Early summer #browerreport via Pryce
What a time, what a year.
5. Mason @ the City-As Hubba
Everyone knows that a trick is never just the trick, but the fact that a nine-stair hubba that’s two blocks from T.F. West sat untouched for so long should let you there’s a bit more to this story.
The ledge is no stranger to claims — both from visiting pros and drunk locals creeping down this quiet strip of West Houston to street-pee after a show got out at S.O.B’s. (Damn, remember “shows?”)
There is a sharp kink at the end, an iron fence at the bottom, a short sidewalk to gap over, and cars always parked in front of it, which is something that HUF’s “River” edit did a wonderful job of showing. Finding a window of opportunity to even try it was a trick itself.
Mason did “gnarlier” tricks in his S.O.T.Y. year (he’s probably done “gnarlier” tricks in New York this year), but this one was a heat check on one of the most “Whoa, has anyone done it?”-spots in Manhattan.
4. The Oculus Ollie
Like the City-As hubba, anyone who has ever wandered inside the mall under World Trade has asked the question: “Has anyone?”
Except instead of five environmental factors to contend with, the set is about as perfect it could be — provided you’re the type to go around sizing up massive sets. The only issue was the obvious: it’s inside one of the most heavily secured buildings in the country.
Like another viral below-ground feat before it, this is a trick that even your friends who don’t skate could appreciate. Word from those in the comments who were present is that it was first try. Of course it was. It had to be ♥
3. John’s Vid
With so many skaters in New York now, it’s easy to forget that after heightened post-9/11 security, skating with a big crew was a faux pas. A bigger crew meant getting kicked out. Johnny Wilson’s mid-2010s videos became so beloved because they embraced the opposite to the point of making you feel like you were right there with the other twenty people on the sesh. Many crews have since embraced the same approach.
The best homie videos are a showcase for budding talent. But the very reason we grow to love them is why so many collectives loosen: people get picked up by companies, begin traveling, and they can’t film the way they could when they were all crammed in one skate house.
With the core group from the Beef Patty days spending the past half-decade filming for other projects, John’s Vid came back around like an endlessly-promised sequel that we had pretty much lost all hope for. Can’t think of a more feel-good antidote to cap off the year (and dreading the “What about John’s Vid?!”-comments once we publish the results of the Reader’s Poll, which due to time constraints, had to close before it was released.)
2. All of Naquan Rollings’ 2020 Edits
Skate videos, by their very nature, absorb so much of their surroundings. Naquan Rollings’ edits felt like one part the work of a skate videographer embarking on a creative high, and another part the reporting of a local correspondent during a time of tremendous change. From the hollowed-out version of the city entering lockdown in “Pre-Roll,” to one consumed by protests in “***ACAB***,” to the Thrasher debut with Ishod visiting — when we look back and need a skateboarder’s version of what 2020 was like in New York, we’ll be fortunate to have had this crew capturing the story.
1. The McGolrick Park Sidewalk Sales
Between all the shit, people were forced to look for silver linings this year. Some reconnected with family, some pursued deeper passions after being laid off, and everyone had a bit more time to sit in silence to process everything.
The McGolrick Park sidewalk sales were born out of a community’s desire to *do something* in the wake of the summer protests against police brutality and racial injustice. Wiggs, Perry, Stephen, a few more skaters, a few friends, a few stylists, and a few artists kicked it off. Eventually, a ton of people compelled to do the same followed suit — even internationally.
Every other Sunday throughout the summer, McGolrick Park was a place to connect towards something bigger than your COVID bubble, or to make a friend and have a conversation with someone different than you. Some people came and experienced their first human contact since quarantine. Some even registered to vote there.
The sales raised $266,546.67 for various charities fighting for justice and change in the world, many of which were local ♥
Bonus Mini Rapidfire 5
Best Foreign Language Film: Planeta Patsanov
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony: Alexis Sablone’s quarantine part for Cons
H.O.T.Y. (Huck of the Year): Liam McCabe’s kickflip down the 112th & Amsterdam church double-set in Suppy
Morning Coffee Part of the Year: “Nolan” by Jesse Alba
Extra Inspiration Part of the Year: Angel Fonseca (2 min mark) + Olu Stanley (19:40 mark) in Area Code
In regards to John’s Vid:
For all intents and purposes, the ‘skateboarding year’ is from December to November, and thusly starting and ending a month earlier than the calendar year. Blame internet content consumers and creators for demanding End-of-Year recaps and lists before the year has, in fact, actually ended.
I can recall at least one year where SOTY was announced in November.
Being as this is, we should all, as officially as possible, consider December 2020 parts and videos as part of the 2021 skate year.
To such an end, I am keeping a page in my computer’s Notes application dedicated to listing all the notable parts and videos released since December 1st and will gladly share when the time comes.
How we should treat videos that were premiered before this date but weren’t released to the wider internet world until afterwards is undecided.
that picture at the top is fantastic. it’s got big fibonacci energy or something.
keep up the great work QS!
who’s rapper of the year