Session Magazine - Issue 60

Travels & TUNES GiovanniVotano

Every spot diy-ed HartmutMartin

issue 60 | june/july 2014 | RSA R34.95 / OTHER R30.04

Jean-Marc Johannes in Oman. ‘I used to skate’.

Make It Count. Superbowl Saturday. Ballies JAM. LATENT POTENTIAL. I AM. closet envy + more.

DC

DC

08

Redial

10

Recents

12 Latent Potential 14 TRIBUTE 18

Jean-Marc in oman

20

Nero 48hrs

26

Hartmut diy-er where is gio’s mind

36

the jaakness

52

Ballies Comp

46

54 Superbowl Saturday 56

kimberley PLAZA UPDATE

58 Closet Envy 60 I Am 62

Bizness

63

shindigs

64 The Passenger 66

Blackboard

COVER: Giovanni Votano backside flips over a ‘crete boobie in Port elizabeth.

PH. ClarK CONTENTS: Dylan vaughan makes use of geRman architecture to blast an ollie around the corner from his lady’s house.

PH. Clark

@STARHEADBODY @ELEMENTSA @ELEMENTAFRICA ELEMENT SOUTH AFRICA

EVAN SMITH SMOKE SIGNAL 8.25 X 31.75

P H O T O B Y E L E M E N T A D V O C AT E : BRIAN GABERMAN

SWITCH KICKFLIP

ADIDAS.COM/SKATEBOARDING Š 2014 adidas AG. adidas, the trefoil logo and the 3-Stripes mark are registered trademarks of the adidas Group.

REDIAL

Sometimes you don’t have to Do It Yourself.

Street lamp 50-50.

Brendan Body

THERON

It usually happens around the time you want to knock off for the day and means you may be going to a bar.

The Session office gets a pretty constant flow of skateboarders visiting its door each week and with this being our 60th issue you can imagine how many dudes have stopped by for a visit or to bring us their new photos over the years.

Brendan Body

Editor in Chief / advertising brendan@sessionmag.co.za

Adrian Henderson

Sub Editor / ART DIRECTION ad@sessionmag.co.za

Luke Jackson

Web Editor / Finance info@sessionmag.co.za

Clint van der Schyf photo Editor

SUBS!

Some of the current regular faces include Jansen van Staden who normally drops in with a fresh batch of clips and pics from one of his skate missions, we speak in half english / half afrikaans and I ask him a lot of questions about his new missions and what it’s like having dreadlocks. Neil Hughes is another office lurker, he always has been and has got a specific knock so I know it’s him. It usually happens around the time you want to knock off for the day. It may mean you’re going for a skate but usually we end up at a bar. Loucas Polydorou lives just up the road and often stops in to talk about taking more photos and finding new spots, however our conversations always seem to sway towards the ups and downs of life, our cats and smoking cigarettes. It’s our little support group. With JJ Harris it’s all war stories. We talk some skateboarding but it’s mostly about his partying shenanigans and what him and Donaldson get up to each weekend, it’s hilarious. He’s also recently added a sort of

Photographers:

Sam Clark, Jansen van Staden, Grant Mclachlan, Jonathan Pinkhard, Andre Visser, Clinton Theron, James Bringas, Maksim Kalanep, Lari Winterburn, Kevin Louw, Janine Louw, Martin Kotze, Mike Chinner.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Brett Shaw - Words; Alessandro Burzacchi - Illustrations; Dylan Vaughan & Tino Petersen - Captions.

R150 for 6 Issues Email subs@sessionmag.co.za with your name, address and contact number and get your Session delivered to your door.

8 | sessionmag.co.za

gangster twang to the way he speaks, I worry about him. Kanya usually rolls in with Khulu, both will ask if Joubert is around or have I seen Yann, then sit and page through the latest Kingpin, Sidewalk or Thrasher before going for a skate. And most recently it’s been Giovanni because we have been tying up his interview for this issue, it’s been good to catch up again and talk about his life and skateboarding.

Point is that all of these regular visits, cups of coffee, conversations and friendly banter that take place are because of skateboarding. It’s what brings dudes past the office and puts our ideas together. It’s the common thread weaving in and out of our lives. It’s the carrot on a stick and we’re all happy to follow it.

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* Support Independent Skate Media Session Skateboarding Magazine is published independently 6 times a year. 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, its owners or its 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 the jaakness being fed his secret serum to go hulk on your ass. Amd face for that matter.

NEFF

N O W AVA I L A B L E • 0 11 2 6 2 0 3 9 9 / 6 • i n f o @ l u k s b r a n d s . c o m • w w w. l u k s b r a n d s . c o m N O W AVA I L A B L E • 0 11 2 6 2 0 3 9 9 / 6 • i n f o @ l u k s b r a n d s . c o m • w w w. l u k s b r a n d s . c o m

tribute

Roll In Peace

1989 - 2014

Today we say goodbye to a soldier on the front line of reshaping the identity of SA skateboarding and a teacher whose humility inspired those around him.

The importance of this brother and filmmaker, may be lost to a lot but not to us. Omps was at the vanguard of creating new personas in the SA skate community. His videos are a simple reflection of that. The streets of Jozi were claimed, reframed and presented to a growing new audience. Finally there was access to skaters in SA doing it for themselves and by themselves.

- Mooki Mooks

Omphile was the backbone of the JHB skate community, one you could always rely on. I met him as a lanky young man at Friday night sessions in Montecasino. He had an immensely positive energy and stoodout with a complex trick selection. Later on - Omps, the Raw brothers, Lwando and Craig became the indivduals I skated with the most. We would meet downtown every Friday afternoon after college and skate all weekend. I would never have to call him because I knew he would

be there every week without fail. We played 1000 games of SKATE to warm up on winter afternoons and squeezed into a dry space under the highway in Newtown when summer downpours hit. He would call in advance if he was to miss a session, if he had exams or later on when he became a candidate attorney and had to bail someone out in court.

He was intelligent and insightful but never took a session too seriously, he loved quoting ignorant rap lyrics and squatting next to a whip.

At the same time he had a law degree and appreciated some fine jazz, the sounds of which were often heard playing in his signature white Yaris. He always gave everybody a ride and never asked for anything in return. He dedicated hours and hours to filming homies out on the streets and edited parts that he would send me for Reprobait and later for Session. He didn’t care how good you were, if you were out there trying then he saw the value in that and wanted to share it with others.

I always joked with him about how we should have all spent more time filming him.

Every scene has their stars who stand out but behind the scenes there are those who define it, Omphile defined ours. Truly a unique individual, I will always hold dear the fond memory of the times we spent together out on the streets. Rest in peace my friend.

- Luke Jackson

Mooki’s full tribute with videos here: www.andilesbored.com/2014/05/27/omphile-bogatsu-tribute

10 | sessionmag.co.za

@CONVERSE--CONS

CONS AMBASSADOR MIKE ANDERSON, FRONTSIDE FLIP

Recents

2

nd

Recently I...

12 | sessionmag.co.za

1st

3rd

VAN STADEN

The top 3 from the Make It Count contest.

khule ngubane

dlamini dlamini

anton roux

The homie Omphile Bogatsu left us! I was truly bummed out! I had the privilege to know him and film with him. R.I.P O-Money!!!

We lost a good friend & filmer. R.I.P Omphile my brother. He will be missed by many.

Voices in my head.

Dlamini Dlamini win Element ‘Make It Count’ contest. Hyped for him! His dedication always amazes me!

A bum get fucked up by ten people, then try to jump down a two story building at Civic Centre in order to get away.

A monkey taking a vet skommel.

Happy when I got home and rolled one up haha!

Really good about skateboarding growing in SA.

Sorry for the monkey.

Mom’s home cooked meal.

Chicken and waffles at Lefty’s.

Some home cooked meals.

Mom’s home cooked meal!

A fish head.

Rain coming.

How blessed I am to be breathing. To be living a life I’m proud of and for family. Can’t forget all the homies for the support too!

It would be cool to have dinner with Corinne Bailey Rae and taste those soft lips.

South Africa needs Skater of the Year.

JP Du Preez’s part at the Cannabeans premiere in Cape Town and I just got goosebumps. It was a powerful moment I won’t forget!

Plankie x Dope video.

A blou film.

Books on spiritually, Facebook and emails haha.

Some lady in Nigeria wants me to reply to her Facebook message, as she is a refugee, has kids & wants us to bond.

A lot of articles on jenkemmag.com.

Nothing.

Time.

Time thinking of an answer for this question.

H20. It’s good for you.

Absinthe.

Too much coffee.

From crazy baboons because they wanted our food haha. Cape Town is wild!

Onto my board.

To the toilet after eating an Indian bunnychow.

Civic ledges with the homies.

Valhalla.

A really cool bank that we found on a regular Damd street mission.

About accomplishing all my dreams.

About Zoe Saldana.

About a world without Justin Bieber.

The days I can’t skate due to injuries! Pray I can stay off those for a bit.

Not sleeping.

The fact that it’s winter.

Someone smile :)

Noodles with cheese and mayonnaise.

A decision not to skate rails while intoxicated.

• 6 hand Japanese wide-eye chrono • 48mm / 200 meter • 3 link custom stainless steel band

Paul Rodriguez

TEAM-DESIGNED, CUSTOM-BUILT, STEADFAST.

THE 48-20 CHRONO

nixon.com

LATENT POTENTIAL Art & Skateboarding

Daniel Joubert Daniel Joubert is a final year art student at the Ruth Prowse School of Art. Most of his conceptual and visual ideas evolve around skateboarding as a theme.

Currently he is looking at the engagement and relationship between space, body, city and skateboarding. He captures marks and traces from used decks, micro architectural objects and surfaces such as as rails, ramps, banks and ditches.

He captures and creates these marks through the exploration of frottage and printmaking.

These marks depict a physical engagement with an object, surface or space.

He also does illustration, creating supernatural characters and events, usually based on the raw, depraved and wonderfully unpleasant ideas and themes evolving from night life and skateboarding.

14 | sessionmag.co.za

How old are you and how did you get into skateboarding?

There was a time when all kids just got skateboards.

When I got one, I could not stop. I’m 21 now.

How did you get into art?

I remember watching Titanic and after Jack sketched that naked chick in the movie I tried sketching as well, and basically never stopped. I went on taking art as a subject in high school and so forth, I just liked creating stuff.

What town in SA are you from and did growing up there influence your skateboarding and art?

Pretoria. Yes, I basically spent most of my childhood years at Thrashers skatepark. I definitely learnt how to draw and so on in Pretoria, but I feel I get more inspiration since being in Cape Town. I think it’s because of all the diversity, which Pretoria has none of.

Why did you base your thesis on skateboarding, space and the city?

I really wanted to make skateboarding my main focus for my final year. I did not know how though. My teacher, Lynette Bester, introduced me to a book called ‘Skateboarding, Space and the City’ and it basically became my Bible this year. Reading that book and skating a lot, inspired me to look deeper into the notion skateboarding, space and the city, especially looking at the emotional and physical traces it leaves behind.

Skaters are people who rethink everything.

Skateboarding is an art form. How would you explain that?

Skateboarding has got rhythm, body, movement and expression. Just like a good painting.

What kind of materials do you prefer working with?

Pen and ink for illustrations and printmaking for my main body of work this year. I have also been using the skateboard as a brush, riding over inked up paper, capturing marks and traces from rails, ramps, decks, etc.

But I like trying out all forms of making art.

What common links do you find between skateboarding and art?

No money to be made.

Many skateboarders are artists or are involved within the creative industry, why do you think that is?

I think being a skateboarder automatically puts you in a subculture where music, art, and creativity is very much involved. Skaters are people who rethink everything. They don’t walk up a set of stairs and think “I’m going to walk the shit out of these stairs”, they think what they can do down these stairs with their skateboard. It defeats the whole purpose of that piece of architecture. Skaters completely rethink architecture, the city, space and normal ways of living just by using a board on wheels. I think that is very creative, thus making them creative people, suitable for the creative world.

What is your plan with your art after you finish your final year?

Just going to keep on skating and creating.

Any thanks?

My parents, brother and everyone in Pretoria. My fellow students at Ruth Prowse. Rupert, Massimo, Pabi and Geoff - you guys are cunts.

No money to be made. sessionmag.co.za | 15

s k at e b o a r d i n g c o l l e c t i o n l e v i . c o . z a / s k at e b o a r d i n g

6141/2

STRONG MADE STRONGER

l e v i . c o . z a / s k at e b o a r d i n g s k at e b o a r d i n g c o l l e c t i o n

5000 MILES

Tales of foreign lands.

So you know the popular skate trip countries and cities right?

Beijing, Barcelona, California, Berlin, Prague, Sydney, Oman...

TOP LEFT: Where’d you go lately? Can YOU Backside Flip a Mosque? Didn’t think so.

TOP RIGHT: There may be a lack of scantily clad betties, but these sexy ledges are straight out of a teenager’s wet dream.

RIGHT: Full uniform Frontside air.

18 | sessionmag.co.za

Wait... O-What-now?

PHOTOS: James Bringas WORDS: Warren Stopforth

Don’t worry if you have or haven’t heard of it, it’s time you visited. Muscat hugs the north east coast of peaceful Oman. It’s a very tropical atmosphere up here, the mountains and seas bringing you the nature while the coastal city brings you the uniquely constructed Arabian architecture, making it a skateboarding heaven.

To most skateboarders the Sultanate of Oman is not the first place you have on your list of skateboarding road trips. To my knowledge Muscat was first visited by Cale Nuske in Cliche’s 2008 ‘Live and Unplugged’ video and now Red Bull brought out Jean-Marc Johannes to skate with the locals and get a taste of the spots.

Little did a lot of us know that skateboarding has been evolving in the middle east since the early 90’s, starting in Jordan, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and then fairly recently in the Sultanate of Oman,

this secluded skateboarding ledge paradise is very rarely a bust.

Muscat. A welcoming bunch of locals and expatriate skateboarders putting skateboarding on the map.

Most skateboarders are in search of unskated territory, this secluded skateboarding ledge paradise is very rarely a bust. Instead, most people stand and applaud and get stoked, even the security guards until their supervisor comes along.

Three years ago I started Oman Skate which grew from just a handful of skaters. Now there are about 150 skateboarders and with the help of Technique Skateboards and Red Bull we have managed to support and progress the skateboarding culture. I currently run the skate shop out the back of my pick-up which I drive to Dubai for supplies!

Over the last year skateboarders have been passing through here like Africa Skate’s Andrew Nero, Americans, Germans, Swiss and the European Volcom crew are coming in early June. If you ever decide to visit Muscat, please take a moment and look out for our Facebook page - Oman Skate. SA passport holders can buy tourist visas on arrival.

Salam!

sessionmag.co.za | 19

The return of the 48 Hours article has been heavily discussed over the past year. All previous 48 Hour candidates speak of how gnarly it actually gets when you’re trying to shoot it. How much of a mind fuck doing a full article in just a weekend on your own actually is.

You only get 48 hours. 16 of those should technically be used for sleep in order to skate at ‘optimal levels’. At least 6 hours are taken up by food missions and then there’s travel time. So you’ve got about 20 actual hours of skating in which to not only get photos, but get photos that push your own limits. Regardless of what you skate for - money, love, hate or fun, the pressure is unavoidable.

I’ve known Nero a good few years and while he’s focused on building shit behind the scenes, he’s always been one of the better dudes to watch on a board. Keiran Mans was pretty much his mentor in their early Stellenbosch days and that gave Nero this technical side to his otherwise ‘go fast and land on it’ approach. He also has a ‘get shit done’ and ‘make it skate-able’ mentality, so when the idea of doing an article came up, I knew we had our next 48 Hour victim. “Sick, let’s do it” was his reply and away we went, that very weekend.

Photos Andre Visser Words AD Henderson Captions Dylan Vaughan & Tino Petersen

20 | sessionmag.co.za

“Kids just need to see dudes skate.”

What? It took Andrew 48 hours to Nollie Flip on the bank!? Oh wait, there’s more…

sessionmag.co.za | 21

Front Blunt deep in the caves of planet Dagobah, seeking Yoda’s approval.

“SPIDER PIG,

SPIDER PIG...”

22 | sessionmag.co.za

It was a holiday on the Monday so we started on Saturday night. The first spot was an industrial area where Visser had found some boat moulds to muck about on. Weird shit is always hard to skate but so much more rewarding in terms of the land as well as the footage. Antontjie, Vrotbek, Visser and myself were skating a steep-ass roof mould using stones, pieces of fibreglass, a corex board, shitty red tape, bandage tape, Baseline stickers and bricks to make the run-up work when we were joined by Nero and Charl Jensel (Indigo) at about 6pm. They had been skating at a kid’s birthday party out in Fish Hoek, “Dude I know it’s lame, but it’s for kids. They see us and get hyped. It motivates them and I get a bit of cash, I try do that kind of shit whenever I can.

Kids just need to see dudes skate.”

what you’re doing that isn’t working. It’s not a bad thing and he won’t go lecture random dudes or anything, but he’ll straight up school kids at the park. “Don’t push like that. Djy! I said stop. If you push like that you can’t go on that board. And no kneeling either.” It’s fascinating to watch. He’ll also analyse everything. Like the Nollie Flip early Sunday morning. That spot is down the road from his house and we’ve looked at it for years. We just stopped there on the way to Stel and Nero, Matt and Visser began discussing its pitfalls and opportunities. No one had stepped on their board yet but 3 flatground kickflips later and Nero was on top, rolling up the bank. The flip fakie was first, second and third go. No messing about here mate, that’s a 12 foot wall you’re standing on. The nollie flip took a wee bit more time.

The cows and cyclists kept us entertained while he pushed for the land. Twice he primo’d on the flip making us all shudder a little inside, then all at once it was done. Stomped! We piled back into Dexter and went to get some coffee.

“If you push like that you can’t go on that board. And no kneeling either.”

We sessioned the moulds until dusk. Nero popped some 5-0’s and tails on the top edge of the mould while the rest of us fucked around. Between Nero, Vrotbek and Antontjie we had 5 shots in the bag in just 3 hours. It was a pretty damn good start. Various food outlets were visited and the night session spot was decided. Obviously we would choose the back entrance of Pick ‘n Pay at the time of night that it has 20 000 taxis and cars going in and out the gate directly in front of the spot. It’s a Damd life. Through the frustration of cars, people, lights and an awkward-ass angled pole, the switch polejam was put down and we could go make fire.

I’m unsure as to whether it’s his innate desire to help people or his inability to shut up, but Nero is a total skate coach sometimes. He’ll say things like, “Dude keep your shoulders out!” or give you a breakdown on how the trick works and

Without a list of ideas of what to hit for this kind of mission you’re going to have a bad time. I’m always down to just explore but you don’t want that kind of risk. You want list the spots you’ve seen recently and just go fucking knock them off. Nero got an A3 page and mind-mapped all his ideas. It worked pretty well. A large business park was our next target for the day. With a front blunt pop by Nero and Vrotbek’s fuck-arounds on film - and actually getting warmed up - we setup at a 2 push pop into a bank that ran into a wall.

Frontside Pivot on what’s left of the Titanic.

“I’m king of the world! Whoo whoo whoo…”

Andrew ollies from an electricity box, over a smaller electricity box and into to an invisible bank.

Boo boo

sessionmag.co.za | 23

24hrs of shredding and 24hrs of pain

Switch Polejam fuelled by the spirits of the night.

Boo boo number two two.

Nero was on the electricity box, Visser was across the road, Matt was behind the bakkie and I’m at the bottom of the bank. The security guard from the building next door comes past and only sees Nero up there and Andre’s flash on the ground. He shits himself in anger for some reason and picks up the flash shouting at Nero. Visser and I appeared out of nowhere and he promptly shat himself again. The dude went from pissed to kidding in ten seconds flat. “So you’re not gonna break yourselves here?” he asked as he hurried off laughing. No bust thankfully and a few tries later the ollie was done with Andrew singing “Spider Pig, Spider Pig” in celebration…don’t ask me.

wasn’t even trying. The size of his heel bruise after that wasn’t funny.

There was a lump on the inside of his foot that was already darkening in shades of blue and purple. Billy joined us for beers to cool off and we discussed where to go on what would be a completely useless next day.

Ice baths are not a stupid jock joke anymore. They are one of the ways to get your body through the gauntlet we so eagerly subject it to on these kind of sessions - as Nero attempted to do on Sunday night. Despite that, and continually icing his foot that night and the next morning before we hit a flat gap, his heel bruise was being a thorn in his side. Half the spots on the list were now crossed off and the other half all a bit too gnarly for his aching foot to handle. The flat gap switch flip took him past the point of no return.

When you get so close to a land, you stop thinking about the pain, but it comes back hard. Hard like a face to the ‘crete. And if you haven’t rolled away by then, that’s pretty much that. Nero was forced to leave empty-handed and we headed to Stel again to wrap the day up.

Ice baths are not a stupid jock joke anymore.

Campus towns are usually ace to skate.

Universities build big shit so stairsets, handrails, benches and gaps are plentiful.

Stellenbosch is no different, but security is now aware of it. The security there has handcuffed dudes, fined dudes and beaten dudes for skateboarding but that’s a whole other story. We got lucky with the sessions on campus for both days of the 48hours.

We met up with Skai, Okkie and rest of the Stel locals and skated a few things while Nero checked out the spots he wanted to hit. Solo scouting missions attract far less attention and thus often produce far better results. Around 4:20 I got a message from Nero asking me to meet him with Visser. I was running celebration errands and arrived half an hour into the abuse, having met Nero’s girlfriend along the way. She quietly watched as Nero lost his shit gaping out to a skinny-ass ledge and 180ing off the over-head-high drop to shitty paving. Heel bruises started around 10 minutes in and with 2 sketchy lands Nero was using very colourful language, very loudly. He throws shit when he’s pissed.

Like his shoes. I returned one to him and he threw it again and again in a kind of frenzied attack. Then he went back and bolted it like he

24 | sessionmag.co.za

After scouting and attempting various things we decided to get the portrait and call it a weekend. There was enough to show for and Nero was still keen to go try it all over again if it didn’t make the cut.

We’d kept the missions small and did what we normally would do on a weekend, just with a little added incentive to document as much as possible. That little incentive is really all you need, “Let’s get a bunch of photos of this dude this weekend.” That’s all this weekend was and it it turned into 24hrs of shredding and 24hrs of pain. Which I think is pretty well-balanced for any skate article.

Judging by the skid marks on his shirt, Andrew ollied to a narrow ledge to 180 to Laundromat.

sessionmag.co.za | 25

Fixing spots is one of the most respected roles in skateboarding.

Mostly because the majority of us are too lazy and/or broke and would rather skate what currently exists.

Less hassle, more skateboarding.

for years to come, all they get out of it are the sessions.

However, there are those that take to the creation of spots naturally. It’s so easy for them. They think about what they need, go get it and go do it. They have always got something new on the go. They operate best independently and spontaneously; modestly telling you how easy it was; how quick it took and what you need to do it on your own. They transfer knowledge freely when interest is shown, so that others may build and create too. And even though the fruits of their effort are often enjoyed by generations of skateboarders

We recently sent Jansen van Staden up to Pretoria to skate and shoot with his old friend for a month and the dreadlocked duo definitely put in the hours. That 24m coping was put on frontside first... The bushes took a day to cut away... So by ‘work’ I mean physical labour with a hell of a lot of DIY fun as reward.

There are numerous South Africans both past and present who’ve shaped the skateboardng landscape we document and Hartmut Martin is definitely one of them.

Geniezen!

(Enjoy) - AD

Interview and Photos Jansen van Staden 26 | sessionmag.co.za

I don’t have time to read, I make stufF. A little ‘crete and a large Frontside Slasher.

I am a little impatient I guess...

Jansen: Let’s have the Quote from earlier - “Sorry I don’t have time to read, I make stuff”.

How would you compare living in Germany to living in South Africa?

city at night or just a really good Shawarma haha.

Hartmut: That’s a bit out of context but somehow true, not quite but often enough. I just keep myself busy all the time, mostly making stuff.

Well there is good and bad everywhere. Perfect weather here compared to shitty winters in Germany. There are friendly people here too, I guess more so but if you’re German you don’t mind the German grumpiness. Mind you, I stayed in Holland for a year and the Dutch people were so extremely friendly, I suddenly noticed how unfriendly people in Berlin are. I can also be grumpy though, especially in the mornings! So much for the stereotypes. But of course there are things I miss, starting with friends and family of course, but also other things I took for granted all my life, like public transport, doing everything by bicycle, walking by yourself anywhere in the

I guess I’ve always just been self-motivated. It’s just an inner drive, not really other people or anything else. But it’s still best to do stuff with people that are as motivated as you.

Why did you come to South Africa?

I came for an internship for my studies in 2004.

Studying what?

Renewable energies and environmental engineering, then I finished my studies and came back to work in 2006 because I had met my lady (Laughs). We’ve been together for 10 years now and that’s why I’m here.

28 | sessionmag.co.za

What motivates you to wake up and do the shit you do?

But most of the time you’re on your own mission, aren’t you?

Ag, you’re exaggerating, but yeah it happens, you just want to skate stuff that hasn’t been skated. You drive past something and you think, “YES! That will be cool with a bit of effort.” and then I just want to make it skateable.

If I don’t find somebody to help that day... I am a little

LEFT: The DIY Ayah. BS Axel Crunch.

BELOW: If it’s boneless, it’s vegetarian.

impatient I guess, I just go out and do it. Sometimes it also just seems like a mission to organise with a lot of people or nobody has time, I mean we’re all busy in our lives, so then it’s just as good to start by yourself. It still feels great at the end of the day, if you made something happen. And if others can also enjoy a spot because of that, even better.

Skippy and I were driving around today looking for a flat for him and we saw a spot and said “check that ledge out.” It’s a fucking sick spot but then “Oh no it’s that crappy concrete that chips.” We then thought “Let’s call Hartmut haha, he’ll put coping on it and we can skate it.”

Yeah, but we’ve only been doing that recently, putting

With a little bit of paint, a coping and a few sheets you can do anything you want.

coping on things everywhere. It does make life so much easier and makes the spot potential so much bigger, you’re not so limited. With a little bit of paint, a coping and a few sheets you can do anything you want. So going back to what motivates me - things that interest me, whether it be making stuff from wood or skating, whatever. It’s also in the genes.

Haha, yeah your dad built his own house, that’s cool!

Let’s talk about the DIY stuff, you build shit?

Yes anything you want - tables, couches, chairs, lamps, etc. The whole house here is homemade. Most of the furniture we made ourselves, that’s just how we roll us Germans. (laughs) sessionmag.co.za | 29

Pivot Fakie to the most high... That’s his miniramp over there too.

How long did it take you to build your mini ramp?

If you can keep going then you just do, even until you are 50.

30 | sessionmag.co.za

It took like two months but I only worked on it for a few evenings a weeks or so, I took my time. It’s completely made from old pallets so the only thing I had to buy was the sheeting, coping and the screws. I must say it’s easier when you have some people to help, I figured that out from that experience. It’s fun to build stuff though, it’s a good feeling of accomplishment, you know you made it and that you can skate it.

Since I can remember, you have always built stuff.

We built that second box at the ghetto together and we used your old Opel that got stolen and that fucked up trailer. That thing was bending massively from all the bricks we bought at the dump site.

Yeah R100 for like 1000 bricks or something. I think in skating in general, skateboarders have always been doing DIY. Look at parks like Burnside. Even back at my home where I grew up we had our own DIY spots, not always concrete. We would go to building sites and get shutter ply and build our own wooden ramps too. Skinner is fun, we just have to build more and that quarter pipe is a piece of shit. It was a Sunday and we couldn’t get hold of proper concrete mix for that ledge so then Werner and Skippy tried to organise, but could only get plaster mix and it was too sandy. We didn’t have enough cement.

Lesson learnt! If you need the perfect mixture ratio for concrete ask Nico, he knows everything there is to know.

Ask the quantity surveyor.

Let’s talk about Berlin, did you film stuff over there and did you have a crew?

Yeah we had a little crew. I used to stay in the eastern part. The scene there is very famous now. We had a crew and we filmed a bit, there were plenty of spots to skate but the scene was much smaller then. The scene now has blown up out of proportion, every little town has a skatepark. It’s super green in Summer and there are a lot of lakes. It’s funny, back in the day I said that guys should go to Berlin but they were all going to Barcelona, now everyone is going to Berlin.

What do you think of the South African skate scene?

Yeah I like it, it’s not as huge as Germany’s. The nice thing

here is that everyone knows everybody else. You know what the Cape Town guys are doing and what the Durban guys are doing, that’s really cool. No matter where you go you know the people somehow. In Germany you can go 100km away to another town and you don’t know any of the skaters because there are so many. It’s also growing here but it seems everyone is growing it together.

Interestingly, there are also similar developments though.

Here Joburg used to be the skate capital, now it’s Cape Town. You also have that in Germany, it used to be Cologne, now it’s Berlin, maybe 15 years ago it used to be Hamburg. There is the same developments happening everywhere I guess, except for California. I like the intimacy of the scene here, it’s cool. Let’s be honest, if

the scene was much bigger I would not have an interview, I suck way too much.

It’s not so much about how good you are, you are 34 years old and still pushing!

Lots of my friends who I grew up skating with still skate, it’s not a question of how old you are. If you can keep going then you just do, even until you are 50. It just means you don’t jump down stairs but you can find other ways to challenge yourself, go a little faster, you need a little speed, that’s what it’s all about. When you try get a photo or film something there’s always the initial fear and then “ah fuck it, I can do it”. After falling down a few times it’s not that bad, it teaches you consistency and to learn to deal with the situation. sessionmag.co.za | 31

Some preparation for the next spread.

I might lose all my powers...

Of course you get frustrated sometimes but then you have another awesome day and it makes up for everything.

When you first got here, where did you start hooking up with other skaters?

I used to live not too far from Thrashers skate park so I would ride my bike there to meet people and skate. I met little Deon and then I met James. From then on I went to the Ghetto Spot and met Nico, hung with those guys and from then on I met all the other fellows, I remember seeing you guys at the park. Those times were cool, the skatepark had a bar and was always open until 10 on weekends and 8 in the week. I remember the entrance was like 5 bucks in the beginning but you could normally skate for free, crazy Alistair worked there. Beers were cheap too.

32 | sessionmag.co.za

How long have you had your dreadlocks?

Since 2001 so it’s been 13 years now. I’ve always had long hair though.

Alan sold his for 4 grand.

One day I might cut them off and sell them, maybe keep one for memory. I might lose all my powers though.

You were in a band, you even made your own bass guitar out of wood when you were 16, what kind of music did you play?

When I was 13 I played acoustic guitar and classical guitar, my brother was playing in a punk band and they needed a bass player so they asked me. I didn’t know much punk back then, I borrowed my brother-in-law’s bass. My grandfather had an old sawmill, he was a

carpenter. There were all these huge planks from big trees lying around so I took a piece of oak and a friend of mine had a book on how to build a guitar so I made one.

We then switched over to death metal until like 99. Way before I used to play trumpet in a church choir and after the metal band broke up I ended up playing in a folk, pop and rock band, more mellow than death metal for sure.

Now I just play for myself, it’s a bit lame. I jammed with Deon once. Should definitely make more music though.

What kind of skaters inspire you?

Dan Drehobl, Marc Johnson, Brian Anderson (amazing style, powerful skating), Pontus Alv and guys like that.

It can be “easy tricks” but it must just make you want to go skating. I don’t like watching little kids jump down 20 stairs, I would rather see someone do a blunt slide

Hard work never hurt a Smith grind under the Tidal Waves.

in a ditch. Dennis Busenitz - if someone skates like that then they have my attention. Lucas Puig - you can see that guy is from another planet, creative, doing tricks that nobody has done before, that’s what also gets me. The guys from Skateistan inspire me, just to see how little kids see skating for the first time, we should all be more like that, more pure about our skating. Just do it for the fun.

Know your limits but challenge yourself as hard as you can. Push your board as hard as you can! Stretch a lot, eat healthy food and keep moving, if you have an office job then still make time to go skate.

home. Amber and all the friends and skaters in SA and Germany, too many to mention so don’t feel left out if I’ve forgotten. Jansen for missions and photos, Charl “Skippy” Steyn, Nico and Rocco, Ian, Marcel, James, Deon, Julien, Joubert, Coenrad, Dirk, Ulrike, Reuben, Dennis, Graham, Werner, Hein, Bevan, Shaun, Robert, Carsten, Schoa, Merch, Katja, Molli, Beate, Andre (Socke), Mannsi, Fuhre, Ente and Danny.

Any thanks?

To my lovely lady Els who has made peace with the fact that skating is part of my life (you’re the best). My parents, brother, sister and all family of course, here and back sessionmag.co.za | 33

Hartmut MArtin. 24m DIY BS 5050. photo van staden

I met Giovanni in Jeffreys Bay just before boarding the Element van to go on tour, he was a lot younger. At that age when you don’t really say much and rather choose to sit quietly on the back of the bus, ready to skate.

Years later he’s all grown up and is still that humble, the same mellow dude I met on the bus all those years ago and he’s just as hyped to go skate now as he was back then. His skateboarding is rad and he chooses to skate things that get him stoked or look like fun rather than making the obvious choices, something I think he picked up from moving around so much as a kid.

He recently moved to Cape Town and we sat down together to talk life, skateboarding, being the Italian stallion, playing his guitar and why he’s always playing with his hands and fidgeting with his hair - welcome to the Giovanni Votano Interview.

- BOD

Photos Sam Clark Interview Brendan Body 36 | sessionmag.co.za

PREVIOUS: If you’re not popping high enough it’s gonna look like shit. Gio Knows. Kickflip Wallride.

HERE: I’ll bet the hairdressers at ROOTS would love to get their hands on Gio’s soft, Italian hair.

Kalanep

Kalanep

Front Blunt pop out and down the hill.

L

et’s talk a little about your younger days and growing up in PE, just a basic rundown of where you grew up, a little about your parents and family, etc?

When I was younger we moved around a lot like every 2 years we lived in a different place because my dad travelled a lot with work. He works for a steel company called Max Steel so when they opened up new branches he would go and set them up for them, that’s why we moved a lot. So it started off in Klerksdorp which is where I was born, then we moved to Kuruman which is in the Kalahari Desert. Then later we moved to Kathu, a massive mining area and that’s where I started skating. This dude in Kathu named Marlin came up to me one day, I must have been 11 and we lived in the same street, he had this board and I remember skating it for the first time. Then we made me a board out of this old fish deck, I still remember this thing - it had no griptape on it. We did woodwork at school so we went in and cut it straight on the sides so it looked like a new board, I can’t remember where I got trucks and wheels, only that we wangled some stuff together. It was such a small town and there was just one spot which was at the golf course where everything was, like the local restaurant etc. It had this little oval rollerskating rink with a rail around it and believe it or not but there were like 20 people who skated there. They used to build all their own stuff, the first time I dropped in a ramp was there, it was a sketchy transition with a door at the top for a lip, they also built their own rails and stuff, it was really ghetto but the floor was good so we always skated there. Then we moved back to Klerksdorp which was cool because more dudes skate there, and then soon after I moved again to George. I was probably 14 then, Skate Lab was there so that was a big part of my life then, it was the first time I ever skated a proper skatepark. Mr Miller is super rad and I really got into skating there because it had an actual scene. Then I moved back to Klerksdorp again and that was when they had built the park. I also used to mission to JHB twice a month and skate the Monte Casino park. That’s where I met Kanya for the first time and Siya, we all go way back. Then two years later my parents were like fuck that we want live by the sea and my dad was tired of all the moving so we moved to PE which was so sick because that was like the best skate environment for me, there were loads of things to skate.

Tell us about the PE skate scene, particularly Kings Beach?

When I first got there we used to just skate the bowl and the Kings Beach flat ground and ledges. Then there was also this other park at Walker Drive which was rad but it had a horrible surface. It has always been Kings Beach. It was always the same guys who were there, maybe like 10 of us. Mark who had the photo in the photo feature (doing the pole jam) killed that tranny, Damo too. When I arrived he was like the shit, he has always been good! Damo’s frontside ollies on those quarters were sick! There are guys like Theo, Johan, Gustav, Renico and those guys who were like the OG’s or the older guys, then there are the guys from PE itself like Juanre, Mark, Willem and Deon who used to skate.

The new park has been bringing out a lot of new faces as well as dudes who used to

38 | sessionmag.co.za

skate, who are now skating again. It’s been crazy busy with skating and a lot of dudes have got so much better, before dudes seemed way more sketchy but now they have got so much better. Actually the whole new development on the beachfront has been so good for skating because there is just so much more to skate now, making dudes skate way more street too.

Ok so now you are living in CT, why the move?

When I came back from Europe I knew I wasn’t going to stay in PE for a long time as I was just there visiting my family and was looking to start studying soon but also taking a break. So I decided to go to CT for a week holiday, everything just fell into place so well in CT and I landed up getting a job in the first week, at Clarke’s. I really like it for skating and I have a lot of friends here, I guess it’s just a place with more opportunities for me, for my music, skating, working and just being independent again.

...later we moved to Kathu, a massive mining area and that’s where I started skating. sessionmag.co.za | 39

I knew I wanted to go to Europe no matter what.

Look at that little wall getting in the way of Gio’s Ollie out to Wallride. Lurking there, probably asking for change or food or booze or all 3. Why doesn’t it just go get a job? These walls are becoming an epidemic.

40 | sessionmag.co.za

Tell us about your Euro travels - living in Barca, Norway, London, Madars Apse and any other Euro highlights you want to mention?

I guess it all started when I was getting more conscious about life at like 15 or 16. I had the opportunity to go places because I have a European passport, my parents are Italian. I started creating ideas of what I wanted to do as soon as I finished matric, I knew I wanted to go to Europe no matter what. It was something in me that I had to do. So when the time came I remember actually speaking to you (Bod) about it, I was planning on going to London because it’s the obvious choice, I also had a mad fascination with London. Then you said to me why don’t you rather go to Barca instead of London which was something I never really thought of because of the language barrier. Going alone and getting a job, basically I just hadn’t thought about it being possible there.You were like “dude, why the fuck are you going to London? It’s gonna eat you up, rather go to Barca for sunshine, beaches and skating”. After that I was immediately on that shit and

I had this rad flier handout job that I hooked up from a guy who I met playing a game of skate. watched that streets of Barcelona video, it just felt so right. I booked my ticket a week later with no plans for accommodation or anything, I literally just got on a plane and flew there. I found a company called “Barcelona Home” or something like that, an agency that rents out apartments for foreigners or whatever and that was the only place I knew.

I arrived there at like one in the afternoon and it was fucking hot! I had a bag filled with like 8 boards, 5 pairs of shoes, clothes, guitar and it was way too much shit to carry.

People were not speaking a lot of English at all, I got dropped off at the Sants station and remember coming out and seeing this dude skating. Everything just looked so amazing and I was like what is this place dude, I’ll never forget that feeling, it was one of the best feelings in my life! I was in Barca for two years after that, I had this rad flier handout job that I hooked up from a guy who I met playing a game of skate. At that time Barca was such a rad place to be, the scene was really open and I got to meet so many dudes from so many different countries. You have this preconceived idea about skateboarding and skateboarders, then you go there and submerge yourself into that environment only to realise that it is so much better than what you thought it was. I remember one time over there like 3 weeks after I had arrived, I was skating with Chris Haslam. Just him, my friend Travis (who is a filmer), Anton (who shoots a lot of stuff for Quiksilver) and I. Things move quick and within 3 weeks I had made good friends with skaters, filmers, etc. Then the element Euro guys gave me Madars’ number and said he had just moved to Barca. He was also fresh in Barca so we were both new to the city. We just clicked so well and hung out everyday, got a place together and skated everyday. I have seen so many dudes skate Barca but nobody skated it like Madars. He taught me to not give a shit and just do what you do, enjoy what you are doing. After almost 2 years in Barca it had become a little too much for me, there is so much going on always and parties all the time which you are surrounded by. We decided to go to Norway because you can earn a little more cash there and the change would be good.

I had always wanted to live in a place with Snow. We took a train to Norway and stayed there for a while, it’s good to save money and we lived like ballers. The skate scene was super cool, very independent, small and underground but really good skaters. A lot of sick free skateparks with marble ledges and stuff. sessionmag.co.za | 41

Where were you getting boards and product from at this point?

Element had hooked me up with a big package through Madars before leaving Barca, like 10 boards, wheels and more.

Then you visited London?

London was so cool, so much fun with so many places to skate, I found it really fresh. South Bank was so much fun, I had always wanted to skate there. I stayed with Hughes in London, he really made my trip. He took me to all the touristy stuff.

Do you feel that Europe changed the way you looked at your skateboarding?

Yes, it changed the way I looked at skateboarding completely, it’s a combination of everything. In Barca I had just discovered skating because we just skated everywhere. I always had my board, even when you go out you take your board because clubs take your board in like a coat. All that changed my skating a lot because you are just pushing around all the time and just cruising, while you are cruising you hit things along the way. I just want to skate the way I want to skate and skate the stuff I like to skate, have different ideas. Rather than that whole big rail mentality I had from people in SA.

...clubs take your board in like a coat.

Let’s talk music - you play guitar, just formed a band and live with a bassist - tell us about it?

Well guitar and skateboarding have been the two things I started that have never left me. They are the two things I love the most in life. My new band is actually the first band I have ever played with in 11 years. I always wanted to play in a band that had the right energy. When I moved down to Cape Town I met a barrister who is a bassist and he was like “we are looking for a guitarist for a new band” and I said cool let’s meet up, he came over and we started jamming and it just worked. We did like 4 songs in that day - it’s straight up like 60-70s garage, we are called the Gumbo Ya Ya’s. The bassist chose the name, it’s influenced from Gregory Gumbo Ya Ya which is like some Voodoo song. We practice at Kill City Blues in Woodstock twice a week, first gig is with the Golden Animals, an American band which we are going to open up for. We are also recording an album later in May. I’m so stoked because it has given me a lot of freedom in the way I play. I have quite a specific style of playing because I’m not like a theory person, I prefer to just feel music and make it the way I want it to sound.

Dave Allan hooked you up on Element years ago, tell us how that came about and what you guys are up to currently?

Yes definitely, I was skating a lot in PE and got to know a lot of the dudes there, I knew Theo was on Element and Rosco the BMXer was on Billabong which is in the same group of companies as Element.

I decided to get hold of Dave through Rosco. I asked if we could maybe setup a meeting because I had made a video, Dave took us out for lunch and knew who I was and had seen me skate. He said just tell me what you want from us and I said “I want boards, I want to skate for Element”. He said “cool let’s go to the warehouse” and that was it - I have been on Element since that day. Dave is the best dude, I have so much to thank him for. Back then the team was all so young and new, felt fresh and was completely new from anyone else at that time. The energy was so good and we just seemed to have so much fun, we did a lot of sick tours every year. The team is way more different now and is way more individual, all of us are a lot more grown up but we are all really tight, it has always been like that with Element. I have always liked all the guys on the team, always liked the vibe and they give us what we need. I also ride for Von Zipper and Dakine.

You are busy studying at the moment, what are you studying and what’s the plan after you are done?

theron

theron

I’m studying a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. My dad reckons it’s good because there is a big shortage of people in environmental studies out there so the availability of jobs is really high, his company gave me a full bursary. Basically when I finish I will have to work for the company for a year because they gave me my bursary, then I will just see where it goes. Basically, you are responsible for building production systems within the company that minimise damage to the environment and abide by laws set out for these things. I wanted to study something that is rewarding in a way, the environment is a good cause. I also don’t want to worry about my opportunities one day and this is a good backup for down the road but I’ve still got two more years to go.

42 | sessionmag.co.za

Votano vandalises Ventrance’s very valuable verander.

Alliteration Ollie.

We took a train to Norway and stayed there for a while, it’s good to save money and we lived like ballers. sessionmag.co.za | 43

People have become so aware of it, like the other manager watches me.

It seems as if loads of skaters work at Clarke’s, how did you get a job there, aren’t you the manager now and how often do you hit up the bowl?

I went there the one day and my friend who works there set me up to chat with Mel, who organises things at Clarke’s. She got me a job working the door at ‘The Pit’. Mel gave me a lot of beers and paid me! Two days after that I was going to work the door again and after I was like “any chance I could get to work inside?” because I needed to make a certain amount of money to pay rent. She said speak to Lyndall who is the owner, she was super cool and said she would see what she could do. The next day she phoned and said we are in an emergency, can you work? After that call I worked 10 days in a row. Now I have a rad job working with all my friends, to me it was like the best thing ever and one of the reasons I stayed in Cape Town. I didn’t want to have to work a shitty job while I’m here and struggle to survive plus loads of skaters and my friends are always coming past, it has such a rad atmosphere. So after a month the manager left and Lyndall asked me to manage the place.

Joubert says you always touch or fix your hair what’s your take on that?

It’s not a conscious thing, I think it’s just from having long hair. I’m always just touching my hair, it’s just a habit but Joubert always seems to just catch me on it (Laughs). People have become so aware of it, like the other manager watches me.

You recently bought a Merc didn’t you, how is she?

I took it in and it was just too much to get fixed and replaced so I didn’t buy it in the end, sucks!

Who do you normally skate and hang with?

These past two months I haven’t been hanging out or skating that much really because I have just been studying for my exams but normally I go skate with Kanya and Khulu. We are all such good friends and we all ride for the same team.

Whose skills are you feeling right now?

I like people who look like they are enjoying what they are doing, I have always liked skating with Kanya. I like random dudes who aren’t all that hooked up but still kill it, like John Second and Richard Moir, those guys are on their own mission and don’t just skate Salesians and other obvious spots. I really like the way Yann skates!

What’s your take on skating contests and the KDC contest this year?

It’s just something I don’t like doing, I don’t have anything against them and have enjoyed some of the contests I have skated but I’m not particularly interested in skating contests.

44 | sessionmag.co.za

Yes, yes, yes we can now stop running photos of the barrier spot.

Last one to leave it all on a good note. Transfer Back Tail.

sessionmag.co.za | 45

The legend surrounding The Jaakness is proportional only to the consumption of heavily fermented grape juice, along what is known as The Boerewors curtain in Cape Town.

His tools may be awkward, dry, uncomfortable and overly homoerotic but they serve to only further sculpt the masterpiece that is his life.

46 | sessionmag.co.za

Between blowing out his ankle repeatedly and filming Instagram skits, he managed to get some photos on various Streets Crew and Legion Skateboards missions.

Don: Why do you always shove your butt in Dylan’s face when he’s passed out?

His fellow team-mates took charge of questioning the larger-than-life superhero.

It’s usually ‘forced spooning’. Marius is never amped.

Actually it’s not my bum, it’s Dirkie’s. I just take the photos. Maybe for blackmail.

So there is more than one piece of evidence showing you in an early morning embrace with your fellow team mates. Is it ever reciprocated?

Is it true that you are allergic to vegetables?

Patatternut is a vegetable. Follow me on Instagram for more recipes.

van staden

The ‘drunk jock’ has since fully recovered from his meeting with my fist.

Short run up to Crooked grind while fellow Street Justice League member, Craig Leak balances the photo out with his mind.

sessionmag.co.za | 47

Some would call this Nosegrind an Overcrook.

48 | sessionmag.co.za

winterburn

Nothing warms you up like crushing your balls on a handrail.

winterburn

The Boner Pole adds pizazz to this Kickflip.

Lari: I’ve seen some photos of you sharing an intimate jacuzzi party with Dirkie and Pieter. How hot was the water really? Was it steamy?

It was a dark and stormy night, the wind blowing through the trees, we could hear the ocean waves crashing over the rocks. It was 4:30am, the booze was dry. We were left with no option, we lost ourselves in the moment.

What’s wrong with your face?

What’s wrong with your face?

Liam: Would you ever part ways with your fabulous moustache?

I’ve tried to quit. I came close once, but woke up in a cold sweat, twirling the ends, swearing to never let such treacherous thoughts enter my mind again.

Juan: Everybody knows you as ‘’The Jaakness’’ in the skate scene, tell us how you got this name or was it your stage name when you sang for a christian band at your church?

You don’t skate that much or go on street skating filming missions often but somehow when you do you deliver and will be seen taking on a 15 stair handrail or killer gap, or perhaps a drop. How do you wrap your mind around the trick you are doing at that time?

Well I always figured that if I can do it at D’ville park on the flatbar, I can do it down a 15 stair rail.

Tell us how you broke your ankle on the KFD trip and the complication you went through, you now have a plate in your foot right?

Breaking my ankle was definitely one of my worst injuries yet. But at least now I feel like a total bad ass when walking through metal detectors at airports.

You went on a couple of ‘Via The Backroads’ skate trips around South Africa. Tell us what the top 5 things you pack in your travel bag are, besides your GHD straightener?

1) Toothbrush 2) Clean underwear 3) Clean socks 4) My own pillow

First of all Juan, everyone knows I can’t sing. The birth of ‘The Jaakness’ is a mystery to all. For all I know it is my birth name... I should probably go check my birth certificate? Yes, everybody in the skate scene knows that I am ‘The Jaakness’ but soon the whole world will know... MUHAHAHAH

5) And a book to write down all the stupid shit you say on trips Juan.

Any good bar fights you been in lately? Tell us the story where some drunk jock flicked your cowboy hat off your head and what happen to him?

None that I can speak of without being arrested. The ‘drunk jock’ has since fully recovered from his meeting with my fist. I bumped into him a few months ago at a local bar with some of his buddies, where they were quite amped on settling the score. It apparently cost him R11 000 to fix his jaw. They left me with some wise words to think about “die wiel gaan draai”.

Who are Legion skateboards and what does the future hold for you there, can we perhaps see a Jaakness pro model after this interview?

Legion skateboards is just a bunch of friends skating together for the love of skating. Everybody knows that I am already a model in my spare time, don’t know if I can call myself a pro yet.

Dewald: What’s the funniest story you have about your dad?

Well, my dad is pretty much a legend at this one bar in the heart of Bellville. One night after enjoying one too many brandy specials, he decided it would be a good idea to ride his 1300 Kawasaki into the bar. He revved the engine like a true champ until he lost grip of the clutch, sending the bike crashing into the 70’s cover band just minding their own business. He was so proud that he even got the CCTV footage from the owner to come and show me.

Do you believe in warming up?

Nothing warms you up like crushing your balls on a handrail. sessionmag.co.za | 49

50 | sessionmag.co.za

Hanging a hard left. Backside 180 to the road.

I never knew tattooing could be so easy after a few brandies.

You don’t skate too often but never seem to forget how to skate, how come?

If I haven’t skated for a while I fear that I am going to lose my skills, but as soon as I step onto my board it is like I have just awoke from a coma and suddenly it all makes sense again.

After one month off the board being injured then it’s back on and straight into the hammers - do you still prefer skating big or have you lost a bet over the Riversdale handrail?

I will forever remember the events of that day, even though it is a bit fuzzy. But no small town rail is going to stop me from skating big. Who does boardslides anyways?

Leon & Pieter: Do you wear tight pants because you don’t have balls or does it protect your balls?

Come now, we both know I have balls. Just ask Pieter.

After you got a streets tattoo you started skating less and less, explain that?

Because of my fame I had to go underground for a while until the paparazzi lost interest. I can still beat you in a game of skate though.

How does the streets crew roll?

Like a pack of hungry wolves ready to destroy anything that comes their way.

How does it differ rolling with the Streets crew and the Legion crew?

Not much really. I’m just keen to skate. But rolling with the Streets crew you know you’re going to end up in a bar.

Transition?

No comment Hang hy links of hang hy regs?

LINKS! Can you fart on demand?

I just did.

VISSER

Tell us more about your after hour tattooing sessions in Ockie’s (Jaak’s dad) bar.

I never knew tattooing could be so easy after a few brandies. If anyone is keen to get some killer ink on their body give me a call? It will only cost you a bottle of brandy.

What is the most Coca Cola that you have consumed in one day and also what is you average consumption daily?

It’s not that bad, maybe 4 litres. I am trying to cut down on my consumption lately, but a can a day can’t hurt me.

sessionmag.co.za | 51

Podium

janine louw

janine louw

Jams, Events and Contests.

Jono Da Canha.

Invert.

WORDS: Kevin Louw

About 7 years ago I started a Facebook group called Old Skool Durban Skaters, where I was uploading my collection of old VHS recordings of Junior Sport episodes of the SA skateboarding scene in the late 80’s and early 90’s. These episodes featured the Zorlac Team and Tony Hawk & Ray Barbee SA tours, and the rise of Brett Wolmarans as our version of Lance Mountain - the front man in the Bones Brigade videos. Brett became a household name in the local scene, as did Sven & Haldane Martin who received a lot of the airtime. These videos generated a fair amount of hype in the social networks which got shared a lot on another Facebook group called Skating Cape Town in the 80’s, started by Mark Jubber.

Also, there were tribute documentaries like Dogtown and the Z-Boys (2001) and Bones Brigade: An Autobiography (2012) documentaries, which had all the public screenings around the country. These screenings became unofficial reunions in themselves, reconnecting everyone young & old in the scene in the various cities. For me this was a catalyst in the movement, this Bones story we related to more than any other. It was clear to me something needed to happen, there was still that special something alive in us all. Just as Lance Mountain so perfectly said,

Brett Shaw.

Frontside Smith.

52 | sessionmag.co.za

“It doesn’t matter how good you are, it’s about being like a kid and just goofing around and having fun with your mates, that’s what counts”.

Everyone skated like there was no tomorrow or until their old bones seized up.

Then in November 2013, something did happen. Jason Swanepoel started the Facebook group SA Ballie Skaters.

This group just exploded and within a month it had grown to over 450 members. This group now linked all the other Facebook groups together and all their photos, videos and stories. For me this was amazing, as an ultimate fan of all these SA skate legends of the 80’s & 90’s, this group allowed me to discuss and converse with all the heros of my early teens.

Then I woke up one morning and it hit me, let’s have a National SA Ballie skate day. I got up, headed straight for the computer and shared the idea on the group, the reaction was huge. Unfortunately the majority of the ballie skaters are scattered all over the globe and many

Jonathan Mc Evily.

Backside Air.

couldn’t make the event, but they were definitely there in spirit. This didn’t stop me from doing the event, and was very pleased with the turn out indeed.

It was smoking hot, clear skies and no wind, perfect weather to a perfect setting at Indigo Skate Camp. On arrival, all the local skaters were there ranging from age 4 years and up, some skating barefoot and sharing boards.

The morning session was mellow, as more and more skaters kept arriving. By lunch time it was simply just too hot to skate, so most of us went for a swim in the river rapids with our wives and kids. This was a really special part of the day, getting to know everyone’s families. When we got back to the skate camp the Murth crew had arrived and it was game on, the afternoon session was epic to say the least. Everyone skated like there was no tomorrow or until their old bones seized up. We finished off the day braaing into the night, listening to tunes and raiding Dallas’ beer fridge. Shot! I owe you few haha.

A special shout out to Jonathan Mc Evilly & Jason Le Roux who made the effort and came out all the way from the UK & Oz. Lanie van der Walt and his dad Dr.Heine (legend), Lingo Rodrigues, Farid (Freak) Essack, Michael Burrill, Graham Denoon & crazy Wayne coming all the way from Gauteng.

Thanks to Dallas and all his staff at Indigo Skate Camp for helping me put this event together and making this so special. Thanks to everyone who came. We hope to do it all again next year.

Peace, Kevin

kevin louw

I guess subconsciously this idea has been brewing for a number of years now, it just didn’t know how to manifest itself, and it has in a number of ways over the past few years in various forms, especially on Facebook.

JANINE louw

indigo skatecamp

Podium Jams, Events and Contests.

Make it Count

van staden

S A c ONTE S T 2 0 1 4

Allan Adams Switch Bigspin Heelflip down the Big 6.

Valhalla, CaPE TOWN Dlamini Dlamini won the comp. He won an Element funded trip to the states to compete in the global Make It Count 2014 contest held at the Berrics this year. All for free, skating with other dudes from around the world for a spot on the Element International Team. He deserved it too. Khule Ngubane smoothed into a close second, with Anton Roux landing enough to sneak into 3rd, but on the day Dlamini was HUNG-GREE! Allan Adams put down this SW bigheel too beautifully.

If there hadn’t been such harsh winds I think the first place would have been a hell of a lot more contended

by The Adams family. Flip tricks don’t work as often as they should when Mother Nature is farting on them consistently. Even less when she starts pissing on everything which happened shortly after we wrapped the day up at 1pm.

Weather conditions are part of the thrill. Skate anywhere, anytime because you never know what situation you’ll be in when you have to skate for your life... Make it Count.

sessionmag.co.za | 53

Podium Jams, Events and Contests.

noordhoek

A private session at an enormous bowl, in an unreal setting overlooking the ocean on the Cape Peninsula.

We were under very strict instruction that only a select

54 | sessionmag.co.za

HOWELL

WORDS: Luke Jackson

HOWELL

PHOTOS: Grant McLachlan

That sounds too good to be true? Well, Monster Energy came to us with this proposal thanks to a connection that photographer Grant Mclachlan had made.

number of skateboarders could be invited because this is a private home after all. Contacts were made in secret without a specific location being shared and only when individuals responded would they get the exact location.

Most didn’t know what they were in for until they arrived at the secret location and jaws dropped!

The day was divided up into individual jam session challenges that were more about having fun and allowing everyone to participate opposed to a regular contest where most people are out after one round and then have

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:

Daddy Marola pays bills with transferable airs. Mitchell Rice makes the longest grind. Loucas Polydorou Backside Ollie. Justus Kotze deep end Tucknee.

Time Trial – R1000 to Justus Kotze

Check out the video edit at www.avskateboarding.tv

Longest Grind – R1000 to Mitchell Rice

Thanks to Simon Martin for all his help making the venue possible, logistical work and for judging throughout the day. A special thank you to Jock for kindly allowing the whole motley crew into his home.

Highest Air – R1000 to Alan Marola Best Invert – R500 to James Harris

HOWELL

Best Trick – R1500 to Alan Marola for a back noseblunt revert in the deep

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:

Yann Horowitz Boneless Nosegrab to Tail. James Harris Invert Backside Disaster. Leon Bester Crails to Fakie. Moses Adams boosts a Melon Fakie.

HOWELL

Volcom hooked it up proper with a total cash money prize purse of R5000:

Monster Energy kept everyone hyped throughout the day, Etnies threw out some free product and Cape Audio College took care of the sound.

to sit and watch for most of the day.

sessionmag.co.za | 55

Podium Jams, Events and Contests.

Numerous events have been going down at the Kimberley Plaza recently. Most notably Stuart Walker proved he could ollie a small child. We’re calling a match up between Stuart, Luc Vermeer and Arnold Gray for a highest ollie title challenge. It’s time...

After the hype around Midway Mayhem (Dlamini Noseblunt below) and the Thrasher boys shredding the vert ramp, the motivation has been strong. Hopefully some fresh tranny shredders are on the rise. The number of girls getting involved at that park is also rad to see.

Brad Bailie photobombed the crap out of this photo below of Damian Bramley’s FS air. Someone’s looking for, or appreciating a Technique hookup. But I warn you kids, DO NOT do this to any photographer you don’t know. We won’t be liable for what he does to you...

Dillon Hartzenburg lipsliding the 5 rail down there is also putting in some nice lines around the park. Maybe we’ll see some proper plaza edits coming soon? If Chinner can stop spending all his time in JHB. Although, we can’t exactly blame him, can we?

KOTZE

PHOTOS: Chinner

56 | sessionmag.co.za

for Join us the Wild in in Streets wn CapeTo 21 on June

GRAND

SLAM

KDC GrandSlam Johannesburg 28 June ‘14

KDC GrandSlam Durban 26 July ‘14

KDC GrandSlam Cape Town 30 August ‘14

NYJAH Day Saturday, Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,

FELIPE

Gustavo

Date May 31 June 14 June 17 June 19 June 27 July 5

Huston

Place Bloemfontein Kimberley Phillipstown De Aar Cresta George Day Saturday, Saturday, Friday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday,

Date August 2 August 16 August 29 September 6 September 13 September 20 September 21 September 24

Place Nelspruit Port Elizabeth Cape Town Stoneridge Alexandra Kathu Kuruman Kimberley

for more information visit www.kimberleydiamondcup.com /KimberleyDiamondCup @KDiamondCup user/WorldSkateboardingGP

www.experiencenortherncape.com experiencenortherncape.com

Closet envy What’s on the shelves.

PLAN b Sheckler Lighter

technique Children of the Atom

PLAN b P-Rod Mascot

technique Lucky Charms

ELEMENT Mohave Pack

JIM SKATES Bert3000 Bottle Opener

INDEPENDENT 149 Reynolds Hollows

RVCA Sil Jacket

INDEPENDENT 149 Silver Stage

DC Mikey Taylor

DC Council

DC Cole Lite

CONS CTAS Pro

HUF Genuine

HUF Choice

HUF Mercer

HUF Ramondetta Pro

VANS Crockett Pro x Independent

VANS Chima Pro

ELEMENT Lockhart

ELEMENT Topaz Madder

ADIDAS Busenitz

ADIDAS Busenitz

ADIDAS Gonzalez

ADIDAS Lucas Puig

58 | sessionmag.co.za

ELEMENT Sweatshirt

ELEMENT Jacket

NIXON PU

NIXON The Rover

VOLCOM Stone Crew

VOLCOM Brazer

NIXON The Big Player Matte Black

DICKIES Slims Olive

NEFF Yachter

NEFF Daily Grey

NEFF Fold Maroon

HUF Tie Dye Plantlife

VOLCOM Temple

ELEMENT Paladium

SKULLCANDY Koston Crusher

DICKIES Slims Khaki

SKULLCANDY Koston Aviator

Session Suggests:

SKULLCANDY Hesh Santa Fe

SKULLCANDY Hesh Realtree

SKULLCANDY Air Raid If you’re looking for portable sound then check out the Air Raid. This thing seriously kills it with that classic Skullcandy quality on both the audio and the feel of the actual product. I rubbed it on my face numerous times and it passed the test every time. It is also very, very, very black.

SKULLCANDY Fix In-Ear Black Chrome & Red Chrome sessionmag.co.za | 59

I AM

mclachlan

The New and The Underground

I grew up skateboarding with Justin. He’s been there from the very beginning and I’ve seen his progression building day by day. He’s not only my cousin, but also a super good homie with pop for days. I have witnessed his entire skate journey up to now and he is definitely one of my favourite skaters in South Africa. He is already an OG to me, but to everyone else he’s the fresh kid on the block with an east coast style.

- Wesley Schroeder Age: 20

Trick: Hardflip.

From: Wynberg, Cape Town

Setup: 20sk8 grip, Epitome deck, Indy Trucks, Technique Wheels and mixed bearings haha.

Stance: Goofy Music: Anything with a legit beat, mainly old school rap.

Hookups: Gnarley Headwear, Epitome Skateboards flows me boards, Technique Wheels and Zoo York SA Flow.

I don’t care what anyone says – smoking gives you better smith grinds.

60 | sessionmag.co.za

High 5’s: All my brothers at 20sk8! All the local skate brands keeping the skate scene in S.A. alive, Africa Skate, Wesley Schroeder, Ryan Naidoo, Shuaib, G Mac, Gnarley Headwear, Session magazine, Epitome Skateboards, AV Skateboarding and Bfake.

KEEGAN SAUDER BY ANDREW POMMIER. MIXED MEDIA.

T H E B A L A N C E Z A . R V C A . C O M

O F

O P P O S I T E S

BIZNESS & BANTER Industry News and Skateboard Banter

Juan Smit Bluntslides for the Homie part in Cannabeans.

Technique Skateboards has just dropped their second webisode hosted by africaskate.com and sessionmag. co.za, episode two focuses on the Technique Skateboards, Selfish SA and Technique Wheel Co. team riders road tripping on the garden route where they visited and skated local parks and spots, with a bit of shenanigans in-between.

Technique Skateboards’ new shipment has arrived, catering for some wider size enthusiasts. They will also be throwing some cash prize vert comps in association with africaskate.com, lookout for details on their Facebook page, as well as africaskate.com and sessionmag.co.za.

Technique Wheel Co has just dropped their Lucky Charm wheel as well as their slightly softer 52mm Atom Bomb wheel. Lookout for more team designs coming soon.

RVCA, adidas, Baseline and Familia team rider Yann Horowitz has departed for Europe, who knows how long he will be away for this time? His first port of call is Berlin where he’s sure to meet up with Sam Clark who also just headed back up north indefinitely.

Converse CONS are hyped to announce their local skate team. SSS affiliates Brendan Dyamond and TK Modise join the squad up in JHB. DIYer Juan Smit and Baseline Skate Shop’s Justin Leslie join the squad down in Cape Town. CONS Project Joburg just went down with visiting Euro team riders David Stenstrom (Sweden), Remy Taveira (France) and Felipe Bartolome (Spain). Look out for the tour article in our next issue and a CONS tour edit online.

The first stop on the 2014 Boogaloos Hope Tour went down recently at Brightwater Commons in JHB. Daniel Miltiadou took home the first KDC Wild Card. Daniel is also heading up a DIY crew that are making some pretty amazing looking additions to the old Volcano spot in northern JHB. Good on you lads!

DC’s Moses Adams killed it at Battle at the Berrics 7.

He came up against Sewa Kroetkov in the first round.

Mosey put up a good fight but unfortunately got knocked out. He managed to film in the park quite a bit and will no doubt be back for vengeance soon. On a side note, Thalente Biyela refereed another one of the match-ups.

Congratulations to Allan Adams who won the 2014 DC REELedit contest. He is on a serious roll of skate destruction lately. Congrats also to the young 20SK8 affiliate Tyler Kammies who won the People’s Choice award.

Congrats to DC’s Andrew Morck and Skullcandy’s Dustin Botha who both became dads recently, we wish you all the best guys!

Vans and Dope team rider Jimmy Wong got a job building skate parks for Anker Rampen and suddenly decided to move to Europe. He seems to be working on a park in a different city every week. We hope they can handle him up there.

Dope team rider Will Twala was recently in the country with his wife to visit family. He managed to squeeze in a few sessions with the mates.

Marcel Maassen recently moved back to PTA. Cape Town misses his mad energy but the Plankie homies up country are surely happy to have him back.

Congratulations are in order for an old friend of Session - Andrew Butcher. He recently got married. Adrian Day let him off lightly in the best man speech before JJ Harris got inappropriate on the dance floor.

WONDERLAND

Largely Rumours, Unfair Criticism and Bullshit.

“Losing your mind is the new trend in skateboarding.”

- Jacoby.

We’ll have details on the state of these minds when it’s safe. No one wants an assassination of a messiah on their hands. Apparently God is amoung us. Or he’s the mafia... I’m not sure but I do know Kanya is Love. Is there really a mafia though, or is that yet a conspiracy in itself?

Are Kanya and Dlamini actually bribing their way to glory? Is Moses following scientology or socio-modeling-my-girlfriendology? Is there anywhere Jean-Marc will not go backside flip?

UAE? Paris? Where next? And can Joubert just stop doing backside flips alltogether. Has Mel Williams been out shooting? Speaking of chick skaters, has Dennis Collins found some rails in Cape Town? Does Khule Ngubane know how much toke would a toker toke if a toker wanted to toke toke? And how is he absolutely everywhere these days? Do 20sk8 have some secret hide-out where they keep all these little kids prisoned and train them under a whip? Are they creating a new government? The Minister of Reality called and said everyone can stop moving down to Cape Town. It’s pretentious, over-priced, hard to find work and that mountain is just a fucking windy mountain. Plus the spots do actually suck. The Minister of National Affairs called afterwards and warned that if Durban didn’t get a photographer soon it might drop below Kimberley and Bloemfontein in the skate coverage polls. A feat never recorded in SA history. Even when Lloyd Hodoul was scaring everyone away with kickflip melons. Seriously, does nobody have a camera up there?

Lastly, Simon Stipcich, you’re country needs you. Shoot something Simon. Film something.

Just a few tricks to start. Please. Please Simon... The Skateboard Gods specifically requested it.

62 | sessionmag.co.za

Sorry bro...

If you’re wondering Where The F*** the Cannabeans DVD is that was schelduled to be in this issue, we have some bad news... We are truly sorry we couldn’t change this fact but it could not be included with this issue.

However, it will be available to buy.

Follow Plankie and Dope for details.

Shindigs Cannabeans Premiere, Cape Town

Plankie: “Can you ring the bell for Last Rounds

so all these people can faaak-off?”

Bar lady: “I can’t. They stole it...“ PHOTOS: Grant McLachlan

This video is good. As far as the crowd goes, highlights were Craig Leak’s opening part, Jansen’s few clips, Wong’s part, the JP Montage and Kanya’s curtains. I can’t wait to watch it again with the dialogue. The scene they’ve split through the video is from an old movie depicting cannabis being introduced to a room full of upper class socialites. It’s hilarious on its own but with the footage of team riders overlaid everso-cleverly it takes on a whole new level of entertainment. The collaboration borders on pure comedy and we as the audience were loving it. Hooting, howling, shouting and stamping along to the skateboarding and the soundtrack.

After that was done the celebrations escalated pretty quickly. Pieter and Thys brawled into the bushes in Round 1 at the premiere and finished up with Round 2 later that night. Nothing says a good night like a friendly black-eye. Dyllan Wright got in proper good spirits, ending up with 5 chairs stacked on top of his near-dead corpse, passed out at a table and had to be physically carried out. Someone broke a window. They also dropped the bottles they were stealing. Not so smooth criminals. I counted at least 6 people puking outside during the evening. A highly smashed Grant McLachlan and

Anton Roux challenged each other to who could caveman boardslide the rail first. I got handed the camera and Grant proceded to miss pop and tweak his knee again.

It’s always the dumb shit. Anton then spent a half hour drunkedly falling on his nuts while enduring the jeers and comments of the crowd, before rolling away. It was utter chaos and pretty much ended the party at the venue.

The rest of the night was continued at various establishments and the Germans had their bar back sort of in one piece. I must add that the owner was present for pretty much all of this. I have a foggy memory of seeing him smiling but I can’t remember exactly when that was...

Shit... Yeah, it may have been as we were leaving.

Dankie Plankie and Blessit Dope. sessionmag.co.za | 63

PASSENGER

Stories from the streets.

You don’t dassie where you eat but do you

skate where you work?

Every town has that gnarly-but-possible spot. The one you fantasise about filming for you industry-shocking debut video part. The spot you and the crew stopand stare at but never hit. For us, this ledge Alan Marola is 50-50ing is that spot.

Around 2003 one of our homies attempted to just stand on 50-50 and ride it out. He didn’t make that due to the combination of speed, angle and rough landing. The Deukom ledge - as it is known - stood undisturbed for years after that save for a few rollerblader sessions.

Early last year Leon Bester came up on it and had a shot at Frontside 50-50. He made it down but was robbed of the rollaway – the speed once again proving just too much. Local Anton Roux also made a few attempts at pop out to Backside 50-50 on one night session aided only be cellphone lights but he too was denied the land. Both these sessions lasted almost an hour. The residents at the adjacent flats are not too understanding, and the ground is all but forgiving.

Coincidentally when we were searching for new studio premises we heard the bottom office space at this very building was available. There really was little

consideration. It’s at a spot, and it suited us perfectly so we moved in late last year. We’ve since had 2 break ins...

Recently, the Plankie and Dope crew were on the last legs of filming for their video and pulled a 3 car mission through to join us for a skate one Sunday. We were driving through the town to the next spot and we stopped to show them the ledge.

The spot you and the crew stop and stare at but never hit.

We’d barely all got up to look at it before Marola had his board out. He wanted to grind the top and the 17 stair ledge. The first one he dropped he almost rolled away from. It was on. Filmers and photographers rushed to get their shit together while Alan carried on warming up to it. Dudes were ready in under 5mins and the very next one Marola dropped to grind on was the land. No heavy struggle, no huge slams, just clean and fast perfection.

We packed up and headed off. Done and dusted.

I have to admit some concern that the neighbours might recognise me and complain to the German owners, but in all honesty… ‘ain’t nobody got time for dat shit’. We skate. We aren’t going to NOT skate something just because we know who owns it. Nothing should stop you.

Pay for it. Get arrested for it. Hell, perform sexual favours to lonely housewives for it, nobody cares as long as you get that clip. Just remember to document what it took to get it done. The only thing I’d suggest is utilising some common sense (something I’m not doing by writing this article…) and striving towards the possible harmony within architectural space that could exist between skateboarding and civilised society... In other words, don’t over-fucking-do it.

Alan Marola 50-50 drop 50-50.

Visser

In other words, Backside 100-100.

64 | sessionmag.co.za

AfricaSkate.com

TheLegionSkateboardCompany LegionSkateboarding

LegionSession 200913.indd 2

PETER RAMONDETTA

2013/09/20 9:25 AM

Skateboarding is a part of you as a human being.

It flows through your blood, it changes the way your eyeballs look at the world; changes your mind. Skateboarding architecture, counting stairs, looking over walls, it’s the constant search for new spots or taking new tricks to old spots.

Your ears can hear the sound of cops coming or the sound of bolts landing, they always crave new music. Your hands want to build, paint, draw, write, play instruments and create stuff. Your feet want to take you to new places around the corner, across the sea. They seek exploration and adventure. Skateboarding is not a sport or a hobby, it is progression. It’s the need to be better, invent

something new, take your approach and put your mark on what skateboarding is to you. You can never predict w h a t ’s going to happen when you hit the streets with your friends, find a new pool, hike down a ditch in the middle of nowhere or skate flat land on your driveway.

the streets of Barcelona, London in the rain, the smell of Cuba, New York in the summer, Cape town wind, Joburg city, braaing on the side of the highway, walking through the doors at the berrics, tipex on your grip tape, waiting for your friends to come pick you up, building your first mini ramp and that feeling when the session is done and you get home so tired you can barely walk but you know that you’re going to get up the next day and do it all again because that’s what we do, we need to skateboard.

You can never predict what’s going to happen when you hit the streets with your friends

The perfect photo, a web clip that captures a moment, your first deep end pool drop-in, taking a huge chip out of a new board, the uncertainty of getting x-rayed in the hospital, 10 dudes in a small car, meeting your favorite skater, high-fiving your bro after he’s battled a trick for hours and he finally lands it, learning to throw and float concrete, waiting for the new SESSION or AV to come out, setting up a new board, giving your used shoes and boards to someone who needs them more than you, bombing a hill that’s too fast to jump off, sharing a warm 2 litre coke, walking away from an un-landed trick, the first day of a 7-day tour, getting a box of product from your sponsor, walking through the airport with your board and everyone is staring at you, the pain of a shiner, shaving your ankle so you can tape it up, rainy day anguish, rolling through

So when people come up to me and say “Hey I used to skate” it’s like a gut punch because skateboarding has kept me sane the last 28 years, it’s our escape, it’s how we block out the world and all its bullshit.

So I don’t understand how anyone could possibly make an actual decision to stop skateboarding? Drugs, booze, partying, a dodgy girlfriend, life altering injury, a job transfer to Mars or maybe your brain slipped through your neck and fell out your ass.

But skateboarding will always take you back and that’s the cool thing. You may quit one day but skateboarding will leave a mark on you for the rest of your life.

© SECOND

USTRIES KANYA AND WILL WEAR THE “DOPE X PLANKIE” POCKET TEE AND TRUCKER CAP. SEE THE ENTIRE RANGE AT DOPEIND.COM

Š2014 Vans, Inc.