Quartersnacks Trendwatch 2012

Video parts from smaller names (sometimes) provide a window to the trends that will later be attributed to more well-known skaters. Someone posted this new Tony Carr part in the comments yesterday, and it has several hallmarks that could potentially wedge themselves deeper into skateboarding’s current framework of trends. Our team of trend forecasters met late last night over a few cups of overpriced coffee to discuss what you (as a superficial skateboarder) should be keeping an eye on while we all wait for an enterprising pro to adopt Kellen James’ sock-tuck.

1 – The smith grind kickflip looks like it won’t disappear anytime soon. Jimmy Gorecki recently went on an agreeable Twitter mini-rant about how unnecessary it is for this trick to exist, ending off with what should be the ultimate rule for any pursuit at technical skateboarding: “If you didn’t see it in Trilogy…assume it shouldn’t be performed and/or displayed.” Those of us born before 1990 can all harmoniously nod our heads, until we realize that ten years from now, when technical skateboarding has strained the Osiris-era so much that it has no choice but to bring back the darkslide, there will be someone in their mid-20s saying, “If you didn’t see it in Fully Flared…assume it shouldn’t be performed and/or displayed.”

A QS iPhone app where you enter a trick you want to try and it cross-checks it against a database of all the tricks in Trilogy — Coming soon to the App Store.

2 – With rumors of an Alex Olson Beats By Dre sponsorship running rampant, could Tony Carr be ahead of the curve of the whole bulky headphones thing? iPod buds in footage are already taboo, but are we an endorsement from an A-list pro skateboarder with a fondness for electronic music away from bulky headphones becoming a widespread skateboard accessory? Our trend forecasters agree that you typically need to wear a baggy Fila or Tommy Hilfiger shirt paired with light wash Nautica carpenter jeans and be of African-American descent to even think about pulling off bulky headphones, but that won’t stop people from trying.

3 – Though it is 99.9% likely that the backside noseslide shove-it in this part was performed for tongue-in-cheek purposes, there’s never a bad time to reiterate that it’s, like, totally, like, not okay for this trick to make a comeback. Even ironically. Once a decade in a good video part is enough.

Otherwise…second great video part of 2012? Sure. (We stayed out of the debate regarding ideology, homage, art, life, love, death, globalization, etc. that the first great part of 2012 incited.) Shout out to the video-maker for stretching 4:3 (we do that), mixing HD with SD (we do that, too), and for subscribing to the belief that 2:30 is the optimal length for a video part. Otherwise, the wallrides in this part are nuts. Going against the Trilogy rule, the bluntslide nose manual at Fort Greene Park also somehow looks great. This kid should probably be riding for Krooked, no?

22 Comments

  1. Guy with 4 eyes should stop talking. just keep on posting clips. skatin must be hard, cant do this, cant do that.

  2. only perfect ny tricks: ollie to black marble wallride, line w crook fakie. I liked the front 3 fish gap too, even though i’m not for gaps

  3. I can’t do any combo grind or flip-in flip-out tricks, does this mean I don’t actually suck at skateboarding?

  4. njscum… what about when fred gall does 5-0 sw crooks on eastside school in paterson?

  5. njscum?- Brian Foley was the original East Side High 5-0 switch crooked grinder. For the record, his and Gall’s were the only two acceptable documented examples of that maneuver.

  6. Even though the smith kickflip is a popular move, the marriage of the spot to the trick might play the biggest role in whether or not a trick can be acceptable. i.e. shootout rail or a mellow handrail can make it look awesome if executed well. (Collin Provost, Stay Gold)

  7. oddly enough it seems as though the noseslide shove it has become a semi popular trick these days in some circles.


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