Backside Flip - Photo: Eric Anderson
r e d y n S n Steve
ISSUE 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS
(IN SASSY WHITE GIRL LINGO)
PUBLISHER TOMMY KOWALSKI
COPY EDITOR
UNDER THE COVERS OH YA KNOW JUST RYAN REYES JUMPING OFF SOME FREEWAY RAMP.... HE LOOKS TOTALLY CUTE
ARI SHIFFRIN
PHOTO EDITOR MATT PRICE
PHOTOGRAPHERS AARON FORJAN JUSTIN GUTHRIE GAGE HELLYER TOMMY KOWALSKI MATT PRICE BRANDON STEED
THE ARIZONA VIDEO OUR MAIN BITCH MATT PRICE GOSSIPS ABOUT OUR ROOTS IN THE ARIZONA VIDEO. WHAT A SLUT...
JALEN NOEL JALEN NOEL IS SO GREAT, BUT I HEARD HE DOESNT EVEN SHAVE HIS LEGS... #EW
WRITERS ERIC DOWSWELL CHRIS MILIC
THE OLDE COLLEGE TRY LINDSAY TOLD ME TO PLEDGE ALPHA BETA, BUT I WANNA MEET CUTE SKATER BOYS...
COVER: RY REY HUCKING FRONT 360 ON A FREEWAY OVERPASS. PHOTO: PRICE CONTENTS: MATT JONES SHOWS YOU HOW TO 50-50 LIKE A TRUE COWBOY. PHOTO: KOWALSKI
R Y A N
R E Y E S
/
G U A R D R A I L
W A L L I E
WORDS: M
ost people cannot say they caught inspiration in the form of a nostalgic children’s cartoon. I just happened to name a magazine after a school that a football-head shaped kid from New York went to, on weekday nights from 7 to 7:30. One might ask why I would stoop (get it) to relate the two. Could you call it an act of genius, that this institution “PS118” has some sort of tie to everything skateboarding related? Or you could just blame my silly mind for watching a rerun while sitting at the dinner table one night. The thing that truly got me was its childish context. I was dipping my head into books on modern art at the time, and growing up watching that show with the jazz music and its hand-drawn urban cityscape you couldn’t help but feel somewhat creative yourself (if you’ve seen the show you know what I mean here). That being said, it was impossible not to hook something like skateboarding to its childish cartoon counterpart. Our first issue was comprised of a series of doodles I did during class coupled with photographs of my friends and me skating and having a blast. PS118 is jumping fences and getting into mischief with your friends, skating down hills at 50 miles an hour without a helmet, late summer nights exploring the huge world.
Hey Tommy!
WRITTEN BY TOMMY KOWALSKI ILLUSTRATION BY ZACK ROSEBRUGH
UNDER THE
COVERS. You can’t see it, but there was snow present when the cover photo was shot. FUCKING SNOW! I can honestly say I never in my life thought I would shoot a skate photo where there was snow anywhere within 50 miles of me. We didn’t plan it that way. Ry Rey had filmed a few tricks in Albuquerque and wanted to shoot photos of them. Somehow we convinced someone to put us on a plane to New Mexico for a 24 hour vacation to handle some business. Little did we know that the rain there freezes in the winter. It was as cold as a witch’s left nipple, but we bundled up and used the one day we had to dodge snow piles and make shit happen. Sure enough Ryan got all the tricks and we flew home with a stack of photos, but not before I lost a bet over him doing a Miller Flip and had to dip my scrotum in to a freezing stream of sewer water. Joke’s on him though because I sold that photo for an ad, so now I am a professional ball sack freezer at a rate of about 500 bucks a second.
WORDS: PRICE
RYAN REYES JUMPS OFF A BRIDGE...INTO A BANK THAT IS. CLIP: BUSTER OSHEA
Roots Matt Price talks about the local video that changed his life
DVD rip and screen grabs courtesy of Mark Carroll
J
ust like any little kid who picks up a hobby, during the first year or two that I skated I didn’t know about much past just riding my skateboard in my driveway. Until I was a few years deep I had no idea that there were magazines, videos, or even pros. Needless to say, once I learned about all of that I instantly became immersed in the full culture of skateboarding. Once skateparks started popping up more I would take any city bus that would get me there or beg my grandma for weekend rides to be surrounded by government subsidized concrete. Skating the skatepark was always fun, but not quite as fun as getting to see the kind of mind-blowing shit I assumed only Tony Hawk could do. After a year or so, I started to recognize certain guys at parks that I had seen before and I knew when they showed up it was time for me to sit down and take notes. How were these dudes so fucking good? Were they pro? They must have been because normal people couldn’t just skate the way they were skating. I was looking up to these guys for so long and had no idea what anybody’s name was or anything else about them. I knew there was beanie guy, who always wore a floppy beanie. There was that one dude that beanie guy skated with who had the best kickflip I had ever seen. It seriously looked fake. There was that tiny kid in sweatpants who could back lip the rail at the Wedge. I mean, he was like twelve and I was fourteen and I couldn’t even back lip a curb. There was a grown ass man who talked like he was raised on a ranch and could do real Ollie Impossibles. This cast of anonymous shredders was larger than life to me and I knew nothing about them.
That all changed when a friend invited me to a video premiere in Tempe one night. At this point I knew there were skate videos, but I had no idea they premiered them in movie theaters and the guys in the video actually showed up. I nearly pissed myself when I realized what I was walking into. From the second the video started I was entranced and my brain was scrambled again and again and again, and in between the scramblings it was hitting me. Oh shit! That’s beanie guy! Oooooh, of course, he’s brothers with the kickflip guy. And there was that little kid and the cowboy! Turns out he was actually called Cowboy! I was finally able to put names to these faces and I was really able to start fanning out like a little girl at a One Direction show. Not just on their skating at this point, but on the fact that they all just made this video themselves. They didn’t really have anything to do with any companies or pros or anything. They just filmed a bunch of skateboarding and put it together for anyone who wanted to watch in a fucking movie theater. How insane was that? At the time, for me, it was very insane. It was also super motivating. I realized that if I wanted to I could be a part of something just like they had made, and from that moment on I knew what I wanted to do more than anything. Arizona skateboarding means more to me than just about anything in the world and this video is a huge reason why. Sadly, this video was released on VHS maybe the exact minute the whole world switched to DVD, so I feel like it never got the love it deserved. So we decided to bootleg (with permission from the creators) 100 DVD copies to come with this issue of the magazine. I don’t know exactly how many people will be stoked to get one, but if anyone is half as stoked as I am then it was worth it.
SEQUENTIAL PHOTOS: PRICE
DASHAWN JORDAN KICKFLIP BS CROOKED GRIND
TUNAGE MUSIC & SKATEBOARDING
With Eric Dowswell
FOREWORD: These albums are not ones you would particularly want to skateboard to. But we skateboarders have a higher capability to geek out on things that make us individuals. All of us are able to shape our focus to find what we want and what we really feel is important to our happiness. That being said, check out these ambient sound purveyors to fill in the gaps between all nighters with friends, surfing around the streets, work-worries, and sleepless studies.
DOWSWELL BOARDSLIDES WITH BROS PHOTO: PRICE
RICEBOY SLEEPS / JÓNSI AND ALEX This duo of Jón Þór Birgisson (Sigur Rós) and Alex Somers (Parachutes) truly is a work of art that you would be glad you heard before you die. All connoisseurs of ambient music should listen to this album for its wide range of instruments, bright and crispy piano plucking to beautifully drawn strings, and ethereal chorus singing. Jón’s vocal capabilities in “Indian Summer” will draw you in. This is the perfect time of year to listen to Riceboy Sleeps, whether on the light rail while it’s raining or lying in your room while muffled sunlight from overcast clouds creeps into your bedroom window.
TAKAGI MASAKATSU / OPUS PIA A great introduction to electronic-style ambient music is composer Takagi Masakatsu. A true computer wizard, Takagi is a heart-softener with plenty of gentle piano melodies and subtle manipulations of field recordings and every other sound you hear. Almost all of the sounds of this album are piano based and are remixed so sporadically and spontaneously that you forget what you are listening to.
GODSPEED YOU! / BLACK EMPEROR Easily one of the most noted independent post-rock bands ever. Everyone’s telling you that Godspeed is legendary and they’re not lying! For this extremely talented collaboration, and their often 20 minute songs, it’s necessary to sit down and have a solid hour and a half to soak in what they are saying. These are such strong and richly collaborated songs that once you listen to all of them in one sitting, listening to one part later just won’t do it justice. If it doesn’t bring you to tears the first time, listen again. If you don’t cry to the crescendo of “Sleep” you’re fucked up.
SPOT
TRAPEZOID DITCH Trapezoid ditch has been well documented in skate magazines for nearly a decade. Located on the edge of the city in the far reaches of East Mesa next to ASU’s Polytechnic Campus, this is one of the more diverse ditch spots that Arizona has to offer. The main attraction, obviously, is the massive trapezoidal lump that juts out from the big bank creating a perfect wallride spot, a hip-to-grind-transfer, and even a mega pyramid jump to suit the needs of those grown-up flyout kids who crave the hang time.
If you’re down to sprint, the channel over the stairs makes for a worthy flat gap if you’ve got the stamina to pull it off. Not a speed racer? Try the bank-to-bank manual pad instead. When it’s not full of raging waters, and not oppressively hot outside, skaters of the Valley flock to this cement playground to ride their toys. Oh, you’re not looking to play? Well you better summon all your courage and bring a thick stack of wood for ride-up because the gap into the big bank is no joke. Good luck!
RICK CLARK FRONT BLUNT WORDS & PHOTO: KOWALSKI
Jalen Noel. Written by Tommy Kowalski
Jalen is a man of very few
Jalen was the first dude to
words, but he’s a great friend
shake my hand and welcome
of mine so I’m going to do
me into the shop. After that
the talking for him. I met
he offered me a Pabst Blue
Jalen at my very first
Ribbon and a slice of pizza.
Cowtown shop meeting. It
Because of that one small
happened to be during the
gesture, the rest of the night
wintertime one year ago
was smooth sailing for me.
and we were getting ready
We talked about the latest in
to take a family photo of
skating over a few slices of
everybody in the shop for
pizza and, just like that, I was
the annual Christmas card. I
family. Jalen was the first one
had no idea who any of these
to welcome me.
people were that night. It was a very nerve-racking experience for me to walk into a room full of people I hardly knew, let alone in the most core skateshop in town.
BUMP TO CROOKED GRIND PHOTOS: KOWALSKI
“
That young kid will go home that night stoked
“
Jalen’s the kinda dude that will walk up to one of the youngest kids at a skatepark and give them a genuine reason to be stoked for the rest of the night. There’s no reason behind it other than his love for skateboarding. That young kid will go home that night stoked and tell his parents how much fun he had that day. Maybe he’ll continue skating, maybe he won’t, but whatever he goes on to do he’ll do it with damn pride because of one positive interaction he had.
BOARDSLIDE UP
Jalen Noel.
Jalen is one of the most free and fun souls in skateboarding that I know. All of these photos I’ve taken of him were shot simply because we woke up one morning, I picked him up, and we went skating. There was no second guessing anything and the majority of the time there wasn’t a filmer. We just went out and did it. I’ve never looked at it any differently. Why go skating if it wasn’t fun? Why publish a magazine if it wasn’t fun? Jalen is my best friend. We skate together. FRONT NOSEGRIND
“ Why go
Skating if it wasn’t fun? “
FRONT BOARD
Jalen Noel.
The Olde
College Try I hope you’re wearing a pair of Sperrys and and some track shorts because we’re about to enter the realm of Partytown, USA. Arizona State has been the foundation of local kids’ skate explorations since the invention of urethane wheels. Pushing through mongo longboarders, fixed gear bikers, and hurried students has been an ongoing tradition for us all. On its own, campus is one huge spot, some areas of which have achieved legendary status. Why not nail them down to four main locations? For the youngsters just experiencing the oyster that is college, keep in mind that hot babes can distract you from jumping the fifteen stair and the university is on lockdown lately, so get as many ideas as you can and keep the paradise alive so we all can enjoy it! Those segway security guards aren’t gonna lose weight by sitting at a television set all day, plus maybe if we’re lucky their cameras will catch a second angle of our gnar. So here we go... Top four ASU areas, with maybe some cool photos too.
ANDREW JACQUEZ KICKFLIP PHOTO: KOWALSKI
W.P. CAREY Push the halls of the future businessmen and women of America, ‘cause those halls got spots. The abundance of W.P. Carey’s newest building renovations and architectural advancements has attracted skaters from all over the state. Nothing appeals to skateboarders more than brand new buildings full of potential, like these ones with a fresh ledge to rail, flat gaps, an insane ride-on-rail, and hallway stair sets. Here’s our buddy Andrew Jacquez dropping out of Marketing 101 to do a rooftop kickflip.
THE MU Behold the hottest spot in all of campus, the MU. There is constantly new architecture popping up in this central location and as many hot sorority girls as you can count. Earlier this year we were treated to new marble ledges and the de-knobbing of a seven stair out ledge next to the MU window. Of course those spots have since been “fixed” to prevent skateboarding, but that doesn’t negate the fact this area is an oasis. Test your luck on the fifteen stair down to the library, or maybe go all the way to Chick-fil-A after ripping the still un-landed twenty-one stair MU rail. Miles Canevello made the first attempt; maybe you can follow in the footsteps of one of the greats...
PETE GRANNIS WALLIE BS 50-50 PHOTO: KOWALSKI
ART MUSEUM Having trouble finding a major that tickles your fancy? Maybe you’re into fine art? We’ve got the perfect program for you. Head down south to the ASU art museum. The skinny pink banks were tragically knobbed recently, but that doesn’t stop you from skating this six stair kinker like our friend Danny Barrera did here. Handrails aren’t for everybody though, so turn the corner and head down Forest Ave. to Discovery Hall to get creative on the manny pads. You’re different and need to be catered to; we understand. Now go footplant your way to greatness.
DANNY BARRERA KICKFLIP BS TAILSLIDE PHOTO: PRICE
ADAM ARUNSKI FRONTSIDE 5-0 PHOTO: KOWALSKI
COOR HALL Take a trip to the biggest computer lab on campus, Coor Hall. Located on Myrtle right behind the retired Chili’s parking lot, as you enter through this glass building’s hallway you’ll discover the oversized fourteen stair rail. Take a right turn a little further down and ollie over the street blocks to find a six stair rail with a mellow kink that’s been popping up in video parts. If you’re really trying to prove something, skate around to the north side of the building and hop on the bike rack rail. Our friend Adam Arunski blessed it with a 5-0 that was so nicely balanced you could call it a rail manual.
Squad. Justin Modica & Evan Okeson Go Bowling
Evan took this Smith Grind deep and long, safely making it around the photographer laying on the flat bottom. The photographer thanks you for that. -Price
J-Mod landed this exact Judo Air you’re looking at. That doesn’t happen all the time. -Price
Squad.
Your squad is the most important thing about a skate session. Even at the worst spot, the best bros can have a blast. Evan and J-Mod are kind of like a pool skating Bert and Ernie, minus the homosexual undertones. It’s rare to see one out skating without the other, which is good for us because, between the two of them, they usually put on a show that will leave you drooling like you just took a shot of Novocain. They were both already ripping skateboarders before they met, but once they clicked and started skating together regularly they seemed to push each other into some other realm of stoke. Watching these two feed off of each other and go back and forth on a session is, well, for lack of a more badass term, pretty magical. On this particular session we headed way out west to Goodyear Park so they could play skateboards in the big boy bowl after they got off work for the day. They ganged up and attacked, and this is what we got.
we headed way out west to Goodyear Park so they could play skateboards in the big boy bowl WORDS AND PHOTOS: PRICE
The Primest Of Cuts Danny Barrera Puts in Work Your local butcher just started carrying something new and it’s not your normal cut of beef. Take a look at the pieces of a cow. You got your angus, your tenderloin, your sirloin. That stuff? That’s some garbage. What we’re looking for is that good stuff. The thin cut beef, the fillet worthy of a king, the prime cut. Where do you go to get a slice of this meaty goodness of all that is manly and great? Your local Cowtown of course. Oh, you thought we were talking about a piece of meat this whole time? You thought wrong. Go watch Danny Barrera skate for about twenty minutes ‘cause you’ll want what he is serving up, and that ain’t no bull. Dude is good, and by good I mean fresher than the lasagna on seventh avenue, with more pop than the popcorn sold on Mill, and with enough lemon flavored steez to fill up your juice box about fifty times.
Take whatever you think you know about skating and throw that shit out the freakin’ window ‘cause my boy Danny here is about to show you how it’s done. He just put out a gnarly part in Brandon Steed’s “Prime Cut” and these photos depict only a tiny percentage of that gnar. Do you think we’re joking around? Think that’s funny? Maybe we should take a walk around the corner behind Cartel and talk for a minute, if you know what I mean. Danny sure as hell knows. He eats raw eggs for breakfast. Think I’m lying? Go ask him... I dare ya. Dude’s an animal. Ay, I’m just pulling ya chain you lunatic. This dude’s a sweetheart, one of the best dudes out. He saves puppies from the homeless shelter and nurses them back to health. Ya know why? Because he’s a good dude. Got a heart of gold, I tell ya. Greatest dude I know. Go watch his video part. It’s one for the books.
Crook pop over Photo: Steed
Switch Frontside Heelflip Photo: Price
A GRADE BEEF
Fakie Frontside Flip Nose Manual Shuv It Photos: Forjan
Nollie Backside Heelflip Photos: Forjan
100
Front Lipslide Photo: Kowalski
Words Or Less
A
Goure
Skrimpy man really took it to pound
packages inside of the building for
town on this yellow out-rail with
the better part of an hour, providing
almost immediate bust. As anyone
much needed coverage to our
that has attempted to skate this rail
mischievous and sly doings. About
would know, the security office sits
seven tries and two marked clips later,
directly - and i mean window is right
Aaron front lipped right out of the
there - directly outside of the spot. It
arms of security and into the next
happened to be just our luck that a
issue. As for the other trick? I guess
giant UPS truck had been carrying
you’ll have to see Pyramid Country’s Exeter to find out… -Tommy Kowalski
J
PIERCE Jon Bird, Jen Price, the infamous PiMp TwIsTeD :-)~~(-: J is a real piece, a nasty rotten Skrimp if you will. You already knew that Jonathan Pierce is one of the most talented sk8rs from AZ, so I’m going to tell you some stuff you didn’t know about Jen! Jonathan’s middle name is “Hikaru”. He is from Japanese descent. J is also a huge Disney fanatic. Last time I went over to his house, we browsed through his impressive VHS collection and watched The Beauty and the Beast. If you ask Jon about Pocahontas he’ll ask you “have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?” Jonathan is the biggest sweetheart I know. He’ll share his last bite of food with you, his whiskey, and he’ll probably even let you give him a tattoo! Jon is an incredible person which makes me proud to call him my best friend. - Chris Milic
Crail Grab Photo: Guthrie
Tempe
Halloween
XX SY NC
JOHN ONEAL | HIPPIE JUMP | PHOTO: KOWALSKI
SY NC
DAKODA OSUSKY | OVER THE TOP 50-50 | PHOTO: KOWALSKI
AARON “JAWS” HOMOKI | FRONTSIDE 50-50 | PHOTO: PRICE
MARSHALL WINTER | NOSEBLUNT-PICK | PHOTO: PRICE
RAYCE DAVIS | FRONTSIDE OLLIE | PHOTO: PRICE
SY NC
SY NC
BLUE HEADY | NOLLIE BS 180 | PHOTO: PRICE
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