The predictions were true. The quarantine has everyone inside making #content — this was one of the most extensive link lists for a Monday update in a while. How sustainable it is? Who knows. Boil the Ocean is already speculating on what will happen if we enter a COVID-19 induced footage drought, e.g. will Thrasher be forced to only post “Classics” videos like how ESPN plays old games during off-seasons.
It is a scientifically proven fact that you come back from a skate trip 38% stupider than when you left. And out of all the stupid things that we have brought home from a skate trip, a year-late / ironic / moronic (…I truly don’t know anymore) infatuation with “Sicko Mode” has to be among the stupidest souvenirs that we have ever given our loved ones upon return.
Political parties in New York skateboarding have grown splintered in the post-12th & A and increasingly skatepark-ified late 2010s. Many found themselves in Brooklyn, pledging allegiance to Borough Hall afternoons, or *grinds teeth* …a lifetime stuck at Blue Park. The most longstanding of these nu-age political sects has been tethered to that chunky ledge by the McCarren Park bathrooms — or “the couch” — for already a decade. The BSA Boys are unique in their uncharacteristically high employment rate for a group of New York City skateboarders, many working for the set design studios that surround the couch’s north Brooklyn home, while the other parties largely operate on the fringes of the American economy.
Sober is their follow-up to 2016’s Whole Bitch video — the film that propelled John Francomacaro onto the national stage. Sadly, his skateboard appearances here are limited, save a special treat at the end of the video. Otherwise, there are plenty of faces you’ll find familiar from the Space Heater era of Johnny Wilson videos, or what Max Palmer once referred to as “the peak” ;)
With it being high season for trips out to Rockaway (back up to 92 degrees tomorrow…) that include a pitstop at the charmingly bad beach 90th skatepark, it is worth pointing out that the park just got a bunch of new ramps. Unclear as to whether it is better now or before. Hopefully, before the world ends, both the bowl and mini ramp there will get replaced with cement versions of the exact same thing.
Gangcorp threw a BBQ and best trick contest at L.E.S. Park on July 4th. Here’s the recap video.
“Best of all, skateboarding’s independent streak means it fosters a healthily rebellious worldview — no small accomplishment as our society drifts toward bland authoritarianism. To be sure, there is money to be made in ignoring this drift, in remaining beholden to libertarian corporatism.” Hanson O’Haver’s “A Crime and a Pastime” piece looks at the underbelly of the skateboard business and its eerie house-of-cards-isms.
New London clip from the POP boys. That nosegrind revert / 3x flat tricks / switch nosegrind revert line reminds me of something that would’ve been in an old 411.
Some Canadians offer up one of the first entries to what will no doubt be an eventful “Summer Trip to New York” clip season. What % of people appearing in S.T.T.N.Y. clips do you think end up moving here? Thirty five? Eighty?
“So, you’re smoking weed on the plane at…13-years-old.” This Steven Cales “Nine Club” interview is full of gems from late-80s and early-90s New York. If you want some footage accompaniments to the people/companies/places/era he talks about a lot, check these 88-92 Skate N.Y.C. videos that surfaced on YouTube back in 2011.
Theories of Atlantis is at the helm of a new wheel company called Dial Tone MFG. They have a new edit up featuring teamriders Jahmal Williams, Alexis Sablone, others.
With every New Yorker’s favorite L.A. spot reaching an unfortunate demise, Andrew Allen provides us with the story behind the day when he backside flipped into the main bank at L.A. High.
QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: By the looks of it, this might be the final installment of the Sports Desk until the fall, but gotta give it to J.R. Smith running to the liquor store in the final two seconds of an NBA Finals game.
Quote of the Week: “So, Die Antwoord is these white people who rap.” — E.J.