Deeper Understanding — An Interview With Charlie Birch

Interview by Farran Golding
Collages by Requiem For A Screen
Original Photos by Marimo Ohyama & Alex Pires

It seems like just the other day that Palace was a small U.K. brand buzzing with montages filmed on VHS tapes, and P.W.B.C. news segments aimed at a skate industry still coming to grips with how to use the internet. In the ensuing decade of successes, it has remained unshakably English in its vision — even the fact that Jamal Smith is the only American to turn pro for the brand rings of a certain “foreigners appreciating your homeland in a better way than you do”-type thing.

To the American eye, Palace rose to prominence in that void left by Blueprint at the onset of the 2010s. In the time since, the world of U.K. skateboarding feels like it became closer intertwined to our own. This of course is thanks to Palace, yes, but also because of things like Isle’s unanimously adored “Atlantic Drift” series, the Yardsale videos, Free becoming one of the best alternate channels for skate media, and the inspiring success of the Long Live Southbank campaign.

With little context for how the U.K. scene actually operates, we asked Farran Golding — the man behind many of the deep-dive features on the Slam City Skates blog — to interview Charlie Birch, Palace’s newest teamrider, who we don’t know all that much about on this side of the Atlantic ;)

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First Post of 2013

jeezy moet

Happy (belated?) 2013. Had to take the first week off. Anyone else make it through 2012 without finding out what Honey Boo Boo was or actually hearing “Gangnam Style?”

The First & Possibly Last Ever Installment of QS Sneaker News: 1) This is what New Balance skate shoes look like. P.J. Ladd seems to be their first teamrider, but bringing in Larry David might’ve been more of a power move. When is Saucony jumping in? 2) This is what Dylan Reider’s Alex Olson’s Vans pro model would’ve looked like. 3) Guess who else is making skate shoes? Got ’em. 4) Looking for crusty size 13 Jordan 4s that were retroed in 1999? Skate around the West Village.

ATTN British people and other Europeans: Lost Art out in Liverpool will be carrying QS tees online and in-store this week, in the event that you don’t want to pay $30 shipping from the U.S. for a $25 shirt. For everyone else, black larges are sold out but all other sizes/colors are still available in our webstore.

Crailtap released a minute-long clip of Brian Anderson Pretty Sweet B-sides, and as a result, Quartersnacks will be offering its first ever internship position. We’re looking for part-time interns to re-dub skate noises over full quality Pretty Sweet footage of anyone in the video over 30 and Alex Olson’s part (Cory Kennedy’s pleasant surprise of a part is perfect as is) for re-edit purposes. Compensation will come in the form of maybe $100, drink tickets and first dibs on the aforementioned and any future pair of Jordans discovered on the street.

This clip contains more Rob Campbell footage than any other in recent history and a Woody Allen homage at the beginning.

Sweet Waste’s 2012 send-off clip featuring a grip of fools.

The teaser for the new PIT Crew video has a Tyler Tufty cameo (sorry about the Redskins) and looks like it will be an all-around sick video.

There’s a new follow up to last year’s Be Pretty video and draws inspiration for its music supervision from a much beloved New York skate video. Teaser here.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: What else could it be? J.R. Smith’s ultra fast-motion reverse alley oop off a pass that was too low for an alley oop. (Honorable mention: JaVale Mcgee dunking on two of his own teammates.)

Quote of the Week:

plan b fan

Some Guy Who Likes Plan B Maybe a Bit TOO Much, via the Hella Clips comments on the first teaser for the Plan B video. (Would Plan B’s upcoming video project imply that full-length videos aren’t dead, contrary to previous reports?)

Updates should resume as normal this week. Have a good one.