Session Magazine - Issue 48 by Session Magazine

F r e e

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p o s t e r

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r e e l d i t

s t i c k e r

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SOUTH A F RIC A: R 34. 95 OTHER C OUNTRIES: R 30. 04

Khule Ngubane

W H E RE I S MY MI ND

48 h urs with anthony de mo endonca & brendan dyam ond

Ketchup with

Wandile Msomi

ISSUE 4 8 | w i n te r 2 0 1 2

Plus: Win a W W W.SESSIONMAG.CO.Z A

Familia board and DC shoes; DC launch their Reeledit video competition. Red Bull Manny Mania results; Battle of the Benches; Element Stick Tips; Rainy Days video reviews; Decadence - the first issue; Old School vs New School.

SWITCH TRE | BLABAC PHOTO

SEE MIKE MO AND THE DC TEAM REDISCOVER THE ROAD AT DCSHOES.COM/SKATEBOARDING

element

ELEMENTSOUTHAFRICA.COM

quiksilver

SCH 0 L FlatVs9 1 NEW

shortcuts

SCH

The EIC gives his 2c worth. By Adrian Henderson

o n t h e

I’m a Capetonian. Born and bread. I’ve seen the parks go up and down, watched spots become busts as fast as a fashion trends on Long Street, and witnessed the flood of our provincial brothers into the city limits. Hell, I housed most of them when they arrived.

sessionssubs@rnad.co.za

Send your name, postal address, email and number. For attention: RNA Subscriptions Department. R150 for 6 issues. RNA Subs Banking Details: Bank: First National Bank Account Name: RNA Subs Branch Name: FNB Trade Services 657 Branch Code: 254 655 6210 4927 259 Account Number:

editor in chief: AD Henderson ad@sessionmag.co.za SALES & MARKETING: Kyle Porter sales@sessionmag.co.za BLOCK ADVERTS: Fleur Roose sales@sessionmag.co.za CREATIVE CONSULTANT: Adrian Day

k e y s Kanya Spani flunt bront’s while Jamie O’Brien films, Khulu Dlamini criticises, Pieter mxit’s, Loucas recovers with his shades and some random homie in the background wonders if these skateboarders are ‘van America af ?”. Ph. Jansen van Staden

Clint van der Schyf FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: accounts@sessionmag.co.za founder: Brendan Body team photographers Pablo Ponzone, Gavin Scott, Ben Bergh, Sam Clark, Tim Moolman, Miguel Howell, Wayne Reiche, Tyrone Bradley, Clint van der Schyf. contributing photographers Andre Visser, Clinton Theron, Alan Marola, JP Du Preez, Jansen van Staden, Leon Bester, Dewald Bruwer, Darren Jacoby, Rudi Jeggle, Marcel Yslie, Werner Lamprecht, Jonathan Pinkhard. writers Adrian Day, Luke Jackson, Brett Shaw, Pablo Ponzone, Jonathan Pinkhard, AD Henderson.

Session Skateboarding Magazine Published independantly through Schyf Media cc.

info@sessionmag.co.za

Mail us news, photos, letters and suggestions.

Postal Address PO Box 2591, Somerset West, 7129.

It was exactly what I envisioned for that flat high up the hill. The Damd Flat - a straight up skate flat. It obviously got out of hand regularly. Sam had a flat 4 stories above so between the two of us, we had a constant influx of skaters. Sessions were being made with eager new eyes, photo’s and footage being reviewed after each mission, skate vids being overplayed to death and back (I cannot watch AV04 ever again). Bodies would litter the floor almost every night. People came and went, stayed, strayed and disappeared.

Printers Typo Colour Printing Specialists +27 (0) 11 402 3468/9 Web presence www.sessionmag.co.za www.facebook.com/SessionMag www.twitter.com/SessionSkatemag

It was a hell of a time and all of a sudden skateboarding came to life in the city. Since then it’s been one thing after the next. 20sk8 started showing up more, Baseline got revamped, Adidas relaunched, Rafiki’s started sponsoring skateboarders, Clarke’s ramp opened... The crew’s have become huge. Our 3-5 man missions turned into 5 cars of skaters, driving all over the Western Cape. It was during this time Bod and I started working together and set the wheels in motion that have brought about this first Shortcuts column. I cannot say I’m not intimidated by the enormity of this position, but I can say I don’t care. All I do care about is growing skateboarding - for all of us. Session is in its tenth year, our 50th issue is coming up in September and our video will be released on the cover of that monumental issue. Clint, Adrian, Kyle and myself are working tirelessly to get the ball rolling again, from the magazine to the website and events and tours. We have a host of plans we are implementing to raise the bar once again for skateboarding in South Africa. Session started with Bod and Steak. I’ll never forget the feeling that first issue gave me. Awe. Respect. Admiration. Stoke for SA skateboarding. As Bod said in his first Redial, “This is for us,” and I intend to keep it that way - for the betterment of skateboarding. See you around homies.

OppiE Cover I was shooting photos with Brett Shaw for his interview in the mag, and one day he calls me up and says that he found such a rad spot but we have to go there soon because it’s this halfpipe looking thing next to the freeway in Pietermaritzburg, and it’s not going to be there for too long. It’s a part for one of the pillars for the flyoff ramp that they are building there. So the next day we went and Dave tagged along because he is part of the Murth crew as well. So Brett got his shot and then Dave was busting the blunt. I saw it and straight away I knew it was going to make an insane unique shot, not only because it’s a dodgy to try a blunt on that thing but because the spot is forever gone.

Khule Ngubane

W H ER E IS MY MIN D

Ketchup with

Wandile Msomi

Pablo Ponzone

Session Skateboarding Magazine is published independantly 6 times a year by Schyf Media cc. Session will welcome all letters, e-mails and photos. We will review the contribution and assess whether or not it can be used as print or online content. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the magazine, it’s owners or it’s management. Session Skateboarding Magazine is the copyright of Session Magazine cc. Any duplication of this magazine, for any media or sale activity, will result in legal action and a date with Yann Horowitz in Cape Town.

NIKE

Alan Marola is back after ankle injuries and filming with Joubert for something special. Halfcab flip, backside flip line - check the feet. Civic Centre, Cape Town. Sequence Leon Bester.

ontents

issue #48

Favourite thing about the city?

How easy it is to hide a body. - Yann Horowitz, Cape Town Coup D’etat. Pg. 22

10....bizness 14....walking the cow

52......galleria 56...closet envy 58.....competitions 60...stick tips 61........reviews 62...have an Adrian day

.......wandile msomi - ketchup

.......khule ngubane nia - where is my mind

what happened to av03? We get some insight from wandile’s perspective as well as find out how things where is the durban lad’s mind exactly? life, have changed since. sponsorship and everything else. the kid is charging regardless of what you say or think.

.....capetown coup d’etat

adrian day, loucas polydorou, kanya spani, khulu dlamini, joubert and jansen van staden, marcel massen... everyone is in cape town, meeting up, skating, partying and trying to survive. we find out why cape town is trending in skateboarding right now.

....forty eight hours

anthony de mendonca and brendan dyamond. sleeping under cars, waiting out the rain and skating the unskatable. 09

so u th africa n skat e boardi n g i n d u str y mov e m e n ts

The Bizness

iss u e 4 8 | J u n e / J u l y 2 0 1 2

DC LAUNCH “REELEDIT” a VIDEO CONTESt with r30 000 in prize money. Launching 1 July 2012, REELedit is a DC skate initiative where the winner takes all. R30 000 can be won and split between the filmer and skateboarder. Grab your board and team up with a filmer to film and edit your own unique video part. Upload it online and wait for the votes to mount up. The edit with the most votes will be named the People’s Choice REELedit Winner for 2012. The top 10 videos (according to online voting at the submission closure) will move into a final round where the judging panel opinions will be added to the viewers voting results to make up the final result. The overall best edit will be named the REELedit Winner for 2012. For some time there has been a calling for something new on the SA contest scene, and when looking at modern skating, a lot of the focus is on skate video parts because ALL skaters are into videos - but not everybody is into the traditional ‘45 second contest run in a skatepark format’. So why not run an event that appeals to everybody? A video contest initiative is born - REELedit. “The concept is simple. Skaters need to team up with a filmer to create their own individual video part, and post it online. Then let the skateboarding community out there decide who they feel has put out the best part. The same way all the pros are judged these days – by the video parts they put out. There is no restriction to the type of skating the video focusses on, so it doesn’t matter whether you skate street, miniramp, bowls, vert etc. Just make an awesome video part that will impress the skate community out there and get them voting for you.” - Andrew Morck (DCshoesAfrica). DCshoesAfrica has put up R30 000 cash for the best video part – half goes to the skater / the other half to the filmer. This rewards both the skater and the filmer/editor for their time, energy and skills put into the production of their video. The window for submissions is 01 July – 01 Dec 2012 which leaves ample time to create the best videos possible. Entrants simply upload their video on the DCshoesAfrica Facebook fan page under the REELedit gallery. It is then up to the public to vote. “The last couple years has seen some really progressive steps in the SA skate scene. Not only has our skateboarding progressed massively, but it seems there has been a shift from the industry’s side to evolve and create more interesting, interactive events... any move away from the the classic mall contest

or demo would be a move in the right direction, but DC has really stepped things up here and embraced the very essence of skateboarding in this new platform. Video has always defined skateboarding and skateboarding has always been a collaborative effort between skateboarders and the people who dedicate years of their lives capturing skateboarding. This is going to be one of the most interesting and innovative skate contests ever as it’s a contest for both the skater and the producer. Plus it’s judged by / voted by all the skaters - not just a panel of 3 has-been skate judges. Kinda like an artist and a producer - put the right two together and you’ve got magic. The people vote what’s good and what’s not. Can’t wait to see what is created!” – Clint van der Schyf (AV Skateboarding). “Having total control over the filming & editing of your own video part allows more creative avenues to put out your own individual vibe which is what skateboarding’s roots are really about; creative expression, individuality and progression.” – Khule Ngubane (DC Team Rider). Find more info check out the DCshoesAfrica Facebook fan page – http://www.facebook.com/Dcshoesafrica

the road to

kimberley

With Maloof Money Cup Kimberley 2012 approaching fast, The Maloofs have teamed up with Boogaloos and Old School Productions to bring you the Skateboarding for Hope roadshow, touring around SA in the build up to the event on 30th September - 2nd November.

ph. howell

The first stop kicked off at Brightwater Common in Johannesburg early June. Another stop is the infamous Buck Tour in George on the 30th June. Other tour dates are yet to be confirmed.

The tour aims to support development through skate-clinics being run at each event for underpriviliged local communities throughout South Africa. Events will have Best Trick cash prizes, promotional giveaways and a Wild Card Entry to the Maloof Am division is up for grabs. Keep a look out for details on the Maloof skateboarding or Old School Productions websites.

so u th africa n skat e boardi n g i n d u str y mov e m e n ts

iss u e 4 8 | J u n e / J u l y 2 0 1 2

battle of the benches

above: group photo time. jansen implements the left hand salute. right: team 2 got the most votes for their edit. filmed and produced by jamie o’brien.

Ph. bradley

Ph. zarah adams

Gateway, Durban That was Juan Smit’s response when asked what he thought of Red Bull Manny Mania South Africa 2012. Juan’s not much of a ‘wheelie’ guy so it’s to be expected. The finalists however, were well versed in the art of manuals and grind combo’s, having all submitted video entries during the course of May. Judges Jamie O’Brien, Luke Jackson and Adrian Day made the call on the final 15 and with Moses Adams and Dada Marumo already having a place, everyone was flown in from CPT, PTA and JHB and put up in the City Lodge. Dlamini Dlamini unfortunately couldn’t join due to family obligations. With the possibility of rain, the contest was moved into Gateway’s underground parking lot. The obstacles from 2011 were set up and the promo girls were out in force. A good crowd turned up and were all behind local hero Thalente Biyela as he progressed through the rounds. It was a close call between Thalente and Zuhandre Yslie as to who got into the final, but after much deliberation, Thalente got the nod, leaving Zuhandre in third place. The final kicked off after Thalente was found and off the bat Moses looked jittery. A trip to the states is not a small thing, but he found his stride and started putting combo’s down all over the place. Thalente was landing more initially but as the clock ticked, it was obvious who was off to New York. Moses was almost overwhelmed by the win, apparently not at all sure on his placement. After the festivities and prize-giving, skaters were allowed free reign of the obstacles plus the curbs, pillars and smooth ‘crete of the underground. Red Bull put together a good contest but we would like to see a bit more support next year. Maybe it should be on the Durban Beachfront next year? In any case, good luck to Moses for the international Manny Mania Am competition in New York later this year. He’ll be looking to do better than 15th this year. Keep an eye on Red Bull SA for details and updates.

g e n e r a l ly speaking

Anthony De Mendonca is on Supra SA. Justus Kotze on LRG South Africa. Dlamini Dlamini is off Element ahead of his trip to the states. Dylan Vaughan is getting flowed some Globe product. Familia have new Muybridge Series boards out. KFD have new boards out. Plankie and Funisu also dropping new ranges soon. Adrian Day has been added to the RVCA line up. Rumours of a new board company in CPT are circulating with Frank Prinsloo and Jacques Erasmus plus a few others on the team. Jean-Marc Johannes is on Nixon and off to skate the Damn Am in Amsterdam in July. Volcom SA and Converse SA will be making some noise soon. Truth Soul Armor have launched and put Quinton Robertson and Keerin Noah on the team.

Winter 2012 | Audio Visual Skateboarding Video Magazine | Issue 15

wonderland Ph. bradley

Ph. bradley

a w h e e l i e competition?

PH. williams

Long Street, Cape Town. The two benches that are placed outside of Baseline took the centre stage in the first adidas and Baseline Battle of the Benches early May. Two teams, accompanied by a filmer, took to the streets of Cape Town for 3 hours. The idea was to use the benches as creatively as possible, making sure everyone gets at least one trick. Skaters enjoyed the concept as there was no pressure; it was all about having fun and using the city as your playground - coming up with creative ways to skate a spot you would normally just pass by. Just before cut off time and heading back to Baseline, both teams randomly arrived at the same spot, making the last session one of the best with everyone skating the 2 benches in lines. Back at the shop, adidas supplied all the skaters with some beers to end the session. Be sure to check out the edit on Reprobait.com. You will see Andrew Nero’s FS board to the road; Justin Leslie‘s face plant; Khulu Dlamini checking out the ladies and AD Henderson’s line using 5 boards. Much respect to Baseline and adidas. Everyone is already looking out for Round 2.

Ph. Bester

PH. van Staden

3 hours. 2 teams. 2 benches. 2 edits. 100% skateboarding.

Does Juan Smit steal skateboards to make his utensils and photo frames? Is Khulu Dlamini just drinking his life away at Rafiki’s? Does Joubert van Staden house aliens in his snot? Where in the world is Simon Stipcich? Will Sam Clark ever return to South Africa? Is there a new Thalente at Beachfront skatepark? Are they building a HUGE skate complex in JBay? Is it ok to turn yourself pro on an unknown board company? Is Yann Horowitz the Couch Pisser Killer? Will Neil Hughes ever stay in one place for more than 2 months? Will Jamie O’Brien ever finish the Session Video? Will Loucas Polydorou sue Moster Energy for using him to promote a handrail contest? Will Session ever be on time? Is the KFD team ever getting bigger? For the answers, add Marcel Maassen on Facebook.

RED BULL

A U D I O

V I S U A L

S K AT E B O A R D I N G

V I D E O

M A G A Z I N E

Exposure 15.1 Focus DC South Africa Weekend J-Bay Debut Craig Leak Focus Familia Close Up Loucas Polydorou Plus Bonus Footage

www.avskateboarding.tv www.shop.avskateboarding.tv Advertising, Sales Information and Contributors > Email: info@avskateboarding.tv or go to www.avskatebaording.tv

walking owthe

Guidelines for life as a skateboarder by Brett Shaw. Ph. Wong

SCH L Vs NEW

Often when I’m out, plying my skate-trade, some local ripper will come up to me and say “So, you’re old school hey?”.

SCH

All the stock-standard park questions of ‘Are you sponsored?’; ‘What ABEC are your bearings?’ and ‘Can you K-Grind a tractor’s exhaust pipe?’ are all questions that can be dealt with according to your current mental well being. But when a skater’s mortality is challenged there is always going to be grey areas because a grown-ass man with responsibilities and an invincible teenager with mothertime on his side, aren’t going to approach the gauntlet the same way . So here’s my list of differences between being Old and New school. [1] When you’re Old School you can’t use your thumb to open car doors and push buttons, so you have to abandon your dream of becoming the world thumb wrestling champ because you’ve broken your thumb 50 times doing Indy nose picks on vert ramps. New Schoolers have bruised heels from skating 30 stair handrails, sore fingers from texting and oval balls from wearing girl’s jeans. [2] New School guys get lifts from old school guys because Mom’s buying high heels and Dad’s getting a sack, back and crack wax. [3] Old School dudes have pads (elbow, helmet, wrist, knee and a cricket hip pad), they put glue on their shoes plus they pack a lunch and generally have at

least 9 tattoos. New Schoolers have a cell phone so they can know what their 900 facebook friends are doing while they skate the hip. It’s also handy to get pizza delivered, watch skate clips at the park and send a tweet out when they land a trick.

[6] New Schoolers think PRod invented street skating, watch hellaclips.com everyday and wonder what all the Gonz hype is about. The older crew still mourn Phillips’s death, have a VHS copy of Hokus Pokus and have man-love for the Gonz.

[4] Old School guys have been known to draw the odd limp penis in abandoned pools with the charcoal ends of burnt sticks. New schoolers film their own penis on Chat Roulette.

[7] Old School guys own all the skate shoe companies and the New School guys work for them.

[5] Old School dudes hoot and howl and high five their bro’s while a ghetto blaster plays Slayer in the background. New school guys all skate with earphones on so they never know when someone’s talking to them - which is real fun!

At the end of the day do what ever the hell you want to. What you think is cool is cool, pick your own tricks and stand your ground. Old School, New School, no school, who cares? Animal Chin cares, that’s who. 14

[8] New Schoolers think that a One-Foot ollie is an Ollie North, that Primo is Stevie and frontside airs are Indy? How the hell can backside be frontside? [9] The one thing that young and old both agree on is WTF is Jereme Rogers doing?

DENNIS BUSENITZ FAKIE FIVE-O HALF CAB FLIP BUSENITZ PRO / / / ADIDAS.COM/SKATEBOARDING © 2012 ADIDAS AMERICA, INC. ADIDAS, THE TREFOIL LOGO AND THE 3-STRIPES MARK ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THE ADIDAS GROUP.

ketchup

wandile msomi The story behind av03 : Part 1

Photos: Jonathan Pinkhard | Interview: AD

So let’s paint a picture here. Tell us about where skateboarding was during the production time of AV03? I was working for Revolution at the time. How I got the job was crazy... I offered to work for free. I arrived early and left late for a month, trying to learn how to start my own shop. They made me a permanent after a month, so I got goods from the shop at an amazing price and that motivated me to skate harder. Gavin Morgan, Clint van der Schyf and Neil Hughes would come to the shop and the filming started then. At that time Dave Morrison took a liking to me and he got me on a board company he was working on called New Concern. Dave was the manager at the Rosebank store. So we filmed for AV one and two. By three I was just skating and I was sponsored by Revolution, and I rode for KFD. Things were changing man... people where carving their futures, Gavin and Adrian Day started Familia and my parents just watched their son getting deeper into skating, and forgetting that I went into this to start my own shop... I just took it on my shoulders to push harder and motivate more people to film and roll with us. The first two issues - how many months apart were they? Man, looking back at it the videos took time ‘cos no one then believed in AV.There was no DC Shoes placing advertising budget every issue. It was so DIY and Clint just loved progression, on and off a skateboard. That dude just wanted to make it happen. Without Body and Clint I would have never been on this mission so hard. I used to get a lot of footage at the time man and I used to just hurt myself to add to the cause on a positive level. Brendan Body, I’d love to salute that homie. Peace Bod, it was an amazing trip taking photos for your magazine.

I just took it on my shoulders to push harder and motivate film and roll with us. 18

Switch Backside Tailslide

more people to

Simon Stipcich and Lucky Ngubane were supposed to have parts. How did you end up filming for it? My first photo in Session was a switch frontside 360 ollie over a bin at Market Theatre. I kind of won Clint’s trust with that. I just hung with Lucky, and he was supposed to film a part, and he just left, man, left me and Clint. I was mad at him for that, and I still need to ask him why he did that, ‘cos I had never even filmed a sponsor me video - I didn’t know what to do. So I just jumped at it, man. If you look at my bails, that’s just a kid trying so hard to make it work, with no idea how. No one at that time would roll with Clint and myself. It felt weird, we would meet, and film. But there were times where Clint would also have things he needed to take care of and he would stop filming for months. Then I’d meet Ben Bergh - that homie just loved taking photos and I rolled with him. Then Pablo, I just took all the blows, and manned up.

Wallie in the nick of time.

Clint was ahead of his time, on and off a skateboard, but most people were living in the past. Clint’s energy was so good for the scene in Johannesburg. The little he had, if you asked for it, he would give it to you. I grew so much rolling with homie. I’m smiling now, ‘cos Clint is proving that good people finish first. Support Baseline! Mail Order all your goods from the store. That’s the only shop on my radar. I’m so hyped on Clint and I’ll be a fan for life, man. Thank you, Clint.

When did you know AV03 wouldn’t be going out? Clint just gave me the footage for Plankie. At that time Joubert, Jansen, Skip, Maanda and Sam were all filming for a Plankie video. And I wanted to have a part with Maanda, but I didn’t have enough footage, so I asked Clint for AV footage, and our 3 year trip come to an end then. We both knew it - he didn’t have to tell me. He had lost money investing in the first two AV’s. And real life was happening in a huge way for Clint. My part in Plankie was a tribute to Clint, man.

Has skating changed for you over the years? How so? I’m old now man and in love with more than skateboarding these days. Plus I’m changing things out here in Johannesburg, trying to make more skaters independent. There is a lot to it. I never skated for selfish reasons - that’s why I’m still here, I saw the bigger picture then, now I’m in the money game and I see the bigger picture there. Funisu is more than a skateboard company, and we do more than skateboard. Plus my parents bought me a place, so now I have a HQ from which I strategise. I spend days not skating, because I now have bigger fish to fry. I’m just a brother on a quest, and there are a lot of people behind it.

What were the reasons behind it not being produced, as far as you know? What changed after filming for it? Clint had just had enough man. The first two didn’t sell as he had planned. Skate stores gave him shit and were blind to the vision, plus they wouldn’t pay him when the videos did sell so he had lost money. He was also going through some personal things. The skate scene was small. Session was doing well then, but you still couldn’t find a magazine in skate shops in Johannesburg, that’s how blind people were to the vision.

You recently left a job at Skullcandy, was it just time to move on? Dustin Botha is amazing. He took me under his wing and showed me how to be a better man. I learnt how to be way more focused, plus we grew Skullcandy. And I didn’t rest for a solid two years! I’m still so sore from the amount we worked. Thanks to Dustin and Daniel I feel like a can take on the world.

What are the main differences between AV then and AV now? It’s working, and the faces have changed. Clint’s a dad, and Joubert’s steering the ship. It’s seeing the light thanks to all the support from companies like DC Shoes Africa and Skullcandy, plus the kids are hyped. What I’m super amped on is the whole country’s filming, and sharing their footage on AV.

Where do you see your role in skateboarding now? Just that dude that wants to see skaters put deposits on houses, man. I’m that homie that wants my work to mean something beyond me and Funisu. And I’ll do it, because I see how much skaters are willing. And we the willing, have been working for the wicked, for way too long.

Polejam through the rough.

When did Simon first appear on your radar? We went to Durban. It was Clint, Gavin and myself. I saw a photo of Simon doing a switch varial heel up a cut-out at the Hux Park at that time it was the Island Style park. He had just got on Island style. I just loved hanging with that homie, we kidded off man. Morck was so hyped on Simon. I remember going to a restaurant / video spot and talking skating all night. Few months later he’s over at my parents’ place setting fire to Johannesburg. I still have his article at my place in my magazine rack. That dude was light years ahead and still is. I just loved skating with him, I learnt a lot from Simon. He’s really the dude you want in your corner – a powerful and intelligent man. We just went hard at it.

What I’m super amped on is the whole country’s filming, and sharing their footage on AV. Best session of 2012 so far? Filming this article, for sure, and Clarke’s Ramp in Cape Town. I want to give a huge shout to Clarke’s, man. Support Clarke’s, plus their Veggie Burger rocks. Support Clarke’s! Parting words? It’s been so amazing to take this ride with so many amazing people. Beyond filming for this and that, if we rolled together in the past, thank you. I had a good time I promise. Thanks to Mzwandile for being such an amazing older brother, the guys at Funisu, the team is so cool, you guys make the missions so dope. The Plankie guys are too amped on the dream, my last trip to Cape Town Pieter Retief and those homies had me laughing from beginning to end - good times! Big thanks to Pablo Ponzone and Jonathan Pinkhard for their time, and to Soweto for the support you’ve given Funisu and SSS. To all the homies in town that roll, peace be the journey. DC Shoes Africa and Skullcandy Africa, thanks for the support. And the People at Rockstar Energy. Barry and Helette love you guys. Peace Linzi, you’re amazing Linni.

Have you been filming or shooting outside of this Ketchup article? I’m going crazy trying to film for whatever really. Jay (Besaans) from Durban and Omphile (Bogatsu) from Johannesburg - I’m filming with those homies. Plus Jonathan (Pinkhard), that dude is a dream taking photos with. Omp’s is a G, and he’s always down, plus he’s studying to be a lawyer, so this Fam is thinking about resources! How was it shooting with Jonathan for this article? The energy is so right man. I feel blessed to have worked on this with him. He just understands. Plus I told him that I don’t want to ollie this article. I wanted to surprise people and just do it different, and to challenge myself. Brendan and I know the magic of Johnathan Pinkhard. Why did you look at the camera after that Wallie? Man, security was against us and the sun. I landed that trick so many times, but that moment the security was walking towards us, the light was fading and I got it man. It was worth a look back. We talked about Simon being involved in the article, but he had an accident just before you arrived in Cape Town. Do you think the two of you working on anything together is maybe cursed? Best question! Yeah it seems hahahaha! Been thinking of starting a company with him, feels like it will be cursed to succeed. When are you moving down to Cape Town like everyone else? Too much to do in Johannesburg. Plus the kids here are so hyped to make it work for themselves. I want to be a part of it. I like it high and dry here in Johannesburg. But my girl wants to move closer to the coast. We’ll see what the future brings.

ph. van staden

For a period of years, Cape Town died. Whether the heroin-laced water filtration or tik filled air pollutants tore strips of reality from the populous or whether the whores, drunks and homeless were to blame I cannot say. Cape Town had grown quiet, sporadically raising itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice to be heard over the drone of stoned, lazy, disinterested fools that were skating at the time. Little crews fucking littered the suburbs but seldom crossed paths. It was a fucking rad fucking time where noonegave a fuck but yet it was a period of isolation where many fell prey to other callings.

Recently however, the energy is back. With the migration of a number Durban and Johannesburg skaters into the city limits and with the old Capetonians skating the city more, every day itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to find someone to go skate with. Events are now full of sweaty, dirty, beer-hungry skate-rats. Shit is getting done and it all adds to the growth of rolling. The essence is right and that means the industry can prosper through these connections. This brotherhood and acceptance is the foundation of keeping skating what it should be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fun, pain, work, pleasure and satisfaction. Stories from the refugees and immigrants now residing in the Mother City, walking Long Street, skating Clarkes, bombing Vredehoek, chilling on the beaches and boning uncountable foreign women. compiled by a. Henderson

Kanya Spani varial heel thibault square

ph. bester

loucas polydorou

ph. van staden

wallride nollie out gordons bay

mitchell rice noseblunt sea point 24

When did you move to the Mother City? Joubert: I moved here with Jansen on the 1st of December last year. Adrian: Three years ago. Mitchell: Hmmmm, just after Maloof last year. Loucas: I think it was 2008 or 2009. I can’t even remember anymore. Who cares? Marcel: Beginning of this year. Siya: Last year February. Luke: I just moved down about 6 weeks ago. Although, I’ve been visiting the city for about 14 years during holidays and we’ve had a family apartment here for about the last 9 years. Yann: January this year. Kanya: Like, November.

What was the biggest motivating factor? Jansen: The mountains, the oceans, the skateboarders. More open-minded people. Marcel: ‘Cause my fam came down! Yann: Burger Shop. Kanya: The skating, maybe the girls more [laughs]. How did you get down? Jansen: Drove down in a Jetta. Kwaliteit. Adrian: Me and Eddie [his three-legged dog] drove. Loucas: I flew Kulula and was charged R550 for overweight luggage. Marcel: Hos! I came down as a broke fool - with the bus and all my shit! Yann: Piggy Back. 25

Who did you know that was already living there? Loucas: Just Dazza. The scene down here wasn’t anything close to what it is now. Joubert: Everyone I guess. AD, Pieter, Juan, Leon, Craig, Dewald... the whole streets crew. All the guys from Durban that moved down, as well as the JHB dudes. How many nights out of the first 2 weeks were spent on Long Street? Adrian: Dunno, but I can tell you that on my second day here I got searched for skating by Moleko in Sea Point. Pig. Luke: Not too many nights because I’m not that big into the nightlife scene. I love skating through the city at night though. However, I work at Baseline 6 days a week so needless to say I’m on Long Street all the time. Yann: I can’t remember... Khulu: Well let me think back a little. We spent the whole two weeks on Long Street. Good times, man! Have you been up Table Mountain yet? Jansen: Only halfway... Loucas: It’s free on your birthday, so that’s when I usually go up there. Ask Yann about the last time. We were still drunk from the night before and had no car. Walking up to it doesn’t seem so bad until you realize that the hill leading up is about 90 degrees. Yann: Yeah, on Loucas’ birthday... We hadn’t slept yet, he went up free, I paid R200. Khulu: Yeah bruv, it took me and Frank 1 hour 30 to get up to the top and 30 minutes to get down.

ph. visser

Have you found work or are you studying? Joubert: AV all the way. Siya: Everyday I’m hustlin’, everyday I’m hustlin’... Luke: I work at Baseline skate shop and I run Familia Skateboards from there too. I also do freelance writing wherever I can and I run reprobait.com with Darren Jacoby as a fun side project. My studying days sadly ended when I completed my honours course in December.

khulu dlamini front crooks vredehoek

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switch front noseslide durbanville

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jansen van staden

What’s the biggest difference between your hometown spots and CPT spots? Joubert: There are a lot more hills in CPT, so a lot more downhill spots. Other than that there are similar spots like stairs and ledges in all cities. The best thing about Cape Town is that it is so easy to get away from town and go spend some time in smaller towns like Paarl and Caledon. That’s were all the spots are. Yann: I don’t care - just skate it. Kanya: The view and a lot of wallie shit. Khulu: Cape Town spots are a huge bust, it’s crazy because they issue fines for rolling in the streets, whereas in Durban you are free to roll wherever.

nosebonk green point

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Where did you stay when you arrived? Loucas: On Steak’s couch for 2 months until I moved into a 25 square metre bachelor flat. Yann: My sister’s place... thanks Zoe. Kanya: The Towers.

marcel maassen pop shuvit edgemead

adrian day

Where are you staying now? Joubert: In Sam Clark’s old flat in the Towers. Adrian: Same place but moving to Sea Point to get searched by Moleko. Pig. Yann: In the bushes to the left of the Towers, about 100 meters up the mountain. Have you played Beer Pong at Rafiki’s yet? Joubert: Of course. I’ve won twice with Marcel and once with Khulu. We’ve been slacking lately. Marcel: Say Whaaaaa?! Champions son! But I retired... Luke: Nope, but I always hear stories about Beer Pong victories and defeats when all the lads come and chill at the shop during the day. Yann: Jesus Christ. Khulu: Yeah fool won that shit two times. Every person that comes down here has to play that shit.

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siya ntuli

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bigspin boardslide milnerton

luke jackson

nollie lipslide signal hill

Hardest part about moving to Cape town? Marcel: To find a job. Shit gets done around you and I have no idea how ‘cause people are slow here man, lazy. Town’s slow for me but it’s chilled! Yann: I guess not being able to bring all the homies with me from Durban. Khulu: I spend way too much money and it’s hard to stay away from the night life ‘cause it’s so good.

Top 5 spots to hit when in town. Adrian: The city, the city, the city, the city, the city. Luke: Skate through the city and ride it all, just bomb hills and explore. Siya: 1. Salesian (green ramp); 2. Gardens (when security isn’t being a bitch); 3. City centre (bombing hills); 4. Clarke’s bar (mini ramp); 5. Spots out of town.

Cape Town driving is… Joubert: Kept to a minimum. Bombing hills is the replacement. Jansen: A lot like taking a drive on a Sunday to no particular destination. Mitchell: Insane! Like 3 cars in one lane here. People are insane! It’s like driving a bus on a Putt Putt course!!! Luke: Not great. In JHB if you take more than 5 seconds to pull off from the lights, you’re getting hooted at and verbally abused ha ha! People are on it! Cape Town has narrow roads, hills and a lot of people in a small space so driving can be awkward. Parking is an issue for sure.

Number of foreign nationals you’ve met in town. Joubert: I’ve met most of Khulu’s German wives, not too sure how many there are... Jansen: Germans, Swedish, Mozambicans, Nigerians, Afrikaners, Snobs, the Trendy ones... Adrian: Dazza - he’s from Tableview. Siya: Way too many!

Top 5 places to visit when in town. Adrian: Go into Baseline and ask Luke Jackson. Kanya: Baseline, Revo, Long str, Signal Hill sundowners and Cold Turkey Khulu: Rafiki’s, the whole of Long Street and Kloof Spar for the chicken strips that taste better than KFC.

Biggest misconception about Cape Town you’ve experienced. Joubert: That spots are smooth and perfect Adrian: That people are unfriendly. I have heard that a lot. I think it’s bollocks. A little cliquey here and there but if you’re gonna be bothered that a few hipsters don’t want to share their hair styling secrets with you then you probably don’t deserve friends anyway. Mitchell: It’s easy to live here and that you will find a job. Shit’s not even a joke anymore and I’m sure plenty can agree. Khulu: The bums ain’t no joke.

YANN HOROWITZ OLLIES OVER THE RAIL INTO A CRUSTY BANK IN BOKAAP, CAPE TOWN. PHOTO JANSEN VAN STADEN

ph. bruwer

Favourite thing about the city. Joubert: Being able to bomb a hill into town and to see all the homies from all over on a daily basis. Mitchell: Clean, happy people who actually talk. No one has too little time for you! Luke: The lifestyle in general is really good. You’re always on a skateboard and there is always something going on in town, people aren’t afraid to walk the streets so pavement culture triumphs over mall culture. Yann: How easy it is to hide a body. Kanya: The ladies for sure. Khulu: Rafiki’s restaurant and bar, they sponsor me beer. Most underrated Cape Town skateboarder? Joubert: Juan Smit. Jansen: Dylan Vaughan, Alan Marola. Adrian: Justin Leslie. Mitchell: Really don’t even know just yet... Loucas: Pieter Retief. Marcel: Moses, Shuaib Philander, Tooth, Toothless, Patrick, Donut, Transformer, Craig Leak, Juan Smit and all the kids around here. Man they rip! Way too many to mention. Wesley (Tooth) Siya: Schroeder, Shuaib Philander, Bruin (Toothless), the whole 20sk8 Pit Bulls! That Tao kid, and other Salesian kids. Justin Leslie! The guy rips with speed, quick Luke: snaps and hella good powerslides. He’s one of South Africa’s most underrated skateboarders for sure and he’s a solid geezer too. Pieter Retief. Yann: Andrew Nero. Kanya: Wesely Tooth Schroeder and his Pit bull crew. Khulu: Best mission of 2012 so far? Skate and otherwise The best mission is the one I’m going on Jansen: tomorrow... The day of the Battle of the Benches… Sick Siya: mission! Skateboarding through downtown Cape Luke: Town tonight with Dazza! I also got to work on a cool skate film project for the National Film Board of Canada with JJ Harris and many of our friends on the streets of Johannesburg, just before I moved down. Just being able to roll through city with the Khulu: homies. END

joubert van staden backside flip bree street

Besides the fact that he has a natural ability to skate like no other, Khule’s drive and enthusiasm is something I have come to admire. He always has a smile on his face and a friendly hug to share no matter what the situation might be. I didn’t fully understand his views on the world and religion from the beginning and still don’t to this day, but at the same time I’ve come to respect him because he sticks to what he believes and doesn’t care what others think of him. Watch out, whether it’s religion or skating, Khule is stepping up the game and no one is going to stop him.

OK, so tell me how it all started, referring to skating of course? I was eleven and I bought a Playstation 2 and one of the first games I got was Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland. Then later on my 12th birthday my grandpa asked me what I wanted, so I said ‘I want a skateboard, I want to try it out.’ Then once I got the board I rode it a couple of times and got over it because I thought I couldn’t get any better. But I carried on playing the game and then I saw the X-Games on TV one day, so I got hooked into it. The rest is history as they say, so I’ve been skating 6 and a half years and I’ve never looked back (laughs).

What about you being banned from skating, what was that all about? (Laughs) It was when I was 13 and you know how skateparks are. At the Pavillion right outside there is a smoking section, so my mom would pick me up from there and see this and thought this would have a negative effect on me. Also to add to that black families are not used to the whole skating thing. I used to play A team soccer and basketball and dropped out because of skating and whenever I got bad grades in school or if I’d done something naughty, they would always blame it on skating. So skating was blamed for every little mistake I did, so that’s how I got banned from skating. I found myself skating in secret all the time. I remember my mom taking away my board after two and a half years of skating. I remember that day exactly - I had won my second Volcom Wild In Parks AM contest and went back to show her and she was like, ‘You’re not supposed to be skating,’ and took it away. So the talent was there but I had no one to believe in me, but I thanked God because that didn’t affect me in a negative way.

So that must have it made it harder to skate. So what about God, are you a believer? Yeah around that time is when I got saved. I started believing in him and even though we can’t see God I felt a huge presence helping from a higher power. I’m thankful to him because my mom never caught me skating during that time, although she used to drive up and down the same road I skated on. Then after a while when I got my first Young Gunz photo in the mag she eventually allowed me to skate. She saw what it meant in my life and as long it didn’t interfere with my grades it was all good. I saw her point of view though, it’s hard understanding skating. I used to come home with a broken board and messed up shoes and she’ll be like, ‘What? I have to spend money on new stuff ?’ But then once I got hooked up she started seeing more potential in it and relaxed on the whole thing. I do love her to death though.

So how did you get onto DC? (Laughs) I was skating Pav one day and Mr Morck said he had seen me from the very beginning since I was a little 12 year old kid, so I think he noticed talent in me. He asked if I wanted to ride for DC shoes that day and I was like ‘Whaaat? Sounds dope!’

So now who do you ride for? DC shoes and apparel, also Plan B skateboards. Yeah those are my main sponsors now.

So what about going pro, what is your mindset for the future? Yeah that has to do with sponsors. I’m really thankful to Andrew (Morck) because he really helped me by not giving me too much in the beginning to help understand and work hard towards my goals. Also I’m super happy with Plan B. But now it’s getting to the point where I need to get paid otherwise I’m not going to be able to take it to the next level. And it’s funny because so many kids think that I get tons of stuff, get paid and it’s a glamorous lifestyle, but it’s not that way. It’s cool though to see that overseas you can make a living out of it, which makes a kid like me want to go over there, travel and see if I can really make it. Because if I stay here I don’t want to limit myself or when I’m older have regrets like what if I have gone and tried, what if I could have been this or tried that. So I really want to explore my dreams and praying about it really hard hoping that God will make a way for me. Some things are not of my strength but I can only trust in him. Also sometimes it feels like companies put so much pressure on their riders but they not helping out with things like Medical Aid, getting paid and also travelling budget, so it gets to the point where it’s almost impossible to progress to another level. You know if someone is going hard enough they should get paid, if it happens overseas why is it not happening here in SA?

KHULE NGUBANE

WHERE IS MY MIND Words and Photography by Pablo Ponzone

K-Grind - Kloof

So do you think guys overseas are better because they are getting paid thousands of dollars to throw themselves on rails? Yeah not only that but the fact that they skate all over the world, I mean some of the spots that you see in videos are sick and they are a lot easier to skate than the spots here. You know, look at my last article in the mag, the 48 hours and my video part on AV. It was all shot in Durban, so not having money to travel makes it harder to get better footage and at the same time progress. So, if sponsors in the country can’t meet their rider’s needs the level of the sport here in SA will never progress to that of overseas.

Tailslide frontside flip out - Florida Rd Do you think racism is still an issue in this country? Honestly I don’t see colour. I mean I grew up with just as many white friends as black, so I’ve never felt racism or been part of it. I didn’t grow up in the time of Apartheid being a ‘90’s baby so I don’t understand it. To me the problem is the older generation that have seen the transition, so it starts at home. If the parents start cussing out people because of their colour then the kids will have the same view and will create a problem with different races. But I feel that when the kids of the ‘90’s, like myself that grew up with no Apartheid take over then a new South Africa can start fresh.

Cool. So there is hope somewhere along the line, that’s good to hear. So where to from now in life? Well right now like I said I’m studying but at the end of the year I’d like to go skate Europe or the States, enjoy skating new spots and see where it all goes from there.

So what else do you do besides skating? Besides skating I’m doing a business course so hopefully one day I can have my own business and do what I love. To me life is about happiness and I want to pursue that happiness. The 9 to 5 is not for me. I couldn’t sit in an office all day long - I’m too hyper! I also record music, taking my time with that because skating is a full on job for people that don’t know. I say that because everybody see us sponsored and getting all this free stuff and think that’s where they want to be, but they don’t understand the pain, sweat and tears that go with that. If you want to do this it has to be for the right reasons because you love and enjoy it. Basically I like to hang out with my friends - one of them is SkyRoq Nation-Arnold - when they record and a lot of DJ friends, Abbu, the Genesis dances crew... they’re all on DC so we get to hang out. And the skater homies that are here in Durbs - Braxton, Claudio, Lance, The Cloudy brothers Crew and the OG’s (GVB, Mr Morck, Ken Rae, Dave and Danny from Iron Fist), and yeah don’t forget Thalente at the beach park and other homies I see. I also love spending time with my grandparents because I get a lot of wisdom and life experiences from them.

So what type of music do you record? Hip hop but I listen to a lot of other music - anything that sounds good to the ear!

Who influences your skating from overseas? Right now it has to be Felipe Gustavo, because he came from Brazil with nothing and managed to make it in America, which is a big motivation for me because I’d like to do something similar to that. And others like P-Rod, Luan Olivera, Mike Mo, and Nyjah Houston because he is just doing damage at such a young age. They influence my skating big time!

What about locally? Moses. He is my friend but I still look up to him because his skating is still on point and he just loves it! The Plankie crew I have respect for because they push the whole local scene. And I have mad respect for Dlamini because of the way he pushes hard at skating. And can’t forget my man Simon because he is just crazy, you won’t see him for weeks and he’ll still do the craziest tricks ever. And if someone, anyone else is doing something dope I’m motivated by it, and whatever is on the AV and Session mag.

“ The 9 to 5 is not for me. I couldn’t sit in an office all day long - I’m too hyper! ”

Halfcab noseslide to backtail - Jay’s 55 Pinetown

FS noseslide nollie 270 heelflip out - Stadium

You seem really determined to go overseas and make a living out of skating. Do you still enjoy it as much as before? Like in the beginning more than now, where you’re more focused on getting paid for it? Over the years I’ve gotten to love it more than the beginning, ‘cause I use skating as a stress reliever just to get away from everything and on

‘‘ I use skating as a stress releaver just to get away from everything and on my board I feel so free and happy ‘‘

my board I feel so free and happy. And that to me is still the best feeling. Also skating with friends just keeps motivating me to keep pushing. Even though I have to get up super early in the morning sometimes to go shoot a photo, I still get excited. I still watch skate videos to get me amped before I go skating and I still skate for hours even if it’s hot or cold because I just enjoy it so much. So I would love the opportunity to get paid so I can carry on doing it and have no other job on the side to make ends meet.

How do you think sponsors should support their riders in the country? There are so many ways that sponsors can support their riders. Being sponsored is a sort of privilege, and sponsored skaters should remember that and not take advantage of our sponsors by taking too much when we don’t really need it. Back to the subject, they can support their riders by giving back what they put in. So if a rider is getting exposure the sponsor should push a lot of product for them and they should

Switch FS heelflip - NewPier Beach

be getting paid some money for it.

Skateboarding seems to be dying here in Durban particularly, do you know why that is? I think it has a lot to do with the Pavillion skatepark closing, kids are not really into the whole street vibe so we lost a whole lot of skaters because of that. Also with the good skaters like Yann, Simon and Khulu moving to CT it has made a difference with the local scene. Also Pav was the meeting spot before a street mission so it has affected things on a negative note.

I noticed when Dlamini is around and we go shoot you guys really push each other, does that help you become better? Dlamini works really hard at the skating thing. He skates every day and I only skate on weekends, so when we do skate together we push each other to a higher level.

Do you think the world is going to end in December 2012? What are your views on that? I laugh at that thought but even if it does end I wouldn’t be mad because I’ve accomplished a lot of my goals in life and I’ve been blessed to have a lot of positive people that have been a great influence. So even if it ends I have faith that I’m going to heaven so it’s all good. It’s good to see that you have those dreams and the drive to see them through.

So how would you like to end this interview? I like to thank God first for all the blessings, my family for dealing with my skating for all these years - glad you can see that is paying off - and my sponsors DC and Plan B. Also all the friends that I have around SA that are good to me, people in JHB, CT and home, Durbs. Knowing that all things are possible if you strive really hard for them so believe and achieve! Thank to Session for the opportunity to be in the mag - it has been a goal of mine for a really long time and to all the people supporting me mad love to them. God Bless!

Feeble FS bigspin out - Wedge Beach

This 48 Hours article was definitely one of those gambling, last minute missions. When another article I was working on flopped a week before before it was due, I decided to call in Anthony and Brendan to take care of business - the weekend before deadline. On the Friday before we started, Brendan received the news that Revolution would be hooking him up with a shop sponsorship. His very first sponsor, I might add, which was way over due. At the same time Anthony aka Skate Coach got an offer from Supra. This was exactly the kind of spark we needed to ignite a decent start to the weekend.

forty eight hours wit h an t hony de me nd onca and brendan dyamond words and photos by jonathan pinkhard

At around 07:30 on Saturday morning I met up with Anthony, just down the street from where I stay. Brendan needed a wake up call after a heavy night out on the town as usual. We picked up Brendan from his place, waited for him to finish a bowl of spaghetti bolognaise for breakfast and cruised through to Kempton civic centre. This seemed like a good place to start considering Anthony had to be at work by 09:00. In the short time it took us to get there, Brendan had fallen asleep on the back of my bakkie - typical party animal. Still half asleep Brendan though it would be a good idea to try 50/50 the sketchy gap to rail against the wall. If you’ve been to the civic you’ll know how crusty this rail is. After a few tries he got the hang of it and put one down only to break his board straight in the middle. This didn’t seem to put him off whatsoever, as he bent his board straight again with a few good knocks and rolled away after two more tries. Next up was Anthony with a switch f/s flip down the stairs. I hardly had time to change my position from the last trick and Anthony put it down with cushion-like steez, making sure he wasn’t too late for work. We hung out at Festival for an hour and I snuck in a quick session while Brendan set up his fresh board compliments of Revolution. After a cool little session and a good cup of coffee, Brendan and I left Anthony to work and we headed off to Jozi hoping to find something worth shooting. I took Brendan to a spot in Kruis Street, where these rad banks had recently been set free after being closed off with horrible palisade for quite some time. We first messed around on it for a bit until Brendan started sliding front blunts. After almost an hour of landing but not rolling away clean in the midday sun, he finally popped out frontside and finished the battle.

Before we left town we went on a special operation to bomb a 7 storey spiral basement - mad fun indeed! At about 15:00 it was time to head back to Kempton to fetch Anthony, but as we got there it started pissing down with rain and all our clever plans were ruined. Typically, Balfour Park was our only option as we had to try and get something. Luckily Anthony had a little fun up his sleeve and made a f/s smith to tail look super good. Brendan also got technical with a front tail flip out. This was the only flip trick he had for the weekend seeing that his ankle was still recovering from an ugly sprain the week before. We called it a day after this and all headed in different directions for the evening, praying for clear skies in the morning. Sunday morning kicked off a little late as expected but with blue skies in all directions. When we got to Brendan’s it was clear we missed a good night of havoc. Thabo and Maddy were still crashed in the lounge desperately trying to sleep in. Whilst Brendan’s mom made us a cup of coffee we chilled in the morning sun, messing around with the dogs and discussing our tactics for the day ahead. We left to go skate the Marlboro ledge at around 10:00am, stopping to pick Dean up on our way. At Marlboro we waxed up the virgin ledge and Anthony broke that hot concrete in with

a slick back tail, making it look too easy as always. Brendan was nowhere to be seen and eventually Anthony spotted him napping under my car. Seriously, who sleeps under a car next to the highway on a Sunday morning? Anyhow, next time you cruising on the N3 North be sure to check it out. Our next spot was just one off-ramp back at London road. A 50/50 on this steel barrier pop over into a sketchy bank on the other side which was a lot more gnarly than it looked. The idea was to shoot it late afternoon for better light but Brendan was really feeling it and clouds were slowly building up. He landed a solid 50/50 pop over without too much pain and made it look good for the photo. The day was going great - it wasn’t even 12:00 yet and we already had two tricks in the bag. From here we had to cruise through to festival again to fetch the flat kicker for another task later on. Obviously a quick session was in order on the Adidas obstacle, but not for too long because time was ticking. I figured a chilled Alexandra adventure would be a good idea so off we went. The basic plan for Alex was to find a cool bump to session. Alex must have the best speed bumps in the whole of Johannesburg. This turned out to be a little tricky at midday on a Sunday due to traffic. Luckily our homie Thato came cruising

forty eight hours

Anthony spotted him napping under my car. Seriously, who sleeps under a car next to the highway on a Sunday morning? 48

LEFT: Gap to 50/50 chink, nice and early like. TOP: 50/50 pop-in from the highway.

past as we were about to give up and took us to an even better bump in a calm side street. While Anthony was getting a feel for the bump it started drizzling and he had maybe 10 minutes of dry tar left. If you’ve ever met Anthony you’d know he’s not at all put off by pressure, he just stayed focussed and banged a nifty backside flip over the bin just before the road started getting too wet. The rain didn’t look as heavy as the day before so we decided to go chill at Brendan’s house until the weather cleared. Brendan’s mom is a master in the kitchen and being Sunday we were spoilt with an amazing home cooked meal and an ice cold beer. Luckily it stopped raining around 16:30 and we were able to get back to work after dessert. I took the guys to a spot in Jet Park next to the N12. This spot has a lot to offer but because of the rain most areas were still flooded. Our only option was to skate the hip high yellow rail, but we had the kicker otherwise it would have been an epic fail. By now the sun had completely set and the wind was chilly. I positioned my car lights on the rail so Brendan could see what he was doing. This was a good idea bearing in mind the dangerous rail sticking out right behind the rail he was grinding… A miss could have ended terribly to say the least. He went straight at it kamikaze style and landed a warm up backlip followed by a perfect backside overcrook.

LEFT: DIY’ing it out. Frontside boardslide. TOP: Backside flips for the kids.

...the landing was a complete nightmare and the top of the sign was made of shitty aluminium so it kept bending in.

It was getting colder and we all felt trashed but there was still one spot for Anthony to conquer. The last spot was up the road from the Edenvale post office. It was a rad barbershop sign that we seriously underestimated, the landing was a complete nightmare and the top of the sign was made of shitty aluminium so it kept bending in. We had to scout the area for a while to try and find any material that could make the landing half doable. It eventually came together with wet wood, cardboard and sticks. Anthony had to really push himself to go for it - the landing was super narrow and sketch and an ugly bail or two was inevitable. After his first attempt the rail started bending and we realized he was going to miss the landing by far, so we rebuilt it and bent the rail back

forty eight hours

again. Anthony ate proper shit sticking on the landing and went flying into some rough tar. He persisted in attacking the rail with the cold, pain and pressure weighing down on him. A few tries later he regained his guts and tried putting another one down, this time landing just right. We were beyond blown away, waking the whole neighbourhood with our hooligan cheers.

Anthony and Brendan closed the article by bombing Van Riebeeck Road down to the McDonalds for a late night snack. end

Maanda Muluadzi switch front noseslide. Ph. Pablo Ponzone

Dean Marais pays his toll with a blue billed backside tailslide. Ph. Jonathan Pinkhard 54

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Stuart Walker for his ollie. Photo by Werner Lamprecht.

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Ten years of SA skateboarding in review by Luke Jackson

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Session Magazine dropped its first issue in September 2002. The first cover belonged to Clint van der Schyf, whose frontside boardslide (on a particularly large handrail) became instantly iconic in South African skateboarding. Brendan Body, the founding editor, was pictured doing a frontside grind in an empty pool along with his first editor’s note which stated, “This is a skateboarding magazine, about skateboarders and their lifestyles living in South Africa... This is for us.” AV Video Magazine advertised the coming premiere of its first issue. Johannesburg’s Lucky Ngubane frontside 5-O’d the large JCE ledge representing for the old stalwart, IS Footwear. The first feature article focussed on the city of Johannesburg (Shine like Gold) and contained various images of the city’s downtown spots and the skateboarders who frequented its streets. Among the photos, Clayton Petersen had a frontside

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noseslide on the granite ledge (to drop) in Market Street, Geoff Blackbeard switch crook’d angle banks, Neil Hughes switch frontside flipped a bin gap at LBGs, and Jack Daphne kickflipped the Standard Bank steps. The first featured interview labelled “Where is My Mind” focussed on the infamous Gavin Morgan. Gav shredded a variety of spots around Johannesburg in his interview, including three night photos, which are still a rarity in South African skateboarding today. This interview is right up there as one of my favourite features ever to come out of Session. The first centrefold belonged to an Adrian Day, kickflipping over a rubbish bin at the Booysens Bump. The photo gallery depicted snaps from around the country, including Andrew Morck’s lofted ollie over a big rail in Durban, and Christi Wiehahn’s astonishingly big gap to frontboard on a handrail in Cape Town.

The first 48 hours featured a balls-to-thewall, long-haired, headband-wearing JP Redpath who nowadays goes by the preferred title of `Julian’. He also grabbed the back cover with a Wavehouse advert, nosegrinding down one of the park’s big rails whilst wearing a helmet (everyone hated that shitty helmet rule). Three band interviews appeared, including: Good Riddance, Frenzal Rhomb and Fuzigish. An 18 year old Inus Wiehahn debuted in the `Young Guns’ section, and Neil Hughes and Brendon Lewis kicked off the stick tips nice and easy with `The Ollie’. Ten years later, plenty more faces and places across South Africa and the world have graced the pages of this skate rag and kept us all inspired. Here’s to the next ten and all the characters we’re sure to meet along the way.

Blox

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2012/05/28 Spoon Blockhead

2:42 PM Worm

jimskates.com

p o l e j a m s

tick ips

st The Element team provides some advice on learning new things.

Generally a result of an accident or bumper bash, polejams are a rare discovery. It’s a tricky one to get the hang of and should be approached with ruthless determination to conquer. Do not do this slowly. Ever.

w i t h d a m o

Find a pole/rail that’s suitably bent, or bend it. Go at the pole with the intention of ollieing over it. Actually, do that. Ollie over it first if you can. Now try the ollie again but this time shove your board into the pole as you scoop with your front foot. (fig. 4 & 5)

Keep your weight centred and feet over your bolts as you float it out. Commit. Slam those wheels down and roll it out. 60

r 5BORO

Beware of The Seesaw

That bail where your feet go out in font of you, your ass lands on the pole and your head inevitably hits the unforgiving ‘crete. To avoid this, keep your head down and your weight centered as you hit the pole, but most importantly, know without a doubt that you are going to jam that rail. Never doubt your success.

Join Or Die

Skate Video Reviews with Luke Jackson

Think

Business As Usual

Get involved

ph. Reinhardt Germishuijs

ail your contributions photos, letters and entries to info at sessionmag dot see oh dot zed ay

L ow res is seventy two dpi and

about two thousand pixels on your longest edge.

Kick your foot out to its maximum stetch once you’ve grinded up the pole so you pop off the top. (fig. 6 & 7)

ainy ays

W e reserve the right to our own opinions of your submission.

This is another video that went straight to the internet in conjunction with Thrasher Magazine. It seems to be the thing to do right now but that makes sense because the internet can get videos out to a large audience, at a low cost. Any brands that want to work through an online platform then just drop us a line (info@reprobait.com). Shameless self-promotion. 5Boro is all about New York City and East Coast flavour, hell even their name refers to the five boroughs of New York City in itself. This video is stacked with raw and gritty skateboarding captured predominantly on the streets of that very city. Tombo Colabraro is 5Boro’s team manager and filmer. He always puts together videos with good energy. Jimmy McDonald is a standout part to me with his typical adapt-or-die approach to rough spots. Names like Willy Akers and Danny Falla might be unfamiliar to most but trust me when I say these guys shred. Dan Pensyl is an East Coast legend and he is by no means over the hill - he’s a champion of `awkward’. The two solid montage sections in the middle destroy most companies’ entire videos in my opinion. Joe Tookmanian takes the curtains, if you don’t know the name, do yourself a favour and look it up on Youtube. Actually, turn off ESPN because Rob Dyrdek is a douchebag and go watch the 5Boro video online instead.

Think is one of those long-running skate companies that is always there somewhere in the background. They don’t really seem to have a definitive identity but they sure as hell have a good squad. When City Skateboards closed down their team and joined Think, suddenly a new force to be reckoned with emerged. This video went straight to the internet and was released in conjunction with Thrasher Magazine as well. Josh Mathews opens the video with a surprisingly good part, surprising because most have never heard of him. He had a banger online part for eS Footwear just before they shut down [Josh deservedly found himself a place at HUF Footwear]. Canadian Russ Milligan has one of my favourite section. I’ve been following the guy for years and whilst he may be somewhat below the radar, he always rips. The fakie 3 flip over a road gap in the SF hills is proof of his ability. Adrian Williams has lines and combos for days, to the sounds of the mighty Wu Tang. Danny Fuenzalida was recently in SA on tour with Lil’ Wayne and Stevie Williams, and as a long time `Think’ affiliate comes through with the goods as usual. Cody McEntire, Dave Bachinsky and Lee Yankou close out the film with the obligatory hammers. This flick is way better than I expected, check it out online for yourself.

Secky Presh

`Secky Presh’ is Australian slang used to describe moments when you’re under pressure to land something before security shuts you down. This is a scene video from the city of Melbourne, made by Geoff Campbell. It features a bunch of nutters who go out of their way to intentionally skate whatever they like, in spite of obvious `bust’ situations. Shopping malls, hotel lobbies, department stores and business receptions are all tackled with reckless abandon. These guys are all pretty `on it’ because in the limited time they have within these locations they manage to throw down some remarkable manoeuvres. Naturally, they also manage to piss a lot of people off. I’ve been really into Australian skateboarding recently with companies like `Passport’ and `The 4 Skateboard Company’ dropping solid videos online. Passport’s Callum Paul is one of my favourites - the guy is a `slappy’ variation master and it always looks like he’s having fun. Nick Boserio just had a banger of a part online for Alien Workshop and he continues on his journey of destruction in this video. The video is a must see, if for no other reason, just to be amazed at what some people manage to get away with on a skateboard.

Adrian Day imparts sustenance on which the mind can dwell.

? t A d a e H r u o Y s ’ e Wher

Have an Adrian day

JIMMY WONG

Skateboarding is often a grass is greener affair... Spots, parks and scenes often appear to be better in other places, leaving us bitching on the curb. Over the last few years, the scene in Cape Town is on the up again, after what can only be described as a relatively lacklustre period when the parks closed down and half the scene died. Skateboarding was declared dead by non-skater operated retailers [again] and every other city appeared to be booming. Johannesburg has always had the scene and spots, and Durban has been spoilt with the beachfront park and sudden explosion of sick legitimate street spots. After travelling a little last week and with an ear to the ground, I have heard so many people lately seemingly envious of the Cape Town skate scene, and as you can see in the Coup d’Etat article, plenty of skaters have migrated from their home town to arrive below the mountain. But really, not too much has changed. There are still no parks, we have nowhere near the amount of spots in comparison to any other metropolitan area, and our security and cops are definitely the worst I have encountered anywhere in SA. Our spots are rougher by and large and we can get tickets for skateboarding as we have a By-Law that categorises skateboarding as a `nuisance’. But when I look around at how strong the vibe is, I am stoked. And it has only to do with the people involved. The collective push of a scene. It takes more effort, an adaptation to uncomfortable and crusty spots and a determination to avoid complacency and giving up. Skateboarding is about your eye, the fundamental exploration of what can be done where, and doing that with like-minded people who are also purveying the same form. Perfect spots are non-existent, and I’d rather be skating a shitty rock with my friends than a perfect spot alone.

W h

w h

The enjoyment of skateboarding is a mindset, and it takes an open mind to make it happen. That will speak volumes more at the end of the day. You have to be hungry for it, and not spoon fed perfection. It’s a make-do affair, and a make-themost and opportunistic approach essential. Have a nice day, bitches.

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w i

r o l

James Harris Interview; Jimmy Wong Where is my mind; Ketchup with Christi Wiehahn; EASTERN CAPE EXPOSURE; PRETORIA IN FOCUS; ALAN MAROLA INTERVIEW; MALOOF TRAVELS; SESSION VIDEO ARTICLE;

tattanalogy; local produce; diy building; oom smit says; plus giveaways and comps. 62

JIMMY WONG WEARS THE FOCUS TEE, CHINOS & SALTY SAILOR BEANIE. SEE THE ENTIRE RANGE AT WWW.DOPEIND.COM

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