2018 feels like the first lllooonnnggg year in a while. Like, did the Cons video come out in 2016? But alas, we had to cuff up our macaroni denim before it went out of style, and recap just what the hell happened in this year that felt like three.
Past Editions: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Wavey via Francesco
The good news is we finally switched over to a circa 2018 design that’s mobile compatible, etc. Hopefully it’s not a Crailtap-getting-rid-of-the-iframes shock to the system, because let’s be honest: it basically looks the same, just moderne. We purged a couple spots that have been gone long enough for people to forget about, cleaned up some shit around the pages, etc. If anything seems to not be working properly, feel free to drop us a line.
The bad news is we are still amidst the same general skate internet content slump we have been experiencing all month. Nearly nothing happened last week…
On the off chance that you didn’t catch it, Jawn Gardner continues his streak of being one of the most contagiously good vibed skaters to watch in 2018, via his DC Streetsweeper raw files. That A/C contraption he made is nuts…
Gunes’ new FTC part is up there with John’s raw files as what got ran back the most at the office last week. Shout out to everyone who looks like they’re having fun while being really good at skateboarding.
Don’t know much about this one, but “Long Shots & Low Odds” is a ~moody~ seven-minute New York video from Canon Hastings featuring all your New York 2018 dietary staples (wallies, .T.F., a pit stop at the Grand Street courts) + a stubborn commitment to skating those red double cellar doors next to Motorino.
There’s a New York section at the ~8:45 mark of this Chicago video entitled Postcard.
Supreme took over the front page of the Post today.
Idk why it felt like Brandon Westgate “left,” but he’s “back.”
Thrasher also uploaded the Streetsweeper raw files from snow ramp architect, John Shanahan. The Battery Park Subway roof arrest bit is still left without context, but maybe everyone be careful if you’re going to climb up on top of that thing?
TWS posted the article from the Theories guys’ trip down to Mexico.
There’s a Bust Crew video coming soon.
“I feel good because I can make money, because I can help my family, but I don’t give a fuck about the Olympics. I don’t care and I don’t want to be there.” Grey has an interview with Olympian and European life enthusiast, Tiago Lemos.
“The big underground music in America is like house and dance stuff, based on what I see in the shop, and that’s what skaters are buying. When I was getting into deep underground hip-hop growing up, the only other kids listening to it were skaters. Like, you guys know Hieroglyphics? Why? ‘Oh, it was on the blah blah blah VHS.'” This link actually has nothing to do with skating, but is an insightful conversation on how people consume music (particularly rap) in 2018, and a reminder that it’s ok to not have an opinion on some stuff!
Quote of the Week: “If you’re having fun, chances are, you’re breaking at least one law.” — Conor
It’s eerie how well this clip has aged. If you sent this to us sans titles as a “hey my friends went to Paris and here’s our clip!” in 2018, it’d probably get a pass…
Photo via Max Hull
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.
Last week, Louis Vuitton became the second company in 2018 to reveal that it um, was “inspired by” the Osiris D3. The people need a documentary about Osiris.
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.
…anndd Boil the Ocean has some red pill / blue pill thing about Steely Dan songs, alternate realities, Scott Johnston’s Let the Horns Blow part, and idk man.
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.
Another volume of Elkin raw tapes, this time with Dre and Josh cameos ♥
Frankie Spears is the first person to get a clip on that new-ish Battery Park double-set.
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?
The rail is back in front of the ledge over the six at FedEx.
Quote of the Week: “Party footage only counts in nightvision.” — Pryce Holmes
Would embed something from Beast Mode 2, but this about covered it.
One of the premier destinations for “Summer Trip to New York” montage enders, and the most oft-back smithed obstacle in skateboarding’s multi-century history is no more. Well, technically, it’s still there, but someone with quick reflexes will have to hippie jump over a park bench half-a-millisecond after landing.
At a time when wall rail skating was stagnating at 5050 grinds, the Battery Park City rail was there to spur progression by being a mere two inches more away from the wall than your average wall rail. Even though larger humans like Brian Anderson were forced to modify their skateboard decks to fit their larger feets on the rail, the spot was a burgeoning epicenter of crooked grinds, flip-in tricks, and switch tricks while everyone else was stuck skating other wall rails with two trucks. It was just beginning a shockingly ahead-of-its-time nollie phase with Justin Henry’s “OPM” part, until its life was cut short with a skate deterrent more effective than the chalk on the ground reading “No Skateboarding” that was previously employed by those living within earshot of the heavily trafficked spot. Thanks to Vintage Sponsor for the tip.
While this might not be the brightest news for the city’s youth as we approach a 70-degree weekend, you could rest assured that Sremmlife 2 is on the way to wash away all your woes. Grab a cup, catch a vibe.
The Watermelon Man. Photo via Merchants of Ill.
Johnny Wilson still trying to pretend like he uses his VX1000.
Also, some guy compiled a bunch of Cyrus Bennett’s footage from the more recent video blogs and put it over a more recent Migos song.
As far as “Summer Trip to New York” clips go, the skating in this is tops by non-pro team clip standards. These dudes somehow skate every spot in New York (e.g. when was the last time someone filmed a line at Breezy Ledges? Jeff Pang in 1997?) Obligatory Wu-Tang song included.
“The new Transworld video, Outliers, as seen through the prism of the Malcolm Gladwell book of the same name.” Frozen in Carbonite looks through some prisms.
Cario Foster on his Reason part and Danny Montoya on his incredibly ahead-of-its-time One Step Beyond part. “For the record, filming is hard.”
Lucas and J.B. in the Cliché U.K. tour clip.
Twenty seconds of “lost” Jake Johnson footage. 360 flip noseblunts, etc.
Jordan Trahan apparently kickflipped into the Washington Square Park fountain.
We can officially verify that the Plan B video exists, and that PJ Ladd does not have a part in it. The joke is dead. Except how is Hoboken going to get a premiere and New York isn’t? Was really looking forward to getting drunk in the theater for that one :(
This is what your 2015 MTA fare hike is going to look like.
QS Holiday Gift Guide: This pixel print of skate shoes from the nineties is chill and this Hans Moleman x Muska Silhouette deck is amazing. “My name is Hans. Drinking has ruined my life. I’m 31 years old!”
Spot Updates: 1) It happened months ago, but finally just got around to updating the spot page…the ledge-to-flatbar in Battery had its runway knobbed. Some Japanese guy with quick feet will still get a trick on it by next summer. 2) The grate at Union Square that people propped up to skate over the pillar is gone. It’s a gap now. 3) The Blue Banks in Albany are being turned into an official skatepark. Even if it ends up being some pre-fab crap, at least you get to skate the banks worry-free now. Funnest spot north of Tompkins :)
QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: 6′ 3 Reggie Jackson v.s. 7′ 2 Brook Lopez.
Quote of the Week: “The first thing I thought when I started watching that catcalling video was, ‘Oh no, I hope I’m not in this.'” — T-Bird
No idea what the point of this will be, but yeah, it’s there for now.
