G R E E C E Li g ht ni ng
“IT’S
“I t’s on, M a l a ka s ! ”
TM Chris Pfanner wrote in the WhatsApp group, followed by a video of Billy Buck Roscoe. If you know, then you know our approach to this trip. You might also know that we’re not known as the Lonely Planet of skateboard publications, but once in a while, we do tour stories and sometimes the tours then turn out to be unexpectedly amazing, just like this one. Maybe I have been sitting in the office for too long, but I can’t remember ever witnessing a trip where the guys were more into it, chewing up spots like a hungry harvester devouring whole cornfields – and the spots were huge! In the dark, with a shitty run-up, double kinked and around the corner, with a landing on the sidewalk right next to a four-lane road with heavy traffic – sure, let’s go for it. No questions asked. This crew is like the one of a pirate ship. They have been on numerous adventures together and everything goes hand in hand by now. They know what to do, and while I write these lines, they are already on the road again in Russia. A hopefully always full Tom the Cooler will be with them as their compass to joy and happiness while
they
shout,
“Fuck you, cunt” to each other, which basically
means,
“I love you.”
PHOTOS: DAVY VAN LAERE TEXT: STEFAN SCHWINGHAMMER
ON, C O AXEL —
V E R : C RUYSB ERGH S BOAR D SLI D E
Editors/Creative Direction Stefan Schwinghammer Oliver Tielsch Art Direction Peter Schlaak Proofreading Ansgar Wagemann, Nich Kunz Publisher SOLO Tielsch & Klobes GbR Wissmannstraße 30 50823 Köln Thanks to Chris Pfanner & Alex Forbes
It’s lik e
A C R — F
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L B E R G H S F RO NTS I DE B L E
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AL BERT NYB ERG —1— SWITCH WALLIE
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CA I N
t h a t ’s sp i ced u p w i t h so m e w a sa b i
ROB I N B OLI A N — B AC KSI D E 5 0 -5 0 F RON TSI D E 1 8 0
HAND
H e ’s like Mr. Wo lf, he s o lv e s pr obl e m s a ka
AXE L C RU YS BE RG H S —2— F RO NTS I DE 5 0- 5 0
C H R I S P FA N N ER — KI C KF LI P
— 3—
V I CTOR F R O F E
P ELLEGR I N N T S I D E B L
— E E
T H A NO S PA NO U — 4— BOARDSLIDE STALEFISH OUT
VA L B AU ER — F RON TSI D E 1 8 0 FA KI E N OSEGR I N D
ROB I N — S M I
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B OL I A N B AC KS I DE G R I N D
A X E C RU YSB E RG H S N O CO M P LY
L — F L I P
J O S EPH
B I AIS
—5 —
KIC K F LI P
G R O ha r de r t h a n a b a g o f p o t a t o es t ha t y o u t h rew d o w n t h e st a i rs
H i s body
HIT — 6 —
T H E
U N D C H R I P FA N N ER —7 B A C K S I D B L U N T S L I D
S — E E
YE E L E N M O E NS —8— BAC KS I DE N O S E B L U N T S L I D E
I ha d t he bi g g e s t f i g ht of m y l i f e a n d t h en Ma rk G o n za l es
1._The whole thing started on March 16 in Athens and
landing because somebody was dying. Or maybe some-
10._In contrast to his other assaults, Axel Cruysberghs
then continued in Thessaloniki. Albert Nyberg came to
thing else has happened, my memory is not the best.
had to come back a second time for this trick. Well
Athens a few days later. He didn’t come alone though,
I do know though that we had to wait for over an hour
actually, it’s two tricks and it wasn’t his fault that it
he brought a Nintendo Switch and some wisdom teeth
in the short-term parking zone, providing the whole
didn’t happen the first time. It was just way too windy
pain along with him. We tried to find him a dentist, but
entrance area with finest hip-hop and country tunes
and he was blown off of the rail while trying to balance
somehow he trusted his own dentist back at home more.
while smoking some of the herbs we had just acquired.
this looooong feeble grind all the way before switching
So I think, in the end, he didn’t stay for much more
Dustin had a large smile on his face when he arrived.
it over to a boardslide – or is it a lipslide because of the
than 30 hours before he took the plane back, but that
He said they gave him two bottles of wine. Fair enough
movement? Axel, stop it! Things get way too hella gnarly
was enough for him to shoot two tricks – with hurting
for a trip from Paris to Athens – with an unplanned
since you’re out in Cali. Ah, fuck it. Go get that bread!
wisdom teeth but also still with the unique Abbe magic.
stopover somewhere in Italy. We were celebrating our reunion on our rooftop terrace (much larger than my
11._Dan Lu is one of those lovely human beings you
2._Axel was riding with our spot guide Thanos on
apartment, if I had one). When I woke up the next
wish your sister would date, mostly because that would
the scooter and, thus, found spots on the way to an-
day, the entire Airbnb was tidy like we would’ve just
give you the chance to hang out with him. In the morn-
other spot from time to time. Like this one. He got
walked in. Dustin had cleaned up. “It’s important to es-
ing, you could mix smoothies together with some of his
the trick within 10 minutes. It was really impres-
tablish order at the end of the day,” he explained. “As
magic powder ingredients, of which you don’t know if
sive to witness how exactly Axel knows his capa-
this is the only way you can joyfully revert everything
they’re supposed to be healthy or make you high. Af-
bilities and with which precision he does the tricks
back into chaos the next day.” (He said it a bit dif-
terwards, you could go skate and then chill at a bar and
he selects, not only this one but all the tricks he did
ferently, maybe using the word “fuck” at some point.)
Dan’s curly, blond hair and his smile would work as
during the trip – and he did a lot. He’s like Mr. Wolf,
such a strong magnet that you would be surrounded by
he solves problems aka handrails. As soon as he’s
7._It took a lot out of Chris Pfanner to land this blunt-
hot literature students (of your preferred gender) all the
running up to a handrail, you know the rail is done:
slide. I was sitting not very far away from the landing,
time, who eventually recite their poems to you in your
he’s gonna dismember it with a surgeon-like preci-
and a couple of times, his body hit the ground harder
bed – because Dan left with your sister to cook her a
sion, free of trembling and hesitation. Aaaand check!
than a bag of potatoes that you threw down the stairs.
vegan dinner. It would be a great world that exists may-
He also killed himself on an ollie the day before, jump-
be in a parallel universe where I have siblings… In this
3._Beddy is Dustin Dollin’s dog. She’s a real Holly-
ing into something I would call a snake pit or maybe
reality, however, Dan Lu nearly killed himself trying a
wood girl by birth, but she can handle the streets. She
a pit of death or a bomb crater – everything except a
backside 50-50 on a double set hubba while I’m dating
didn’t bark once but was still the boss. She jumped out
landing. Guess what? He doesn’t give a fuck. Pfann-
your sister (just kidding, my lady is an only child as well).
of the van without looking, was the first to mark the
man skated like a madman while also planning and
spot, and chilled there as if the place self-evidently be-
organizing the whole trip, driving the bus, having his
12._This hubba is tall. Victor Pellegrin had already done
longed to her. I can’t really imagine what she would
credit card ready when needed, and still managing to
a backside bluntslide on it the last time he was there but
look like as a human, but somehow I feel it would
squeeze brewskis in between. TM of the year, for sure!
still… The hubba is tall and it spits you out right into
be something like Tinker Bell with Popeye’s arms.
a downhill. I would imagine it feels like being thrown 8._Yeelen Moens knows what’s good. He just has a sense
out of the waterslide into the pool, only without the
4._Thanos Panou was the perfect spot guide. He had
for it. He collects photos of weird graffiti he finds in the
water. It was already dark when we came there. Doobie
prepared a multi-page list containing spots grouped by
streets (needless to mention that there were numerous in
had done some skating before on some not so small
areas and with video links, photos, and descriptions
Athens). His music collection contained some exquisite
stuff. Then he decided to do this trick and was thrown
saying something like, “This seven-flat-eight double set
choices, especially for someone of his age, and his trick
onto the ground like a rally car flying out of the corner,
has a rough run-up and is waist-high, but the ground on
selection is absolutely waterproof. See this backside
but in the end, he made it and we partied afterwards.
the landing is great – if you can make it till there. I did
noseblunt over the rooftops of Athens? Doesn’t get any
(To be honest, the guys partied while I was working till
a 50-50 and a boardslide and would suggest a 5-0 for
better, right? It’s like snoring cocaine that’s spiced up
Dustin told me to put that fucking laptop away and
regulars and crooked for goofy.” He was like a general
with some wasabi or drinking a sip of crystal clear wa-
join the crew. I obeyed.) The next day, I woke up to
with a perfectly set-up battle plan. That’s why his level
ter after a relieving period of fasting in nature. Depends
hearing Doobie puking miserably – and his room was
of annoyance was through the roof because he hurt his
on your own lifestyle which you can relate to more.
on the other side of the apartment. It sounded like he
ankle one day before the trip on a warm-up flat kickflip
was puking his guts out, but he just puked blood… We
for a cheesy TV show he should’ve performed in. At
9._When I first met Robin Bolian (because of his
never figured out where it came from. I mean, obvious-
the end of the trip, he was finally back on the board
name, I still had problems distinguishing him from
ly from his body, but you know what I mean. Doobie
and did boardslides like this one. Mission completed.
Adrien Bulard and Aurelien Giraud – oh, he’s gonna
just chilled for a day and then came back with an even
love that), he was flying through a bowl in Milan and
gnarlier trick… I’ll tell you more about that in his inter-
5._Athens is a hotspot for skate trips, historically (no,
wore a trucker hat saying, “X Dubai.” I thought he
view which will be in the next Solo. Cliffhanger, bitches!
I’m not talking about ancient Greece although the
was just fucking around with this, but he also wore it
marble from those days is still here) as well as now-
in Greece all the time. So I began to think that it might
13._Looking at that picture, I always think about how
adays. A lot of people are going there at the moment
be a real sponsorship, which actually brings him some
great it would be to have a kind of Dogma movie where
for obvious reasons: it’s cheap, it has great spots, and
money, although the cap looks like he found it in a sec-
Dustin Dollin is playing the devil. During the movie,
local authorities don’t seem to give a fuck. Even when
ond-hand shop, where it was forgotten for a few years
you’ll get more insight into his character and find out
a shop owner begged them to kick us out, a bunch of
after a farmer wore it for decades until he died after a
that he’s a very educated guy with good manners that
policemen couldn’t be bothered and just continued
life full of work and hardships. I actually never asked
only got into this situation because he was fucked
drinking their coffee. Once, some other cops even con-
him cause I found it more interesting to not know and
over for being too open, sensitive, and humanitarian
trolled traffic for us cause they wanted to see a trick
keep on imagining things: like a rich sheik, looking for
in former times, which gave him this cynical view on
go down. During our stay, the Carhartt boys also en-
a spokesperson to promote action sports in his coun-
the world that he now serves with some dark humor.
joyed those advantages and came by to sticker bomb
try and mixing him up with Aurelien Giraud – could
He would have a droog-like gang with little hellspawns
the entrance of our Airbnb. At some point, two of
be possible. I find that more interesting than an actual
that he charges with power before they have to do their
them – Joseph Biais and Pepe Tirelli – as well as Yeelen
confirmation. Post-google times. Or maybe pre-google
duties by putting a hand on their shoulders like he
Moens and Val Bauer finally greeted us with a “Hello
times. Post-factual times, for sure. The fact is, howev-
does with Pepe Tirelli in this picture. Are you reading
there!” and joined the trip. It helped to boost the stick-
er, that he rips like a guy who sticks his dick into the
this Kevin Smith? We need that movie, and call Nick
and-poke tattoo count and the party level some more.
vagina he once stuck his head out of. Yeah, you got
Cave for the soundtrack. Ah fuck, that’s not necessary.
it. I mean a motherfucker, he rips like a motherfuck-
Dustin is hanging out with him anyway. You can imag-
6._Dustin Dollin arrived the same night Albert Nyberg
er. Why else would you do a front board on a triple
ine what stories Mr. Dollin has to tell. No? Well, I’ll
flew in. We picked them both up at the airport. Dustin’s
kinker like that? Imagine the sound: tchuck-tchuck-
just give you a random quote: “I had the biggest fight
flight was delayed since they had to do an emergency
tchuck. Sniper rifle on automatic. Limitless. X-treme!
of my life and then Mark Gonzales cooked me dinner.”
C O O K E D You know who else has great stories? Victor Pellegrin. Most of
next to a car. Outside of Formula One races or hip-hop
them are too PG-13 for a magazine, but no worries, we’ll tell
videos, that sight is just not a very thrilling subject. The
you some of them... in his interview. Fucking cliffhangers, eh?
interesting fact that will get your hormone levels rising is that (at least) two people in this picture had sex
14._Apart from the Acropolis or other more or less well-pre-
during the trip. Yes, real intercourse, and you now have
served piles of stone of world cultural interest, which we only
three tries to find out who. Any mathematicians here
watched from a distance from our roof terrace (did I mention
that can calculate how many possible pairings we have?
that it was big enough to host a triple jump competition according to official regulations?), we visited a lot of churches.
18._Filmer Max Pack is a beast when it comes to
By Jove, it wasn’t like we were praying the Holy Rosary up
arm wrestling. Legends pave his path. He has already
and down, but it seems like every Greek church has at least one spot. If you thought till now that Christ airs would get you through the pearly gates, we might have to disappoint you. Judging by the churches’ designs, handrail skating will bring you to heaven. Other than that, there were also a lot of processions going on, where little boys were dressed up like cowboy ballerinas with a mustache. By the way, in the library in our apartment (it was huge, you know), I found a book about “Cross-Dressing in the Wehrmacht” – just in case you maybe need a nice present for a politically disheveled uncle to show him what grandpa was really into.
D A N I LUTH ERAN FRONTSID E
E
L — 5 -0
15._That’s not really a trick for Victor. He was just fooling around. This ledge was way below the size where he starts to take spots serious, so he did some early grabs into the hubba. To be honest, it’s really not the tallest hubba, but for him, it was basically a slappy curb. You might not know, cause he’s hitting big spots all the time, but he also has this kind of skating on lock. Little side note: while Victor was playing around, Dan got his lost bag delivered from the airport right to the spot. 16._The guys also thought about bringing Jake Phelps on the trip, to hang out with him and have a good time. Just a few days before the trip started, he died. I found that out through the WhatsApp group. “RIP Phelps,” Dustin wrote just a few seconds after my alarm
almost dislocated Andrew Reynolds’ arm and even
clock had gone off. Of course, that dampened the mood in
beat Victor – after a mean caterpillar had bitten him
some situations, and in some moments, you could see tears in
and his whole upper arm was red. I guess it’s because
the eyes when old stories were unpacked in which the Phelp-
he’s carrying this fucking heavy camera the whole day.
er pulled off something crazy again which would instantly give regular citizens a roller coaster facial expression. The crew tried their best to commemorate Jake – as did this local. 17._You want it, right? So you can have it. I’ll give you some gossip. This picture is not really interesting. No offense, Steve… eh Davy ;) – but it’s just a bunch a people standing
m e d i n n er
RO BI N BO L I A — F RO NTS I D G R I ND TO G R I N D OW N T H E C O R NE
N E D R
I magine t he s ound: tchuck-tchuck-tchuck. Sn iper r ifle on a ut om a t i c .
L
i
m
i
t
l
e
s
X ROBIN —9 — B O A
R
D
B OLI A N F RON TSI D E S L I D E
s
.
T
R
E
A X C R U Y S —1 0 — GR I N D TO
E
L B E R G H S F E E BL E BOA R DS L I DE
AXEL,
Thi ng s g e t w a y t oo hel l a g n a rl y s i nc e y ou’ r e out i n Cal i . A h , f u ck i t . G o g e t t ha t br e a d!
DA N I EL LU T H E RA N —1 1 — F RON TSI D E NO S E G R I ND
C H R I S P FA N N E R — F EEB LE GR I ND
Jud gin g b y th e c hur c he s ’ de s i g ns , hand r ail s k atin g w i l l br i ng y ou t o
AXE L C RU YS BE RG H S — F RO NTS I DE BLU NTS L I DE
D
P E P E — G A P P H OTO P F A
I always t hi nk a bout how gr eat it woul d be t o ha v e a ki nd of
O
G
AXEL CRUYSBERGHS — BAC KSI D E TA I LSLI D E
T I R E L L I TO 5 - 0 : C H R I S N N E R
M
M
V I CTOR PEL LE GR I N —12— OVER NOSEBLUNT
A w h ere D u st i n Dollin is playing t h e d ev i l .
ROB I N B OLI A N — C RO OKED GR I N D
I YEELEN MOENS — NO COMPLY
A X E L CRUYSBERGHS —14— 5 0 5 0 ( T H R O U G H TH E C O R NE R )
W
W O K E
U P h ea ri n g D o o b i e p u k i n g m i sera b l y – a n d h i s ro o m w a s o n t h e o t h er si d e o f t h e a p a rt m en t
ALBERT NYBERG — BOARDSLIDE TO SWITCH CROOKED GRIND
V I C T O R P ELLEGR I N —15 — EA R LY GRA B TO B AC KSI D E 5 - 0
—1 6 —
D A N I E L U T H E R A – BAC KSID O V E R C R O O K E
L N E D
Dan Lu nearly killed himself trying a ba c ks i de 50- 50 on a double set hubba w hi l e I’m dating your
—1 7—
S I S T E
E
VICTOR PELLEGRIN — F R O N T S I D E N O S E G R I N D
C H R I S P FA NNE R — FA K I E O L L I E
AXE L C RU YS BE RG H S — CROOKED POP OVER
“ —1 8—
A ho pefu lly a l w a y s f ul l Tom t he Cool e r w il l b e w i t h t h em as th eir com pa s s t o j oy a nd ha ppi ne s s w hi l e t h ey sh o u t , “F uck yo u, cunt ” t o e a c h ot he r, w hi c h ba si ca l l y m ea n s,
“ I
L O V E Y O U . ”
S OLO F OR VA N S 20 1 9