The Events That Defined New York City Skateboarding in 2011: 20-16

Back on it, sorry for the delay. Previous installment: #25-21

20. Blackberry solidifies its status as a “core” video device for skateboard videographers

2011 saw the largest wave of Blackberry-to-iPhone conversions from New Yorkers to date. Even those who swore by physical keyboards eventually crumbled in their stance, and purchased history’s most advanced piece of glass, allowing the iPhone to be seen on at least five out of every seven Tompkins benches by the end of the year. Though progress on smartphones is more rapid than on actual skateboard-filming-devices, this dynamic shift in technological preferences cast the Blackberry into the same core device category dominated by the VX1000. Blackberry loyalists (snobs?) like Paulgar, and other T-Mobile customers have continued to burn the torch for what has become the cellphone equivalent of skateboarding’s favorite “standard definition” camera, by continuing to release core-targeted Blackberry montages to combat the staleness of most iPhone edits.

And if “VHS is the new Super-8,” what is the Sidekick in this equation?

19. New York City skateboarders get more desperate for ledge spots, actually begin skating “BAM 2”

In the early 2000s, when the manual pad was removed from BAM and the two shorter ledges were knobbed, Brooklyn locals made a haphazard attempt at reviving the spot’s energy. A ten-minute skate west along Flatbush Avenue yielded ledges of the same material, and similar flatground, so it was named “BAM 2.” Unlike BAM 1, its successor had a largely unskateable set-up, as all of its ledges ran into benches, had awkward runways, and all-around sucked for skateboarding. Nobody actually skated “BAM 2,” and soon after, the T.F. was born, so it didn’t matter. Ten years later, due to a desperation for ledges, and a higher threshold for stupid/awkward spots thanks to our increasingly cellar-door-ized society, “BAM 2” experienced a revitalization and heavy appearances in the past year’s cycle worth of skate clips.

18. L*ngb*ard*rs start giving friendly nods to skateboarders/”shortboarders”

Skating through the streets, weaving through traffic, dodging pedestrians, skitching on cabs, etc. while listening to 2 Chainz is one of the most celebrated cliches about why skating in New York is great, and rightfully so. However, this experience has been soiled as it has correlated to the massive influx of l*ngb*ard*rs in New York. If you skate from place-to-place in this city, you have certainly been the victim of an unexpected “WHAT UP BRO” nod from some guy on a l*ngb*ard, in Oakleys, with Beats By Dre headphones, and a hemp knapsack full of textbooks, pushing mongo on his way to class at NYU this past year. Skateboarder reactions have ranged from second hand embarrassment at the thought that unknowing pedestrians assumed you were affiliated, to focusing your board on spot and going straight to the bar.

17. KCDC and Autumn live to be ten-years-old

Surprisingly, Autumn is not a Pinkberry, and KCDC is not Williamsburg’s first Chipotle. In a city where the average life of a niche-targeted boutique is probably seven months, the fact that both of these have remained open for a full decade (it’s a bit more impressive on Autumn’s end because they have barely carried shoes for the past few years…short of Verte x Etnies collaborations in a size 12) is amazing, and a triumph for the small business history books. Salute for all the shit both shops have had to deal with at the hands of skateboarders and degenerates, and for letting us sit around and ask stupid questions for two hours after the sun set for the past ten Januarys. Best of luck on another decade.

16. Courthouse Drop sessions decline 50%, collective life expectancy of skateboarders in New York rises by seven years

2009 and 2010 were prime eras for tourism at the Courthouse Drop, but by this year, the list of NBDs had slimmed out quite a bit. A Canadian fakie flipped into it, so all that remains is a backside 360 from a European, and a switch 360 flip from an Australian, before the spot is officially irrelevant to skateboarding…at least until someone attempts an ollie over the entire thing. Those with previously casual interest in a trick down the famous drop have all but abandoned their hopes at stardom, fearing that they would be encroaching on ABD territory in some yet-to-be-released footage.

Bonus Mini Top 5 — Predictions for 2012:
5. The District Attorney’s office gets private security guards to prevent skateboarders from entering Tompkins during their summer softball games
4. Bigger high-water cuffs! Saggier beanies! Stretchier neckholes!
3. Someone is going to skate to a song off the Drive soundtrack
2. Hyped off the Menace Epicly Later’d episodes, the MNC star shirt will be re-issued and occupy the same “I don’t wear skate tees except this one” category that the Palace triangle does
1. Black Dave gets signed to Bricksquad