate photos on the Internet and in the mags to try get some motivation to shoot my own. I wasn’t sure what I could shoot as a double exposure, but I knew that I wanted to try out the concept myself.
16
Skating around downtown Pittsburgh on almost every nice night that we have, Dakota Welty and I always notice this dinosaur sculpture that is directly outside of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Not only is the dinosaur a cool thing to check out while skating down the street, but there are these ledges that run perpendicular to the sculpture that caught our eye. Dakota wasn’t interested in
doing a grind or slide trick on the ledge, however he wanted to try and ollie up on to the ledge and do a quick wallie off of the base of the dinosaur sculpture. It’s one of those spots that you see in passing and think, “Damn, that would be sick if someone did it,” but no one actually goes up to it to seriously check it out. Once Dakota first saw it, he wouldn’t stop talking about how much he wanted to get a photo on it, but I kept putting it off to shoot because I couldn’t think in my head what it would look like. Getting a still of the wallie would not justify how quick the ollie up is, but I didn’t want to shoot it as a sequence either. As we made our way over to the sculpture late one night, I watched Dakota roll up to it several times while I was trying to think of how I could shoot it and make it look interesting at the same time. The idea of doing a double exposure suddenly popped into my head and seemed like the best way that I could show both the quick ollie up and the wallie that one has to do almost as soon as they make it on to the ledge. I immediately set up my speedlights and tripod and waited for Dakota to feel comfortable with the trick. Within a few tries of trial and error, Dakota was able to ollie up and quickly wallie the statue while I got the two photos. Once everything was stitched together on the computer, we were both hyped on the results that the process I had wanted to try for so long had yielded. Granted some people might want to take the easy way out and shoot a sequence, but honestly no matter what the trick is, I think a good still will always reign supreme over the boring sequence that anyone with a nice camera can take. Although a sequence can accurately depict how a trick went down in its entirety, I like having that anticipation to see the footage after looking at an interesting still in a mag, and the double exposure works as a great way for photographers to express a sequence in just one image. If you are stuck shooting a trick you don’t know how to make look good in one frame, try a double exposure. It beats a sequence and it may look better than you actually think.
Dakota Welty [wallie]
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insTa//Faves
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insTa-faves #focussKatEmag #EastcoastExcEllEncE
1. @thegodkt photo: @j_bophoto215 2. @gnar_brandon photo: @suarasarous 3. photo: @firefighter7220
focusskatemag.com
4. @sour_deezle photo: @bryantheoneill
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the mission is simple, if you’d like to see your handy work featured in Focus as part of our, “Insta-Faves,” you better start following us (@focusskatemag) and use the hashtags: #focusskatemag and #EastcoastExcellence on your rad photos. We’re always browsing and reposting finds from our hashtags, and in addition to that, we’re also picking 9 each issue to put in the mag. here’s your chance for 15 minutes of internet fame to be solidified in print for a lifetime.
5. @pcollinb photo: @davis_trinh 6. @makukka photo: @lukedarigan 7. @rath610 and @bsmarhon 8. @in_levine_color photo: @christophermgleason 9. @shiiiiitt_pincher photo: @cannon433
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haMMer//TiMe
niCk GovaTsos [360 flip 50-50] WorDS :: maZur
focusskatemag.com
Rob Collins
When I was younger, I thought I was the shit when I first learned tre flip 50-50’s on my little-ass box. I’d wait for the neighbors to walk by and pull one… of course they probably thought it was just cool as a plain ollie, but whatever. I could never really do any other flip tricks into grinds besides maybe a kickflip 5-0 and such, so the variation of a tre flip 50-50 was always just so cool to me. Well, I guess I’ll never roll away thinking I am the shit ever again. Not after seeing this monster tre flip 50-50 by Nick govatsos. he just added to it when he managed to land and grind the rail against the wall, too. Because of that, along with it bringing back fond childhood memories, we have chosen it as this month’s hammertime. Enjoy.
20
Skating with a bulky wallet sucks. Here is the solution.
Now available in 3 new additional colors!
THE
Slimplistic
A slim minimal wallet designed for skateboarders, by skateboarders. Made from high-end Italian leather and custom elastic, this wallet is just 1/8� thick, features a quick-slide thumbslot for fast, easy, swiping, and expands to hold anywhere from 1 to 10 cards, plus cash.
mstrmndcollective.com
FRESH//FIND
Ryan Herron [Backside 50-50]
Hometown: Falls Church, VA Sponsors: Convoy Skateboards Spot you’re sick of seeing in videos: Any bland ledge Trick that always gets you a letter in S.K.A.T.E.: Backside flips Guilty Pleasures: Ice cream Worst injury: Stress fractures on my spine One word to describe the future of skateboarding: Fun
“Ryan is the kind of dude, when everyone else is skating a typical street spot with ledges and gaps, he goes off and finds the gnarliest handrail within a fifty yard radius. Not only will he find them, but he will put down numerous tricks on those handrails and make it look easy. He spends most of his time these days back and forth between Washington DC where he is from, and Boston, MA where he is going to school. Add that all up with a positive outlook, a good head on his shoulders and the drive to put in work all up and down the East Coast while representing his sponsor… Ryan makes for a pretty awesome team rider.”
focusskatemag.com
Josh Katz
~Eamonn Bourke Owner, Convoy Skateboards
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palace5ive.com NICK DUCLOS • SHAUN GREGOIRE • JUSTIN DAMER • PATRICK PRAMAN DANIEL KIM • YOSHI TANENBAUM • MICHAEL BRUCH • CARTER HOWARD BRIAN TUCCI • TOM GHOBASHI • DAVID WEITZEL • AYMAN ABDELDAYEM JASON SINNAWI • STEVE ANDRUS • DIOREN HALLUMS
DC | 2220 14TH ST NW | WASHINGTON, DC | 20009 | 202.299.9008 VA | 2911 DISTRICT AVENUE SUITE 140 | FAIRFAX, VA | 22031 | 703.591.3003
~Michael Ford Photographer/Friend
MiChael FoRd
Fresh//Find
“Kadian is the dude you take to a skate spot and instead of waiting to hear what’s already been done on it, he just goes for it and tries something that’s never been done. he is a man of few words and just doesn’t really say much… he just silently murders everything and never complains about a spot. he’s just always skating.”
kaDian maxwell focusskatemag.com
[lipslidE]
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hometown: Baltimore, MD sponsors: Charm City Skate Shop spot you’re sick of seeing in videos: hollywood high and Duke 3 Block trick that always gets you a letter in s.K.a.t.E.: t t.E.: Impossibles, pressure flips, double flips, and late flips. guilty pleasures: Freestyling, dank, chocolate cigars, shooting dice, thots, NBa a 2k14, McDonalds, Subway, cookies, pop-tarts, tarts, and handrails. t worst injury: hyper extending my arm one word to describe the future of skateboarding: Infinite
RISE AGAINST THE BLACK MARKET
ON TOUR NOW RISEAGAINST.COM
i
©2014 Interscope Records. All Rights Reserved.
AVA I L A B L E
7-15-14
LIMITED EDITION TRANSLUCENT GREEN WITH OPAQUE YELLOW SWIRL VINYL AVAILABLE AT
~Cameron Revier Arbor, TM
Sean Imes focusskatemag.com
[Nosegrind into bank]
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Hometown: Plymouth, MA Sponsors: Arbor Skateboards, Lakai, Thunder, Spitfire, Mishka NYC Spot you’re sick of seeing in videos: J Kwon... Guilty. Trick that always gets you a letter in S.K.A.T.E.: Heelflip Guilty Pleasures: Cigarettes and hookers Worst injury: Hyper extended big toe and ankle rolls One word to describe the future of skateboarding: Stoops
Buddy Bleckley
FRESH//FIND
“I have been skating with Sean for several years now. Most of the time I don’t pay any mind to guys at the local park because, for me, I’m usually in my own little world. But with Sean, it’s a bit different. Sean is that skateboarder where you get either super hyped to skate or you just sit down and try to analyze how the hell he does it. If you have been sleeping on Imes, you need to wake the fuck up and watch this guy shred.”
Soap//Box
How many industries can we fit on one skateboard? WORDS & Photography :: Jay Klotz
Skateboarding’s impact on popular culture is now more prevalent than ever. It has almost completely taken over the street wear industry that used to be dominated by rappers; it’s all over corporate advertising for cars, headphones, soda, health insurance, you name it… And to top it off it’s all over every music video on MTV or whatever. You can’t escape the tidal wave of skateboarding in the media. Which for a while now has lead me to ask myself, “How many industries can we fit on one skateboard?” Is there a limit to the growth of skateboarding’s popularity in the media and in advertising? After doing lots of research I’ve come to the conclusion that a skateboard is an international sign for passion and unity, which makes it universally appealing. Anything that has mass appeal gets used in advertising. So everyone should get used to seeing skateboarding and skateboarders all over the media for the rest of its existence. With that being said, one industry that recently started using skateboarding to market their events was the adult film industry. The homies and I at Clearly Faded were invited to have a booth at the eXXXotica film convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey this past April. They approached us saying we could bring something new and different to the convention that has never existed there before. Needless to say, it was an enlightening and educational experience on many levels. One thing I realized is that porn stars and skateboarders have a lot of similarities in the way we market what we do. Just like skateboarders, adult entertainers promote themselves primarily through videos because it is one of the easiest ways to show people all over the globe what you’re capable of. Some skateboarders put their bodies and themselves out there for little to no financial return, and for some adult entertainers this reality is also very real. Skaters are naturally gifted and have minimal struggles with getting into the industry and this happens in the adult entertainment industry, too. Then, the most bizarre thing was seeing these pornstars in these same booths in the same convention center that I saw pro skaters in when I was a teenager. To see that they market there videos and merchandise in the same way at the same exact place as skateboarders really made me feel like we had a lot in common, and being I love beautiful woman, I felt extremely comfortable and at home. On the 3rd and final day I felt like I was breaking up with my new family.
focusskatemag.com
There were beautiful adult entertainers and dancers all over the place, and barely any men. All the girls were walking around and myself, Kyle Nicholson, Chris Landry, Greg Simmons, and some of our local homegirls held down the show. We posted a video from the event on Youtube and they banned it immediately, so I put it on Vimeo and Hellaclips a couple days ago. We’ll see how long it lasts. The girls at this event showed us so much love we can’t wait to go back.
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So, how many industries can you fit on one skateboard? It’s hard for me to answer that because I feel like it really depends on how ambitious one skateboarder truly is. If that one skater’s main focus is gaining sponsors from different industries, the number could be almost limitless. I mean, just look at Rob Dyrdek. He barely has to skate anymore and has more sponsors from more industries than I can even count. He represents a new breed of skateboarders: the Skatentrepreneurs. All types of industries are filled with skateboarding entrepreneurs who took business into their own hands and became their own bosses. This is some rad shit that is changing the future of skateboarding and advertising at large. Don’t hate it, embrace it! Advertising is the main job of a pro skater at the end of the day. The more industries that want to promote skaters the more money will be available, and skaters gotta eat. So the more checks, the merrier.
Behind/the/Lens
RB Umali
Sean Cronan
WORDS :: Mazur
Let’s see, where to begin? Well, how about just that... Where, when and how did your journey into the skateboarding world begin. My journey into skateboarding started when I was growing up in Houston, TX. I first got into skateboarding like most people in my generation, by watching “Back to the Future” and “The Search For Animal Chin.” I later grew up skating and met some of my best friends at the Skatepark of Houston. So, where are you currently living and where is your hometown? I currently live in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and my hometown is Houston, TX.
focusskatemag.com
How did you get into skate videography? I started taking my dad’s video camera to the skatepark. I was really influenced by the old H-Street, Plan B and World videos and began making sponsor-me tapes for myself and my friends. A lot of my friends, and myself, ended up getting sponsored and my good friend/local pro Jeff Taylor got me a gig with 411VM and Chris Ortiz to put together a Metrospective article on Houston TX for 411VM issue #5 when I was still in high school which sparked my interest in video production. Ricky Oyola saw the article and came to Houston TX for a few weeks to skate with us and he put my best friend, Anthony Correa, on the Zoo York flow team. Later that year I was accepted into the NYU Film Program, moved out here to film and study, met the Zoo York Crew, and the rest is history.
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Do you remember your first big break? Like when things really seemed to be going how you wanted? I think my first big break happened when I was still at NYU. Right after my section in the first Transworld Cinematographer video came out and the first Zoo York Mixtape video started coming to completion. Have you ever been arrested for filming? I have never been arrested for filming, but my first ticket
for skateboarding happened underneath City Hall in Philadelphia in the subway station by Love Park. It was 1998 and I was rolling with Stevie Williams, Josh Kalis and Javier Nunez. I think Stevie and Josh got away and the cops ended up sending a ticket to my parent’s house in Houston, TX. Besides working in the skate world you do a lot of other stuff, right? What else do you have your hands in? I do a lot of freelance video work which includes music videos, event and promo videos for Nike Soccer, Running, Baseball, etc. I also do a lot of videos for marketing and corporate companies, which most people will never see, but it is fun easy work that helps pay the bills and it helps to keep the creative juices flowing, by doing work outside of skateboarding. Where is the farthest and most favorite place filming has ever brought you? The farthest and most favorite place filming has ever brought me is Japan, China all over Europe, Chile and Australia. I love to travel. Can you give us an insight as to what’s in your bag of goodies? I was using a Red Epic for a few months earlier this year thanks to the Berrics. Now I am using the new Panasonic GH4 and I have a whole bunch of new toys and accessories to accompany it. How do you feel about the changes in skateboarding video and photo production over the past decade? The good, the bad, the ugly… I definitely have mixed feelings about the changes in skateboarding video and photo production. It is great that it has become a lot quicker and more affordable for everybody to produce great images and video, the internet is also beneficial in many ways to get your material seen instantly by a mass amount of people. But the quality and anticipation of a skate video that is
released on a VHS tape or DVD is not there anymore. People want to see new videos every day or every week now. That is great for a professional video producer’s workload, but I feel like the time, effort, and quality that are put into making a real skate video are few and far between these days. Big up and respect to those that are still doing it on the real tip for the love though. I wish I could get the companies that I work with to back us for a few years to produce a real skate video again, but unfortunately these days we have to produce internet video content every month and are expected to produce multiple solid skate edits every year. Is there anything in particular you’d like to see make a come back? Tricks, spots, filming methods? I have an old soul and wish everything about East Coast skateboarding in the mid to late 90’s came back. Those were my golden years and I will always be a fan of the style, the skaters, and the spots that were around back then. Cool, is there anyone you’d like to thank? Big up and thanks to my family and friends for always believing in me and having my back through all of this. Thank you to all the skaters and friends from the old Zoo to the new Zoo York Crew. Shout out to all the talented filmmakers I have worked with, and big up to all the new young filmmakers who will hold it down for future generations of skateboarders. How about some words wisdom for the young guns trying to make it? To all you kids out there, if you love what you are doing, whether it is skateboarding, filmmaking, or both… Don’t expect any free handouts and don’t expect to get paid a lot of money for your hard work. Don’t do it to get sponsored or the fame… Do it for the love, and if you love what you are doing and you are good at it, your hard work will pay itself off when you least expect it. So be cool to everyone you meet and don’t forget to smile, because nobody likes working with a jerk off.
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enTre//Preneur
Terror of planeT x wiTh anGel aCeveDo WorDS :: raymond porrEca In an era where smaller skateboarding companies are on the rise, planet X stands tall. the origin of the t terror of planet X and Stan Lee collaboration directly relates back to why angel initially wanted to start his own brand, and by extension relates to his early life and first love – collecting comics. “I started collecting comic books at an early age,” angel tells me as we discuss the origins of his new brand and the Stan Lee deck. “there is a parallel between comic books and skateboarding. this relation ties directly into the notion of preserving a piece of history. In the same way that most vintage comic book collectors care about every aspect of the book and wholly invest themselves into the medium, so to have we seen the rise of the skateboard collector.” angel is quick to point out the recent rise of the movement to collect and preserve many of skateboarding’s different eras, specifically pointing to the 90’s as well as the origins of East Coast skating, an era that planet X draws much of its influence from. outside of mere similarities between collectors of either medium, planet X as a whole would not exist if it were not for angel’s lifelong love of comics. “I always knew that I wanted to start a company,” says angel “and I have always been a comic collector, specifically of books from the silver age. right before I started planet X, the company I was working for laid me off and I ended up selling seven of rarest my comics, which ultimately led me to have the initial funds to start planet X. When I realized I could afford to start my own brand, I knew that I had to base it off of the things that I love – the things that shaped who I am today.” after understanding the origins of planet X, seeing the marriage between the most important man in the comic world and one of skateboarding’s most exciting new companies, the Stan Lee deck is all the more exciting. at the same time as planet X’s creation, the idea of an ultra-limited Stan Lee skateboard began to churn through angel’s mind, something that he saw as the perfect union of his two greatest passions. the end result is planet X’s latest graphic, a board that will be sold exclusively at the San Diego Comic-Con and Stan Lee Collectables’ online store, all of which is made possible by t tony and Max of Stan Lee Collectables. they will be hand signed by Stan Lee himself. 75 of them will be full color decks and 25 of a limited variant that will be released Saturday at San Diego Comic Con. the artist, humberto ramos, did the actual drawing of the deck while Delgado did all the coloring. Somehow, they found the time to get all this done for angel while still cranking out the artwork for all the amazing Spiderman covers! With that being said, you probably get the point that these two guys are some of the biggest and influential artist at Marvel Comics. hearkening back to the idea of companies capitalizing on trends in order to make a quick buck, angel is adamant about stressing that this will never be something skateboarders will see from planet X. this Stan Lee deck, no matter how limited and expensive it is for collectors, is in every way a love letter to two of pop culture’s biggest underdogs.
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“people love something that is more genuine and personal, from the artwork to the entire process,” angel explains, “this is how people are starting to feel about skateboarding and its golden era, something that planet X will always create and stand for.”
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Matthew Kaiser
Scenester//Nashville
Musicians from every genre, especially country, seek record deals and fame in Nashville, Tennessee - Music City. Tourists swarm to Broadway’s neon lights like drunken moths to hear live acts in the historic honky-tonks. But visiting skaters should follow the locals’ lead and climb the hill to Legislative Plaza for the South’s answer to D.C.’s Freedom Plaza and Philly’s Love Park. Skaters talk about Legislative with reverence, but Nashville’s top spot is like the most popular song in an eclectic jukebox; everyone knows about it. As I found on a recent trip to Music City, Nashville’s skate scene is much more than just greatest hits. The wellestablished scene is still growing and producing talented riders that rival rippers from either coast.
Scenester Nashville, TN
WORDS :: Matthew Kaiser PHOTOGRAPHY :: Jared Fentress • Mike Clausius • Corey Rosson Nashville has been producing great skaters since the 1980s. The late Ray Underhill, an original Bones Brigade member, was born here. Nathan Smith, winner of the 1998 Tampa Am street finals, still amazes younger skaters with his bag of tricks. I had the privilege to see local legend and Baker pro Dee Ostrander skate at Two Rivers Skate Park, a concrete beauty designed by Wally Hollyday, who Transworld once called a “concrete master.” Dee was skating with his motley FuCrue, a band of scraggly-haired, scruffy-faced rippers with a reputation for living fast and skating faster. Dee was just one of the guys. You’d never guess he was enjoying success as a sponsored skater for one of the raddest companies going now. His attitude and demeanor are representative of Nashville skaters overall. They are humble, salt of the earth dudes without pretense. From the baby-faced Sixth Ave kids to the seasoned set, they all just want to skate hard and have a good time. And you can’t beat the Southern hospitality. Nashville skaters love their city and they’re eager to share it with visitors. One thing to remember before hitting the streets of Nashville is to tighten up your trucks and ride hard wheels because powerslides are a must when bombing Music City’s many hills.
Terence Williams, 21, began taking trips to Nashville when he was 13. His hometown of Tahoma lies between Jack Daniels country and the far out land of Bonaroo, Tennessee’s biggest music festival. Lately, he’s been working a rounded ledge over a drain at Cumberland Park. “It looks real cool. The spot has a manual pad, waxed up benches - so gnarly.” When I spoke to him, he had just missed a double-story hotel gap over a rail in East Nashville. “It’s a mission. I’ll have to work on that one.” Summer in Nashville is hot and sticky. To beat the heat, Williams stays out until 2 or 3 in the morning, just skating. “When the sun goes down, it’s a go. I love skateboarding, it’s just one of those things. I try to stay on my board as much as possible.” Check out his banging part in Welcome to the Street, a video by short-lived Brick Street Skateboards. Williams is on DGK flow and skates for Low Budget Skateboards. Keegan Kim, 23, was born in Memphis and grew up in Nashville. He skates for Low Budget Skateboards and is on DC Shoes flow and has been killing the streets for years. For him, Nashville has the East Coast’s rough edge and is undiscovered. “A lot of stuff is untouched. Pros haven’t destroyed everything. The scene is really untapped.” It’s not uncommon to see Kim rolling through the streets with a 24-ounce beer in hand after a night session. “In the summer when it’s blazing hot outside, a sixpack and the bowl at Two Rivers with the homies; that’s the way to do it. Full vibe sesh.” He likes Nashville’s proximity to the outdoors, too. “Urban and country. Camping one day, skating the next.” Kim is stoked to be filming for the new Cuntry video and is down to skate with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
focusskatemag.com
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Nashville’s Top Rippers:
[Broadway]
Jamison Shaffer, 27, was obsessed with jumping down things as a kid. He arrived in Nashville from the flat plains of Indiana when he was 21. Since then, he’s been skating to a different tune than other Music City skaters. Known for his massive pop and his funky trick combos, Shaffer says his style isn’t techy, but bold. “I ollie really high over stuff. That’s what most people would remember me for, I’m told.” Fellow skaters describe his style as smooth and powerful and say you can hear the snap of his tail. One skater said Shaffer’s style is, “Loose - in a good way, fluid, and refreshing.” Shaffer rides for Sound Skateboards. Check out his part in The Sound Video (13:02), including his monster gap to nosepick in the Madison ditch.
Keegan Kim [front smith]
Matt Sharer, 26, is a free spirit. A skater’s favorite skater, as one of his friends put it. He’s a graphic designer, but he’ll never be shackled to a desk. You’re more likely to find him playing bass with his band, Ranch Ghost, or doing wallies at full speed over everything in his path. His style is fast. He says he’s not a stairs or handrail guy. Ledges, flat rails, and transition are his preference. Josh Stewart’s Static 2 was a big influence on him and opened his eyes to “crusty, weird” spots. “I’m just trying to find new spots I haven’t skated or new ways to approach places I have skated.” When he was a kid, his dad built a two-and-a-half-foot mini in his basement. “We pretty much just lived on that thing for three years.” Sharer prefers the more ethnically diverse south side of Nashville. The hand-painted signs above the shops feel authentic to him. Sharer skates for Knock on Wood Skateboards and Sixth Avenue Skate Shop. Check out his wallie blunt slide in his ender in Pop Culture. There are so many dudes killing it in Music City these days. Search the Web for footage of the FuCrue’s Eli Tenant and Shane Powell and tooyoung-to-drive beasts Jake Wooten and Christian Fonseca. Wooten is already a member of Mike Vallely’s Elephant Army, and Fonseca is on Mystery and Fallen flow.
[Legislative Plaza] Terence Williams [frontside nosegrind]
Terence Williams [switch back tail]
Scenester//Nashville
Terence Williams [backside tailslide]
Nashville’s Best Eats: You won’t go hungry in Nashville. The food scene is taking off, especially the locals’ love for hot chicken. Order your chicken mild, medium, hot, or extra hot at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack (123 Ewing Dr #3). Eating there has been described as an endurance test. You will sweat and your nose will run. You have to finish it. You can’t stop.
[Beer Sellar]
[Bolton’s Spicy Chicken]
For a twist on the hot chicken craze, try a Tender Royale from Pepperfire Hot Chicken (2821 Gallatin Pike). The Tender Royale is a deep fried grilled pepperjack cheese sandwich topped with spicy chicken tenders. Yeah, it’s decadent. After a downtown session, swing by Oscar’s Taco Shop (530 Church St.) and grab some quick Mexican fare. Seating is limited, so sit at a stool at the counter or grab your grub to go and walk down to Church Street Park for some people-watching. Order an extra side of the rich and creamy refried beans. Other Music City munchies include rolling up to a taco truck in south Nashville, or scouting the Thai and Vietnamese shops on the west side.
focusskatemag.com
Nashville’s Nightlife:
38
Leave Broadway’s honky-tonks to the tourists and head to the Five Points neighborhood in East Nashville to jam with the locals at The 5 Spot (1006 Forrest Ave). It’s all about the music here. Talented musicians hang out and drink good beer with friends and fans. If Five Points feels blown out by hipsters, keep heading east to find the grime you seek. The Stone Fox (712 51st Avenue) on the west side is a restaurant, bar, and music venue. The health-conscious menu doesn’t sacrifice flavor.
[Prince’s Hot Chicken]
[5 Spot]
Where else are you going to find BBQ pork Banh mi sliders?
For a proper dive bar, stop into The Beer Sellar (107 Church St.), if you can find it. Bomb down to all the spots and finish with a few cold ones and a game of pool. Keep an eye out for Bird Cloud, a female duo that sings raunchy country songs. They’re hilarious and their harmonica solo will make your mom blush. Nashville’s Hottest Skate Spots:
[Metro Courthouse]
Legislative Plaza (301 6th Ave N) tops the charts in Nashville. For those who ascend its heavenly heights, their patience and persistence will be rewarded with a beautiful 20-foot marble ledge, multiple stair sets ranging from 18 to 7, rails, and the chance to shred obstacles made famous in Dee Ostrander’s Bake and Destroy part and Brandon Westgate’s mindbending Made part. Unfortunately, as is true with many popular municipal spots, Legislative is heavily policed. The best time to sneak in an hour or two is Sunday afternoon or after 5 p.m. on weekdays. According to local ripper Matt Sharer, the Occupy Nashville movement opened up Legislative Plaza for three months after cops were ordered not to arrest protesters camping there. “Legislative was the spot all day, every day,” he said. The Metro Nashville Courthouse (1 Public Square) has similar terrain and is usually safe to skate after 3 p.m. But with a concentration of State Troopers, skaters risk a fine and losing their board. The planter gap is worth it, though. Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park (600 James Robertson Pkwy) is another high risk, high reward spot. The plaza has a manual pad, rainbow rails, and a bunch of weird stuff that hasn’t seen much action due to the throngs of cops patrolling the area.
[Bicentennial Mall]
Steve Hutchins [ollie]
The Hilton (121 4th Ave S) has a three block, an up rail, and a 10-stair rail. Cumberland Park (592 S 1st St) a new plaza located on the east side of the Cumberland River and adjacent to the Tennessee Titans’ LP Field features a manual pad, a curved ledge, benches, and rolling mounds carpeted with artificial turf that offer endless possibilities. With the city’s skyline providing a scenic backdrop, this spot is a must. The Incubator Ledge is a long, mellow metal ledge that starts off at six inches and grows to two and half feet tall at the end of its 25-foot length. The ledge is part of a loading dock on the Tennessee State University campus. It’s perfect, but watch out for campus cops. The Madison Ditch, tucked in the woods behind Home Depot, features banks to wallrides and DIY obstacles. A two-foot quarter looms above one side of the ditch and more concrete may be added soon. Master illusionist David Blaine magically appeared at the ditch with the Gonz and the FuCrue recently to shoot a Supreme commercial directed by Harmony Korine. Two Rivers Skate Park (2320 Two Rivers Parkway), also known as Concrete Wave Country, is a great place to train and meet up with the fellas. The park features a balance of street obstacles and tranny. The flow section is easy to pump through and has an over-vert pocket in one corner. If you can ride big pools, dive into the General Jackson, a 10-foot-deep combi-pool. Wally Hollyday was pleased with how Two Rivers turned out when his company, Hollyday Skateparks, built it in 2004. “It’s a little bit old now, but it’s cool. I like a lot of the ideas we used. The parks department was very progressive. They wanted a world class park, to do it right, and to put it in a great location. They thought about it and cared about it.” The results speak for themselves. Local Plugs:
Bobby Newell [front smith]
Sound Skateboards (www.soundskateboards.com) Local skater and graphic designer Mike Clausius is doing it right. Check out The Sound Video to see Dave Coyne and the rest of the Sound team riding decks made in the U.S.A. Sixth Avenue Skatepark (601 4th Ave S) If you knock yourself senseless and forget where you’re skating, a massive painting of Johnny Cash hanging above the indoor park will remind you that you’re in the country music capital. NoloNashville.com. Stay up on Nashville’s skate scene with a steady flow of new video clips from local rippers. The site is photographer Corey Rosson’s brainchild. “I shoot natty light, I don’t drink that shit.” Look for the release of his upcoming video, The Cuntry Video: The South is Going to Rise and Take You by Surprise. Rosson guarantees there has never been a skate soundtrack like the one he’s putting together. It’s going to be pure outlaw country. “I love Nashville. I’m a Tennessee boy for sure.” Jared Fentress Photography. www.twenty20.com/tenncup Fentress’ still shots of rural Tennessee, sunsets, and skateboarding are turning heads. Look him up.
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video//daze
brodEricK gumpright umpright is a skater’s skater through and through, and as a shop owner has no problem putting his money where his mouth is on any skate mission. here he ollies into a makeshift bank on a cold day in March moments before blowing out his knee at the next spot and taking him out of the remainder of filming. heal up boss man; you’re sorely missed on the session.
focusskatemag.com focusskatemag
on a filming mission out to western Mass, the crew passed through the small town where myself (Lee Berman) and photographer rob Collins grew up. With few spots to choose from, we took the boys to our og bank spot where many have tried, and no one has landed, the coveted backside noseblunt. on this night franKiE nash had no problem with it and took one to fakie.
42
n the team’s fall trip up to see our neighbors in the fine on country to our north, KEVin coaKlEy comes as close as he will ever come to getting a gold metal at the Montreal olympic Stadium with this high-speed frontside half cab flip.
sTone soup WorDS :: armin bachman photography :: rob collns CaptIoNS :: lEE bErman
the story of Stone Soup comes from an old folk tale told in many cultures around the world. there are many variations of the story, but there is a metaphoric message in it that holds much relevance to the current state of affairs in our beloved world of skateboarding. the tale often takes place in a time of great scarcity and famine, when a group of weary travelers find their way to a village with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a cast iron kettle. Starving from days of traveling, the voyagers ask the townspeople for a bite to eat, but their requests fall on deaf ears. the resourceful voyagers head to the river in the center of town, fill up their kettle with some water and stones and start a fire under the kettle. Many of the townspeople take notice, and inquire about this curious group. “Whatcha cookin’?” a farmer asked. “Stone Soup,” said one of the travellers. “Never heard of it,” a town resident replied. “It’s great! But it could use a little bit of garnish,” the traveler exclaimed. the resident reached into his pouch and pulled out some carrots he had just picked. he cut them up, tossed them into the pot and said, “I hope this helps!” other residents took notice of this curious group’s steamy broth boiling, and provided their own offerings of onions, cabbage, salt, pepper, barley, beans and all types of savory goodness. at last the soup was ready, and the entire town gathered around the voyager’s camp. together the community united to cook up a meal from essentially nothing, and each individual’s offering contributed to create a most flavorful feast for all to enjoy.
video//daze
you, the reader might be thinking to yourself, “yeah cool story and all, but what’s that have to do with a shop video?” Well, the basic moral of the story teaches the importance of community effort, cooperation, and resourcefulness to overcome trying times. Supporting the Boston skate scene and community has always been the essence of what we do as a skate shop. the current state of skateboarding finds itself at a peculiar place in its life cycle. there is no getting around the fact that skating is embedded in pop culture, and certain superstars can live lavishly thanks to this newly found mainstream appeal. Currently in contrast, there are ancestral companies going belly up, and many influential and inspiring pros earn little more than minimum wage or live modestly at best. Strange days indeed. our skate world has gone through many cycles in it’s short history, but one constant that has always remained is that there has always been an unwritten ideology or set of values that keep the wheels of radness rolling. During this current cycle of scarcity it is more important than ever for the greater community of like-minded skateboarders to support each other, and keep our circle united. as a skate shop we do our best to support the companies that share our values, and educate the skate scene on the importance of the messages being delivered by certain brands and skateboarders. the scarcity metaphor can be extended to the physical realm and easily applied to skate spots. Even though we are blessed with a seemingly endless supply of amazing and legendary spots in the New England area, many have been picked clean with few scraps left to spare. this leads some skaters to seek out every nook and cranny for any morsel of crusty goodness, while others snatch up crumbs and find the lines less traveled in the granite playground of downtown Boston. this is the recipe for skateboard scavenging at it’s finest, and when the ingredients are infused just right, everyone gets to eat. In our version of Stone Soup, the orchard family plays the role of the travelers. In our pack of voyaging vagabonds you will find many different chefs, contributors, collaborators, and townspeople. We have seasoned pros bringing timeless smooth flavor as the base for the broth, a scientist making sure the soup is perfectly balanced, a woodworking craftsman cutting the lines just right, a painter adding pretty colors to the broth, a fix-it man keeping the kettle in tip top shape, and many other unique individuals contributing their own personal flavor to the mix. It’s not just our team that makes up the video, it’s people from the fine city of Boston, across the country, and throughout the world each putting in their own contribution to make this the tastiest soup ever! It takes the filmers, the photographers, the graphic designers, the print makers, the editors, and countless others to prepare this communal feast that will be served up in the Summer of 2014. thanks for dining with orchard.
focusskatemag.com
For more information on the video, including the teaser and featured team riders, visit www.orchardShop.com or follow us on Instagram at @orchardShop and #orchardStoneSoup.
44
this was nicKodEm rudZinsKi’s first trip with the crew. at the tender age of 17, his parents had to sign a permission slip to get him in the van... If I had to guess, they had no idea he’d be risking his life floating frontside shuvs from truck to truck.
one ne of the shops new recruits, dillon buss, aces his try-outs with a backside heelflip on a spot only seen in most skater’s dreams.
here I am, yours truly (lEE bErman), putting the double polish on an old turd giving a tree trunk some wallie action. For those wondering, the wood panel hat is a coincidence.
Scot Criv // Cam Breton
50,000 sq. ft. indoor skatepark
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RYE AIRFIELD SKATEPARK 3 Concrete Pools / Wood Bowl Street Plaza / Vert Ramp Flow Section / Mini Ramp Micro Section
Small//Talk
“While ripping up the LES Park, the streets of NYC, or on Team Icecream trips all over the globe, Andre is always making us laugh with his funny quotes and unstoppable energy. Andre is not only very talented but he is also very focused. He has what it takes to go far and I am sure that one day he will, ‘Get Money B!’” ~RB Umali Friend/Filmer
Andre Beverly WORDS :: Ben Oleynik PHOTOGRAPHY :: Sean Cronan
Where were you born? I was born in Kingston Garden Jamaica to be exact. What do you remember about growing up in Jamaica? What I remember most was it was really hot. I remember going back and forth to school everyday. After school, I would meet up with couple of friends and we would go play marbles. I got a lot of beatings back then. I never used to listen. I remember one time my mom told me to take a shower and instead of me getting in the shower, I ran outside butt naked. So my mom comes outside with a belt and I take off running. She started to chase me around the house about 4 times until she caught me and whipped my ass. That was like the worse beating ever. Overall, Jamaica is a beautiful place, great beaches, good people and the best food you will ever eat. Put it on your next list of places to go.
focusskatemag.com
When did you move to Flatbush, Brooklyn? When I was like 7 years old.
48
What was growing up there like? Growing up in Flatbush was very cool you know. There’s a lot of Caribbean culture and lifestyle. It felt like I was back home sometimes. I got into playing soccer and gymnastics and I was on my elementary basketball team. I was just into a lot of active stuff. But yeah, I have seen a lot of crazy shit, too. I remember this one time I was in the park playing basketball with a couple of my friends and this dude rolled up on his bike. I guess he had weed and tied it around his handlebars so he could play ball. When he stops playing ball and goes to get his bike, out of nowhere this dude with a hammer hits him over his head and takes the weed off his handlebars. There was so much blood all over. It was crazy. Everyone was like, “What the fuck?!” Crazy. How did you get into skating? I remember how I got my first actual skateboard in my hand. One time I was in the
store and this lady had this big old school cruiser with these green wheels and I just kept looking at it. She looks at me like, “You want it?” And she gave it to me. I was like “What! Thank you so much!” As soon as I got up home, I didn’t even eat my food. I just started skating up and down in the hallway on my knees, pushing back and fourth. Shout out to that lady! When you were younger I remember you could have a pretty bad temper when you skated. It doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore. How did you mellow out? Yeah, I’m just so passionate about skating, it happened sometimes. Like you love skating and want the feeling of landing your tricks and having a good time. So when you can’t, it can stress you. Also, sometimes other stuff that’s bothering you seeps into your skating and makes it bigger than what it is. I got to the point where I had to realize that you have good days and bad days. No matter how many times you do a trick, you’re just bound to have those days where you won’t be able do it. It is what it is. It’s part of skating. No one has great days everyday. I had to realize that. Talk about getting on ICECREAM. Well, I got on ICECREAM through you. We skated together at 12th and A since I was like 14, so from that we grew a tight bond, you know. You approached me about it and I was definitely down. Ever since then, everything took off. We started traveling, filming and doing a whole bunch of stuff. It’s been a blessing you know. The ride has been great. I just want to keep on progressing doing what I do. What was your favorite trip? It would have to be the Japan trip. I got a chance to experience a different culture and see things differently. Like, as soon as I got off the plane, I was just running around the airport checking everything out. Vending machines, buying like a whole bunch of different types of candy and drinks that you wouldn’t get back home. I also ate all different types of food that I never ate before. It was a real experience. I would love to go back and do it all over again.
Andre Beverly [front feeble]
I know you are very particular about what you board you skate and are always in search of “that perfect shape.” Describe to me a perfect board? Yeah, I am. I need that good concave crispy pop. Chapman wood for sure. I like my boards wide and a nice shape to it. Your board really matters, you know. Did you graduate this year? Yes, I did finally. It’s been a long four years, man. What did you do for prom? I didn’t do anything really crazy. I just went with my girlfriend. We danced and ate food. Saw all my friends from school. It was special and we had good time. So you’re 18 years old, just finished school and the world is your oyster. What are your plans for the summer?
Just keep on skateboarding. Really whatever the world throws at me and just keep striving. This world is full of mysteries. Thank you’s? I want to say thank you to God, my mom and dad and my family. You, Ben Oleynik, and everyone over at Iconix, Pharell and everyone over at BBCICECREAM. Jessica and Ron Hunter and everyone over at HHF. Tyrone, Price, BB, Geo and all the guys at Supreme. Cory up at Black Diamond Park, Billy Rohan, Belief Skate Shop and Homage Skate Shop, Duron, Jamel, Stephan, Emmet, Bernard, Fat Johnny, Stephen Lora, Rame a.k.a. Lil Calisthenics, Chauncey, Jahmal Williams, Parkside and the whole Flatbush, Frank at House of Vans, RB Umali, Cronan, Dwayne a.k.a. Frenche, Charles Lamb, KCDC Skate Shop, Labor Skate Shop and whoever I missed out on, thank you. And everyone on the East Coast that showed me love and supported me over these years, thank you so much.
Small//Talk Let’s start with where you’re from, favorite stripper name, age and all that good stuff. My name’s Yoshi Tanenbaum and I am from Jerusalem, Israel. I’m 18 years old and I live in Silver Spring, Maryland now. I always liked Candy as a stripper name.
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Jerusalem? Wow! How does it compare living there as it does here? Living in Israel was pretty wild growing up, a lot of shit going down all the time between the Jews and Arabs. My brother and I have seen a lot growing up. We saw my dad get stabbed in the head and arm in a terrorist attack, but he beat the crap out of 3 of them and saved the day. That was insane to see at 8 years old. Living here you have a lot more peace of mind.
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That’s insane! Yoshi is a unique name... Where is that from exactly? Yoshi came from the Torah (Jewish bible), he was a great king who ruled Israel and my dad thought that would fit me well. Not from Mario. Do people ever crack jokes at you about the whole Mario game? How’s it make you feel? People always think I was named after the dinosaur from Mario… Its pretty funny, ‘cause I didn’t even know what that was ‘til I moved to the US.
I think its funny as hell. So how did you first find skateboarding? I had a big Spider Man cruiser when I lived in Jerusalem and I always rode around and knew how to ride, I would skate the only skate park in Jerusalem called Gan Soccer, and really liked it. I then moved to South Africa for about 2 years. Skated a little bit, but not much. After that I moved to the US in Maryland, close to DC, and my neighbor got me back into skating because I watched him ollie high and I was jealous. Where in South Africa did you live? I always wanted to go visit Cape Town. I lived in Johannesburg. It was pretty cool. I got to surf a lot with my Uncle Greg, who is a pro surfer. It was awesome. Cape Town is amazing, too. You should definitely visit! What do your parents do that they move around so much? My parents grew up in different places. My mom was born is South Africa, dad in Washington DC. They met in Israel, and my mom decided to move there and convert to Judaism and that’s when they had my bro, and a year later, I popped out. My mom ran away with us to south Africa for a while to get away from my dad, but he wanted to see us too, so eventually he decided
to move us to Maryland and he got back together with my mom and we started a new life in Maryland/DC. That’s pretty cool. Is Maryland their final destination, or do you think they’ll move around the world more? Maryland is the final destination for now. I am thinking about moving to Cali, but I enjoy going on trips better. But we’ll see what the future brings. How is it dealing with customs and stuff like that? I am not religious anymore, I believe in my people and in Israel, but I am not a religious Jew anymore, so I don’t partake in customs. What else do you do besides skate? Like, do you build boats, play extreme marbles, etc.? Besides skating I do everything. I am a handy man. I build shit, I plant and garden, I love fishing and wrestling and MMA… Any combat sport. Do you workout or get involved with MMA besides watching it? I wrestled a bunch growing up, for about 6 years, and I was pretty good. My brother and I always beat the shit out of each other, ‘til this day even. My dad is an MMA expert and has shown us a lot; I got some tricks up my sleeve for sure...
Yoshi Tanenbaum [backside flip]
Yoshi Tanenbaum WORDS :: Mazur PHOTOGRAPHY :: Nick Ghobashi
Are you currently in school? I am finished with school for now. Working, saving, and skating.
How do you manage to live? What sort of job are you doing these days to make ends meet? I am AM for Stereo, Silver and FKD, so Syndrome is helping me out a lot. I also work at a skate shop and do a butt-load of gardening work to make a living. What is your opinion on the future of skateboarding? My opinion on the future of skateboarding… I hope that we get more real people skating in the future. People who can help explain that skateboarding is more than just partying and being crazy. More explorers and people who hype up skating and make you want to get out and do it, and be a part of it, no matter who you are. Shout out and thanks? Shout out to Nick Ghobashi for the Focus Skate Mag interview. Words of wisdom? No one’s too cool. Skate, don’t hate.
“Yoshi... Let’s start with the obvious. He’s a ripper on the skateboard and keeps progressing. But besides that, he is a super nice guy. He’s down to earth and very appreciative, which is not easy to find. He’s always down for whatever we are doing with our skate team, if it’s filming, a contest… Big things are in this young man’s future! Cheers” ~Greg Grammen Owner, Palace 5ive
Small//Talk
“If I were asked to describe Jason and his skateboarding in one word, it would be, ‘Pure.’ Jason is incredibly stylish and well rounded with a vast trick selection. Whether he’s lurking the bay, or New England, he is constantly stirring the gravy. Jason is one of the nicest people I know, and if you cross paths with him, you’ll see why.” ~Dave Profirio Lurkville Skateboards/Friend
So, something’s always troubled me about your predicament. You’ve built a wonderful home for yourself on both coasts; both sides of the country. But you choose to go back to Boston… For the winter! Why the hell would you do that? It’s mostly just because I like to go home for the holidays. I go home, and I start working and then I end up staying for a few months so I can stack extra money before I go back. That way I can go even longer in California without working, you know? It’s just a good time to be at home.
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY :: Dan Muchnik
Yeah, friends and family are definitely important. So, over the past couple weeks you’ve brought the GoPro out on the sessions, and instantly everyone has had such a sick time just warming up. What would you say are the key elements of a great bro-cam montage? There’s a special something about the tricks that are filmed for the bro-cam where people are not taking what they’re trying seriously, so it’s automatic fun, and it just flows naturally.
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Jason Ross
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Do you feel like skateboarding has gotten too serious nowadays? Ihh… I don’t know how to write that sound… I don’t know, maybe “Ihh?” Some people take it seriously, but it’s always going to be whatever the fuck you want it to be. What is it for you? Fun. Nice. Yeah, I mean, I guess if you’re not doing it for fun, you almost have some ulterior motive. Not to make it too cynical, but just because everybody starts skating for fun. I don’t know if I’ve even met anybody who skates not for fun. What would you say is your favorite part about each coast that the other lacks? For me, when I’m at home in Boston, we could skate a piece of stick in a pile of grass. We’ve done that before. We’ve warmed up skating a stick in the median. Was that a Matt [Tomasello] choice? Yes, it definitely was. When we’re in California, it’s more structured, I guess. So what were the motivating factors for you to first come out to the West Coast? Well, growing up watching skate videos, California looks like skate paradise. It pretty much is. The weather is amazing. The spots are amazing. You can find the crusty spots out here too, which I like. I knew that when I graduated high school I would want to go to California. I wouldn’t say that I was like, “I’m gonna go to California to go pro…” More like, I want to go to California to skate all the awesome spots.
That’s cool, because kids have that wide-eyed dream, and without all those expectations, you can just go and have a good time. Things are working out for you too, though. The guys at Lurkville are backing you… I’m definitely super hyped on Lurkville. I’m grateful that Dave [Profirio] was able to give me the opportunity to get hooked up with such an awesome company. Their video “Meet The Lurkers” was so sick. I love the boards, super psyched. So are you filming for multiple projects right now, or what’s the deal? Well, Southie sent me 25 Mini DV tapes to fill up, so I’m going to film for the new Bubs video, and whatever Daniel’s [Miranda] new project is - the new Gravy video. I’m definitely super psyched on it. That’s what I’ve been working the hardest for. Last but not least, any philosophical insights on the enigma that is life. Shit life. Is that, “Shit comma life,” or “Shit dash life?” I don’t know. Life is what you make it. If you skateboard, keep skateboarding. If you don’t, find something that you like just as much as skateboarders love skateboarding, and do that. All right, thanks man. Let’s have the shout-outs and thank yous. Who are you backin’, who are you not backin’? Definitely thanks to Billy at Bamboozle, raddest dude. Gotta thank Todd at Max Hesh, too. Thanks to Tyrone and Dave at Lurkville. I literally can’t afford skateboards right now, so it’s perfect. Gotta thank everybody in the Cold Gravy Crew. You, Dan, and Daniel Miranda. Tony and the whole Potenti Family, The Real Hennessy Black. Family, I couldn’t be where I am without my family. Kevin, dude! Kevin Leslie at Converse. I would not be nearly as comfortable without a good skateboard and a good pair of shoes on my feet. Shout out to my Danvers mothafuckas, K-Man, everybody dude.
Jason Ross [nollie bigspin lipslide]
P HO T O
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IN CENTIVES
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Alex Papke
Chris Mathis [back tail]
Chris Jolly
Craig Clements [front feeble]
Sean Cronan
Dave Willis [front blunt]
Sean Cronan
Kevin Tierney [switch 5-0]
Stephen Oliveira
Shane Kassin [nollie flip over rail]
Stephen Knight
Kanaan Dern [front 50-50 transfer]
BEN NORDBERG BACKSIDE FLIP. PHOTO: JACOB MESSEX @FILAMENT_BRAND
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