Ready to explode! Che Guevara Shaun White Adam Yauch 56 www.HUCKmagazine.com
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We’re spinning into meltdown, we get it already. Markets are collapsing, belts are tightening and the global economy is in shambles. But if it’s money that makes the world go round, why the hell does it continue to turn? Day still fades into night, before dutifully melting back into day. The sun and the stars keep trading places in the sky. And that simple thing called pleasure remains totally within our reach. The snow is falling. The moon is pulling in the tide. So why not find joy in the things we were given on day one? Seize the day, enjoy the mag.
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HUCK 13 THE front. 22 Snow Rocks 24 Frends 26 Mike Vallely 28 Mountain Stories 30 Sam Lamiroy 32 Dead Kids 34 Benicio del Toro 36 Bees
sam christmas
38 Shaun White 42 JustSeeds 44 FlOgging Molly
HUCK 13 THE BACK. 120 Boogie 122 Albums 124 Films
BOOGIE
126 Games
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128 Books 130 Sharks
debbie bragg
HUCK 13 THE BIG STORIES.
48 Nicolas Müller
back to basics.
56 Southbank
saving london’s premier skate spot.
60 Donna Burton
yes, m’am.
62 Snowboard Helsinki
jibbing finland style.
68 Cold Water Lane
santa cruz springs to life with the o’neill cold water classic.
72 Greg Long
fearless and ready to charge.
76 Adam Yauch
b-ball beastie.
80 Primary Colours
snow, indoors.
86 Cypress Hill
still smokin’.
88 HALLOWEEN IN WHITBY
goth weekender: special report.
96 Sick Boys
old school skate returns.
102 Industry Girls
alpha females taking over.
108 Goggle It
protect your face.
110 artists
creative types in profile.
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Publisher & Editor
Vince Medeiros Associate Editor
Andrea Kurland Global Editor
Jamie Brisick Skate Editor
Jay Riggio Snow Editor
Zoe Oksanen Music Editor
Phil Hebblethwaite Editorial Director
Matt Bochenski
Translations Editor
Markus Grahlmann Website Editor
Alex Capes
Creative Directors
Rob Longworth & Paul Willoughby www.thechurchoflondon.com Junior Designer
Victoria Talbot Editorial Interns
Kezia Clark Jamie Isbell Words
Sarah Bentley, Mike Brett, Marlon Dolcy, Hugh Foster, Gemma Freeman, Matt George, Miles Masterson, Chloe McCloskey, Melanie Schönthier, Cyrus Shahrad, Alex Wade, Olly Zanetti Images
Boogie, Debbie Bragg, Amy Brown, Brusti, Paul Calver, Celebrate People’s History Poster Series, Sam Christmas, Jeff Curtes, Stevie Gee, Matt Georges, Philip Grisewood, Max Hamilton, Nick Hamilton, Lindsay Hutchens, Bryce Kanights, Lozza, Al Mackinnon, Dan Medhurst, Pasi, Peter Taras, Kevin Zacher, Mattia Zoppellaro Advertising Director
Steph Pomphrey
Advertising Manager
Dean Faulkner
Projects Manager
Lalita Powell
Marketing & Distribution
Ed Andrews
Managing Director
Danny Miller
Published by Story Publishing Studio 209, Curtain House 134-146 Curtain Road London EC2A 3AR www.storypublishing.co.uk Editorial Enquiries +44 (0) 207-729-3675 editorial@huckmagazine.com Advertising and Marketing Enquiries +44 (0) 207-729-3675 ads@huckmagazine.com Distributed worldwide by COMAG UK distribution enquiries: andy.hounslow@comag.co.uk Worldwide distribution enquiries: graeme.king@comag.co.uk Importato da Johnsons International News Italia S.p.A. Distribuito da A&G MARCO Via Fortezza 27, Milano, Italia Printed by Buxton Press
Made with paper from sustainable sources. Huck is published six times a year. © Story 2009 ON THE COVER NICOLAS MÜLLER BY LOZZA
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PAUL CALVER
The articles appearing within this publication reflect the opinions of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial team.
Another World. text CYRUS SHAHRAD.
Mathieu Justafre, frontside 5, La Clusaz, France.
photography MATT GEORGES.
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You may have heard of Donald Crowhurst, the British sailor who in 1969 was made famous by his failure in the first ever round-the-world solo yachting race. When it became obvious Crossing over the snow- that he hadn’t a hope of winning, Crowhurst spent the better part of a laden brink. year hovering aimlessly in the south Atlantic and faking his log books while awaiting the return of his competitors, at which point he intended to rejoin the race at the front. The isolation drove Crowhurst mad: he threw himself into the sea on the 243rd day of his voyage, and when the authorities finally recovered his boat they found log books filled with religious and philosophical ramblings about how he had become a ‘second generation cosmic being’. Viewing our world from a great distance does funny things to the human
mind, and that’s as true with snowboarding as it is anywhere else. It doesn’t matter whether we’re soaking up sublime sunsets from chairlifts, tearing down isolated powder faces with only the sound of our breathing for company, or suspended mid-frontside five like Mathieu Justafre here: in each case the pull of a world behind this one is powerful, the voices of those that inhabit it coming in whispers on the mountain wind. Cases of insanity are thankfully rare: lifts come rattling into lift stations; powder faces lead eventually to bustling resorts; and even the sickest of tricks ends with a soft thud and the sound of cheering uphill. But in those brief moments we’re given a sense of enormous meaning behind something that many view as merely a ‘sport’, and once we’re too old to care about competition circuits or clothing labels, it’s the pursuit of those moments that keeps us returning to the mountains – one foot in the world of men, the other in the realm of cosmic beings, both strapped firmly to our boards.
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Just Good Frends. text ZOE OKSANEN. photography KEVIN ZACHER.
Snowboarding is a funny game. For such a free-spirited sport, so little is left to freedom when it comes to playing on a professional level. After all, sponsors often dictate and control Bringing pro a lot of the when, why, where and snowboarding back to earth. who of a rider’s season. Intent on shattering the contractual shackles that run their pro lives, riders Keir Dillon, Danny Davis, Scotty Lago, Kevin Pearce, Mason Aguirre and brothers Jack and Luke Mitrani created Frends, a collective whose goal is to ensure they ride together as much as they can. “We felt confined to riding with riders on our team only,” says Danny Davis. “So we just started out as a crew. Filming for Frends meant I had a real excuse to ride with the guys I wanted to.” Fellow Frends player Keir Dillon had this to add about the inspiration behind it: “Our aim was to live out our creative goals and dreams through the brand. Whether it’s clothes, movies, TV shows, contests, camp sessions or web presence, I think it’s more about how we want to achieve it than what we
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want to achieve.” Although most of the Frends crew are amongst the best and most successful young riders in the sport (check out Danny Davis and Kevin Pearce’s contest results if you don’t believe me), that wasn’t a factor in who became involved. “We just chose the people we had most fun riding with,” says Danny. From there, Jack Mitrani started filming, editing and uploading footage to the website, letting people see what they were all up to. How far can they take things? For Keir, it’s pretty key that Frends develops into an actual brand. “In order to keep doing what we want there needs to be a source of income,” he explains. “The reason for Frends is to show kids what life, and snowboarding, is all about – and how much fun you can have doing it. Providing a product will allow them to grab onto the idea physically.” My prediction? It won’t be long before this bunch gets it together to create something pretty interesting. And if they don’t, friends riding, filming and having fun together, how bad can that be? www.thisisfrends.com
Power Play. text JAY RIGGIO.
illustration PHILIP GRISEWOOD.
Through the years, skateboarding has become intertwined with most creative facets of life – but rarely has it been connected to the gung-ho world of Legendary team sport. Legendary pro skater and long-time hockey fanatic Mike skate pro Vallely understands his two passions Mike Vallely may be unlikely bedmates, but that scores with hasn’t stopped him from trying to The Ducks. unite them like milk and a fresh batch of Oreos. Recently Mike V teamed up with his board sponsor, Element, and NHL team The Anaheim Ducks to produce a three-way branded apparel line. Mike grew up in a New Jersey house where hockey was watched regularly, but it wasn’t until 1980 when the USA Olympic Team won gold that he became hooked. “That’s when I started to play street hockey,” says Vallely. “I pretty much became a diehard Rangers fan around that time, and I’ve been a hockey buff ever since.” When Mike discovered skateboarding, hockey naturally took a backseat to his new all-consuming obsession. It wasn’t until years later when he moved to California that he became struck again with the hockey bug. “Wayne Gretzky had just come to town to play for the LA Kings, which was a big deal. So I started going to Kings games. It really renewed my interest in hockey and I wanted to play ice hockey,” explains Mike. “I was twenty-one, or something like that, and I couldn’t convince anyone else to learn to play with me. I was hanging out with Ed Templeton a lot and was like, ‘Dude you got to play hockey.’ He was like, ‘What are
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you talking about?’ So I got some hockey sticks and was like, ‘We can play on skateboards!’ It was the only way for him to get involved. And by the time that we did TV Skateboards [Mike and Ed’s short-lived skate company] we had our whole team playing skateboard hockey.” Originally an LA Kings fan, Mike continually brushed off invites from a friend to watch The Ducks play. But after Mike broke his leg, he gave in. “People find it hard that you can change allegiances with teams,” says Vallely. “For me it wasn’t that hard because The Ducks were so good and they were the kind of team that I would want to build, if I could.” Thoroughly converted, Mike became further involved with the organisation when he began blogging on The Ducks’ website, hoping to attract attention from unlikely fans. In time, Mike’s relationship with the team would blossom. Soon he was holding skateboard hockey exhibitions at the Honda Center parking lot where The Ducks play, sharing his two passions with kids and fans alike. One thing led to another and, before long, Mike scored his apparel deal with The Ducks. “Most of the apparel you see in the team store that is leaguegenerated is pretty much generic sport stuff,” Mike says. “I’ve always felt it could be a little bit edgier with different influences in it, making apparel that the fans would actually want to buy and wear, especially fans that already participate in the skate/surf lifestyle.” Mike’s exclusive Ducks merchandise, which will include a branded skate deck, is still in development. But with all parties pushing to get things rolling, the union of skateboarding and hockey is just around the bend. Mike V’s hockey apparel will be available exclusively at The Ducks Team Store. http://ducks.nhl.com
Photo : Elina Sirparanta
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Telling Stories. text ed andrews.
photography paul willoughby.
Anyone can make a snowboard film, right? How hard can it be? Get a camera, shoot some sick shredding, cut it all together, mix in some music and you’re laughing! Well, as it happens, Would-be it’s not always that simple... filmmakers Well aware that so many take to the snowboarders are itching to make mountain. their own film, Urb-orbis Productions decided to launch Mountain Stories, a year-long snowboard short film contest open to both wannabe filmmakers and experienced producers alike. The end result? An eclectic showcase DVD of film shorts, all offering unique takes on sliding sideways. One of the most notable filmmakers involved was Adam Gendle, pro snowboarder and one half of Lockdown Projects, who won Best Director (and 500 quid) for his horror film starring Norwegian pro Kjersti Buaas being pursued by a psychotic clown. “Kjersti kept going on about the movie Killer Clowns From Outer Space,” says Gendle. “We went to Wal-Mart and bought all the bits to make a really rubbish clown outfit.” Shot at Mammoth, California, during the Roxy Chicken Jam, the initial cut only had three minutes of footage and lacked the all-important snowboarding. Having gone their separate ways, Gendle got creative and recruited a friend’s niece to play a young Kjersti in flashbacks of childhood traumas involving a toy clown. “I’d love to say it was the plan all along,” laughs Gendle. ”Sometimes the challenge is making something out of what you’ve got.” Another pro filmmaker setting a high standard was Jon Drever from Grain Media whose fast-paced film chronicles a hectic winter travelling
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across Europe. “Our initial idea was a travel piece because it’s an integral part of snowboarding if you are British,” says Drever. “We were pretty lucky kit-wise, no mishaps there but then there was me nearly dying in Tignes. I was walking to this vantage point, I slipped on some ice and slid down the hill towards the cliff. I managed to grab my bag which had £30,000 worth of kit in it and dig my board in at the very last minute. A skier came along and rescued me while my legs were hanging off the cliff. Filming freeriding can be really dangerous, it’s not like setting up next to a kicker in the park.” And it seems that mishaps happen in post-production as well. Pro snowboarder and first-time filmmaker Mike Austin can lay testament to that: “My laptop blew up and burnt out the graphics card. After that, I had to re-link clips from my external hard drive. That was a nightmare. My girlfriend had to put up with me being on the computer for hours on end.” Video artist Wat Kirby’s entry, Sounds of the Shred, took a fully left field approach with a split-screen visual soundscape. Says Kirby: “There is such a standard format to compiling snowboard films – essentially it’s just riding to punk or hip hop. But when you are on the mountain, all you can really hear is the wind howling. I wanted to do something completely different so I built up a rhythm with the raw sounds that came with snowboarding.” Prize money aside, how do you keep the motivation up when you’re lugging heavy equipment around bitterly cold mountains and staring through bloodshot eyes at a computer screen for hours on end, only for some critic to rip the whole thing to shreds after just five minute’s viewing? Jon Drever sums it up well: “It’s quite self-indulgent, but it’s always nice to have a record of what you’ve done.” www.mountain-stories.com
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Filmmaker Adam Gendle.
Diplomat of surf. text alex wade. photography AL MACKINNON.
Could Sam Lamiroy be British surfing’s official ambassador? That might be going a little too far – not least because such a role is yet to exist Meet Sam – but if ever one was created, the thirty-two-year-old Geordie would be Lamiroy, in pole position for the job. the voice Born in Belgium, Lamiroy of British started surfing aged ten, when his surfing. family settled in North East England. He never looked back, logging water time on the frigid reefs around Tynemouth and, over fifteen seasons, acquiring an intimate knowledge of iconic breaks such as Thurso East and Brims Ness on Scotland’s North Shore. A big, muscular man, Lamiroy’s prowess in the water has seen him bag two British titles, undertake a stint on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and live to tell the tale of surfing Ireland’s monster wave, Aileen’s, at serious size. He’s a regular on the UK Pro Surf Tour and his amiable smile pops up in just about every domestic surf magazine, every month. But Lamiroy is more than simply a very good surfer. Now based in Perranporth, North Cornwall, he’s also an intelligent, reflective man. This quality, allied with a deep love of surfing, is what makes him one of the UK’s best spokesmen on the subject. “Surfing is the overriding thing in my life. It permeates everything I do – where I live, how I interact with people, how I see the world,” he says. “It’s the moment that brings together many of the things that make us human – nature,
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subtle changes in your environment, your interaction with those things, your sense of balance and control of tiny fractions of movement.” If that sounds a little Zen, it’s meant to. Lamiroy is as much a philosopher as he is a powerful and stylish surfer. As he says: “Surfing is about an immersion in the moment. To be in the sea, seeing dolphins and beautiful sunsets, catching waves, is the most perfect way of achieving peace and contentment imaginable. Despite the explosive bursts of energy involved, surfing is a meditative act, something analogous to what Eastern philosophies say about achieving happiness through simply being.” Since coming fifth in the World Pro Juniors when he was eighteen, Lamiroy has gone on to carve out an enviable lifestyle. “I had a decision to make,” he recalls, “university or pro surfing. I chose the former. It’s not a decision I’ve ever regretted.” Lamiroy, fluent in several languages, obtained a degree in oceanography from Plymouth University, and thereafter harnessed both his intelligence and natural ability as a surfer to impressive effect. “I competed on the WQS for several years, placing well but never quite making the higher rankings, and then sat down with my sponsors to discuss a different way of representing them. With their encouragement, I’m retained as a free surfer. My aim is to show surfing in a positive light, often in unusual locations. I want people to see me riding a wave and decide to get into surfing themselves.” If there was an official British surfing ambassador, that’s exactly what he’d say. www.oneill.com
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IN YOUR FACE. text Phil Hebblethwaite.
photography Mattia Zoppellaro.
Mike Title threw two goats’ heads into the crowd, one of which inadvertently took out Bob Geldof’s daughter, Peaches. The act, which caused outrage in the tabloids, is but one Limp rockers of the many fierce, confrontational beware: the shows typically put on by the band. Dead Kids “I don’t know where any of this have arrived. is leading,” says Title, “but from the very moment I put Dead Kids together, it was as a reaction. And I wasn’t sure what I was reacting against, other than bland, identikit bands that get signed and hang out at foam parties and drink for free.” Their latest single, ‘Into The Fire’, is a love song in its rawest sense (“I’m laying it down!”). It follows a track that’s perhaps the best example so far of the ferocity, wit and brilliance in Dead Kids’ music – ‘Fear and Fluoride’, a song concerning the government supposedly adding fluoride to drinking water, but it may as well be about paranoia, conspiracy and dread. An album is due later this year, but for now you absolutely have to see them play. “When we turn up at gigs, the other bands have got all the right tattoos and they look like they’ve been to the Fame Academy together,” says Mike. “We just turn up and do it. All of a sudden, there’s a rammed room, and we’re transformed from your average band in the street to something... titan. Demi-gods. Not full gods, yet. But that’s how we roll on a good night. And we’ve many a good night.” ‘Into the Fire’ is out now on Sparrow’s Tear.
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Photos: Roger Baumer
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BEING CHE. text mike brett. photography sam christmas.
“I think he’s just like Jesus, except one thing: ‘I don’t turn the other cheek, Jack. You kill me, I kill you.’” After speaking to Benicio Del Toro, one thing is clear: Actor Benicio his portrayal of Che Guevara in Steven Del Toro cuts Soderbergh’s revolutionary two-part film doesn’t pussyfoot around. through the While many herald Che as a political champion of the Latin American baggage to people, others – the right, the CIA, show us his etc. – vilify him as a war criminal Che Guevara. responsible for the death of countless Cubans in Castro’s post-revolutionary purge of undesirables. For Del Toro, things are a little more straightforward. “Well, y’know, Che is pretty easy to understand,” he argues. “Che is a guy who fought for justice. Anyone who’s ever been a kid, anyone who’s ever had a superhero – Batman, Superman, Spiderman – would understand that.” There is no room in Del Toro’s interpretation for any conclusion other than that the righteousness of Guevara’s cause justifies his actions. “That thing about love [Che’s claim that ‘Revolution is love’], I believe that it was about love – about love towards humanity. I’ll say this to anyone – because I really read his Bolivian diaries – Che never terrorised anybody.” So candid is Del Toro’s take on Che, that even violence is justified as a means of revolution: “His aggression – let’s call it his ‘evilness’ – was directed towards evil. He had a gun that fought the gun. He didn’t fight
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the flower. That last song in the first movie, it’s a Silvio Rodríguez song. Silvio Rodríguez is like the Bob Dylan of Cuba, and that song is called ‘Fusil Contra Fusil’, ‘Weapon Versus Weapon’. That, in a way, is Che. He fought the rifle that kept people down.” Wary of getting bogged down in the political quicksand that surrounds Guevara’s legacy, Del Toro turns to the emotional side of the project: “You can talk about politics and Cuba all day – and maybe I’m not the most qualified person to be talking about this stuff – but I’ll tell you one thing: from doing this movie, I did learn more about the history of Latin America – and I am Latin American. When we went to Cuba… the feeling you got from the people towards Che was of such deep love. There is a whole country down there in which Che is revered, and it expands into Latin America, and into Europe, and it trickles into the States.” Such widespread reverence goes some way in explaining the sheer power of Del Toro’s lead performance. But the strength of Che’s conviction, and the tenacity with which he defends it to the death, makes him a compelling human being. As Del Toro suggests: “Let’s be sincere here. You can do ten movies about Che; the guy lived ten lives. Very few people have the impression on life that he did, that stamp.” Better belt up and get the popcorn in; Che parts three to ten may well be on their way. Che: Part Two hits UK cinemas this February. To read the full interview go to www.huckmagazine.com.
Save the honeybee. text OLLY ZANETTI.
What is it about bees that we humans find so elusive? It took scientists until 2003 to debunk the popular schoolyard myth that bee flight is aerodynamically impossible. Today, Or the bees are back on the agenda, and economy the outlook isn’t good. could In Britain, loss of habitat due suffer. to intensive agriculture has all but wiped out the wild honeybee and, last winter, domesticated populations dropped sharply. While it’s natural for numbers to shrink over winter, losses are normally around five to ten percent. Last winter it was one in three, and there’s no reason to suppose that this year will be any different. Because of this, stocks of British honey are running dry. But that’s the least of our worries, explains Chris Deaves of the British Bee Keeping Association: “Bees are important for pollination, and honeybees are particularly good at it. About one third of the food we eat, particularly fruit, is pollinated by bees, so if they aren’t there, we don’t get as much.” The cause? A tiny crab-shaped parasite called the verroa mite, which is infecting bee populations the world over. The mites live in hives, sucking the blood from fully grown bees and their larva. These bites leave the bees susceptible to infection, and the mites themselves may be responsible for transmitting viruses from one bee to another. The problem is, we’re not
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really sure what’s going on. In the US, they have the same problem. Stateside, however, keeping honeybees is a massive industry. Hives are loaded onto lorries and the bees go from the Midwest to the Californian coast on a grand pollinating tour. Recognising the necessity of bees, farmers pay for beekeepers to stop off at their farms, where the hives are opened and bees released to do their work. When bee numbers started to decline, the federal government threw millions at the problem to try and sort it out. UK politicians have been less keen. The work of bees contributes about £165 million to our economy, but the government seems loath to invest in research to keep the bees alive. If this wasn’t bad enough, recent reports have shown that neonicotinoids, a group of pesticides regularly sprayed on crops, may be killing the bees too. Other European countries quickly banned the chemical, but once again the British government lags behind. “Last year, there simply weren’t enough hives to go around,” Chris says. “Beekeepers didn’t have enough bees to meet the demand for pollination. That’s a worrying thing. It’s never happened before. If wild flowers don’t get pollinated, there won’t be food for animals or birds. We’re now in a position where we can seriously upset this balance between bees and plants, and we really don’t know what the consequences will be.” But there’s still time. By encouraging plants like brambles which bees like, buying organic, or putting pressure on the government to fund research, we can all help to keep the honey – and the food – flowing.
red mop update. interview ZOE OKSANEN.
photography LOZZA.
Shaun White graced the cover of the very first edition of HUCK way back in 2006. He was fresh out of the Olympics and basking in the glory of his gold medal. His name was Shaun White: heard everywhere, and he reached Exclusive a level of fame he hadn’t yet Interview. known, appearing on prime time chat shows and making the cover of mainstream magazines such as Rolling Stone. But really, it was all just the beginning. Two years on and Shaun has now reached a status even he didn’t expect. Besides dominating the core market, he has now transcended the sports arena to become the face of brands such as American Express and HP. He has his own video game and, incredibly, even his own clothing line at Target. I have known Shaun for several years. I have seen him grow from a young kid who had a curfew while touring, to an adult who is one of the most recognisable faces in sport. With this interview, I wanted to scratch beneath the surface a little and see what is really going on with him these days. Because let’s face it, even with fame, money and hot chicks chasing you around, they can’t all be good days. Or can they? 38 www.HUCKmagazine.com
HUCK: Since the Olympics things have really gained momentum in your career. Did you ever expect to reach this level of fame? SHAUN WHITE: It was never the plan to become famous with snowboarding. It was something that I really liked and happened to be good at. As things progressed, it’s been really interesting to see what opportunities have come from this. Right now I trip out on how people react to me, it’s totally weird sometimes. It has been at a certain level for some time, but now with my video game it’s been gaining more and more steam. Crazy days, for sure. Do you ever wake up in the morning and just think: “I’m too tired to deal with my commitments today?” There are times that can be annoying, for sure. When you travel all the time, it’s tough to keep up on time zones and commitments. But I always try to remember that it’s for the fans, and the fans are really the reason that I am able to do anything with this sport. Speaking of fame, I know from riders who have travelled with you that you are as recognised in public as most actors and rock stars. Do you ever find this level of invasion into your life hard to handle or is it something you enjoy? ▼
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“in the end, all i have to do is plan things to account for running into fans. like if i go to a basketball game, i just know that if i want to get away quickly, i probably have to use a side entrance.” There is no way that I can be bummed on people because they are the ones that let me live this lifestyle. In the end, all I have to do is plan things to account for running into fans. Like if I go to a basketball game, I just know that if I want to get away quickly, I probably have to use a side entrance. Not a big deal, really. You kind of grew up in the public eye. Do you feel like you had a lost childhood in any way? No way, I mean, really, am I bummed I missed my eighth grade graduation party? I feel totally blessed that I was able to have a childhood like I did. You learn a lot of stuff on the road, stuff they can’t teach you in a classroom. Other than Tony Hawk, there are no other snowboarders or skateboarders who have your level of commercial success. Can it be lonely to be standing at the top all alone? I think I deal with pressure very well, so I don’t get too lonely, but I think it’s hard for people to understand how busy I can get. I don’t have summers off, and I’m not complaining, but when other people want me to come for a surf trip, it sucks to turn people down. Have there been any low points amid all the stardom? Not really. I think the worst part is when I’m at home with nothing to do. You have won gold so many times that the thrill must lose its edge a little bit. How do you motivate yourself to keep winning? You know what’s funny, it still feels great to win a contest. Whether it’s small or big, I am just a competitive person, so I get psyched every time. I think what motivates me the most is to suffer a good ass kicking. Whenever I try my hardest and lose, it’s the best motivation to make me get back out there and give 110 per cent. Out of everything you have achieved, what are you most proud of? I think there are a couple: my first X Games win, winning the US Open, and the Olympics are the big three. Out of everything, the Olympics takes the cake. It’s not just the fact that the whole world was watching, or that it’s for my country, it’s because my parents were there in the crowd. They have given up a lot, gone through a lot, and through everything they supported me the
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most. To see how stoked they were, it was huge for me. Snowboarding and skateboarding are sports that put a lot of emphasis on remaining ‘core’. You have embraced some very mainstream, commercial sponsors, and yet that doesn’t seem to affect your image. Why do you think that is? Whenever I do anything mainstream, I really try to make sure our sport is represented in the best way possible. If you go through the ads, commercials, whatever, there are things that I made sure were changed in order to make sure the sports don’t look stupid. In the end, I just try to make sure that when my friends see the stuff I’m in, they aren’t going to make fun of me later. I think that’s the best way to approach things when it comes to your image. Do you ever question any of the choices you have made? Are there brands out there you wouldn’t endorse? Totally, out of all the sponsors that everyone sees me with, there are four times as many that I have turned down. As crazy as it sounds, I have turned down more money than I make. I try to partner myself with companies that are willing to work with my sports and me. I like to build relationships with sponsors because those seem to have the most opportunity for giving back to our sport. Shaun White: snowboarder, skateboarder, business mogul. How would you define yourself? I guess in the end I’m just a dude in a cave looking for the dragon that is going to alleviate the overwhelming burden of life in the USA with the Bruce on the radio and a six pack in the back. If you could take a year out from all your commitments right now, what would you do with that time? Party naked with Bon Jovi. What would you like your legacy to be? Man alive, I don’t really know. I guess we will have to wait and see, right?
.
Do you have any closing words for HUCK’s readers? Don’t listen to a word I say. It’s all lies!
Just Art. text ANDREA KURLAND.
It’s scary, the things that could one day count as history: Britney’s breakdown; Paris’ panties; the emetic ‘Brangelina’ and their ever-growing tribe. What politiCally about real names like Dolores Huerta or Emma Goldman? Ever heard engaged of them? artist Josh Fed up that people as pointless MaCphee is as Paris could garner more attention Celebrating than unsung activists of the past, history. artist Josh MacPhee decided something had to be done. That something was the Celebrate People’s History poster campaign – a series of affordable artwork commemorating the radical moments that have changed society for the better. “I had just moved to Chicago,” says Josh, of the project’s 1997 roots. “It was a hyper-saturated advertising environment, both from above in terms of billboards, and also from the street – posters and flyers promoting people’s small parties or bands. It dawned on me that there was this massive amount of messaging, but almost all of it was telling people to do something. The directive: go here, buy this, do that. And I just wanted to try and put something into that space that was a little more generous: posters that were little bits of history from which you could take what you liked – almost like a public service announcement as opposed to an advertising initiative.” With the message in hand, but no means of disseminating it, Josh set up Justseeds in 1998 to get his work out to the masses, and found the website attracting some like-minded folk. “Because there wasn’t an accessible distribution system for inexpensive art, people gravitated towards me for help,” explains Josh. “I don’t think it was because I necessarily knew more than
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anyone else – it was because I was stupid enough to stick my neck out.” A collectivist at heart, Josh began to sell other artists’ work through Justseeds, including covetable prints from the likes of Swoon. Soon enough, the network took on a life of its own, and like all civil groupings, some form of social organisation had to come into play. True to form, the egalitarian bunch opted for a system that leaned distinctly left. “We share any profit,” says Josh, explaining how, by 2007, his bedroom project had morphed into a decentralised cooperative. “With twenty-two members, we have quite a jumble of individual and collective ambitions.” One ambition, it seems, is to not simply celebrate the radical battles of yesteryear, but also highlight pertinent struggles that still need to be fought. Take a recent series of original prints critiquing the prison-industrial complex (the idea that privatisation of the prison system means that profit is prioritised over the rehabilitation of criminals) and Justseeds is clearly all about engaging in the debate. “We see ourselves as part of a larger social fabric,” says Josh, “one that desperately needs to change for the better. We want to be part of that change.” Speaking of change, what did Josh make of the street art that cropped up in support of Obama? “The idea that street art is rebellious gets a little sticky when people are using it to add ‘street authenticity’ to a US presidential candidate, and functionally generating portraits of the most powerful man in the world,” he says. “There’s nothing counter to this culture – no margins, only centre.” The man’s got a point. But, if it knocks Britney off the front page, we’re not gonna complain. artwork courtesy of the Celebrate People’s History poster series. www.justseeds.org
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givin’ a jig. text ED ANDREWS.
photography LINDSAY HUTCHENS.
“I’ve gone through many metamorphoses in my life; from rock bands, to punk bands, to metal bands – but I was never really comfortable,” says Irish-American Dave King, lead singer-songwriter of Flogging Molly. The band originally rockers formed in Los Angeles in 1997 but Flogging grew organically to mix boisterous Molly shake punk rock with traditional Irish folk up the music. But for Irish-born King, the charity box. Celtic element to the music came purely by chance. “When I first heard Bridget [his wife and fellow band member] playing the fiddle, it just opened up something inside of me. At the time, I couldn’t physically return to Ireland so the music helped me go there spiritually. It just came so effortlessly.” Eleven years and four critically acclaimed studio albums later, Flogging Molly, named after the LA bar they once held residency at, are joining the Eastpak-sponsored Antidote Tour, taking their energetic live shows all across Europe. With so many bands facing dwindling record sales thanks to online file-sharing, are sponsored tours the way for musicians to get by nowadays? “We have seven people in the band and five crew; it takes a lot of money
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to keep that number of people on tour,” says a pragmatic King. “It’s the only way we can make a living so any help we can get to pay some of the bills is all right by me. But there’s no way that we would be sponsored by some brand we don’t agree with. Anyway, sponsorship doesn’t take away anything from the energy or atmosphere of the show.” While the United States was in the grip of Bush’s neo-conservative reign, King “voted with his feet” and returned to Ireland. But now, with a smile of relief, he reflects on Obama’s victory as “a truly great day for the world”. He also seems to be following what is almost becoming a cliché – an Irish musician campaigning for charity. King, along with the rest of Flogging Molly, is a keen patron of GOAL – a Dublin-based charity focused on humanitarian aid and poverty relief around the world. On their last tour, the band helped raise over $15,000 for the charity. But how does he feel about people’s cynicism of musicians preaching to the masses from the pulpit of the stage? For King, such criticism is irrelevant: “It’s very important when you are in a position to promote awareness that you do so. You can’t just be blinkered to everything. Whatever you can do to help is a great thing. And I know Bono, he genuinely means it too!” www.antidotetour.com
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Back t o Basic s The Nic ola s M端ller Int e r v i e w
LEGENDARY Swiss SNOWBOARDER NICOLAS MULLER unveils his solution for a cleaner planet whilst sharing his deep frustrations about consumerism, industry politics and the annoying futility of small talk. Interview Gemma Freeman Photography Lozza
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White gold smothers Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Snow-pregnant skies are sliced open by the jagged peaks of the Grand Teton National Park, coating the slopes of Rendezvous Mountain in the highestever recorded snowfall. 50 www.HUCKmagazine.com
It’s mid-season and conditions are perfect for local pro Travis Rice’s Quiksilver Natural Selection: a new surfinspired comp where the world’s finest snowboarders display their freestyle skills on natural terrain. The concept is genius and the line up immense. But I’m not here to record another set of results. Instead, I’m here to focus on one contestant: Nicolas Müller. The personification of snowboard style and creativity, the Swiss German is a legend at the age of twenty-six. Born in the Alpine town of Aarau, just outside Zurich, he learnt to ski as a toddler, but, as a talented skater, turned to snowboarding in 1992. After honing his talent on the immaculate halfpipes of his home resort of Laax, he began to notch up podium places and was snapped up by Burton. Soon after, he started winning medals at prestigious events like the Air and Style, Burton European Open and Arctic Challenge, garnering much attention for his uniquely explosive style. But, an artist at heart, it wasn’t long before Nicolas rejected the park for the backcountry. His first film part for Absinthe’s Tribal (2000) saw him take the skills he’d perfected on man-made features and apply them to the whole mountain, joining the ‘backcountry freestyle’ movement and redefining what is possible on a shred stick. Whether he’s boosting out of the pipe with a beautifully exaggerated Japan or buttering deep Alpine powder, Nicolas’ lines are liquid, unique and spontaneous. These days, Nicolas’ inimitable approach inspires far beyond snowboarding. Following in the footsteps of rider-campaigners such as David Rastovich and Elise Garrigue, the Swiss rider has created his own agenda, and uses his position to educate others on environmental issues. Working closely with Burton, he even helped develop the Green Mountain Project, a collection of environmentally friendlier snowboard products. I meet Nicolas for dinner early one evening. We’re dining alone in an upmarket Teton Village restaurant – Nicolas’ choice as it has the best vegetarian cuisine in this steak-loving, cowboy town. It’s strangely silent for peak season, but that’s because the Super Bowl is on, resulting in loud cheers from the neighbouring hotel bar. There’s also an over-zealous waiter to contend with, who seems intent on hovering around. But distractions aside, soon enough drink and food arrive – and conversation starts to flow. HUCK: Most people would kill to snowboard for a living. But I’ve got to ask: does anything about pro snowboarding ever piss you off? Nicolas Müller: Actual snowboarding, on a great
day, will never get old or boring. But the daily routine is always the same. I don’t know, I’ve been doing this for a long time – a long, long time. I started snowboarding in 1992, I stopped school at sixteen and since then I have snowboarded for a living. I’ve been to all the contests, been motivated, a couple of them I won, and then you come back the next year and you’re like, ‘I could win again or...?’ After a while it gets kind of boring. So now, it’s powder trips that I enjoy the most. This contest is really cool though – you get to ride for a week with your friends. So are you going to concentrate more on filming and forget the comps next season? But then I’m bored of filming too [laughs]. Right now that’s how I feel, you know... Are you bummed out on it all? I’m not bummed out, but what really gave me joy before, it changes you know; you grow up, times change... I snowboard all year, then snowboard all summer in New Zealand and then I go to all the premieres. I do so many premieres and promotions in the fall that when it gets to November, when the winter should start, I can’t even go snowboarding. I’m usually so over it. But then I have the Air and Style, where I’m expected to do good, show a new trick, spin… I just need a break from it. Just clear my head in general, you know? Do you think you’re a bit battered and tired? Yes, but then no. I used to live in Zurich, where I was born. I’m a city person. I love and am in the nature a lot, I travel with my job, but when I come home I love the city. But I’m not there much, maybe three or four months out of the year. I don’t know about England, but in Switzerland, every town has a different tax rate. So right now, I work hard, and am always gone – last year I filmed a video part for the Burton movie, I worked on Terje’s Season Pass TV show, I did Fuel TV’s Firsthand, I worked with Absinthe Films, I did five contests, I did the Burton World Tour... And I don’t even live in Zurich... Then I get my tax bill which is like half of my salary and I’m just like, ‘What?’ [he pulls a really shocked expression] My dream has always been to buy a house in Zurich, so last spring I almost bought one – my dream home, not far from the lake, it was old, with trees all around it, perfect. So I pretty much signed the contract, which is only valid if you pay a certain amount of money, but then the bank called me and were like, ‘Maybe you should speak to the tax expert first?’ So after three hours I came out, and I was like, ‘Fuck, ▼
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my life’s changed’. I woke up and asked myself, ‘Is this really my dream come true?’ I never buy shit, I saved everything to buy a house in Switzerland, which is expensive. And I had to negotiate with my sponsors, like with Burton... I make good money and I’d be rich in the US – I probably wouldn’t have to work ever again – but in Switzerland I’m not. So anyways, that night I had to cancel my apartment and realised I had to get out of the city. Right now, if I stay in the city, I can make all this money but I have to give away half of it. Or I can move to the countryside, to a low tax town, and when I decide to take it easy, still have a bunch of money. This all happened last summer. So now I’m pretty much homeless. At first I thought it would be pretty okay, because I travel so much, but still, even if you come home for just a couple of days, it’s worth so much just to have your own four walls. This is me right now. It’s like psychiatrist talk, but I don’t know... Sometimes I just have those moments, you know? I love snowboarding, and if it’s a great powder day I forget about everything. Even here, the day before the contest, I had one of the best days ever. But on the day of the contest I was like, [shrugs shoulders] ‘Whatever...’ You weren’t feeling it? Yeah, I was just really not feeling it. I don’t know why. Here in the US, people are so friendly, everyone’s like, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ but I’m like, ‘Dude, I don’t want to talk to you, I don’t want to go places, I just want to be alone’. Sometimes I take it, but sometimes I just don’t have the energy to make small talk. But maybe that’s because I don’t have a home? I look at it like everything happens for a reason, so it’s just something I have to learn to deal with. As you snowboard for a living, do you miss that pure fun of having a good day? Do people have high expectations even when you’re just riding for yourself? No, up until now I was always really hungry and enjoyed everything... This season I had fun, I didn’t win any contests for the first time and I normally always do well. But it’s interesting... I can’t always win. Are people quite close in the scene or not so much? Like, when you come here: is everyone friendly or are you not actually that close? We definitely all know each other from our snowboarding life from way back. I know Gigi [Rüf] really well from Absinthe and Burton, Romain [de Marchi] the same. Travis,
Austin [Smith] – some more, some less, but still, it’s always about snowboarding for all the guys. Like yesterday, I was hanging out at the bar and wanted to talk about something other than snowboarding, but I didn’t know what... I know what you mean, like a conversation like this... Yeah. I read this interview with Terje [Haakonsen] and he said that when he was twenty-five, he took it slower, he wasn’t riding that much – maybe only fifteen days a year for a couple of years – because he wasn’t really enjoying it. It was only recently that I read that and I was like, ‘Fuck, this makes sense’. He’s a huge influence on me, and I’m his age so it’s kind of a coincidence. A quarter life crisis? [Laughs] Thanks! No, no… I really understood him. Terje was always the biggest influence on me and I read all his interviews. I don’t want to say I’m like Terje, but it was crazy when I read that – I really knew what he meant. I hear Terje surfs a lot nowadays. Do you surf at all? I love skateboarding, but I’m starting to surf too, especially in the last year or two... it’s normal to me; there is so much more in life. Have you ever thought about going back to school or university? I definitely want to learn but I don’t want to go to school, to learn crap based on somebody’s opinion. Okay, not everything is crap but – this could be a really long story – humans, right now, we’re in a time of change. A lot of people feel it. We’re coming into a new age, the golden age, starting 2012. It’s just a number which is calculated from the Maya culture of time, but I do believe that there is a new age coming up. People are going to be more conscious. What life is about right now in the world is having a good life. Everything is easy: you have a car, you have an elevator, you have TV, you can order things online. Where’s the meaning? It’s like nobody knows. We’re totally in the dark; tripping in the dark, if you know what I mean. That is definitely some people, but not me; that is not my life. House, wife, kids, car, everything; that is not what life is about. There is so much more, you know. A secret... I don’t know. Do you find it hard doing what you do as you’re promoting consumption – through sponsorship, you’re effectively marketing a brand and product. Is there a crisis of conscience there at all? Yeah, but only in the last year. I’ve always been an ‘organic guy’, and growing up my mum was always preaching, cooking healthy, organic food and telling me ▼
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not to eat badly. And I’d be like, ‘Come on, I want to eat this, all the kids do and it’s cool’. But she told me, ‘If you want to be a snowboarder, you need to take care of your body. You’re young now, and can eat crap and not look after yourself, but you won’t be a snowboarder for a long time’. It made sense. Then I did it for my body, but as I got older I realised you have to live like this for yourself – and for everybody. We’re all connected, we’re all one energy. I realised that I live an organic lifestyle not just for me, but for the world. It’s just, you can’t change people overnight. You can’t tell somebody what consciousness means; it’s hard work and it takes time to understand. Have you ever been into Buddhism or Indian philosophy at all? I know there is the idea of world consciousness and us all being connected by energy there... Is that something you’ve looked into? Yeah, not too much yet, but I definitely want to look into it. Maybe it’s because of where I am right now; today I waited all day for two runs and am like, ‘What am I doing?’ This contest is sick, the snow is amazing, and Travis is doing an awesome job but… [pauses]. I sent Jake [Burton] a book called Cradle to Cradle, which is about a total solution to how we make products – anything. Like this chair, the paint on the walls, our carpet, our clothes, it’s always made the same way, resulting in a dead end where they end up burnt or in landfill. Burton was a huge part of that; all those bindings, boots, boards, clothes, everything – there was nothing recyclable… That’s why we started the Green Mountain Project. What are you doing for the rest of the winter? I don’t know, take it day by day. I’m going to film with Absinthe again. Enjoy, ride powder and not think too much. But for next season, I can’t do this the same anymore. There is no… what’s the word… not respect, but no relationship to the world... Like it’s all about enjoyment and making life fun, easy. People don’t see that food, it grows for you, and for free – and that is pure love. Nothing else. You know, everyone’s like, ‘I need to eat,’ so they’ll go to a bar, order stuff and talk about TV. I’m like, ‘Dude – this is so shallow’ – and it’s driving me crazy...
in a factory about to be made into burgers. Screaming, I woke up. My mother was like, ‘What happened?’ and I told her that I didn’t want to eat meat, and she was like, ‘Okay’. My parents are actually both vegetarians. Have you encouraged any other riders to become vegetarian? Are people cool about it? Yeah, everyone is – some can’t see how I do it, but it depends on cultures, where they come from. I know Freddie [Kalbermatten, Nicolas’ best friend] turned vegetarian as well, shortly after me when we were kids. I met him when I started snowboarding. He didn’t really like meat so stopped eating it. Then we had another friend, Greg, who rode with us, and he’s a vegetarian too. Are you and Freddie still quite close? Yeah, totally. We run Arcus [streetwear] together, but we don’t ride too much together anymore due to different schedules, politics, whatever, but we’re still pretty tight. I saw him in Haines, actually, with Burton, and we’re going to start riding again on our own project. What do you think about global warming? How should the snowboard industry change in order to save itself? I don’t like ‘global warming’ as a term: we’re facing a climate change, but that’s because we have so many monocultures that exploit the earth’s natural resources... So many products that work one way – dead-end products that will never fit into the ecosystem again. Snowboarding is a big part of this. Snowboard companies make a lot of stuff, and every year they recreate the same – snowboards, bindings, jackets... What do you love about snowboarding? The great thing is that when you snowboard you’re just yourself – your life, your soul, your character, whatever, is out there. Snowboarding doesn’t tell you what to do. Surfing and skating are the same. Other sports always tell you what to do. I think that is what is so attractive to a lot of people, everywhere in the world – no matter which nationality you are or language you speak. It’s like yoga. Universal
.
Ride as Nicolas Müller in Stoked, the new all-mountain snowboarding video game for Xbox 360 from Destineer
Why are you vegetarian? My grandmother was a vegetarian for as long as I remember, because she loved animals. I was raised by my mother and she would cook meat for me, but when I was nine I had a nightmare, and dreamt I was a cow
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Studios, out now. www.arcus.com www.burton.com www.gettingstoked.com
Political Push
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Skaters have long been silenced by the iron fist of urban planning, but London’s skateboarding community has found its collective voice. Text Olly Zanetti Photography Paul Calver
ilmmaker and skateboarder
he walls of Professor Iain
Winstan Whitter is passionate
Borden’s office are lined
about concrete. As the man
with books. As director of
behind the campaign to save
University College London’s
the UK’s most prominent skate
School of Architecture, Iain
spot, he’d have to be.
has been skateboarding’s
The spot at London’s
voice from the establishment
Southbank Centre, known locally as the
throughout the Save the Southbank campaign.
undercroft, might not look like much, but its
As a teenager growing up in Oxford in the
place in UK skateboarding history is unrivalled.
late 1970s, he used to travel to London at
While the Dogtown boys cruised LA for
weekends to skate at Southbank. “It has this
empty swimming pools in the 1970s, UK
real aura around it,” he says. “I suppose London
skaters were discovering a goldmine alongside
was considered to be the home of British
the River Thames. Pre-skateboarding, the
skateboarding, and the Southbank was the
undercroft was dead space, a remnant of
home of that. It was the place to go and see
post-war architecture’s futuristic visions
really good skaters. And it definitely had this
gone awry. But as a skate spot, it had it all:
feeling of being at the centre of it all.”
a smooth concrete surface littered with steps,
Skating first combined with academia
banks, ledges and loads of space. Even though
when Iain was a grad student at the University
skateboarding was fresh off the boat from the
of California, in Los Angeles. “I had to write a
USA, ‘No Skateboarding’ signs were already
term paper on something about LA. I thought,
popping up everywhere. But with authorities at
‘What do I know about LA that no one else
the undercroft choosing to turn a blind eye, UK
knows about? I’m a Brit.’ But what I did know
skateboarding, it seemed, had found a home.
about was skating. So I wrote about that.”
So what happened? “Basically,” says
The real epiphany came when studying the
Winstan, “there was a plan which I got a copy
work of French urban theorist, Henri Lefebvre.
of in about 2001. I saw these drawings. You could
While most theorists saw cities in the abstract,
see the riverfront, you could see the Southbank
obsessed by plans and models, Lefebvre
area and the skate spot, and it was all glassed
thought of cities as dynamic, exciting places,
off – with loads of shops. So it made me think,
experienced through the energy and activity
you know, it’s possible that they’re going to go
of the body. “I was interested in skateboarding,
ahead with that plan and get rid of the skate spot.
but I was also interested in thinking about these
“I grew up there,” adds Winstan, explaining
philosophical ideas of space. Skateboarding
why he jumped into action. Having made Rollin’
became for me the vehicle through which to
Through the Decades, a documentary which
do that.” In 2001, Iain published Skateboarding,
charts the history of UK skateboarding, a film
Space and the City, in which urban theory and
seemed the obvious way to raise awareness.
skateboarding stand side-by-side.
So, collaborating with clothing designer and
For Iain, the idea that skaters would
friend Toby Shuall, Winstan set to work on
be kicked out of the Southbank was nothing
a new project: Save the Southbank. Research
extraordinary. “Urban space has become
started in 2001 and, attracting 4,296 signatories,
more controlled, policed and regulated,”
a petition to Downing Street was launched in
he says. “There’s a public fear of someone
2008 in conjunction with the film. “We really
on a skateboard. I’ve been reading about
needed to do this,” says Winstan, “put the
skateboarding for twenty years and I’ve lost
film out, put the petitions up, and scare the
count of the times I’ve read about people being
Southbank. So that’s what we did.”
afraid of being hit by a skateboard. But I’ve ▼
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never heard or read of an actual example of
right to use the Southbank as anyone else, and in
that happening. What urban managers really
fact he was a skater himself as a kid in Sydney.”
don’t like about skateboarding is that it’s
That’s all well and good, but what about
disorderly, it’s not planned, you can’t control
today? Do skaters still have rights? “I haven’t
it, and it doesn’t bring any money.”
got a blueprint at the bottom of my drawer that
And money, as we know, tends to rule
I’ve got locked up or anything,” jokes McCart,
supreme. “It doesn’t take a genius,” says Derek,
despite having let slip that “any plans for that site
who’s been skating the Southbank for years
wouldn’t be implemented until well after 2012.”
and, in his early thirties, is a comparative old
With a redesign on the horizon, the
timer, “if you stuck a front on the undercroft
undercroft as we know it could still be under
you could have, like, six units that you could
threat. “If they do decide to get rid of the skate
probably rent for about a million pounds a year.
spot, or move it, they’ve killed it. That’s it,”
If this place goes, there’s going to be nowhere
says Winstan.
else. Skating’s getting banned everywhere. You
Iain Borden has a more philosophical take:
used to be able to skate around central London,
“The thing about cities is that they do always
in the City, wherever, and it was all good. But
change. In a way that’s what gives them their
now you just get kicked out or ticketed by the
vitality.” Fair enough, but given all that the
police. So the fact you can just come here and
undercroft stands for in the skating world,
skate is brilliant.”
is it not worthy of preservation? “I don’t know
And so, for academics like Iain, skating
that the site has quite that level of historical
becomes a political issue: “Once you accept that
importance,” replies Iain, “and besides, I don’t
skateboarding isn’t dangerous, and I don’t think
think it’s in the nature of skateboarding to try
it is inherently, skaters have the same right to
and protect it.”
use public space as anyone else, and do what
Rich Holland, of creative collective The Side Effects of Urethane, agrees that the beauty
they like in it.”
of skateboarding lies in its transient nature, ight months after the campaign
co-opting unused areas and reinterpreting
started, satisfaction hangs in
abandoned spaces. Back in 2004, he and several
the undercroft’s air. “Number
others installed five skateable structures in the
Ten decided to take action,”
undercroft area as a means of exploring the
says Winstan, “and the
symbiotic relationship between skateboarding
Southbank said they’re keeping
and architecture. Though he loves the
the area for skating.” After
undercroft and all it stands for, having grown
an official response from Downing Street to
up outside London, Rich’s take on its future
the online petition, things were looking good:
is more detached. “It’s a world famous spot,”
“The Southbank Centre has said that it has
he acknowledges, “but there’s a lot of world
no plans to redevelop the undercroft used by
famous spots in England. Southbank’s probably
skateboarders,” stated an email to signatories.
the most famous, but it’s not the be all and end
But the story’s not that simple. According to Mike McCart, the Southbank Centre’s
all of skating in the UK. It never has been.” Rich sees change as positively as Iain
Commercial Director, that statement was
does and, with his connections, he’s in a position
“deeply unfortunate” and, while there are no
to make things happen. With redevelopment
“immediate” plans to make alterations to the
apparently a few years off, he’s in talks with
undercroft, changes are likely in the future.
McCart about improving the current space, by
Changes, it seems, that may not include skaters.
building a glass-roofed skate plaza with a skate
McCart has become the Centre’s key
shop and gallery to boot. “The money’s not a
spokesman on matters to do with skating
problem,” says Rich, “because I’ve got backers
and, although not always the bearer of good
who really want to fund core activities. It’s about
news, he’s generally well respected. This
the Southbank’s political will.”
respect is born of the huge change in attitude
As for the future, Rich is excited. He,
from the Southbank over the time he’s been
like Iain, is confident the Southbank Centre
working there. Arriving in the early eighties,
will live up to their word and that skating will
he remembers clearly the organisation’s
stay. Whatever the future holds for London’s
confrontational stance towards skaters, which
beloved undercroft, with someone like Rich
shifted in 2002 when Australian Michael Lynch,
in on the planning, and people like us keeping
previously the director of the Sydney Opera
up pressure, it may well be the start of a new
House, was appointed chief executive of the
era, in which urban planning and skateboarding
Southbank Centre. “He had a very different view
can truly stand side-by-side
.
about cultural centres, and believed they should be very much a part of the community,” McCart
Watch Save the Southbank
tells me. “Lynch thought the skaters had as much
at www.dobedo.co.uk/savesb.
59
60 www.HUCKmagazine.com
THE OTHER BURTON You ride his snowboards, you wear his clothes, you know Jake Burton – now meet his wife. Text Melanie Schönthier Illustration amy brown
Being married to the most influential man in
she took a step back from the company to
the snowboard industry isn’t always domestic
open a speciality food store, Harvest Market,
house isn’t all work and no play. Recently, Donna
bliss. “On powder days, Jake has no friends,”
in her hometown of Stowe. “I love European
and Jake packed up their three sons and went
says Donna Carpenter, who has stood by the side
food – Italian wine, French cheese, German
on a year-long world trip that took them to six
of Jake Burton, founder of Burton Snowboards,
bread,” she says. “I sell all this in my little shop
different continents. They visited the Taj Mahal
for the past twenty-six years. “In the morning
and I’m probably my own best customer.”
in India, went surfing in Hawaii, popped into
Business acumen aside, life in the Burton
he just wants to leave the house really quickly,
After a few years behind the grocer’s
Mao Tse-Tung’s mausoleum in China and, of
and if the kids and I hang behind, he gets kind
counter, Donna swapped her savoir vivre
course, went snowboarding – a lot. Only a trip
of impatient. I’m like, ‘Okay, just leave already!’”
lifestyle for a desk back at Burton’s Burlington
to the Komodo Island, home of the last Komodo
Having built up a multi-million dollar
headquarters. “About five years ago, Jake
dragons, turned out to be more adventurous
company – which today not only includes Burton
came to me and said that the company had
than everybody had imagined. “My son Timmy
Snowboards but also Channel Islands Surfboards,
a problem,” she says openly. “There weren’t
was chasing a butterfly and ran into the forest.
DNA Distribution, ANON Optics, R.E.D., The
many women in leadership positions at the
After a minute, I thought, ‘Okay, something’s
Program, Analog Clothing and Gravis Footwear
company at that time and he asked me to
not right,’” recounts Donna. “I ran after Timmy
– Jake is considered something of a business
find out why.” Over the next couple of months
and saw a huge Komodo dragon coming straight
tycoon. But big as his empire may be, one thing
Donna interviewed Burton employees and team
towards him. He was about an arm-length away
is clear: Donna’s hand has been there every
riders and tried to find out what the company
when I literally grabbed my son’s neck and threw
step of the way.
had to change in order to get more women into
him away. Timmy landed on his back and was so
leading positions. Those foundations eventually
shocked that he started crying. Luckily our guide
led to Burton’s Women’s Leadership Initiative.
came immediately and got the Komodo away by
“In the middle of the eighties we moved to Austria to build up our headquarters,” she says. “Back then, Jake was mainly involved in product
“I thought this would be a three-month
poking him in the eyes. That was really close.”
development and the team, and I took care of
project,” she smiles. “But it has already been
Dragons aside, Donna still loves to travel.
all the financial stuff. A couple of times I had to
five years.” Today, Donna is director of the
Last spring, she went on a snowboard trip to
tell him that we can’t do this trip or that photo
programme, overseeing all efforts to ensure
Canada with team riders Hannah Teter and Anne-
shoot because there was no money. At one point
that Burton is an employer and brand of choice
Flore Marxer, only to jet off to a women’s surf
I just had to remove myself from the money side
for women: “What has changed in the last few
camp in Hawaii one week later. “When I left, Jake
of things as it was better for our relationship.”
years is the structure of the company. In the
asked if I would come home in between the two
After running at a loss for a few seasons,
past, a product manager was responsible for
trips,” she says, “and I was like, ‘Maybe!’”
Burton finally chalked up profits and the family
both genders. Today product development
moved back to the States. By 1995, Donna’s
is split by gender and there are women within
own entrepreneurial urge had taken hold and
the company driving the women’s business.”
.
How’s that for domestic bliss? www.burton.com
61
When it comes to urban snowboarding, Helsinki’s got game. Text ZOE OKSANEN Photography PASI It’s cold, damn cold. The architecture is an incongruous mix of contemporary northern European and Russian communist era, and the people will politely pass you by to scurry into the underground network of tunnels connecting one part of the city to another. It’s winter in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, that long skinny country way too far north for visitors not used to the long dark days of the season. Yet it just happens to be one of the hottest places on earth for sick rails and urban snowboarding. From friendly cops who are more likely to ask for your autograph than your ID, to frozen seas and a plethora of wall rides, rails and buildings just crying out to be ridden, it’s no wonder each year sees a mix of top pros and local kids alike dominating this first-class urban snow getaway.
62 www.HUCKmagazine.com
63
H EI SK “I AN w as EN rai Pr l, sea So b r o ut c sn hin Id o pl e I w ay c di g bo i d f so gr de n or a o d ’t rder ni u to w so be c nd an m d lie e. e an o t ne w ve I g asn t o d w it to w an hi ha t s e ’t t an re ot t tu ff so I co id su he it eas u ea pp r be wi ld t ose da ca th y ha y use P bu do t d . When asi t I to the l I it b w j as o g o ut u ust w re t l t e seas it he d t han d w ro asn ev w ry o en as 5 g o ve ’t n tu rea 0-5 ut ba a . We 0 al d t t c v ly y o he k t ide fo an to ro re o o un d take ck bec He fil d o Pasi o a lsinkime ne a n use r kink to ph tha t w w o ot t he e ith k sa o s w w a ea w us . ni if I in ce w g. the this sh an Pasi r w o ted d as t. G to idn o o tr ’t d y ti . It m es .”
JA N N E
Janne Heiskanen, skipping school to jib the playground.
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K RE M ER
M to D P I Fi m t d hink lmer in ef d ini . sh t I o t re el f d y ma ur d d b in ef y g ine n an . o It d t sn ’s ha ow d it ar o ve bo k, ve s a it r t ta rd ’s he rt in e g co pas d , H ld t the elsinki an f d ive re it o vo is ’s r l t fu so uti he o ll yea n fir o s f r like t p su s. rp It’ SLC lac risess e the d t id ha t ro A , un laskabu co t m d ev o it es er f has y ur co b an rne r. ”
“When
BR A D
65
Seth Huot, stylish board slide.
PAS IP H O TO “S G h RA o las o PH tin ER t g I’m c o u u r ev tal pl ban er kin e so yt g of sn o m hin a eo g bo yea w ne is ut rs bo ar . o per the It’ din s n f g ce e ct la no in c sa . Y k t yin ou o like He f l g can sn t sinki o he tha w r t sel . Thae’s has the ec t t co been f sai ps H ro el m d, st ha sinki t w oppin r d ens hen e g r ar o w u than f ea e sp d s o is ot o r ev s g an er a to et y rea hi sn thin the l t. ow g rai I r he – l em r pa em e, ra be d r ise !”
Heikki Sorsa, frontside 3 over a Helsinki gap.
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Eero Ettala, backside lipslide.
ET TALA
Pr ha rai o sn rd l s o ci s cene w ties o m bo the t et in a o im Fin rder y g ac le o es lan , hi t tu u ‘c d t al s s r au is ly ta ail se the fu y ‘ s! it n ca Al ha bes To use rea r t e be w d dly ve y w e w tw sn r. T o rkin er ic ow oo e e t s ba g nic his these d the at e y h gu ea y c o r y m s. se ea on e r fo This cu s. dit r B io r o wo ity ut ns n ce ul gu the in . Fin d ne ar re He d lsinki lan ve s c are r am a happen a d e is to to re p n a ki tr o re ue in ck f o tty t u rai he s the o l US u r w t o . Pl bu n u t d s, er it lan ’s d .”
“The
EE RO
67
The frozen Baltic doesn’t stop Eero Ettala pulling off this hot nosepress.
“This
H EI SK AN w ph EN it o h Pr is the to o lan is sn Whend, Sto fro o Ij r m w b us is a bo a li a pe we t ha [Finnish tt rder rf g l d e ec ot a is t the visi f lan be o i g re n lm d, innin a t c Su ft ha re o t w m g er the ] g en to a sh r u linna y the o e m s l rt u as , d fe st t rig ay r be yea h t . Thisry s tr om r. I ne d x ph ip, I ethin id t t n o o sa to w g ’t kn He lsinki w this to d o as rai o w an . taken t l he y We im r t w m e w hin en at ed i g t the iat th a the e a bo en ly. sn ut re d So ow the o it bo f the was ar d. seassuc h o n .”
E
JANN
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Nat Young, O’Neill Cold Water Classic winner. Photo courtesy of O’Neill.
Santa Cruz comes alive as the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presides over Steamer Lane. Text ALEX WADE
“You gotta surf The Lane, you just gotta.”
many groms, he has what can only be described
explosive fins-out slashes to whoops from the
So said a long-time local in a bar in downtown
as a flexible attitude to line-up etiquette. I wasn’t
partisan crowd atop the cliff overlooking The
Santa Cruz, and he was right. How could any surfer
convinced that paddling out to one of the most
Lane. This is not a spot where you can hide, or
be in Santa Cruz and not surf Steamer Lane, one
intense, potentially aggressive line-ups on the
slope off onto the shoulder – there’s always an
of the world’s iconic surf spots? Not least, when it
planet with a fearless thirteen-year-old was a
array of old-timers, groms and super-hot rippers
was serving up its trademark long, walling, perfect
good idea. It’d be a week of checking out the
watching – but Freitas seized the opportunity
rights day after sunny Northern California day. It
action for us, with a few waves – if we were lucky.
to shine in front of his home crowd.
was, quite simply, irresistible. There was just one problem. There was
But we couldn’t complain. The Cold
All the shredding was making Harry and
Water Classic may be hosted in the frigid, kelp-
I itchy. With the Oakley Pro Junior also running
a contest in town, and, like The Lane, it had some
strewn waters of Northern California but this
alongside the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, it
serious pedigree. Step forward the O’Neill Cold
time round it was blessed each day with warm
looked nigh on impossible that we’d squeeze
Water Classic, a four-star World Qualifying Series
sunshine. Perhaps the weather helped inspire
in a surf at Steamer Lane, but would we be able
event which has been held at Steamer Lane since
the locals, who made it clear from the off that
to get in the water at one of Santa Cruz’s other
1987. As the Cold Water Classic was the reason
they were in no mood to take prisoners. On
famed breaks? The answer, thanks to our body
for my visit, even if, by some miracle, I managed
day one, two ancient (in contest terms, that
clocks, was a resounding yes. We were awake
to find The Lane deserted before or after a day’s
is) surfers took the plaudits, as Josh Loya and
each morning before sunrise, and better yet,
competition, the chances were that at that very
Randy Bonds, both thirty-nine, posted standout
we were staying just a few blocks from The
same time I’d be interviewing one of the entrants
performances in clean 3-4ft surf.
Hook, a fast right-hander which draws a mixture
or writing up copy. On top of that, I had Harry, my young teenage son, with me. He’s a good surfer but, like
The pattern continued the following day
of longboarders and shortboarders. With Harry
with Bud Freitas, another Santa Cruz surfer,
opting to ride a 6”1’ while I went for a 9”1’,
earning the highest heat total of 16.90 with
we soon discovered how The Hook gets its ▼
69
Steamer Lane, doing its thing. Photo courtesy of O’Neill.
name – it’s so full of kelp that it snags your fins.
“It’s just killer to be home and to do this in
Martinez and, in 2007, Jordy Smith have all
The kelp has a pretty profound upside, though,
front of my friends and family,” he said, after
won the event. But this time around the smart
being a deterrent to the sharks that lurk in this
blitzing his way to the quarter-finals. Indeed,
money was putting seventeen-year-old Santa
part of the Pacific.
he went further, saying that winning the Cold
Cruz local Nat Young and Hawaii’s Granger
The days fell into a rhythm. We would
Water Classic was “the only victory I’d ever
Larson as the big favourites, alongside Chris
surf early in the mornings before heading to
care to have. Compared to a world title, I’d
Waring from Seal Beach, and Hawaii’s Sean
Steamer Lane to watch the contest. If there
rather have this than anything, because it’s
Moody, all of whom made it to the final.
was time at the end of the day, we would
where I’m from.”
bag another surf, or head into downtown
But more than local pride animates the
Cometh the hour, cometh the 4-6ft perfection – and cometh the local. Young
Santa Cruz for coffee, snacks and the daily
Cold Water Classic. It’s an event with real
provided a textbook display of backside surfing
sideshow. Around here, there are deadheads
resonance in surfing not just because of The
to take the 2008 Cold Water Classic. He was
who still talk about Vietnam; Hell’s Angels
Lane and other nearby waves – The Hook,
lost for words, managing little more than a
who ride their bikes in cut-off denim shorts
Pleasure Point and Sewers, to name but a few –
“I’m super excited – just making the final was
which might as well be thongs (the women,
but because Santa Cruz is also the home of the
good, and to win it…”
anyway); performance poets, stoners, jazz
man who revolutionised surfing. Jack O’Neill,
Young’s relative lack of articulacy may
dancers and winos. At any moment on the
who invented the wetsuit in 1952, today lives
have been a product of his age, but it may just
town’s main drag they’ll be there, co-existing
in a house overlooking Pleasure Point and,
as easily have been a consequence of having
harmoniously, doing their thing as if it’s the
beneath his balcony, there is a longboard break
just won one of professional surfing’s most
only thing in the world. Then there’s the skaters.
known as 38s. No doubt someone, somewhere,
historic and prestigious events. As for Harry
As the setting for Natas Kaupas’ legendary
would have invented the wetsuit if O’Neill
and I, we’d had an eye on jumping off the cliff
Wheels on Fire (filmed in the same year that
hadn’t done so, but his contribution to surfing
for a post-contest surf at The Lane, but just as
O’Neill first hosted the Cold Water Classic),
can never be underestimated. Thanks to Jack
the event wound down a thick Pacific fog rolled
Santa Cruz still oozes skateboarding class at
O’Neill, cold water surfing became a reality,
in. By then, we already knew that someday we
just about every street corner.
rather than an exercise in masochism.
would be back, because as the Santa Cruz local
Local class continued to dominate
The Cold Water Classic doesn’t lack for
proceedings at The Lane. Santa Cruz’s surfers
illustrious past winners. Tom Curren, Martin
all seemed to have adopted Freitas’ mantra:
Potter, Maverick’s charger Peter Mel, Bobby
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.
said: “You gotta surf The Lane.” www.coldwaterclassic.net
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I n c r e m e n t s
o f
f e a r
Big-wave surfer Greg Long isn’t fearless. He’s just very well prepared. Text Miles Masterson Illustration Paul Willoughby
73
Big-wave surfing is a game of numbers – the kind you play with your life on the line. So it makes sense not to wing it. Think Laird Hamilton, Mike Parsons or Shane Dorian, all notorious for their calculated attention to the minutiae of their big-wave art. With an XXL award and recent Maverick’s and Big Wave Africa trophies bearing his name, San Clemente’s Greg Long, twenty-six, is respected by his peers as the pre-eminent big-wave rider in the world today. So it’s hardly surprising to find that Greg has a reputation for checking his equipment to the point of compulsion, and is a self-confessed control freak. “Some people call me anal,” he grins, “and I guess they are right. But at the same time that’s what works for me.” Greg is relaxing on a couch in his room at a B&B in Hout Bay, South Africa, not far from notorious big-wave break Dungeons, where, in July 2008, he placed third at Red Bull Big Wave Africa behind Carlos Burle and South African winner Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker. Greg scored a perfect ten in the semis with the baddest spitting tube ever ridden in the tenyear history of the event, and a few weeks later towed Baker into a 70-foot wave, the biggest surfed in Africa to date, at a deep reef outside Dungeons called Tafelberg. Despite not riding the wave himself, it was a bull run that was a long time coming for a surfer whose destiny has always been to ride monster waves. As sons of head lifeguard and surfer Steve Long, Greg and older brother Rusty learned earlier than most how to read the ocean. “My dad was a serious waterman – diving, fishing, surfing,” says Greg proudly. “We had the best education about how the ocean works and how to conduct yourself when you are in heavy situations.” Despite an aptitude for field sports, Greg decided early that he wanted to be a pro surfer and, at the age of twelve, began to surf in local amateur contests with the support of his dad and mom, Jan. With their backing, but without any significant sponsorship, Greg gave contests a good crack throughout his teens and, at
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all he has to focus on is making sure he’s prepared for whatever comes next, be it some thick backdoor barrel, or the fabled 100-foot wave. the age of nineteen, took the NSSA (National
“I could see the potential of the waves around
including Greg and Rusty, were dismissed.
Scholastic Surfing Association) Open Men’s title
the Cape Peninsula and was completely drawn
“Unfortunately it came at a really poor time,”
in 2001. The win – an accolade long considered
to it,” smiles Greg. “I’d never heard of Dungeons
sighs Greg. “I had done all right the years before
a precursor to pro surfing greatness – was
but when I saw the footage I was just, ‘I want to
and was able to save up and carry on surfing,
significant. “It’s a pretty interesting event,”
go there’. There was one spot left to be filled, and
thinking, ‘Okay, we’re going to find someone
explains Greg. “If you win this you’re marked
as he was the older of the two of us, I said Rusty
to pick us up and get us back on the road’. But
as the next great thing... if you look at past
could have it and I’d take the alternate spot.”
then one month turned into three, three months
champs, Kelly Slater, the Hobgoods, Fred Patacchia, Andy Irons...” Lead to great things the win did – but
Although the event didn’t run, Greg surfed Dungeons and secured his place on the invite
turned into six, six turned into a year, and it ended up being a year and a half.”
list proper, going on to win the title in 2003. “It
During this trying time, Greg stuck to his
not as one might expect. Despite the NSSA
wasn’t as if I was charging harder than anybody
goals and, overcoming a few niggling injuries,
title, Greg confesses to being something of
else... I was still pretty green in figuring things
not only won a Billabong XXL award in 2006,
an outsider in the San Clemente contest scene,
out,” he says, humbly. “Talk to anybody who
but also finally won Maverick’s in 2007. He then
choosing to skip events in search of bigger
wins at Dungeons and they will say that luck
surfed humungous Cortes Bank with Baker (who
things. “My brother and I would always be
plays a huge part. Some days you just seem
he says pushes him more than anyone), Parsons
looking for the biggest waves we could find
to fall right into the rhythm and have the waves
in town,” adds Greg, “and when I was about
come straight to you and that was it for me.”
and Brad Gerlach, in January 2008. But with his financial situation as bad as ever,
fifteen years old I really got into it.”
Greg’s luck held. Thanks to his Dungeons
Greg opted for Plan B and decided to study via
win, he was invited to his first event at
correspondence. “I guarantee I would have found
taking off at the now-famous break Killers, on the
Maverick’s and, as industry sponsors began
some way to balance the whole education, work
Mexican island of Todos Santos. Greg and Rusty
to recognise big-wave riding as an alternative
and travel thing,” he says. “I would still be out
would see photos of Mike Parsons, brothers
to the contest circuit, his path toward earning
there surfing as much as I could, obviously not
Terrence and Joe McNulty, as well as Ventura’s
a living seemed secure. Unfortunately Greg, by
to the same extent that I am now. So I just put
Evan Slater, and hear stories of sessions in 25-30
his own admission, kind of kooked it. “I was just
my head down and said, ‘You can pull this off.’”
foot waves from San Clemente charger, Jon
so nervous,” he reveals. “I hadn’t put in my time
Finally, in June 2008, Greg got picked up
Walla. “The first time he took me out there it was
up there – hadn’t figured things out, you know,
by Billabong, leaving him free to whittle away
probably 15-20 foot faces, the biggest waves I’d
to where I needed to sit, and ended up getting
at those increments of fear and travel far and
surfed in my life,” recalls Greg. “It was the most
fourth in my first heat. It wasn’t an epic day by
wide. All he has to focus on is making sure he’s
exhilarating feeling in the world, and that session
any means, but after that contest I was like,
prepared – through a regime of yoga, training
stuck with me. I can still remember vividly how
‘Did you blow your opportunity? They’re not
and healthy eating – for whatever comes next,
I got caught inside by the biggest wave of my
going to invite you back next year’. I made a
be it some thick backdoor barrel, or the fabled
life and got cleaned up and washed through the
conscious decision that next winter I’m coming
100-foot wave (which Greg reckons could well
whole line up, with my dad right by my side...
back up here and will be on every single swell.”
be ridden at Tafelberg).
I just remember being so pumped at being able
Greg’s work ethic bore fruit in 2005, when
During the 1990s, big-wave surfing was
to handle it and saying, ‘I want to do this again.’”
“What we do, with the preparation and
he was invited back to the event, this time
training, we are minimising the risks,” he says.
snagging second place behind Anthony Tashnick.
“People say to me, ’You’re absolutely crazy’,
a big-wave pro, thanks to his win at Trestles,
“From that point the whole big-wave thing went
but we don’t go out there and just do this –
Greg secured sponsorship from Ocean Pacific
from a passion to a borderline obsession,” he
we spend a lot of time researching and looking
(OP) and pioneered what he terms “this surf
admits, “to where you’re looking at the charts
at things. We have the whole chart of the
travel adventure thing”. Over the following
five times a day everywhere in the world, trying
[Tafelberg] reef in the room... I need to know
years, the Longs took in Ireland, Madeira, Easter
to figure out, ‘Okay, this wave in Chile, what kind
everything is in order and as I like it. It gives me
Island and Cape Town, South Africa – home to
of conditions does it work on?’ I was fortunate
confidence that every variable x-factor is going
many of Greg’s most seminal surfing moments.
enough to have the sponsorship from OP, with
to be working in my favour... because when
the flexibility to travel and pursue that lifestyle.”
you’re out there, you have to be prepared for
Although there was still no such thing as
Encouraged to come to Cape Town by legend Gary Linden, contest director at Red
Sadly for Greg, this ideal scenario didn’t
Bull Big Wave Africa, the brothers visited South
last. When US retail giant Wal-Mart gained
Africa for the event in 2002 and were smitten.
sole distribution rights to OP, the entire team,
.
any life-threatening consequence.” www.billabong.com
75
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B BALL BEASTIE Beastie Boy Adam Yauch drops the alter ego to give high school basketball its moment on film. Text Chloe McCloskey Photography Sam Christmas
If you know Adam Yauch, aka MCA, aka
trash-talk would deliver so well? “I had a feeling,
that I worked on scoring for the film. ‘Beasley is
Nathaniel Hornblower, aka one third of the
yeah. Bobbito has been a figure in New York
a Beast’ [Beasley being a testy character in the
Beastie Boys, you’ll also know that his interest
forever – I’ve known him for years and years.
film] was an existing song that had a working title
in film goes way back to his Super 8 days as
He used to have a radio show with Lord Sear
called ‘Bassline is Nice’ and so that needed to
a teenager growing up in Brooklyn. Incidentally,
where they used to talk a lot of trash. It was
change. I liked that people kept saying, ‘Beasley
you’ll also know that his latest endeavour,
a hip hop show, but it was based on them
is a beast’, and we used it during his scene.”
Oscilloscope Laboratories, goes way beyond
snapping on each other. So I made sure we
music, venturing deep into the cultural universe
were recording Bobbito during the game.”
of both video and film. The company’s first in-house production,
Gunnin’s young players have to deal with
As for the Beastie Boys, Yauch promises a new album is in the works: “We’re recording. It’s actually mostly hip hop. It’s been a lot of fun –
unprecedented media attention – something
we just get together every day and make music
the Yauch-directed Gunnin’ For that #1 Spot,
MCA must have been able to relate to, being
at the studio in Oscilloscope’s headquarters.”
a skate-vid-stylised documentary on elite
just seventeen when Beastie Boys started out.
American high school basketball, is why we
“A little bit,” he admits. “I started Beastie Boys
does someone like Yauch, who has had a major
meet today. Sauntering into London’s plush
as a punk band when I was still in high school.
influence on this genre, think of the changes it
Haymarket Hotel, Yauch jokes, “I look like an ad
But as a punk band it’s just a bunch of friends
has undergone over the past decade or so?
for Gravis,” referring to his brand of footwear
playing music. Maybe there’s like twenty people
“A lot of it I like a lot,” he says. “The stuff I’ve
and hoodie. The grey-haired forty-four-year-old
in the audience and the journalists are a couple
used in the film is from the past ten years.
looks nothing of the sort and, to be honest,
of kids writing fanzines who you know – so it was
But I think the trajectory [of hip hop] is
only vaguely of the legend from my youth.
a much smaller circle. It wasn’t until I was about
interesting. It’s gone from being completely
Calm and thoughtful, he seems accustomed
twenty-one or twenty-two that Licensed to Ill
underground to being one of the largest forms
to being photographed, but also like he’d
became a huge record, so I think these guys are
of music in the world. I don’t think it’s necessarily
rather be on the other side of the lens.
getting more of it at a younger age.”
bad. Things evolve and change and certainly hip
Gunnin’ follows eight of the country’s top
Throughout the film, music, as anyone
And what about hip hop, I wonder – what
hop is always changing; it evolves faster than
teenage players as they gear up to play the first
would guess, plays an important role. I wonder
most forms of music. I’m not one of those people
ever Elite 24 Hoops Classic game in Harlem’s
about the tune selection. Hip hop and basketball
who sits around wishing that it was still like the
mythical Rucker Park. How did they select
have always gone hand in hand, but some of
way it used to be. When you’re of a certain age
which of the ‘Elite 24’ to focus on? “The players
the tracks seem obvious – what’s that about?
– between thirteen and twenty – you are wide
were recommended to me. I went to the guys
“I think of them as like, New York hip hop
open to new music, and people form bonds and
organising the game and told them I wanted to
anthems, like when you drop Jay-Z or Biggie or
connect with music from that period of time in
interview eight guys from diverse backgrounds
Nas or Fat Joe or even that Joe Budden track –
their lives. That manifestation will feel like the
– interesting personalities that would pan out
they feel like New York and that New York was a
right form of the music. I think that’s common
professionally and were likely to succeed. My
big character in the film. They made those scenes
and so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with
actual plan was to select five out of the eight,
feel big to take that route, rather than go more
where hip hop is going.”
but I liked these guys so much I used them all.”
underground. I was really just going for what felt
With big tunes, lots of humour, fast action and clever edits, the film looks like it
right and what made sense in those scenes.” Five Beastie Boys instrumentals also feature
Aside from music and film, Yauch has been known to do his thing on both snow and skateboards, so it kind of had to be asked: does
was fun to make. New York hip hop marvel
on the soundtrack – how did they go about
this married, father-of-one still skate? “I skate
Bobbito Garcia gets heavy play in the film as a
making these songs? “Well, actually the Beastie
once in a while, but mostly for transportation –
talking head and comical announcer throughout
Boys songs were all pre-existing things that I
I don’t skate ramps, I’m not out there tryin’ to
the game, which makes up a third of the ninety-
thought worked and so I kinda grabbed them
ollie over shit. Mostly just on a longboard to
minute doc. Did Yauch know that Bobbito’s
to put in the film. Then there’s a bunch of music
get around town.”
.
77
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78 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Subvert Hamburg, Germany www.subvert.de Surf4Snow Wangen, Germany www.surf4snow.de Terra X Nuremberg, Germany www.tx-sports.de WeSC Munich, Germany www.myspace.com/wescmunich Westside Surfing Muenster, Germany +49 251 46200 Alfieri Sport Rende, Italy +39 098 446 5945 Athena Sport Milano, Italy www.athenasport.com Board Corner Genova, Italy +39 01 057 04305 Bomboclat Monza, Italy www.bomboclat.it Carhartt Modena, Italy +33 20.59.23.66.63 Contest Boardshop Milano, Italy www.myspace.com/contestshop Deka Upper Bologna, Italy www.dekaonline.it Detour Verona, Italy www.detour.it Effe Sport Milano, Italy +39 02 662 03353 Fible Milano, Italy +39 02 487 13629 Grillo Sport Genova, Italy +39 010 247 7594 Impact Bari, Italy www.impactsurf.com Jolly Sport Torino, Italy +39 01 165 07553 Juice Surf Shop Torino, Italy www.juicesurf.it La Glisse Torino, Italy www.laglisse.it Lo Sportello Milano, Italy +39 02 745 238 Minoia Breca, Italy +39 03.03.38.52.15 Mission Milano, Italy www.sportmission.com New School Bergamo, Italy www.newschollshop.com Noi Per Lo Sport Milano, Italy +39 02 869 2803 Original Premium Firenze, Italy www.myspace.com/ogpfam Pleasure Milano, Italy www.urbanwarrior.it Radikal Streetshop Castano Primo, Italy +39 03 318 77063 The Skate Shop Milano, Italy www.myspace.com/myskateshop S.R.D Milano, Italy www.tressesport.it Style Bologna, Italy www.style.bologna.it Sub Bolzano, Italy www.subskateshop.com Surfing Shop Milano, Italy www.surfingshop.net Tresse Milano, Italy www.tressesport.it Tutto Milano, Italy www.tuttoperlosport.it World Sport Milano, Italy +39 02 869 2803
Whitewater Oslo, Norway www.whitewater.no Concrete Göteborg, Sweden www.concretestore.se Tranzsport Geneva, Switzerland www.tranzport.ch 50:50 Skateboards Bristol, UK www.5050store.com Alliance Board Store Harrogate, UK www.allianceltd.co.uk Airjam Newquay, UK www.airjam.co.uk Arnolfini Bookshop Bristol, UK www.arnolfini.org.uk Artwords London, UK www.artwords.co.uk Attla Snowboards Truro, UK www.attlasnowboards.com Big Wednesday Falmouth, UK www.bigwednesdaysurf.com Boarderline Aberdeen, UK www.boarderline.co.uk Boardwise Edinburgh, UK www.boardwise.com Boardwise Glasgow, UK www.boardwise.com Boardwise London, UK www.boardwise.com Bored on Board London, UK www.boredonboard.com Brighton Watersports Brighton, UK www.thebrightonwatersports.co.uk The Consortium Bournemouth, UK www.consortium.co.uk Dot Dot Dot Brighton, UK www.oddballs.co.uk East Coast Surf Norwich, UK www.eastcoastsurf.co.uk Edge 2 Edge Crawley, UK www.edge2edge.co.uk Edge Riders Ipswich, UK www.edgeriders.com Elementz Aberdeen, UK www.myspace.com/elementz_uk Emoceanl Newquay, UK www.livetosurf.co.uk Entity Board Sports Bidford-on-Avon, UK www.entityboardsports.co.uk Extreme Pie UK www.extremepie.com Filf Surf Co Brighton, UK www.filf.co.uk Flavour Skateboard Shop Newquay, UK www.flavouronline.co.uk Fluid Concept Scarborough, UK www.fluidconcept.co.uk Focus Edinburgh, UK www.focuspocus.co.uk Freeriders Falmouth, UK www.freeridersonline.co.uk Half Pipe London, UK www.half-pipe.co.uk Granite Reef Aberdeen, UK www.granitereef.com LCB Surf London, UK www.lcbsurf.com Loose Fit Brauton, UK www.loose-fit.co.uk Loose Fit Bristol, UK www.loose-fit.co.uk Microzine Liverpool, UK www.microzine.co.uk
Microzine London, UK www.microzine.co.uk Natterjacks Kingston-upon-Thames, UK www.natterjacks.com Non-Stop Nottingham, UK www.nonstopsportuk.com Note Skateshop Manchester, UK www.noteshop.co.uk Nucleus Swansea, UK www.nucleus-online.com Porthcawl Marine Surf Shop Porthcawl, UK www.porthcawlmarine.co.uk Revolutionz Norwich, UK www.revolutionz.co.uk Ride Snowboard Shop Poole, UK www.ridesnow.co.uk Skate Warehouse Okehampton, UK www.thewarehousegroup.co.uk Ski Surf Colchester, UK www.skisurf.co.uk Soul Fibre Surf Shop Elgin, UK +44 (0) 1343 569103 Soul Life Plymouth, UK www.soullife.co.uk Southside Boards Glasgow, UK www.southsideboards.co.uk SS20 Oxford, UK www.ss20.co.uk Supertubes Cornwall, UK www.supertubes.co.uk Two Seasons Cambridge, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Coventry, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Derby, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Leamington, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Leicester, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Lichfield, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Northampton, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Nottingham, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Peterborough, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Solihull, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Two Seasons Worcester, UK www.twoseasons.co.uk Troggs Surf Shop Antrim, UK www.troggs.com Urb Brighton, UK +44 (0) 1273 -325336 The Wavehouse Bude, UK www.thewavehouse.co.uk Wonderful Workshop Bristol, UK www.wonderfulworkshop.com YDNA Bournemouth, UK www.ydnacentral.com
HUCK is also available at Borders, Waterstone’s, Somerfield*, Presse Tabac, Relais H, Barnes & Noble, Selfridges, Harrods and select newsagents across Europe and North America. (*select stores) Want to stock HUCK? HUCK Please contact ed@huckmagazine.com
MOBILE FREERIDE EVENT PLAYTIME FEBRUARY 3 -10 2009 RD
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PLAYGROUND THE ALPS TAKE OFF ARLBERG AWARD PARTY SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM
WWW.BIGMOUNTAINPRO.COM
80 www.HUCKmagazine.com
MAX HAMILTON
Big-haired Milton Keynes local Billie Neilson had an injured knee so didn’t compete, but supported his Nike 6.0 teammates with wisecracks and infectious energy.
Faced with an endless horizon of pancake flat and snowless land, British snowboarders have had to get creative in order to ride. HUCK JOINS NIKE 6.0 to EXPLORE THE refrigerated world of indoor snowboarding. Text Gemma Freeman  Photography Max Hamilton AND Dan Medhurst 81
82 www.HUCKmagazine.com
MAX HAMILTON
Burton and Nike 6.0 rider Chris Kightley was killing it on the C-box till 6am.
DAN MEDHURST
Castleford regular Jonny Russel won the best shot of the night, taken mid a frontside blunt danish out on the red down rail.
Inside a suburban shopping mall, beneath
“I saw an ad in an early issue of Big Brother
may well be the most dedicated in the world,
the glare of fluorescent lights, the last thing
magazine where the skater was painted yellow
judging by the energy invested in creative
you’d expect to hear is the crunch of fresh
and he was riding on something that was pink.
indoor events like the Burton Scrap Metal,
snow under foot. But in the postmodern
That image stuck in my memory, and I wanted
Best of British Invitational and jams organised
reality of the UK’s indoor slopes, this sound
to create something like that – a picture that
by FBBB (For Boarders By Boarders). And
is what thousands of committed snowboarders
stays in the mind and dares people to say that
if no one accuses the jib kids of Salt Lake
look forward to each week.
indoor snowboarding isn’t legit.”
City, Denver and Helsinki of not being ‘real
It’s 3am on a Thursday morning, and inside
Under the eye of Special Events Co-
snowboarders’ for preferring street rail sessions
the Sno!Zone at Xscape Castleford – England’s
Ordinator Damian Doyle, the Castleford park
to pricey lift tickets, then what’s wrong with
shining example of an indoor slope, near
crew created three large obstacles that would
UK riders making the most of what mother
the northern city of Leeds – a celebration of
help bring Phil’s vision to life. A large green
nature has – or hasn’t – given them?
indoor snowboarding is well under way. While
c-box, a red twelve-stair down-rail and a blue
their classmates are tucked up in bed, Jamie
hollow wall ride are kept immaculate as riders
Nike 6.0 and Burton rider Chris Kightley,
Nicholls, fifteen, and Sparrow Knox, fourteen,
dressed from head to toe in one primary colour
nineteen. “Indoor is where I learnt to
are wide awake and taking part in the Nike
session them from 11pm to 6am. With the usual
snowboard. I didn’t know anything else, so
6.0 sponsored Primary Colours invitational.
uninspiring background of your average indoor
for me it felt real. I started when I was thirteen
event hidden under a subtle smoke screen,
and then rode almost every day. I got a real
athleticism together, this all-night event aims
riders were given the rare opportunity to
buzz out of it and then I’d start going to
to rubbish critics who argue that indoor riding
be captured in some of the most impressive
freestyle nights, getting better. The first time
‘isn’t real’. With a hand-picked pack of fifteen
indoor snowboarding photography ever.
may feel really weird, but it’s amazingly cool,
Focused on bringing style, art and
UK snowboarders, all spawn from such slopes,
But what’s so special about this most
“It doesn’t feel surreal to me,” argues
so much fun and you get to really practise,
the idea is to produce stunning shots in this
‘unnatural’ of snowboard scenes? Regulars at
most artificial of environments – proving that,
indoor slopes in the UK – or the larger indoor
okay, the snow may be man-made, but the
parks of Belgium, Holland and now even Dubai –
seems to agree: “Once you start you become
talent in these giant, four-walled fridges, is
refuse to limit themselves to rare trips to the
hooked. You find your own tricks and do your
organic and pure.
mountains in order to prove their skills. Even
own lines. The indoor slopes help you have a
if the setting for their snowboarding is more
laugh with friends and practise tricks. You can
peculiar than picturesque, these flat-landers
just pop by as they’re not more than three ▼
“I come from a skateboard background,” explains organiser Phil Young of Urb-orbis.
which makes all the difference.” Fellow Nike 6.0 team rider Sparrow
83
MAX HAMILTON
Used to the super-sized indoor slopes of Germany, Ethan and Dani came across the Channel to sample snowboarding UK style.
hours away. Hop on a train or a bus and you’re
those in Holland and Belgium, present
can now afford to come, and kids have more
there and get to ride.”
countless challenges when building courses
opportunities to learn. Before it was only those
for competitions or open sessions. But site
who could afford the £600 annual school ski
the style of regular indoor shredders has more
managers are now realising the potential of
trip. Simon Foster lives in Selby and is a fine
in common with that of skateboarders than
indoor freestyle, promoting special nights,
example. His first lessons were at Castleford
with the style of European snowboarders
sponsoring talent and focusing on park riders –
when it opened and I taught him how to do
who grew up near big mountains. “The kids
rather than punters. “We’re limited for space,”
his first boardslide. Now he’s better than all
that ride indoors kill it on rails, because that’s
admits Damian, “and you can’t build anything
of us! His style is amazing – so talented, and
all they can ride consistently,” explains Chris.
massive as you need to work around all aspects
he’s sponsored by Salomon and Bonfire. It’s
“Mountain riders get to ride everything –
of the business – lessons, recreational,
all just from riding at Castleford.”
jumps, halfpipe – while dome riders are all
tobogganing, slides. But Castleford has a
focused on rails. But the main difference is
great park crew, plus a freestyle academy. The
think snowboarding belongs in the mountain?
the snow; it’s real in the mountain, but made
atmosphere when you get a session going is so
“Screw them. We’re all still shredding, having
from cannons indoors. And on a real mountain
worth it. You know everyone, you’re all riding hard
fun and getting better. You ride what you
it’s a lot faster. It’s not easy going from a snow
and pushing each other. They’re the best times.”
got, and it’s a really good scene – so tight,
In keeping with these frozen skate parks,
So what does Damian say to snobs who
dome to a mountain, as you have to adjust.”
From their roots in Japan, to the
For Sparrow, it took a trip to a real
shopping malls of the UK, these steel-clad
ride all year round. The UK has one of the
mountain to understand the difference:
spaces have made a huge impact on the
strongest scenes in the world, I reckon.”
“When I first rode real snow it was crazy, it
entire winter sports industry. Built in less
was this whole new experience. It was amazing.
affluent, suburban areas they shatter an old-
in a fridge is totally where it’s at: “I don’t
It opened up so many new doors.” Does that
school taboo: class. Money and social status
know what I’d be if I wasn’t a snowboarder.
mean he’s envious of his Alpine counterparts?
are no longer a requirement to ride, as now,
I’d probably work in a chicken factory or
“If they’ve lived in the mountain their whole
for the price of a few rounds in the pub,
something like that. Indoor riding has been
lives they obviously progress quicker than us,
thousands of people are making their first
the rock of my snowboard career. It’s where
but we try to get as much practise as we can
turns just a few hours from home. Or practising
I started snowboarding, and will be where
to match them though. You just have to be
enough to turn pro.
I finish.”
creative and have fun.” UK indoor slopes, much smaller than
84 www.HUCKmagazine.com
“Snowboarding is so much more accessible,” states Damian. “School groups
everyone’s pushing each other and you can
For Chris, there is no doubt that riding
.
www.nike.com/nke6/v5/
86 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Still Smokin’ HUCK blazes a trail through the past with hip hop veterans Cypress Hill. Text Ed Andrews Illustration STEVIE GEE
I was fifteen when I first heard Cypress Hill.
pretty much everywhere and even appeared on
the weed leaf on our logos and talking about
Someone stuck Black Sunday in the CD player as
The Simpsons. In October 2008, the LA-based
getting high the way we did, that was a pretty
we gathered in a friend’s bedroom to hit ‘buckets’
collective were finally recognised by VH1 in their
new thing.”
filled with coarse hash smoke. After the initial
annual Hip Hop Honors awards.
burn in my throat, the mellow beats and almost
“It was awesome,” a visibly humbled Sen
“There were hindrances because of it though,” adds Sen Dog. “We didn’t get a lot
eerie rapping struck a chord, and single-handedly
Dog tells me, leaning forward earnestly as he
of radio or MTV play, and we didn’t get the
converted me from angry punk-rock shitbag to
speaks. “All the hard work and stress after all
endorsements other groups get. But it is what
head-nodding stoner for the next six or seven
these years working our asses off as a unit has
it is, and people are going to have their own
years. Fast-forward eleven years, and here
been worth it. To be around acts like Slick Rick,
opinions. So we just have to keep to what we
I am, backstage at the London Freeze festival,
Naughty by Nature, De La Soul – it was like being
want to do and fuck everything else.”
surrounded in a tight semi-circle by the architects
at an all-star sports game! That was A-game,
of my transformation: B Real, Sen Dog, Eric
right there. I would never have seen that coming
for me if I ran for President, and I can’t see
Bobo and DJ Muggs. I’m suddenly fifteen again
in my wildest of dreams.”
that happening!” smirks B Real, leaving the
– awkward, clumsy and intimidated as fuck. I’ve been given fifteen minutes, just fifteen minutes...
While some may see a retrospective industry
“It would only be a major hindrance
rest of them chuckling. “The pot leaf is a draw
acknowledgment as the kiss of death for veteran
though, because people are intrigued by
performers, Cypress Hill haven’t hung up the
what we’ve got to say in regards to the whole
on, so when we all gather back together as
mics, decks and percussion yet. In between
marijuana subculture. It helped us, though,
Cypress Hill we come back with a whole new
throwing a few celebratory shows across the
as a lot of stoners and hippies who wouldn’t
perspective,” says a festively plump B Real,
globe, they are working on their ninth album, set
necessarily listen to hip hop were drawn to us
laying back in his chair with arms crossed,
to be released this summer. “We’ve done thirty
because of that.”
coolly. “Our heads are fresh with creativity
songs already, when we get to about thirty-five
’cause we’ve already gotten our own personal
then we’ll start working out which ones we’ll use.
Sunday and the hash buckets. They nod,
stuff out of our system.”
It’s better to have too many than too few,” B Real
knowingly, as if they’ve heard it a million times
says, seeming rather pleased with their effort.
before. At which point, their manager appears,
“We all got solo projects that we work
‘Shit, this guy has piled on some pounds over the years,’ is all I can think. Check out the
I can’t resist, and tell them about Black
But with the blessed leaf adorning their
looking impatiently at his watch. It seems my
video for 1991’s ‘How Could I Just Kill A Man’
album covers and their fervent rapping about
fifteen minutes are up. They all politely shake
if you don’t believe me. But it’s probably to be
bongs, cones and blunts, Cypress Hill will always
my hand and I exit the port-a-cabin, and instantly
expected, seeing as Cypress Hill have been going
be remembered first and foremost for the green.
age eleven years.
for twenty-one years now. They’ve released eight
Take this away, what would be left? I put it to
studio albums and a greatest hits re-recorded
them, cautiously.
purely in Spanish, flirted with heavy, crunching
“We’d still be a good hip hop group. But
guitars at times, been banned from Saturday
would we be as controversial? Probably not,” B
Night Live for smoking weed on stage, toured
Real says, openly. “When we first started putting
.
Eric Bobo hadn’t said a word, happy to sit back looking far too content to speak. My fifteenyear-old self would have killed to see that www.cypresshill.com
87
Against the backdrop of a hate attack that left a young woman dead, Britain’s Gothic community gathers in celebration of that which binds them. Sarah Bentley journeys to Whitby, the home of British Paganism, to brush aside prejudice and find what lies beneath. Text Sarah Bentley  Photography Debbie Bragg
88 www.HUCKmagazine.com
89
A stunning girl auburn hair cascading from the hood of a black velvet
other about being the same and fitting in.”
out to sea. It joins dozens of other floral tributes,
There’s one major difference though. “Unlike
so many you can only just make out a plaque
with Mods and Rockers there’s never been an
that reads, ‘An Angel Too Soon’. A couple in
organised clash. Goths don’t want trouble. It’s
Victorian frock coats approach with a bouquet.
always one or two Goths being set upon by
The trio stand in solemn contemplation seemingly
a gang. There’s something about what we
oblivious to the biting North Sea wind. They
are and represent that enrages a lunatic few.”
are paying their respects to Sophie Lancaster,
The Goths in Whitby think fear, lack of
a twenty-year-old killed in August 2007 simply
tolerance and widespread misconceptions about
for being a Goth.
the culture are the main culprits behind their
It is the Whitby Halloween Goth Weekender
persecution. Laments about being perceived
and, over the course of an otherwise jubilant
as ‘depressed blood-drinking Satanists’ are
event, this scene in front of the memorial bench
ubiquitous as are accounts of abuse from
plays out scores of times. Most who come didn’t
surprising quarters such as groups of skaters,
know Sophie, but recognise her as their kinsman
old ladies and gaggles of girls. Daniel’s girlfriend,
and relate to the circumstances that led to her
sixteen-year-old Becki Butterworth, says, “I’m
death. While walking through Stubbylee Park in
not depressed. I don’t cut myself. I love life.
Bacup, Lancashire, northern England, Sophie’s
I just choose to express myself this way. I tried
boyfriend Robert Maltby was set upon by a group
being a Chav, listening to R’n’B, wearing velour
of teenage boys. When Sophie tried to protect
tracksuits and that, but it wasn’t me. Goth
him the group turned on her. The savage attack
feels right. The insults are stupid. I’m not a dirty
left them both unconscious. Robert survived but
mosher, I have a bath every day.”
Sophie died in hospital thirteen days later. The incident rocked the Goth subculture.
The roots of Goth are
For the vast majority of Goths, especially those
commonly traced back to The Batcave, a club
living in small rural towns unaccustomed to
in Soho, London, that opened in 1982 and
anything ‘alternative’, abuse such as being
catered to a clientele of post-punk misfits.
called ‘dirty moshers’ or ‘devil worshippers’
It was here that the Goth ideology, style and
and even physical assaults are commonplace.
mindset were honed and forged into an identity
Sophie and Robert could so easily have been
that borrowed from new wave, dark romantic
them. A pressure group and forum, Alternatives
and punk. The movement diversified and spread,
Have Rights Too, was launched with the aim
with scenes developing in Italy, Poland, America
of getting similarly motivated attacks legally
and Germany, home to one of the largest Goth
recognised as hate crimes, a mission they’re
movements (known locally as Grufties, meaning
having mixed success with.
tomb or vault creatures) and epic annual festivals
Daniel Gibbons, a nineteen-year-old Goth from Barnsley, compares the situation to the
90 www.HUCKmagazine.com
acceptance, tolerance and individuality, the
cape, places a single red rose on a bench looking
such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen and M’era Luna. Back in Whitby, the sun has deigned to
clash between Mods and Rockers in the 1960s.
make an appearance turning The Shambles,
“We’re total opposite subcultures – one is about
a picturesque cluster of cobbled streets in the
heart of town, into a catwalk. Everyone involved
confidence. Even though there’s no other
musical library. The various sub-divisions of Goth
– locals, tourists, Goths – is having a blast. Most
people our age in Barnsley that dress as
make it neigh impossible to draw up a definitive
are engaged in a frenzy of photography, happy
extremely as me and Daniel, we know there’s
list of today’s key groups although Cradle Of
to stop and pose against the backdrop of quaint
thousands of us out there ‘cos you can meet
Filth, and US bands Crud and Type O Negative
tearooms and fudge shops. As the flashes go
them on Vampire Freaks. And ‘cos it’s global
are recurring favourites.
into overdrive, props such as skulls, staffs and
it’s good for outfit ideas.”
scythes are brandished with glee. For the more
The importance of ‘the look’ cannot be
Contrary to popular belief, many Goths would sooner curl up with a tome by a classic
elaborately attired, things turn into a bit of a
overstated when it comes to Goth culture.
Gothic or dark romantic author than bite the
rugby scrum with photographers, amateur and
Corsets, Victoriana bustle dresses, rubber wear
heads off bats. Literary heroes include JRR
professional alike, jockeying for pole position as
and leather suits are expensive pieces costing
Tolkien, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Allan Poe
their subjects crack jokes, strike poses and battle
between £60-£600, which young dedicates have
and HP Lovecroft, a writer Stephanie Bowry
against the wind to keep their headwear – wigs,
to save up for, sometimes for years. Outfits
admires for being “genuinely disturbing. He has
pirate’s hats, veils, hoods – in place.
for Whitby are considered months in advance,
a dark take on the world with a scientific edge
especially if they have to be specially made.
that makes it seem highly believable.” A more
Leicester describes it as a brilliant opportunity
The clothes have an empowering effect.
contemporary great is Neil Gaiman, author of
to “ponce about having your picture taken and
Stephanie Bowry says as a teenager she got
The Sandman comic books. “What all these
feel like a celebrity,” but she recognises why
picked on for being shy and bookish but when
writers have in common and why they appeal
everyone’s spirits, including her own, are so
she started dressing in a Gothic style the bullies
to Goths,” explains Stephanie, “is that they have
high: “Most people here are used to being
backed off. “I think I freaked them out,” she says.
a different, more imaginative and often darker
Twenty-six-year-old Stephanie Bowry from
stared at, ridiculed and berated about their
Likewise Daniel Gibbons, now a confident,
take on the world than is the norm.”
appearance. At Whitby weekenders we’re
assured young man, says as a teenager he
celebrated. When I first came a few years ago
was withdrawn and quiet but when he started
The Goth Weekender
I was quite overwhelmed. It was such a different
experimenting with Gothic fashions, he
started ten years ago thanks to a now
reception to what I was used to.”
blossomed: “The clothes were like a personal
legendary lady known as ‘Whitby Jo’. The
To the uninitiated, the range of
shield of confidence. When I plucked up the
only Goth in a small northern mining town, she
interpretations of Goth looks is startling.
courage to wear eyeliner out in public for
placed an advert in the NME asking for pen
There’s cyber, industrious, Victoriana, traditional,
the first time people noticed me and I liked
friends and got over 150 replies. She wanted to
retro-burlesque, fetish, punk, military, mobster
it. Eventually I actually became that person.
gather everyone together and chose Whitby
and hybrid styles created in Japan known as
It was no longer a shield but me.”
due to its connection with Dracula who, in Bram Stoker’s novel, lands at Whitby Bay, an
Visual Kai, Gothic Lolita or Wa-Loli – a look that
In addition to the threads there’s an entire
combines traditional Japanese dress with Lolita
world of Gothic music, arts, literature, film,
atmospheric locale framed by dramatic cliffs
and Goth. Then there’s the families – mum,
sculpture, architecture, clubs and philosophy.
with a church and graveyard perched on its edge
dad, granny, offspring and, in some cases, dog,
The music, both old and new, associated with
and the epic ruins of Whitby Abbey looming
tripping about eating cones of chips and fudge
Goth tends to be heavy, industrious, epic strands
overhead. She hoped the fact that The Dracula
all in their Gothic finery. It’s some spectacle.
of rock, punk and metal. Groups such as Siouxsie
Society had hosted events there would mean
and the Banshees, The Damned, 45 Grave, Sex
the locals wouldn’t be freaked out by droves of
energy down to an explosion of social
Gang Children, Sisters of Mercy (although lead
Goths. They weren’t, and soon the Weekender
networking websites such as Vampire Freaks.
singer Andrew Eldritch walks out of interviews
grew to what it is today, a bi-annual festival of
Becki Butterworth says, “Being able to talk to
if journalists refer to him as a Goth) and The
events, club nights, markets, plays, cabaret and
other people with similar outlooks gives you
Mission make the foundation of the Gothic
gothic stand-up comedy that attracts up ▼
Many put the Goth movement’s newfound
91
Smells like teen spirit. During the evening Whitby shakes with a slew of parties and gigs with fetishists, traditional Goths, rockers, metallers and cyber Goths who all hang and head bang together.
Smashing stereotypes about Goths being blood-drinking Satanists. At the Whitby Weekender most can be found enjoying cream teas and portions of fish and chips.
92 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Sixteen-year-old Becki Butterworth loves the Whitby Goth Weekender. Here, instead of being persecuted for how she dresses, she and her friends are celebrated and made to feel like celebrities.
Steve Robson (right) owns spirituality store Free Spirit. Although there’s no official link between Goths and Pagans, Steve says many who come to the Goth Weekender buy Pagan ritual products and books.
93
to five thousand attendees. Goth or not, anyone
and an older mentor, the owner of a New Age
are accepting of his beliefs, but his Christian
with the slightest sensitivity to energy will be
and Wiccan shop in his hometown. Young
grandmother is fiercely against it. “Once she
affected by Whitby’s atmosphere. Long before
Pagans are not something you come across
saw mi Book Of Shadows, that’s like a notebook
the Weekender, the remotely located town –
much in urban areas, and Luke believes this
where you store all knowledge of yuh craft, an’
bordered by the North Sea on one side, the
is because “in cities young people don’t know
she flipped out.” So what’s the link between Goth
Yorkshire Moors on the other – was a magnet
about their area’s ancient history and don’t
and Paganism? “There in’t one really, not like an
to alternatives, artists and occultists. It is said
feel any connection to nature. So why would
official one. For me, an’ quite a lot o‘ other Goths,
to be a point where ample ley lines (hypothetical
they want to worship it? Plus a lot aren’t British,
the two connect but one’s more a social scene
alignments of places of ancient or holy interest)
or their parents aren’t, so all the folklore and
and culture but the other is my actual beliefs.”
intersect. With the Abbey thought to be built
that – it’s not their culture.”
on a spaghetti junction of ley lines, the site
How someone chooses to practise
Goth metal band Screams
would have been important to Pagans way
Paganism – meaning country dweller or rustic
Of Cold Winter are storming through an epic set.
before Christians claimed it. Today the town
in Latin – is fluid, the faith open to different
Their female drummer is going at it hell for leather
houses a sizeable community of practising
paths and interpretations. It could simply be
as are both the guitarists and keyboardist. The
Pagans, a faith many Goths often choose to
by having an appreciation of nature. Or, like
performance of lead singer Trish Lee, a bubbly
practise, but should not be confused with the
Luke, you can perform ceremonies and rituals
blonde with va-va-voom curves decorated with
polar opposite faith of Satanism.
to celebrate Sabbaths (there are eight a year)
fantasy tattoos of fairies poured into a corset,
and practise the art of spell casting. Spells are
personifies the contradictions of Goth: poignant
of Goths is tricky. Basic tenets such as being
a Wiccan trait, although, says Luke in a thick
yet hardcore, powerful though vulnerable, dark
open-minded, non-judgemental and tolerant
Barnsley accent, “There’s fine line between’
but sexual, initially intimidating but actually, on
of self-expression crop up most frequently when
two. I wouldn’t class myself as Wicca as I don’t
introduction – “Hiya everyone, we’re so happy to
Goths attempt to define the culture. In terms of
follow it all. But ‘cos I do spells, others would.”
be here” – extremely warm and personable. She
Attempting to unify the spiritual beliefs
religion, I met a mixed bag of Atheists, Agnostics,
For his age Luke is impressively
has incredible presence and the audience, a motley
Christians, Pagans – but not one Satanist, the
dedicated to his craft. Last year he started
crew of moshers, fetishists, retro-burlesques,
likes of whom, in the words of Stephanie Bowry,
growing herbs in his parent’s garden to use in
Gothic Lolita’s and gimps, stand hypnotised.
are often thought of as “show-off extremists
spells and rituals. He refers to the Soraya Book
who want to attract attention to themselves.”
Of Spells but often adapts them and creates
eye. For two years she worked as a Social Lifestyle
There’s also more to Trish than meets the
his own according to the outcome he wants.
teacher in Lancaster Farm, a juvenile and young
in Gothic imagery are a mix of Pagan and Satanic
“It’s not rigid,” he explains. “As long as yuh
offenders prison. Through her classes she tackled
iconography. The upside-down cross and five-
know what ya tryin to say an’t do, that’s what
issues that stem from prejudice. Her students were
pointed pentagram star with a point facing down
counts.” He defines spells as, “A manipulation
initially aghast at having “a Goth” for a teacher and
are associated with Satanism, although a similar
of energy. Somethin’ you wish to happen an’
it took a long time for them to stop pointing at her
star with a point going upwards is regarded
form your life. Anyone can do one.”
piercings and bombarding her with, “Miss, why you
And yet, the symbols most readily found
got that shit in your face?” and, “Miss, do you drink
as a positive symbol of protection. Spike, lead
Luke prefers to practise alone, although
singer of Gothic metal band Screams Of Cold
occasionally he works with a sixteen-year-old
blood?” Sometimes it got darker: “I’m in here for
Winter, from Preston, owns numerous items
girl called Kirsty, his only Pagan friend of a
attacking people like you, Miss,” one student said.
of clothing featuring Satanic symbols. “It’s just
similar age. He takes me through the spell-
something different,” he explains. “It’s a dark
casting process: “I get mi cauldron [nervous
job, Trish achieved many small victories, with
form of expression and it looks good but it
laugh] – then light charcoal an’ put ‘int centre.
inmates on their way out of prison offering veiled
definitely doesn’t mean I worship the devil.”
Then depending on’t spell, I sprinkle different
assurances such as, “Actually, Miss, you’re alright.
dried herbs on’t charcoal. While they burn
I won’t beat up weirdos like you anymore.”
ethos, Paganism is a better fit with the Goth
I chant or do incantations.” His most common
Based on her experiences she wrote ‘Finding
ideology. Steve Robson, proprietor of Free
spells are ones for luck, protection and guidance.
Her Wings’, a song dedicated to Sophie Lancaster
Spirit, one of Whitby’s oldest shops specialising
He’s never cast a love spell – “Yuh got tuh
that asks questions of her killers: “I ask them if
in spiritual products (crystals, angel statues,
be able to do tha spell correctly, ‘cos there’s
they understand they’ve stolen a young woman’s
wands, ritual herbs, witchcraft books) is a
chance yuh cud end up with something bad” –
life simply because she was different to them.
long-term Pagan (not a Goth) and defines the
but feels he’s had success with the protection
I ask them if they understand the enormity of
ancient faith as being about “respecting nature,
spells: “I don’t fall down or hurt myself. Last
what they’ve done.”
living within nature, preserving nature and
time I did a protection spell two days later a
worshipping nature.”
load of lads were chucking apples at mi. Big
Weekender, Sophie’s bench is laden with
handfuls of apples it were, loads of ’em, and
bouquets. Goths on their way out of Whitby
not one of ‘em hit mi.”
stop by to pay their respects one last time
In terms of affinity with its beliefs and
Since the age of eleven, Luke Baker, a fifteen-year-old from Barnsley and friend of Becki and Daniel’s, has been a Goth and
Unsurprisingly, Luke only shares his
Despite the obvious challenges of the
By Sunday night, the end of the Goth
.
before the flowers and the humbling roar of the
practising Pagan. Growing up he was interested
beliefs with people he knows are open to
winter North Sea. The enormity of what happened
in nature, folklore, witchcraft and from an early
such ‘alternative’ ways. Like his friends Becki
hangs heavily in the air
age Christianity never “made sense” to him.
and Daniel, he has a profile on Vampire Freaks
Like many rural youths he discovered Paganism
but also Wiccan Together, a social networking
www.alternativeshaverightstoo.co.uk
through a mixture of local history, the Internet
site for Pagans and Wiccans. His parents
www.sophielancasterfoundation.com
94 www.HUCKmagazine.com
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Nostalgic Sickness Old school skate video Sick Boys makes a return. Text Jay Riggio Photography Bryce Kanights
96 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Anyone who’s ever ridden a skateboard can recall a time when skateboarding felt absolutely pure. A time when expectations were completely absent and all that existed was you, a skateboard and the righteous, untainted discovery of each new trick. When I start to get nostalgic – disillusioned by a skateboarding era
that’s
oversaturated,
overhyped
and
monopolised by anyone trying to make a buck – only one skate video captures the kind of carefree camaraderie that defined these salad days. That classic slice of film is Sick Boys. By the time the mid eighties hit, major skate companies like Powell Peralta, Santa Cruz and Vision had all released videos which possessed large budgets, visual effects and well thoughtout shooting scripts. Then, in 1988, Sick Boys was released. It had no budget or sponsors to speak of. In fact, the footage featured in the video wasn’t shot for any particular purpose at all. The end result was the first independent skate video ever, one which possessed the kind of beautiful carelessness that would go on to define the foundations of street skating. “Nothing
was
really
planned,”
says
featured pro skater Bryce Kanights. “We had no predetermined expectations of what was to become of the footage, how it was to be edited,
produced,
distributed.
The
entire
process of filming was wholeheartedly an organic endeavour.” Mike McEntire, dubbed Mack Dawg by his surfing buddies, first met San Francisco skaters Tommy Guerrero, Bryce Kanights and Mike Archimedes while helping out a friend making a 16mm skate film. Though the film was never completed, McEntire stayed in touch with the crew and set out to collect his own footage of them skating. As McEntire tagged along with Kanights, who was shooting photos for Thrasher at the time, the clips quickly began to add up. “I
piggybacked
on
a
lot
of
BK’s
shoots,” says McEntire. “Sick Boys was just a
raw
documentation
of
these
sessions.
No one was trying to get specific tricks. The guys were just doing their thing and I was in the mix from time to time capturing the moment.” Mack Dawg’s shooting was often sporadic, dependant upon whether he could afford to buy rolls of Super 8mm film and have them developed at a local pharmacy. “It was Mike’s film and budget, so he incurred all of the cost,” says Kanights. “The ‘bail-to-make ratio’ was pretty low so he didn’t get into huge debt over the project. It wasn’t like we would shoot repeated attempts of kickflip back tails to bigspin out on ledges back then either. Luckily for him, we were still in the foundational stages of street skating.” ▼
97
What Mike was catching on his Super 8 camera were legendary sessions by the godfathers of street skating. As well as Archimedes, Guerrero and Kanights, guys like Natas Kaupas, Julien Stranger, Jim Thiebaud, Ron Allen and Mickey Reyes were all shot for roughly eight or nine months over the course of 1987, with absolutely no deadline in place. “[I remember] the days of waking up late and meeting up with the crew at the breakfast spot, getting wired on coffee and pushing downtown… hitting up spots en route to nowhere specific, not even having a reason… just doing it for the sake of living,” remembers featured pro Tommy Guerrero. The truth is, Sick Boys would have never seen the light of day had Cyr Miller of Smoothill Skate Distribution not promised to order 500 copies if McEntire actually went ahead and made the thing. With an extended kick in the ass, Mike transferred the film to 3/4 inch tape and scheduled a single editing session that would last for one night, from midnight to six in the morning. “We dropped in all the graphics and laid down the music and looked at the clock. It was around 4.30am and we still had to do the voice-over. The whole narration was one pass of stoney babbling,” laughs McEntire. “I was so embarrassed that I had BK come in for a late voice-over session where we both babbled over the footage. So there were two versions of the film with different voice-overs. The first 500 had my solo deal and the second 500 had BK and me embarrassing ourselves.” While only 1,000 original VHS copies were made, only 700 actually sold. But that didn’t stop the word from spreading. The video became almost folklore amongst skaters, and something of an underground classic around the US. Some managed to get their hands on an original, many while others not at all. Luckily for us, Mack Dawg Productions has just re-released this gem on DVD, featuring bonus interviews with its stars and a booklet of classic photos from the era. As skateboarding continues to grow to monumental proportions, distancing itself from the history that took place during its dawning years, any documentation of these raw and sacred days is a powerful thing. “Those days felt like the beginnings of a revolution out on the streets without much in our minds more than having fun,” describes Kanights about his Sick Boys days. If
.
Bryce’s words could be applied to skateboarding’s present and expanding future, then we’d all have a shot at revisiting, and maybe even maintaining, those days of never-ending bliss www.sickboysfilm.com
98 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Mickey Reyes blasts an airwalk over the Benicia hip in May 1987.
only bagged a third or fourth generation copy,
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100 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Max Hamilton
102 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Burn the old boys club! HUCK meets the women injecting a little oestrogen into the action sports biz. Interviews Gemma Freeman
“When skating started, women and men were
It was this hostile attitude that inspired
doing it together and no one batted an eyelid,”
Jenna to organise her first Jam in 2002 at London’s
explains British skater Jenna Selby. “Now when
PlayStation skate park (now Bay Sixty6) after seeing
you see a girl on a skateboard there’s a fuss.
the success of the US original. The Jam became
Skating dipped in popularity, but came back as
an annual focal point for emerging talent which,
an aggressive sport – and women just weren’t
combined with her photographs documenting
interested.”
women skaters, inspired Jenna to create an all-
Jenna’s been changing apathy for the last
female team. Rogue skateboards was born, giving
Jenna Selby
decade. The brains behind the UK’s annual All
female skaters a platform for media exposure and
Girl Skate Jam and Rogue Skateboards, she fell
the opportunity to tour the UK as a team.
Photographer, Events Producer and Owner of Rogue S kat e b o a r d s
friend lent her a board. Intimidated as the only
encouraging girls to skate with us,” explains
girl skater in her hometown, she commuted to
the thirty-year-old. “I don’t want to segregate
the capital at weekends to session Southbank
us, but this is the only way to get noticed.
(“It was brilliant – a really nice scene”).
There’s not enough representation of women
in love with skating at seventeen after a female
Jenna got her first hook ups – from Gallaz
“It wasn’t about selling boards, but
in skateboarding, but I’m not going to militantly
and Carhartt – while at university in Newport,
start shouting at every bloke who runs a magazine.
Wales, and joined the competition circuit. But
It’s about working hard to change people’s
she quickly saw the sour side: “At one of my first
attitudes. I’ve been skating for eleven years and
comps, the King Of Street, they put on a girl’s
they still can’t accept me. But then why should I
section called Queen Of Street. I accidentally
have to be accepted?” ▼
crashed into a big name male pro, who turned around and said, ‘You shouldn’t be here’. That
www.jennaselby.com
put me off competitions – it made me paranoid.”
www.rogueskateboards.co.uk
103
Peter Taras
“I’m the living American dream,” says Circe
was eleven), Circe is also credited as executive
Wallace, agent for snowboarders Travis Rice,
producer on Travis Rice’s Natural Selection event,
Scotty Lago and Nicolas Müller, skaters Paul
his film That’s It, That’s All and will release her
Rodriguez and Lyn-z Adams Hawkins, BMX legend
sophisticated clothing brand, Circe Snow, in
Jamie Bestwick and many more. “I haven’t had
January 2010. Who said this was a man’s game?
a day of college but I’ve got a great job and love
Circe Wa l l a c e Senior Vice President Wa s s e r m a n M e d i a G r o u p, L L C
generations that came before us achieved,”
you can do anything, or be anyone.”
points out Circe. “Only in our lifetime have we
In designer threads, the thirty-seven-year-
started to get a real awareness of what equal
old is the epitome of polished Californian
rights mean. I’m a feminist as a mother – I
confidence. One of the first female pro riders,
demand the same opportunities for my daughter
she shredded Tahoe with the likes of Jamie
as any other person in the human race. I’ve had
Lynn, but after ripping her ACL for a third time,
challenges in the work place, but I’ve been lucky
recreated herself as one of the first agents for
enough to work in a culture that allows me the
action sports athletes. A pioneer then, Circe is
freedom to succeed.
one of few females in the job today. “Ten years ago I wasn’t cognitive of any
“People don’t like agents regardless of your sex,” adds Circe. “If I was a guy, they’d
sexism in action sports, but now I am,” Circe
think I was an asshole – but that’s the interesting
admits. “It’s an arrested development: there’s
dynamic. Men are more comfortable doing
not many high-level women executives. Every
business with male agents because they can be
CEO is male. But I don’t waste time thinking
assholes to each other, whereas with me, because
about it. It doesn’t prohibit me.”
I’m a woman and an agent, it makes them uneasy.
As well as managing a roster of all-star athletes (she spotted Ryan Sheckler when he
104 www.HUCKmagazine.com
“It’s important to recognise what the
what I do. If you want something bad enough
Some people respond to me being female, some don’t – the talent like it, the business doesn’t.”
JEFF CURTES
“I’ve always prided myself on keeping my gender
Curtes, Jess is now moving in a more
transparent and having my work speak for itself,”
commercial direction. But the new mum
says Jess Mooney from her Sydney, Australia,
made her name shooting comps and film
home. “However, being female has its good and
crews – often as the solo lady.
bad sides. Being a woman has opened doors, but
“Gender has been most of an issue
it has been more difficult to be taken seriously
on trips,” explains Jess. “‘Can you bro down
in this male-dominated arena.”
with the best of them?’ team managers ask.
From her early days shooting Australian
If it involves a lot of snowmobiling, which is
snowboarders in Whistler during her uni holidays,
physically demanding, you’re given an extra
JESS M O O NEY
through to nabbing the cover of Transworld’s
pat on the back if you can hold your own, but
2008 photo annual, Jess has been synonymous
you’re judged quickly for being the expected
with striking action shots and insightful portraits
‘weakest link’ – so you better not be!”
Snowboard P HOTOGR a P HER
of snowboarding’s biggest names. In addition
With more women involved in
to a talented tag line published worldwide, her
snowboarding – as consumers, athletes and
gender-neutral name means that being a woman
behind the scenes – Jess believes that gender
has not been an issue – most of the time.
is no longer an issue. “Snowboarding has
“A few years back while heli-skiing in Alaska,
a mainstream popularity, which compromises
one of the bigger named riders, who I hadn’t
the ‘core’ and dispels the boys club mentality,”
worked with before, thought he was on the
she explains. “Most important, is being good
‘dud’ crew because he had the girl photographer
at all aspects of what you do, and being a
assigned to him,” cites Jess. “He apologised
decent person to spend time with – that’s
afterwards.”
the issue now.” ▼
Influenced by Annie Leibovitz (“she takes the cake!”) and her photographer husband Jeff
www.jessmooney.com
105
BRUSTI
“Being a woman in the snowboard industry
Tasked with the responsibility of keeping the
is like being a woman in every other business,”
company running smoothly while the crew is in
says Kathrin ‘Kelli’ Kellenberger, associate
the mountains, she believes being a woman has
producer at snowboarding’s most influential
benefited her career: “In my job with Absinthe,
production company, Absinthe Films. “If you’re
I’m a still water between the guys.”
good at what you do, gender doesn’t matter
So, if being a woman has worked for Kelli,
and you’re accepted whether you’re a man
why aren’t more ladies making snowboard
or a woman.”
movies? “Guys go snowboarding together in
Kelli’s wise words are born from experience.
groups, build a crew – which not a lot of girls
K at h r i n Kellenberger
As well as being one of few women working
do – and then have the idea to do a film project,”
in film, she’s also been European team manager
she explains. “Fabia Grüebler showed that girls
for Smith Optics and Palmer Snowboards, and
could do this in the same way. She built Misschief
A s s o c i at e P r o d u c e r at Absinthe Films
is a seasoned boardercross competitor with
Films up out of nothing and produced two
the Swiss National Team. The thirty-year-old
successful movies [As If and Ro Sham Bo].”
personifies a new generation for whom gender need not define one’s career. “This industry isn’t as male dominated
Does this mean feminism is dead? Not quite, believes Kelli: “Gender will be an eternal issue. We should all be aware of what has
as it seems,” says the Zurich-based multi-tasker.
been achieved by feminist activists in the last
“We shouldn’t forget about all the girls designing
150 years. Because, without them, our lives as
gear. But more guys than girls snowboard
women in the Western world would be very
professionally at a high level, therefore more
different. We’re born a particular sex, but we’re
end up in the industry.”
defined by our culture, so repression still exists.”
Kelli was invited to join the team by Absinthe’s Patrick ‘Brusti’ Ambruster himself.
106 www.HUCKmagazine.com
www.absinthe-films.com
NICK Hamilton
“For sure sexism exists in snowboarding – you hear it all the time, from the filmers who don’t
snowboarders in the past. That’s crucial.” As accomplished in the backcountry as
want to shoot girls and from the shit that comes
she is with words, Annie bridges both sides
out of some snowboarders’ mouths,” says
of the shred media. With experience as both
Annie Fast, editor of TWS. “But women are
subject and voyeur, she’s well aware of gender
way better off than in surfing or skateboarding.
discrepancies. “I’ve been criticised for my
We started on an equal footing – there’s always
approach in covering women,” she says. “I
been female pros, there’s always been women
integrate them, because that’s how it’s been for
on magazine covers. We’ve always been a part
me as a snowboarder. It means more to include
Annie Fa s t
of snowboarding.”
women as equals – it’s artificial to bring women
Editor of Transworld Snowboarding
thirty-three-year-old Annie is schralping’s biggest
writers, Transworld avoids the objectifying tone
cultural intermediary. From college kid turned pro
still favoured by some action sports media. But
to High Cascade camp counsellor and coach at
unfortunately the habit of talking down to women
Mount Hood; writer turned associate editor at
remains rampant in general snowboarding syntax.
Transworld; and now, after her promotion in June
“You see the guys nurture their own and pull them
2008, she’s editor – the first female to fill such
up – like a ‘bro circle’. I don’t have that,” notices
a high-profile role in action sports publishing.
Annie. “I’ve been at trade shows and people
She may be petite, but at the helm of one of the largest titles in snowboarding media,
out and put them in their own magazine.” With a healthy proportion of female staff
.
“I’m a snowboarder first, that’s how people
assume I’m someone’s girlfriend... which is an
know me,” she says, “from working at summer
honest mistake, I then introduce myself and say,
camp, just snowboarding in Montana or crashing
‘Yeah, I’m the editor.’”
on couches in Utah – that’s where it comes from. It all goes back to how we had relationships as
http://snowboarding.transworld.net
107
Clockwise from top left
Electric | EG.1-S Electric | EG.2 Oakley | Stockholm Anon | Majestic Adidas | ID2 Rip Curl | Toro Electric | EG.5
108 www.HUCKmagazine.com
109
Photography Paul Willoughby
THE ART HAPPENS
When good art happens, everyone wants a piece of the pie. But away from the ravenous clutches of eBay hawkers, commission-hungry galleries, bandwagoning ad men, critics, collectors and plagiarising copycats, there is one space that can never be colonised. Inside the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio, something pure and honest will always linger on.
110 www.HUCKmagazine.com
NICK WALKER
Street Artist | Bristol, England | Nick wears: Hoody Stussy | web.mac.com/nickwalkerz
111
KATE GIBB
SCREEN PRINTER | Westbourne Park, London | Kate wears: Dress Quiksilver | www.kategibb.blogspot.com
112 www.HUCKmagazine.com
AMY BROWN
ILLUSTRATOR | Peckham, London | Amy wears: Cardigan Carhartt, dress Quiksilver | www.amyillustration.com
113
EMILY ALSTON
Illustrator | Shoreditch, London | Emily wears: Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shirt Elwood | www.emilyforgot.co.uk
114 www.HUCKmagazine.com
IAN FRANCIS
FINE Artist | Bristol, England | Ian wears: Top Carhartt | www.ifrancis.co.uk
115
HARLEY WEIR
Photographer | Twickenham, London | Harley wears: Top WORN BACKWARDS Quiksilver | www.harleyweir.com
116 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Sculptor | Hackney, London | Wilfrid wears: Top Carhartt | www.wilfridwood.com
Check out each artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gallery space at www.huckmagazine.com.
WILFRID WOOD
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THE BACK PAGES BOOGIE
BELGRADE BELONGS TO HIM.
CHE
GOOD ON A T-SHIRT, BETTER ON FILM.
TYSON
BOOGIE
THE MAN, THE MONSTER, THE MOVIE.
REQUIEM
A SHARK STORY. 119
THIS IS BELGRADE SERBIAN PHOTOGRAPHER BOOGIE RETURNS TO HIS HOMELAND TO RECLAIM THE TRUTH.
Say you go for a walk and find yourself on The Wrong Side Of Town. You know it’s The Wrong Side Of Town because, well, the news says so, and like everybody knows the news is always right. So anyway – what do you do? Adopt a nonchalant swagger to disguise the fact that you may well shit yourself, before hotfooting it back to The Right Side Of Town? If your name’s Boogie, you prefer to face life head on. Born and bred on the broken streets of Belgrade, the Serbian photographer spent the nineties capturing a portrait of his city that held nothing but the truth. While Milosevic made enemies of neighbours, and the global news machine painted his countrymen a dirty shade of monster, the Serbian lensman sought out the Swastika-laden skinheads, stoical elders and penniless elite to tell the real story of Belgrade – blood, guts, misplaced pride and all. “I started taking pictures in 1993,” says the thirty-
120 www.HUCKmagazine.com
nine-year-old, “we had economic sanctions, people were committing suicide in order not to starve to death, it was pretty surreal and terrible. But when you shoot, you detach yourself from reality and are not a participant anymore. So I started taking pictures to preserve my sanity.” By 1998, Boogie’s prying eye had turned on another city geared up to impoverish and exclude: New York. “I was just walking around,” says Boogie, who left his home and family after winning a US green card lottery, “I met some homeless people, and one of them invited me to take photos of her and her friends smoking crack and shooting up. I never really asked people to take photos of them doing drugs or holding guns, they always asked me. But it wasn’t just about shooting – it was about hanging out and experiencing whatever was going on. One thing led to another and after a
while I was in the middle of madness.” Through his hardhitting photos of the urban underbelly (“I got addicted to gangsters and addicts”), Boogie cemented his name as the godfather of grit. Having cut through the sheen of Western street life with a string of books, Boogie turned his attention back to his homeland for Belgrade Belongs To Me, his most personal photobook yet. But the path from Serbia to the States and back again wasn’t easy: “Coming to the US was a huge culture shock. I really knew nothing – apart from what I’d seen in movies, and that had nothing to do with reality.” After a stint as a repairman in a hospital, Boogie reached a low point (“I wanted to shoot myself”), sold his equipment on eBay and didn’t photograph anything for three years. Then in 2002, he put some images online and was shocked to discover “a kind of communism on the web” when they attracted
20,000 visitors in one week. “I was like, ‘Maybe I should think about this a little more,’” says Boogie. “So I started shooting again and I never stopped and never will.” Today, the happily married father-of-one has mellowed. “Before I was always after extremes,” he says. “I wanted to shoot Nazi skinheads, gangsters… Then it came to me that good photos are everywhere, like here in my backyard. I started seeing beauty in other things not just in guns and needles.” So how does a guy who sees beauty in The Wrong Side Of Town end up with a name like Boogie? “Kids started calling me Boogie more than twenty years ago after a film about the boogie man. I don’t know why, I am the nicest guy ever.” Andrea Kurland Belgrade Belongs To Me,
Photographs by Boogie, is published by Miss Rosen
Editions, powerHouse Books. www.powerhousebooks.com www.artcoup.com
121
ALBUMS EMMY THE GREAT
First Love Close Harbour
Labels tried to sign her, managers tried to re-design her, but you realise when you listen to First Love that any delay in getting an album out by this now stalwart of the UK indie folk scene has little to do with bizness and much more to do with Emmy, still only twenty-five, finding her voice. Early recordings were cute but naive. Here she emerges with a self-produced and self-released album of staggeringly confident songs. They’re gentle and sweet, but really they’re ruled by wit and fire. It’s ostensibly a break-up record but you guess there’s a cast of characters here and not a direct subject. Deep, old-fashioned Englishness is combined with often hilariously modern references on a great debut that ought to result in Emmy The Great becoming recognised as a real artist at last. Phil Hebblethwaite
BEIRUT
March Of The Zapotec Pompei
Cultural burglar Beirut has popped down to Mexico for the first part of this double EP, then returned home to noodle around in his bedroom doing songs called ‘My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille’, which sounds more exciting than it is. The two records are markedly different, don’t sit well together, but are solid, if you’re the kind of listener capable of letting Beirut become something more than mildly exotic background music.PH
EMPIRE OF THE SUN Walking On A Dream Virgin
Quite the most brilliant album cover and music to match. Empire Of The Sun is Luke Steele from The Sleepy Jackson, who’s as mad as a bag of badgers, and Nick Littlemore, from Aussie dance duo Pnau. Together they’ve made a bizarre but superb album of soft rock and pop – cheesy as fuck, but deathly serious at the same time. PH
FRANZ FERDINAND Tonight Domino
There was word of troubles during the recording and it’s taken a while to come out, but this isn’t the disaster everyone expected it to be. In fact, it shits on their last record. They’ve gone super pop and disco here, replacing the arch post-punkness with straight-ahead dancefloor bangers. Excellent songwriting, but you do wonder whether they’ve left it too late to keep people interested. PH
GRANDMASTER FLASH The Bridge Strut
This is the man who near-as-damn-it invented hip hop and, judging by his new album, thirty-odd years later he’s still got something to offer. It’s hardly surprising that he’s managed to pull in such notable collaborators – Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Snoop – and they seem to be having more fun that just popping round to Uncle Flash’s because they feel they ought to. Not a bridge too far. PH
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MOVIES THE WRESTLER
Director Darren Aronofsky
After The Fountain – either a folie de grandeur or metaphysical masterpiece depending on your point of view – Darren Aronofsky returns to the gritty aesthetic that made him. The Wrestler is the story of Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, a faded superstar clinging grimly to his glory days, while his life swirls slowly round the toilet bowl. Mickey Rourke kills it in a lead role tailor-made for that punch-drunk face. Matt Bochenski
CHE: PART TWO
Director Steven Soderbergh
Assuming you saw part one of Steven Soderbergh’s revolutionary diptych, you’re either psyched for this concluding film, or you’re going to avoid it like the plague. In truth, it’s the weaker of the two – Che’s character development is less an arc than a downward spiral, as the Bolivian campaign goes to shit and the net of history closes in around him. It’s kind of like watching the last ten minutes of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid spun out to two hours, but with all of the humour surgically removed. MB
WATCHMEN
Director Zack Snyder
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons re-invented the superhero in the 1980s with Watchmen – not so much a groundbreaking comic book as a behemoth of literary creativity. Has Snyder’s adaptation done the same? Not quite. While faithfully re-creating the comic’s noir tone, Snyder can’t quite rid himself of the genre film’s bag of tricks: flashy editing, concussive sound effects and a tinge of camp. But what he does get right is the intro scene, a near-perfect piece of visual storytelling scored to ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’. MB
TYSON
Director James Toback
From The Host to Cloverfield, monster movies have had something of a modern makeover. But how about this: no fire breathing or underground lair – just a man, a myth and the media. Because that’s what Mike Tyson has become – a monster of the media age, both Dr Frankenstein and the abomination he created. James Toback’s documentary gets inside the mind of this man-child, delving deep into Tyson’s demons to paint a picture of a confused, abused and troubled soul. MB
OUTLANDER
Director Howard McCain
Wannabe B movie ‘classic’ Outlander sees spaceman Jim Caviezel crash land in Norway in 709AD, and accidentally bring with him a nasty glowing monster that rips people apart. Said spaceman must therefore kill this beast with the help of the understandably hostile Vikings but without his atomic-projectile-rifle-phazer-gun, which he dropped in the river. No, seriously! If you must watch it, heavily sedate yourself first. Ed Andrews
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GAMES STREETFIGHTER IV Xbox 360, PS3
Capcom have finally brought the legendary fighting series to the next gen. Streetfighter IV may play more like an updated version of the early 1990s classic beat ’em up, but that’s not a bad thing. There’s still more Hadoukens, spinning-bird-kicks and hundred-hand-slaps than you could shake a joystick at. The graphical overhaul makes the game feel like some crazy manga cartoon, with a huge array of flashing visuals, bleepy music and absurd finishing move animations. Simply put, it’s awesome! Ed Andrews
STOKED Xbox 360
Taking the less is more approach to gaming, Stoked strips away the insane combo tricks from snowboarding games of yesteryear. Instead, it focuses on doing simple tricks all super-stylish. As you use the analogue sticks to ollie, spin and grab, there’s no more mindless button-bashing. Also, take into account five massive mountains to explore, a dynamic weather system which affects how you ride and a whole list of pro riders including Mr Nicolas Müller to shred with, and you’ve got yourself the perfect excuse to bunk off work for a long time. Ed A
LORD OF THE RINGS: CONQUEST Xbox 360, PS3, PC
We know the films were good, right? But talk about flogging a dead hobbit – this is getting ridiculous. A third person melee combat action lets you join in massive fights around Middle Earth from both sides of the good and evil divide. With a story campaign and various multiplayer, death match battles to choose from, fans of Tolkien will love it – but then they’re probably into all sorts of weird shit. Ed A
SOCK AND AWE
www.sockandawe.com
He may have left office but who could resist the urge to follow in the (bare) footsteps of an Iraqi journalist and lob shoes at shaved-chimp-in-a-suit George W Bush. The sequel, which hopefully swaps shoes for cold sick and hammers, is hotly anticipated. Ed A
BIONIC COMMANDO Xbox 360, PS3, PC
This cheesy titled platform/shoot ’em up hybrid turns out to be a 3D recreation of a 1980s arcade game that was so hard, it attracted some sick, masochistic gaming cult following. Luckily for your sanity, this version is slightly easier but it still takes a while to get used to swinging around on your extendable bionic arm, Spiderman-style. At least leaping about in such a lavishly detailed cyber-world provides a cathartic escape from all the credit crunch doom and gloom. Ed A
126 www.HUCKmagazine.com
Nicolas Thomas
Supported by
Sjk Bayonne Nov. 20 – Jan. 10 Sjk Grenoble Jan. 15 – Feb. 28
ispo Munich Germany Feb. 1 – 4 Sjk Bourg-Saint-Maurice March 5 – April 18
Nicolas Thomas 216 pages book - realased in November 08 Bomb Blooming – 189 x 202 cm
Spacejunk
Board Culture Art Centers +33 (0) 619 210 184 www.spacejunk.tv
BOOKS E PLURIBUS VENOM Obey/Gingko Press
Renowned US artist Shepard Fairey has been inundating the urban landscape with distinctive and often politically charged posters for many years now. E Pluribus Venom, literal translation ‘In many, poison’, is a collection of his work subverting icons and symbols of the American dream and serves as a record of his recent exhibition of the same name. Alongside photos of his work in situ on the streets of New York, there’s enough editorial input from the likes of Jonathan LeVine, Sarah Jaye Williams and Fairey himself, to show that the man doesn’t just make pretty pictures. Ed Andrews
URBAN IRAN
Mark Batty Publisher
Urban Iran explores the work of various artists emerging from the streets of Iran. It exhibits everything from hurried graffiti scrawled on walls to watercolour paintings. But this is just a backdrop for essays on everyday life from those who have lived it. Though some may question the quality of the artwork, any sign that vibrant underground culture can survive systemic attempts to stifle it is always fascinating. In a society that is painted by war-hungry western media as solely occupied by aggressive, fundamentalist zealots, such creative dissent is lifeaffirming. Ed A
FOR THE LOVE
Kelly Slater with Phil Jarratt/Chronicle Books
In celebration of pretty much the best surfer on the planet, For The Love offers a biographical and visual portrait of Kelly Slater’s remarkable career with key commentary from the man himself and the people who have been with him along the way. Surf writer Phil Jarratt lets his interviews probe a little deeper, touching on politics, 9/11, Chomsky, environmentalism and the ups and downs of winning world title after title. And with input from the likes of everyone from lifelong friend Jack Johnson to Pamela Anderson, the book promises to offer a holistic insight into a man so often crowned king. Marlon Dolcy
FOUND
Davy Rothbart/Octopus Books
Indulging the secret voyeuristic desires that we all harbour, Found is a compendium of discarded notes, signs and posters gathered from around the world. And there’s not much more to say than that. Some are hilarious, some tragic and others just plain weird. Essentially, the fundamental concept of Found is peering into the frustration of the scorned, the wronged and the disenchanted. There’s nothing like laughing at other people’s quirks or misfortunes, and that, unfortunately, is simply a fact. Hugh Foster
128 www.HUCKmagazine.com
REQUIEM: A SHARK STORY BY MATT GEORGE Asilomar, California, yesterday, 1643hrs. It looked a lonely place to die. A lonely way to die. The coldest, cruelest, most horrifying way any surfer has to die. I gazed out over the kelp beds, oily and wet under a grey sky. Great brown rafts of it undulated silently, as if serpents were roiling beneath them. The swell was blown out, chunky, about six foot out on the reef. No one was out. It would be a long, spooky paddle out to the break. For Lou Boren, it was his last. You remember Lou. If you don’t, you should. Lou Boren was the surfer who paddled out by himself on December 19, 1981, at this very spot. He never made it back in. Later, when his kneeboard washed up, it was confirmed that he had been attacked by a Great White shark. A mammoth shark. Judging by the bite radius found taken out of his board, it may have been the largest white shark ever to attack any man in recorded history. Twenty feet, maybe more. A veritable submarine
130 www.HUCKmagazine.com
with teeth. Close your eyes and think about that for a minute. I did. As I stood there looking out over where a giant dinosaur attempted to eat Lou Boren. It would be five days before they found Lou’s remains. The bite radius stretched in a great crescent from his shoulders to his hips. And Lou was a big fella. I could remember the national uproar it caused, the sensational press. Every major paper and TV station in the country covered the story. I’d always remembered the feature story in Rolling Stone. I could even remember the artwork that they ran with the article. It was, more than any photograph, more than any movie I’d ever seen, the most chilling depiction of a shark attack I had ever seen. I had ripped it out of the magazine and pinned it up on my wall. It was an artist’s underwater head-on view of a monster shark cruising slowly, perfectly, through kelpy shallows at night. It was a sinister, silent-looking image, you could make out the shark’s shadow on the sand just inches below its white belly.
Moonlit shafts shot down palely from the surface and dappled its great broad back. And it might have been strangely beautiful... if not for the gore and blood, diluted pinkish by the nighttime sea, streaming from the monster’s gills and running down the mightiness of its body. So disturbing was the image that my girlfriend, upon seeing it, ripped it down and burned it over the stove. “Don’t call these things to you!” she hissed at me. I have often thought of that image since then. Standing at the spot looking out over the very sea brought it back. Along with the thought that the magnificent, deadly creature that attacked Lou Boren was probably still out there. That there was a pretty good chance that tonight, it would be cruising silently through the shallows, perfect and unknowing of its own horror, those shafts of moonlight dancing on its back. It is believed that White Sharks can live for hundreds of years. I remembered reading somewhere that boxing was considered the last mighty sport on earth, the last great primal sport because it is the
last arena where murder is legal, where one man may beat another to death for all to see. And that boxers who have died in the ring should be exalted for belonging to such an exclusive breed, such a rare breed of man. Blessed with the power of the ultimate sacrifice and violence in his hands, peered only with the honoured dead. Well… then what is to be said of surfing? The last sport on earth where it is possible to be eaten alive by a sea monster? By a great, powerful, stealthy fish, out for blood and meat? How mighty does that make a surfer? How primal our sport? How should we exalt those who have died in our arena by our ultimate sacrifice? What about our honored dead? Surfers like Lou Boren? I found myself staring glassyeyed out over the tide-pools. I had to shake my head to clear it. The fog was rolling in now, clinging wet, lonely wet. A chill was setting in. Out there somewhere, the first foghorn sounded. I turned and walked back to my car. I felt as if I’d just visited a graveyard. Matt George
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