If you follow any venerable New York skate institution on social media, you no doubt caught on to the fact that the entire city was in Barcelona for the second half of January. Thanks to some fluke in the system, round-trip flights were running about $350 direct, so what would have been high season for Puerto Rican getaways turned into a citywide exchange of Tompkins for MACBA.
For us, the first day and a half were fine. Then came the rain. And more rain.
On day seven, we went to sleep with a 0% chance of precipitation on the forecast for the next day. We woke up: 0%. Half-hour phone stare sessions, showers, breakfast, board set-ups — we were ready to go.
An aggravated “Fuck!” emerged from Andre Page’s room.
“What?”
“I don’t want to say it.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t want to say it.”
“Dude, what happened?”
“Look outside.”
Desperate for a rout of good luck, our zero-percent chance of precipitation day became a failed Hail Mary mission a thirty-minute trainride outside of downtown Barcelona.
Some people drank their way out of despair, some tried to skate at night, others skated marble banks while they were only half wet during an hour-long dry spell, while a select few got #cultured. It has been said that the only way to deal with New York is to get the fuck out of New York — so there’s no time ever lost in not being here for a week-and-a-half.
…even if you come back with a minute of footage from the two days it didn’t rain ;)
Godspeed Wavy’s. Although you got a bit too live these past few years, I wouldn’t take back the hours I wasted standing around doing nothing if I could. Wouldn’t be caught dead standing in front of Spring Mart. R.I.P. to one of the final remnants of that neighborhood. Photo via Zach Baker.
“Knowing a lot about something little, and caring about it deeply – even something as ridiculous as grown men making four wheeled planks balance on two wheels – provides a microcosm within which we understand the consequences of those big, nebulous issues.” Didn’t expect this to pop up anywhere: Caught in the Crossfire with an insightful breakdown of the Brexit results, and how they will effect skateboarding.
Literal, on-the-nose #musicsupervision usually get the side-eye at this point, but always thought “Baltimore” would make a great video part song, and also all this Jason Spivey footage is awesome. Is the audio jacked for everyone else though?
Village Psychic travels back to the moonboot era when there’d be seven logos on one shoe, and does a wear test of the DC Relay with John Shanahan ♥ Daytime midtown footage 4 ever ♥ (Is Columbus Circle mellow to skate again?)
The internet has a tendency to desensitize us from having to confront other people’s unfiltered brains and emotions, and unfortunately, that played out a bit on the skate internet last year as Billy Rohan, an incredible person who has done a ton for skateboarding in the city, went through it. Like the quote says, “depression is a flaw in chemistry, not character” and sometimes, there’s a lot more going on than somebody “acting crazy.” ANYWAY, Vice caught up with Billy, who’s been doing much better, for a video short on what he’s been through.
Shout out to my man Torey Goodall for skating to “June 27th” twelve years ago for a Baby Steps B-roll part. Who else you know can go from Van Morrison to Big Moe in the same video? Also shout out to all my Cancers bro.
Dude it’s gonna hit 80 this week. Correa via Koolmoeleo obvs.
The new Boulevard video is solid. Chill part from Enrique Lorenzo on steroids A.K.A. Tiago Lemos that has a ton of New York footage, and a full part from noted flamenco guitarist and flip-trick god, Daniel Lebron. Yo the hardflip that starts the S.F. Armory line is maybe the best hardflip ever.
“Skaters now lookin’ a little emo, but it’s all good.” Village Psychic interviewed German Nieves about skateboarding and tennis correlations, #da90s, and his brand, Paterson.
It’s insane how even after all these years, an all Barcelona edit will still have a handful of spots that you’ve literally never seen in any other Barcelona clips. This Zoo trip clip with Gav, BD, Ron, etc. is a good time. Sants is on version like 5.5.
Good bit of Philly Santosuosso footage in this Bruin Hyperfeel video from Minneapolis.
QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Even though Russell Westbrook is the greatest basketball player in the history of sports, still see it going to the Warriors in a close 7. Anyway, here’s an angry one-handed rebound.
Quote of the Week: “Kent Jones is like the new Shaggy.” — Stuart Hammond
Contest footage isn’t exactly #onbrand for QS but some pretty wild stuff wentdown at 50 Kent and the L.E.S. Park for Damn AM. They even fixed the crack in front of the double set so we can all skate it every day! Meet you there in five.
Kinda hard to debate Barcelona not being the greatest skate city on earth when you can watch a six-minute edit from there that spends its time at practically none of the most commonly known spots. “Let’s just put a bank here.”
With thin ledges trending hard after Aaron Herrington’s Dime Glory Challenge win, Kingpin compiled a #current #listicle of the all-time greats on narrow surfaces.
QS Rap Desk: Hotbox Social’s Young Thug “Leaks & Loosies” compilation from earlier this summer is actually better put-together than Slime Season, though the latter features mastered versions of some of the same songs.
Quote of the Week Sexually Active Young Lady: “I’m not sure, I might’ve only fucked him because his bio said ‘free spirit.'” Tron Jenkins: “Don’t be mad at him because he went to college.”
Fakie Hill Bomb’s interview with #forward #thinking skatepark designer, Søren Enevoldsen, is great. “In terms of skateboarding, all you basically need for a skatespot to be succesful, is a couple of granite benches placed on a somewhat large flatground area with a smooth hard surface in an inner city context.” …yet somehow, this concept gets lost for the ramp-to-ledge skatepark designers we get. Just build this pls thx.
Always wondered if someone would skate the wooden benches in subway stations…
SMLTalk runs down the soundtrack to Brandon Biebel’s career. “Living It Up” + Biebel is without question one of the top five #musicsupervision decisions in the history of skateboard videos. Nollie flip the four block in Atlanta + “If you looking for me homie I’m in the ATL” Jeezy sync is perfect too.
If T.F. West is the new T.F. and T.F. 20 on 20th & 2nd is the new T.F. West (but on the east side), what does that make regular T.F?
