Format U K
s k a t e b o a r d
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THE
‘ASTON MARTIN’ OF SKATEBOARDS
// MANNY MANIA COMPETITION LOWDOWN // HAVE YOU BEEN SNAPPED BY THE POLAROID? // HOW TO KICKFLIP AND HEELFLIP //THE LATEST GEAR FOR ON AND OFF THE BOARD // SKATE PARK GUIDE // FORMAT_WHOLE_MAGAZINE.indd 1
// ISSUE 1 // MAY 2011 // £.1.50 //
MARC CHURCHILL JEROME LOUGHRAN REDBULL MANNY MANIA
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GEORGINA WHITTLE // 20 // BRIGHTON Her only motto is to live life to the full, and party like there is no tomorrow!
RICHARD JONES // 22 // ILFRACOMBE His only claim to fame is meeting 80s popstar Nancey Nova (Youtube her now!)
MAX HASLETT // 21 // JERSEY He thinks he is the man... ladies, watch out for this beast!
This guy loves his BRISTOL Hobnob biscuits and snaps some great pics, thanks Jerome!
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JASON LEWER Based in Bristol, he’s as handy on the board as he is with a camera.
JASON LEWER
JEROME LOUGHRAN
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YOUR GUIDE TO FORMAT... IN THE KNOW 12 RED BULL MANNY MANIA 15 PARKLIFE
FEATURES 19 JEROME 26 MARC CHURCHILL
FOCUS 30 POLAROID 33 THIS IS MY SHOOT 40 HOW TO
GEAR 44 SKATEBOARDING ENTERTAINMENT 46 ‘THE ASTON MARTIN OF SKATEBOARDING’ 48 SKATE ESSENTIALS JASON LEWER
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“My advice to anyone wanting to be a skate photographer is don’t do it! Unless you’re ready to be rejected for years...”
JERMOME
MARC CHURCHILL PAGE 26
U O Y HAVE
PAGE 33
ED P P A SN N E BE BY THE
? D I O R A L PO
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EDITOR’S LETTER Someone once said to us “Stop yawning yourself through life, the easy roads and choices are not always the best.” I can’t think who said it, but the message is important and definitely relevant to the making of FORMAT. Starting up a magazine was never going to be easy. At points it felt almost beyond us, but we never chose the easy roads, for things in life that are simple and straight forward are never memorable. Think of all the days, months, and years you spend skateboarding, and how most of these memories have blurred together. Yet think of the moments that stand out. The times you pushed yourself to the limit, whether it be on the ramps, or attempting a stair set or ledge. The sense of satisfaction when landing a trick is what we are feeling right now as we write this. Although we are just at the beginning, we still have a long way to go. We have locked into a grind on a handrail, and must continue to keep ourselves focused and balanced. We are proud to be providing you with a new and exciting magazine, one that revolves purely around you and your sport. We have features on every day skaters, alongside interviews with the sport’s leading names. This month we chat to Vans team rider Marc Churchill (pg26), photographer Jerome Loughran (pg19), and a skateboard designer (pg44) to give you a mix, and provide you with not only quality photographs, but quality features too. If you fancy trying out some new skate parks, then why not turn to page 15 for our Park Life section where we highlight the best spots around the UK. If new tricks are in order however, turn to our How To section starting on page 40 for some top tips and advice on heelflips and kickflips. Anyways, enough talk for now, go forth and prosper!
T A RM
JASON LEWER
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Last month saw the return of Red Bull’s Manny Mania. Offering the chance to jet off to the NYC in August to compete with the world’s best in one giant manny skate battle. This year’s competition took place over the space of four weeks. It all kicked off on the 9th of April at Manchester’s Central Skatepark, Bristol’s Motion Skatepark on the 16th before London’s Baysixty6 on the 30th for a final qualifier and finals. The competition was free to enter and offered the chance to come out and put together their best manual, trick combos in hope of impressing the judges. The only conditions were that all entrants had to be aged 14 or older and are unsponsored. We headed down to the second leg in Bristol to see what the crack was.
DAVID LEECH & GUSTAVO CHERRO
Manny Mania at Motion Skatepark; Bristol Motion is the home of the Bristol underground music scene and more importantly a huge skatepark. On the 16th of April it played host to the second leg of the Red Bull Manny Mania qualifiers. A day that boasted free Red Bull, stickers and the chance to try the new Nintendo 3DS, the stage was set for plenty of skating and plenty of freebies. The competitors and spectators began to arrive at the skatepark just after 12pm giving them enough time to warm up, scope the course and start trying tricks. The contest began shortly after 2pm with a total of 18
NEWS
Red Bull MANNY MANIA contestants. The competition was split into four rounds in which groups of four or five battled it out for a place in the final eight. After the group stage was over, the judges took ten minutes to decide on who was to advance to the final eight. The final then competed in two groups of four competing to make it into the top five and for the chance to head to London on the 30th of April for the finals. The finals were explosive as the final eight began to pull more and more technical manny combo tricks. It was a very tight battle till 20-year-old Jacob Bettinson of Nottingham piled on flip tricks, manual combos, on and off the box in succession. Once the heats were over it was time for the judges to make their decision. The top five recived prizes, while first and second won a new Nintendo 3DS. The results were as follows:
1st Place: Jacob Bettinson, 20 from Nottingham 2nd Place: Hassam Kamil 20, from Swansea 3rd Place: Pete Adams, 21 from St Judes, Bristol 4th Place: Ben Smart, 32 from Weston Super Mare 5th Place: Jack Micklewright, 25 from Montpelier, Bristol
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PARK LIFE RICHARD JONES
This issue’s Park Life takes us to North Devon, which has seen the skateboard scene improved with the construction of two concrete skateparks.
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RICHARD JONES
Ilfracombe was once home to a thriving bowl-carving community until they fell into disrepair, and were filled in by the council in the early nineties. It was not until November last year that all the petitions and campaigning paid off, with local skateboarders forming the Concrete Surfers’ Federation to make the council take calls for a new park seriously. The £156,000 project was designed and constructed by Gravity Engineering who have built over 150 parks, and came just over a year after neighbouring town Barnstaple’s Rock Skate Park opened. The spot offers a variety of street and vert, with a double three-stair set, rails and quarter pipes. The Brick bank is perfect for wall rides, whilst a variety of low walls, ledges and fun-boxes make for some grinds. The most satisfying grinds can be had on the curved wall which stands alongside the fun box with a tiled drive way gap. The bowls and quarter pipes are perfect for carving and will give you plenty of height when airing out with a variety of transfers to try. All in all The Benricks is a great little park and addition to the area with a variety of vert and street lines to try.
RICHARD JONES
ALSO IN THE AREA... Check out Braunton for some old school bowl carving. It is only small but worth a look if you like your bowls and are in the town which is halfway between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple. RICHARD JONES
THIS PAGE: TOP:Benricks offers a variety of ramp sizes and transfer options to try. MIDDLE: The flat bank is great to flip the hip or the driveway gap. BOTTOM: The double three set is perfect for a bit of street skating. OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP:Full size handrails, brick banks and quarter create a varied skate. BOTTOM LEFT: The quarter pipe with cut out for transfers.
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RICHARD JONES
By Rail:
•From Barnstaple railway station, head east towards Station Road. •Turn left at Station Road and follow it till you come to a roundabout. •Take a right and walk over the bridge. •Take a right and follow the road. •Continue along Taw Vale road, and then onto New Road. •Take a right at Ladies Mile. Follow the road and you will find SRP ahead.
Barnstaple’s Rock Skate Park is a little special with floodlit night skating, brick banks and excellent street and vert lines perfectly designed by Gravity Engineering. Rock Skate Park, AKA SRP opened in April 2009, and has since hosted skateboard demos and competitions, encouraging the sport in the area. The opening ceremony saw a demo by the Vans team, whilst last summer SRP was home to the Street Sports Open competition. The competition which targets young people aged eight–15 saw enviable talent from last year’s entrants. It is always great to see councils celebrating and organising competitions encouraging skateboarding in communities. The competition was part of an initiative by the annual Devon Games to Inspire, which celebrates sport and cultural activity making good use of the facility. The 720 square meter park, was designed by Vans rider Marc Churchill, and built by the Gravity Engineering team. Churchill said he wanted to create something different, and this park certainly is with a full size American fire hydrant is just one of many features begging you to flip or fastplant like Greg Nowik did on the park’s opening day demo. SRP was one of the first UK skateparks to have brick banks and mini quarter pipes, and have inspired the design of parks since. The brick banks create a different surface for wallrides and full size handrails and plenty of funboxes, ledges and banks are a grinders dream with metal corners ensuring smooth grinds and slides. There are plenty of gaps to keep you entertained with a double two set and various transfers in the vert section which boasts a big bowl, quarter pipes and banks. Our favourite feature of the park was the brick mini quarter pipe with about a metre cut out which is perfect for transfers.
PARK LIFE
DIRECTIONS:
By Car: From London: •Join the M4, stay on it until junction 20. •Exit onto the M5 towards Bristol (West) •At junction 27 take the A361 exit to Barnstaple. •You’ll then pick up signs for Barnstaple, as you get nearer take the second exit at the roundabout which will take you onto the A39/ Eastern Avenue. •Take the first exit onto Victoria Road, and then turn left at Ladies Mile.
By Rail: There is no railway station at Ilfracombe. The nearest is Barnstaple, you can pick up busses from outside the station which will take you to Ilfracombe. •Once there, jump off at the High Street and follow it till you come to a fork in the road. Take the road going downhill called Fore Street. •At the bottom of the road take the underpass between the buildings, you will come out with the harbour directly in front of you. •Take the road alongside the harbour up the hill. Benricks is on the left.
By Car:
RICHARD JONES
From London: •Follow the directions to Barnstaple. •Instead of taking the first exit onto Victoria, take the second exit onto Barbican Road. •At the next roundabout take the second exit onto Alexandra Road and follow till you come to the roundabout. •Take the second exit and follow the road up the hill until you come to a turning for the B3230 on the left. •Follow that road to Ilfracombe. At the next roundabout take the second exit. •Take a right onto Crofts Lea Park and follow the road till you come to the junction then take a left. •At the junction take a left onto Hillsborough Road then take a right. •Follow the road down the hill and Benricks is ahead on the right. || FORMAT.co.uk || 00
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FEATURING
J
THE MAN BEHIND THE CAMERA TALKS BEST SHOTS, ADVICE & MUSIC || FORMAT.co.uk || 19
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Jerome Loughran. From the outside he is your typical four eyed ginger man. But, dive a little deeper and you realise this fella is pure genius. Genius with camera, genius with a skateboard. Jerome is a photography god and here to tell you all about his life behind the lens... WORDS BY GEORGINA WHITTLE
J
ust one click. That’s all it takes to get THE shot, one that can take your name to new heights. But after hours of standing around in the cold and wasting endless rolls of film, you can still return home with nothing. It is a tough life as a photographer and Jerome knows this only too well. “My advice to anyone wanting to be a skate photographer is don’t do it! Unless you’re ready to be rejected for years, its total heartache – you think you’ve got a cover shot and you got shit, you keep learning for sure. If you don’t skate you don’t deserve to be a skate photographer, simple,” says Jerome. But Jerome was late into the skateboarding world, picking up his first board around the age of 18 after a strong mixture of home brewed cider, music and skate videos.
‘I think it was one Friday night, the house was packed full of people and someone put on this skate video, ‘Union Right To Skate’. Markovich just blew me away. Right then, I just knew that was it! Back then skaters were few and far between and we all knew each other. It was a golden time - you could tell a skater just by what shoes he had on!” he laughs. Already holding a passion for photography, the two soon merged, and Jerome worked his way towards gaining the title of a skate photographer. But it isn’t all fun and games. Yes there are road trips, yes there is beer, and yes there are skateboards. But days are long and often you can end up with empty rolls of film he explains; “The worst day is if you miss a one-shot deal that a skater won’t be making again.” Photography can be a costly hobby too, burning massive holes in the pockets
and racking up the credit card bills. “I’ve paid for all my kit myself. I just work and save. My advice however, is if you can get stuff out in the States, well, it’s a little cheaper...” he admits. Pay is minimal in the industry and unlikely to cover rent. “There’s only like six guys or so in the UK making any money and only three of them can call it a full time job, I’m sure if you ask any of the guys out there they will say their credit cards are all maxed and the bank owns their cameras. But these guys don’t do it for the money, it’s all about the love of skating - if they get paid then their rent is paid!” he explains. So at such a high cost, with a minimal pay and rejection at every turn, why did Jerome pursue such a cut-throat career? “It’s the best feeling when you print your own photos, or get slides back – there’s nothing like it!
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FEATURING Capturing something a little different is always a challenge! JEROME LOUGHRAN
My dad is a freelance photographer, mostly working for newspapers. But back in the day he photographed some gnarly shit, so I have the biggest respect for him. He always told me to never take up photography, but I’m glad I did.” Taking a liking to the camera led to studying a photography degree at Newport University... “I remember being told by my tutor to stop wasting my time on skateboard photographs, it’s all I wanted to do...I spent so much money fucking things up, but that’s how you learn.” admits Jerome. But despite sceptical tutors, he strived to have his name in print, alongside that perfect shot. So we would like to take our hats off to our friend, applaud his photographic skills and envy his determination. Nice work Jerome, keep it coming! || FORMAT.co.uk || 21
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Timing is the difference between catching the perfect shot, or missing it.
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FEATURING Aswell as anticipating the right camera angle, the right atmosphere is crucial. JEROME LOUGHRAN
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JEROME TALKS... FIRST CAMERA?semi permanent loan from my dad, A Canon AE1, on her one! ..would love anot amazing camera.
Currently
Brand?
? rocking your boat
d EOS 1D Digital an the way. I use an better e th e er th ’s Strictly Canon all sh fla format...the more bronica medium st. be Lumedynes are
Film vs digital?
ing t man there’s noth llied by digital, bu bu g an fin ttin t ge Bu . is lm Fi s from film own photograph like printing your e way forward. cially digital is th
gital? Why the wait tilt lshdiooting sequences on film and at
! One day I was ou with not one trick seven rolls used e lik s wa et fe y m es to save up Digital became ent! It took me ag om m at th m m fro nt appare e me savings fro hand one but mad nd co se a rd fo af to the day I got it!
List the kit?
g knowledge in
on ht meter and a str Good lenses, a lig ntial. F stops are esse
Too many to pick, but any of the deluxe brands are am azing. But I do have a soft spot for Creature a bit of black and green.
Shoes?
Vans for life...even though
my feet hurt.
Place?
Wow, I would have to say Orcas Island just off the coa st of Seattle. Evergreen forests with the most amazing mo untains, bald eagles, and the most amazing skatepark ever bui lt.
Song?
The 12345 song of sesam
e street...
Motto?
The shortest road is the one
you know.
Biscuit!?
The hob nob would be the
king of biscults
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Mark performs for the camera and shows off a tidy stall.
JEROME LOUGHRAN
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FEATURING
M
ARC CHURCHILL
A team rider for Vans for over 15 years, and skate park designer for Hampshire based Gravity Skateparks, Marc Churchill is a skateboarding guru. Despite his busy lifestyle, we at FORMAT have managed to catch a few minutes to discuss life on the board and where best to grab a pint... WORDS GEORGINA WHITTLE
A
fter surviving an almost fatal car crash, it was unknown whether Marc would ever be able to get back on his board. But now, having recently celebrated his 30th birthday, Marc is back, and better than ever. Following the motto to live life to the full, he refuses to wimp out of a trick and will grind any rail put up to him. But what trick is floating his boat this month? What track is playing on the ipod? What shoes are on his feet this second? These are the questions, and FORMAT are ready to give them to you... Best skate trick? 360 Flips always feel good, but you can’t beat the feeling of a nice big backside smith. Favourite shoe? The Vans Rowley 1 was amazing, they should totally bring that back out!! Right now though, it’s the Vans Tony Trujillo 5. Song on the ipod? Spirit in Black by SLAYER or anything by The Black Keys... Best pub? Goblets or the Alexandria pub in Southampton!!! Favourite place to escape? Skating would have to be Orcas Island, but if it was to just to chill out that would be Kings Hat in the New Forest. Best advice you can give... Never do a nose-picker with a coper! And...If it feels good, do it! Watch this space for Mark Churchill, and be sure to check out his new skate parks at gravityparks. co.uk - well worth a day trip or two for cracking some tricks on the ramps. //
If it feels good... do it!
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JEROME LOUGHRAN
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WHITTLE // JONES // HASLETT
Antony / “Kickflip / 23 // So utham pton to fakie on the q pipe - a uarter lways a pleasure .”
Cal l “ I um // 1 l do i ove m 6 // S o ng roc y vert utham k a , nd espec pton i ro l l st ally alls .”
name: age atio bes t tricStev:e lo //c25 n: risto l //B “My mok : ‘‘blaaaa de of transport aah’’ to work is my skateboa rd!”
N ‘‘Ma igel // ybe 21 k g // rin not m Sou d fi y b tha es rst tr y t, but mpton lan (see for pg3 the c d ing a 5) am era ’’
g pe d hin snap t r o n’t s !” /W 22 at ha one / h / le t t e r d u Alfi boar ga t in ly n n o y he is m “T
Alex // 21 // So ut hampton “W hen I o llie d o ver a tennis n et, that was co o l!”
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nam b“es eD:e aa Ant ng /: / 2lo ‘‘a ic e btla ytorn 4ca : hlaeaa ekc tesaa an B //tio o:rt MX Wn cha’n ’ be , but o hing ska teb nly tr oar der ue s...”
Aaro n // Be 23 ‘‘Onc e I s t trick // Brig : Bl nail hto I w i e d it, i untsli d n e ll n t wa ever s forg incre d ible. et it !’’
Alex // 23 // Bournemouth “I tried to skate in the sand the other night. It didn’t work...”
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hton / Brig ts on / 2 2 // nu Jamie acke d my l.” r o e c co “I on rail. N ot a
FOCUS
pe d
This month we hit the streets in search of your top skating tips, and words of wisdom. We asked you questions, and you kindly responded... sometimes with some rather bizarre answers!
L Wor uke // st 2 dow experi 3 // Po ence rtsm n a : s o my even se “I d i d uth ar m t a in t once - n o llie hree I plac broke es!”
Mark // 24 “I’ll // Il n f raco the L ever forg mbe andm e ark 7 t when I notor o llie s tair io us d se amon g loc t which i s al sk aters.”
pton o ve utham // So ting, so l 1 2 / / a k y s o Am new t ricks,” pretty arn new t “I’m e to l
ve // Ho urity for // 21 sec y b Emy d l,” chase pping mal been o h e s v a “I h g in a skatin
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FOCUS
Focus Want be appear in our pages? We want you to as well! Send your skateboarding clips and you could be in with a chance of winning a photo shoot with our team...
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THIS IS MY SHOOT: Getting sponsored is every skaters dream; we’ve all been there and spent forever putting together ‘sponsor me’ videos risking life and limb in the hope of recognition. Despite jumping gargantuan ledges, stair sets or perfecting flips in and out of grind sequences which took a million takes to land, is there still no interest from companies? Like most things in life it always seems to be about being in the right place at the right time, or knowing the right people. That’s why we have decided to launch our section ‘Focus.’ It’s simple, you get filming and send us your clips up to three minutes in length and we’ll select the best. Each issue we’ll be giving you the chance to win a photoshoot and appear in our pages ensuring you gain the exposure and recognition which you deserve. Even if you are not too worried about being sponsored, appearing in a magazine pulling some tricks gives you blagging rights among friends. Hell, you never know, you might catch the eye of some of our sponsors who regularly flick through these pages and hook you up! Alas all those sponsor request videos finally have a purpose! So get back out there with the camera and make a name for yourself, give it a quick edit to get the best bits and send it in to us at the usual address. Don’t worry too much about the special effects and angles because it is more about the raw unsponsored talent that shines through. This issue showcases talent in Southampton which caught our eye...
TOP LEFT: Plenty of height with a solid indy. MIDDLE: Some old school road block jumping. BOTTOM LEFT: Nigel Whale, noseslide. PHOTOS: RICHARD JONES
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FOCUS FOCUS
“SEND YOUR CLIPS. THE BEST WILL WIN A PHOTOSHOOT IN THE NEXT ISSUE”
Nigel Whale didn’t waste any time pulling off this k grind, landing it first time. RICHARD JONES
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Equally handy at vert and street skating, Nigel shows us why with a solid indy. RICHARD JONES
“I USED TO HAVE A GREY FERRARI AND A YELLOW ONE” Nigel Whale, 21, southampton Nigel Whale has only recently been back on a board, having started riding again in the last 5 months. He joined the army at 16 and has recently left and is enjoying regular skateboarding again. Although he had the occasional ride whilst in the army it was few and far between with tours of Afghanistan. In the last few months Nigel has moved from Barnsley and has become a regular on the Southampton skate scene taking his riding more seriously, riding any chance he gets. He is handy both on the ramps and street skating pulling some impressive airs out of the half pipes and enjoys skating stairs, ledges and handrails. With places to crash around the UK he’s been skating Worcester, Barnsley and now Southampton which seems to be his base for the meantime with plans to open a shop in the city.
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FOCUS
What is all this about you and a Ferrari, do you own one or are you posing next to someone else’s on Facebook? Yeah! I brought two, I used to have one in grey and one in yellow. Where did you find money for that?! I was involved in an accident in Afghanistan and got some money from the army. Since I left school at 16 I joined the army and have been in till recently when I left. Did you skate much in the army? Not much, I would have a go now and then but you don’t really get much chance. I’ve literally been back on a board properly about half a year or so. It’s much better now I can ride more often and when I like, do what I like, drink when I like... So you are fairly new to Southampton then? Yeah I moved down a few months ago, if that from Barnsley. What’s Barnsley’s skate scene like? It’s pretty good, Worcester is better, its small and everything is close together – rails, stairs, skateparks, and Sheffield and Leeds are good for a skate and not far either. How come you moved down? Change of scene, my mum has houses all over the UK and thought I’d check it out, I’m thinking of opening a shop down here too. So you’ll be sticking around for the meantime then? Yeah, if I can get the shop up and running, though I will pop up north occasionally. I’ve got a few friends up there like Luke Kindon who has recently started riding for A Third Foot Skateboard team who gives me spare boards and things. RICHARD JONES
We saw you entered Manny Mania in Bristol (pg12), how did it go? It was fun, first time I’ve entered a competition but didn’t make it past the first qualifier. Thanks for appearing in our shoot. All the best with the skating!
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The kickflip is the bread and butter of skateboarding. This trick is so popular because catching a perfectly executed kickflip looks as good as it feels. The key is to have a decent ollie pop
How To... kickflip
How To... kickflip
How To... kickflip
How To... kickflip
How To... kickflip
How To... kickflip
front foot on the board to achieve a higher and more controlled flip anyway. Pop the board as if you were to ollie, but as you do slide your front foot up the board and flick your foot off the front of the board. This will give the board the flip. Keep practising, the harder and faster you flick, the quicker the board will flip around. The key of this trick is when you jump stay directly above the board, and once
before trying this. Become comfortable with the motion of the flip, and work on catching it mid-air. This will help your progression to jumping over and off curbs, ledges or stair sets. Find a speed that you are happy with, try to avoid crawling along at a snail’s pace, as this will hinder the momentum of the trick. Have your feet as if you were going to pop an ollie. Slightly angle your front foot forwards, just less than 45 degrees, with about half of your foot on the board. Position it just over halfway up the board. Don’t be tempted to have any less of your front foot on the board as although it may feel easier to flip it will not be as solid. As you get more comfortable with the trick you’ll find you use more of your
How To... kickflip
you have flicked your front foot forward bring it back over the board. If you find the board is landing in front of you then you are jumping off angle. Commit to the flip. You may get a few scraped shins, but keep at it and focus on staying directly above the board. Suck your knees up to give the board plenty of space and time to flip round. Concentrate on making it flip level and keep your shoulders straight.
As the board is spinning around, stay above it and keep an eye out for the grip tape. As you spot it, bring your feet down. Your back foot should land on the board a fraction of a second before your front foot does. Aim to land on the board with both of your feet over the bolts. Prepare for the landing and cruise away with a fat grin on your face. Once you have got the kickflip down, experiment with slower and faster flips and popping harder to get it higher. You can also position your front foot further up the board, just before the front bolts. Enjoy this trick, and pride yourself on achieving a nice smooth flip. When done right this trick is a beauty. RICHARD JONES
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SEQUENCE: Thanks to Alex Baker for demonstrating the kickflip at Southampton Guild Hall.
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This trick is the polar opposite to the kickflip, and often overlooked. It’s a completely different method but it’s equally, if not more, satisfying than the kickflip. It helps if you have the ollie down and
How To... Heelflip
How To... Heelflip
How To... Heelflip
How To... Heelflip
How To... Heelflip
How To... Heelflip
at first it may fly forwards, but persevere. The most important thing to bear in mind as you pop the board is to use your heel to flick the board. Quickly slide your front foot up the board and flick with your heel forwards. Imagine you have a match taped to your shoe and to light it you would strike it quickly with plenty of power. Use your heel to flick the board and get it flipping by flicking the edge of the skateboards concave.
are happy with it before trying this trick. The flipping technique is equally important as the pop. The main difference with this one is you are using your heel to flip the board instead of your toes. Like the kickflip, allow moderate speed and position your feet as if you were to ollie. You want to angle your front foot pretty similar to the kickflip, but this time move it so your toes overhang the board. Don’t be tempted to have too much of your front foot to hang off the board. You want your toes to overhang, but too much as the flip will feel flimsy. The best way to think of the heelflip is as the opposite of the kickflip. You’re almost kicking the board away from you to get the board to rotate. Getting the board to flip may take a few attempts as
How To... Heelflip
As you flick, your front foot will go ahead of the board. Keep it there and as it rotates, suck your knees up to give plenty of space for the board to flip round. Bring your front foot back and directly above the board. Keep both feet above the board and suck your knees up to allow the board to flip round. Again, try and get a level flip, keeping your shoulders and weight above the board, as it will be easier to judge when landing.
Remember to jump directly above the board and keep your shoulders straight - this will stop the board landing slightly ahead or behind of you. Once you see the griptape bring your feet down and land on the bolts. Prepare for the landing, bending your knees. Roll out with the satisfaction of the knowing you’ve got another trick under the belt. Once happy with the heelflip, work on adding more pop to achieve higher flips. Try slowing the flip speed and catching the board on the bolts for a smoother look. Now you have the know-how you can start thinking about adding some backside and frontside varieties, which we’ll cover next time. RICHARD JONES SEQUENCE: Thanks to Antony Barsi for demonstrating the heelflip.
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AT HOME SKATING WORDS BY MAX HASLETT
There’s nothing better than getting your friends together and heading down to the local spot for a day’s session. But we can’t be skating all the time, sometimes it’s because of the weather, others because you’ve picked up an injury and have to stay off the board for a while or even because you’ve wrecked your setup. So what is there to keep the adrenaline pumping when you can’t get on the board? Here at FORMAT we have been scouring the internet, skate shops and homes to bring you the best skateboarding entertainment of all time. From videos to games we give you our rundown of titles you need to own.
Films First on our list is Chocolate’s, Hot Chocolate which is half skate documentary. Made in 2004 the video follows the team, around the USA for the Hot Chocolate tour. The great thing about this video is while showing of the immense talents of the likes of Kenny Anderson, Chico Brenes and Justin Eldridge for example; the video also gives a good idea of what the team experience while on tour and what skating is to them. On a couple of occasions you see the team take to the streets for more staged skate sessions. In one of the scenes you see the whole team wearing white t-shirts while skating red boards to Bjork’s
Synchronicity. During this scene not only are they skating to the music but also it is as if children are making sound effects as they skate past and do tricks. The other time is when the team notices a magic flaming board and while running around a city they each take turns on the board. One of the most iconic skate teams ever has to be the Zephyr skate team. Back in the seventies they pioneered the way that people thought and looked at skateboarding. With this in mind Dogtown and Z-Boys is a must see skate film. Dogtown and Z-Boys was made back in 2001 and directed by one of the biggest Z-Boys of all time, Stacy Peralta but you may know him as the creator of Powell-Peralta. The film documents
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Games DVDs are definitely a great way to relax, the only problem is that they leave you wanting to get in on the action, that’s why we suggest gaming as an alternative. The first game to make our list has to be Tony Hawk’s Underground (THUG) - the fifth instalment of the Tony Hawk’s games and released in 2003. Unlike the previous four games THUG sees you playing as your custom skater and revolves around the story of going from small time amateur skater to pro. Along with changing the main mode of the game, as with all Tony Hawk’s games, it had a number of new features. These included the ability to get off the board, drive vehicles, and create tricks, decks, clothes and custom goals. Probably the most interesting feature was the ability to upload a picture of yourself online and use it to map your character’s face. Along with the new features there were new tricks including the wall push, wall plants, hip transfers and acid drops. While, doing a grind or manual you can double tap buttons to change the grind or manual you are doing and build bigger combos. The next game you need to play is Skate 2. Brought to you by EA the Skate series has become the leaders in Skateboarding games making Tony Hawk’s look childish and unrealistic. Tricks are performed not by button bashing but through controlling the analogue stick, which means huge combos are near and impossible and represent real life in a way that Tony Hawk’s never has. This new way of playing is fantastic although it can be frustrating when first starting out.
Skate 2 is a follow on from the original game, set five years later your player returns from prison to start rebuilding their name by competing in competitions, performing challenges and doing shoots for magazines. The Tony Hawk’s series set the standard for all skateboarding games. And our favourite is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. The first game already had a massive reception but there were still a few things missing and this is where THPS2 hit the nail on the head. Like the first game the player had two minutes to try and complete as many challenges as possible for example S-K-A-T-E. Each level had 10 challenges to try and complete. Also a number of the levels had in competitions instead or challenges. Everything about THPS2 shouts classic skating. The levels were fantastic, with the likes of the Hanger, School 2 and Venice Beach. The playable characters weren’t over the top like in the more modern games and with a sound track of 15 songs including Rage Against The Machine, Bad Religion and Anthrax. With such a great soundtrack you could loose yourself in the game for hours. The big changes since THPS was that you could create your character for the first time ever and the manual was brought in allowing players to link tricks and build combos. So there you have it, the FORMAT skate entertainment run down. Next time you’re bored and unable to get out on the bored, get your hands on one of these and see what all the hype is about.
ENTERTAINMENT
the skateboarding movement in the seventies down in Venice Beach’s Dogtown and how one team of youths used the techniques they saw in surfing to influence the way that people used a skateboard, making it more of an extreme sport. You need to see this film to understand the history behind the sport and that is why it is a must see. The final and most important film that all skateboarders need to watch is Flip Sorry. Sorry was the first film to be made by Flip and took three years to make. Presented by Johnny Rotten/John Lydon, whatever he wants to be called these days, the film features a range of skate styles and tricks. Some of the most memorable moments include Ali Boulala attempting to ollie a 25 set, which, on his first attempt, he landed but snapped his deck. The cartoon clip of Arto Saari’s warm up from hell where he tries to feeblie a rail, but bails, scraping his face along the floor, then vomit and pass out in it is also memorable. The reason this clip is a cartoon is because it was a warm up, the cameras weren’t rolling. The best section of the video has to be that of Geoff Rowley’s His style mixed with aggression sees him taking slam after slam as he tries huge gaps and fantastic tricks. But what is so amazing about him is his ability to hit the deck face first and start all over again. Along with phenomenal skating the film features a soundtrack that will melt your face featuring the likes of Iggy And The Stooges, Placebo, Lou Reed and The Prodigy. Overall this film is near impossible to fault, the only problem being is Rotten’s terrible attempt at being funny by taking the mick out of not only the skaters but also the audience.
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‘ASTON MARTIN’
THE
Meet Adam Arbeid. He proudly refers to himself as a creator; a creator of music, art, interiors, and most importantly skateboards. He is one man with many talents... WORDS GEORGINA WHITTLE
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ABOVE: Boards hung on wall LEFT: Adam holds one of his swell longboards BOTTOM: Swell logo, created by an 8 layer screen printing technique
H H
But these boards were not just ordinary long boards, these were perfection in a board. Not a flick of paint out of place, not a wheel too small. These boards that Adam was creating were flawless... “I wanted to make something different, something special that couldn’t be bought anywhere else. I wanted to make the Aston Martin of skateboarding.” With long boards it’s no surprise that the demands became high. Adam’s house turned into a workshop as he started to produce the boards on a mass scale. They were being sold in shops around the country, hitting big skate areas such as London, Cornwall, Devon, and the West Country. But Adam’s boards were soon to grab their claim to fame as celebrities started to show an interest in his work. “Paul McCartney’s son owns one, and so do a few big London DJ’s,” he whispers. At the time of making these boards not many knew about the long board, they were a skateboarders’ secret, and one many just couldn’t get their head around... “It was a new market then as no one knew about them. People used to stare as they were ridden along Brighton seafront!” laughs Adam. But it didn’t take long for the craze to catch on, for these boards are not only smoother to ride that the typical board, but speeds can easily rack up. Tricks aren’t a possibility, and tackling an ollie or heelflip will most probably end in tears, but it’s the experience you gain with a long board. The minute you ride one, is it love at first...push? “It’s all about the ride.’ explains Adam, ‘It’s more like surfboarding or snowboarding, long boards create that softer, smoother and faster ride.” But what stops Adam from picking up the skateboard now days? “I’m just too busy!” he explains. And no wonder, with a thriving art business and his band ‘Black Fin’ launching an album this Spring, Adam hardly has time for himself. If only this inventor was a creator of more time too...//
“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE RIDE”
ung pride of place upon the walls are three boards, each one crafted to perfection. Light beams off the smooth edges, the treads, the wheels. The boards scream out to be ridden, to be taken for a spin. But these are not just any skateboards; these are handmade long boards, crafted with hours of sweat and tears. Adam started making the boards around 18 years ago after seeing a long board in action. “I had always been interested in surfing and snowboarding, so when I saw a long board I just knew I needed to have one!” he admits. “It was a trial and error experiment.” He explains, “There was no one there to consult with about the mechanics...it was just a year of experimentation!” But with no one to aid with the physics and technicalities, it took Adam a year to finish his first fully functional long board. Having not only designed the boards himself, he managed to make each from scrap using self crafted tools and converting his house into a workshop. But despite the difficulties, Adam claims that learning the workings were relatively easy. “I’m curious you see. If you’re curious then it’s easy to learn.”
GEORGINA WHITTLE
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GEORGINA WHITTLE
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E T A K S S L A I T N E S ES 1
THE SETUP 2
4 3
1.Darkstar Zombie Puke Darkstar decks are always quite sinister and the Zombie Puke deck is no different. The graphic with the zombie head at the nose of the deck and puke dripping down the deck is just so cool. At the bottom of the deck is the Darkstar logo.
2.FKD Greg Lutzka Gold Series The FKD Gold series are the bling of bearings. ABEC 7, the series has four different styles each with a pro name. Each bearing has a different coloured
composite inner cage with the pro’s signature on the other side of the bearing. So if you fancy being as cool as Greg Lutzka then grab yourself some of these and bling up your setup.
3.Tensor Slider Magnesium, Rodney Mullen Pro Rodney Mullen is amazing at pulling off big grinds, so it’s no wonder why he has teamed up with Tensor to bring you his pro model of the Slider Magnesium. For those who love grinds these trucks a great shout. The slider magnesium has a durable slider and a lower kingpin. Tensor boasts that they are 25% lighter than the
industry standard. If that isn’t enough of a temptation the pulse and teal colour scheme look really cool.
4. Speed Demon Neon Checkered The Speed Demon, Neon Checkered wheels come in two different colours, the neon orange and the neon pink. Also there are two sizes to choose from, the 52mm and the 54mm.
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IN THE BAG 1
2
3
5 4
1.Billabong Padang Bag
3.Cliché T Tool
With a volume of 27 litres the Billabong Padang Bag has plenty of space to carry everything you need when out for a skate. The bag features two adjustable straps to save you carrying your deck. Also the bag is laptop compatible and has a pocket to keep all your stationary.
It’s always upsetting when your day comes to an end because the bolts are falling off your setup, but with the Cliché T Tool there’s no need to head home. The T Tool comes with three different size bolt tightners and a screwdriver.
2.Speed Demons Wax
4.Lomo Fisheye No 2 Rip Curl Special Edition
Everyone needs to carry a bit of wax with them for that perfect curb or ledge. Speed Demons wax comes in the shape of the logo and is available in red, white or blue.
Catch that trick you’ve been trying for the last week with the Lomo Fisheye No 2 Rip Curl Special Edition. This colourful camera with built in flash and 170-degree
fisheye lens is perfect for catching great snaps. It only requires one AA battery and a 35mm film. Also you can lock the shutter so it doesn’t go off in your bag and has multiple exposure for double exposed images.
5.Urbanears Plattan Headphones There’s nothing better than having overear headphones, Perfect for shutting out the world and getting into your zone, the sleek, simple design looks great with 23 different colours to choose from. And if your friends do decide to join you, then you can share your music with them, via the zound plug on the ear cap. || FORMAT.co.uk || 49
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ON THE BOARD 1 2
4 3
1.Almost Trash Faced
cool but is available in one size for all. The cap comes in white, black and blue.
protect your feet from getting wrecked and the bottom won’t fall out.
Almost always delivers with a good looking clothing line, and when it comes to the Trash Faced Tee, it’s no exception. The T-shirt is an amusing design and is available in black and white.
3.Etnies Clercks Jameson
4.Enjoy Klepto Bismol Short
Exclusive to Route One Etnies have collaborated with film Director Paul Smith for the Clerks Jameson. The shoe has the word Cerks written on the heel, while there is a Jay and Silent Bob insole and on the tongue is their trademark saying ‘Snoochie Boochies’. Perfect for skating in the shoe has STI foam cushioning to
Now the sun is beginning to come out, it’s time to get your legs out to. Why not start with a pair of Enjoy’s Klepto Bismol shorts, available in olive and stone.
2.Billabong Volt Cap Flat peaks are everywhere these days. The Billabong Volt Cap not only looks
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1
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OFF THE BOARD 2
3
1.Etnies Relaxed Fit Etnies relaxed fit jeans are neither too tight nor baggy. The relaxed fit looks stylish and smart. They have the classic five pockets and have the Etnies logo on one of the back pockets
2.Billabong Sanchez Shirts look so good in the summer, so why not try a nice colourful one.
4
The Sanchez either short sleeve or long sleeve and comes in two different colour styles; blue, green, red and white checkered or blue, red and green checkered.
3.Enjoy Pan Duh Dummy Belt
4.Emerica The Situation Perfect for skating in or even just chilling Emerica’s The Situation shoe is simplicity at it’s best. With four different styles, it looks smart and fresh.
It’s all about the buckle when talking about the Enjoy Pan Duh Dummy belt. The big panda buckle looks brilliant and goes perfectly with the simplicity of the belt, which comes in either black or white. || FORMAT.co.uk || 51
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