2020 — the year that we hold responsible for many of our present woes — didn’t even start that bad.
They fixed the ground at the ledges across from Columbus Park! Seemingly out of nowhere! Here was a spot that we had only vicariously experienced in old videos, passed by zillions of times thinking, “Man, if only the ground wasn’t shit,” and maybe forced a session on every half-decade. And it was renovated!
Two ledges! With ends! A block from the hellish Bermuda-esque Triangle formed by Family Court x Blubba x Courthouse at that!
2021 began with a similar moment of spot serendipity. The Money Longer alien who took over the lease of the Men in Black towers in 2016 descended and flattened out the second, less iconic fountain at Flushing.
Didn’t do a Q.S.S.O.T.Y. thing last year, but obvs it would’ve been Brandon Turner — hard to think of a more inspirational moment in skateboarding from 2020 than him rolling away from Wallenburg. Jenkem has a 15-minute mini doc about Brandon’s journey back to full health and sobriety. Watching him return to that bridge is nuts.
Here’s a YouTube comp of T.J. footage off the Thrasher Instagram from the summer, which is just him cruising around midtown and Soho. Those middle of Broome Street lines are so sick.
A couple New York clips in Thomas Dritsas’ new part for Thunder. The bench to Big Belly trashcan on Wall and Water Street has fully turned into a full-fledged marquee spot this past year, huh? Shout out to the contractor who installed the mailboxes at the ender. Looks sturdy.
There is no chance that you haven’t caught this already, right? Naquan Rollings’ “BUSS” video for Thrasher went live last week. This, “Rerock,” Kill Bill,” and “Pre-Roll” are the de facto box set of 2020 edits that we’ll look back on for a snapshot of New York skateboarding in this year.
Village Psychic was inspired by skier style (yes, skiers are as big fashion of nerds as we are, though they’re a bit more “official” about it) to consider the ideal skate outfit. Illustrations by Abada ♥
The best montage series going: Some forward-thinking front 5050 back 180s, #interesting Chinatown Manual Pad decisions, great cameos, and Tom Knox entering the third dimension of skating the knobbed Verizon Banks in the New York edition of Isle and co’s “Atlantic Drift” series.
The best interview series going:Josh Kalis x Bobshirt goes on for nearly an hour and there’s never a dull moment. Shout out to doing varial heels out of spite.
“And you’ll get stabbed if you break the hunger strike?” “Oh yeah.” Getting locked up was a big topic on the skate interview circuit this past week. The Bunt’s latest is with Brandon Turner. Still waiting on that Muska and/or Shorty’s Epicly Later’d.
A few minutes of throwaway footage from the Bluecouch crew, and a reminder of the enduring legacy held by that “bank” to “ledge” on 16th Street as the worst spot in New York that people still continue to skate. Someone said they got a ticket there one time and that’s the most “lol at your life” story ever ;) Forget who it was though.
Do not recall the last time there was footage of it, but Paine Webber is fenced off for construction. Can’t tell if they’re getting rid of the benches just yet. Would be pretty tragic if they do, considering it’s probably the last remaining iconic midtown spot to not undergo any major renovation or knobbing.
QS Sports Desk: In light of the Rudy Gay Spurs news, we’re reinstating the Sports Desk during the offseason to point you in the direction of the greatest basketball video of all time. Also, Twitter after the T.H.J. Knicks signing wassotherapeutic.
Quote of the Week: “I saw the coolest dog today. Sometimes that’s all you need.” — James from Labor
In 2012, it was “I’d rather watch Gino push.” In 2013, it was “I’d rather watch Busenitz skate a curb.” In 2014, it was “I’d rather watch Jahmal do a 5050.” In 2015, it’s “I’d rather watch a bunch of kids in Ethiopia skate than Chris Cole do some NBDs at the DC park.”
Pretty much every skateboarder outside of the Bay Area who knows about Andre Nickatina discovered Andre Nickatina through skate videos. SMLTalk gave a rundown of notable Nickatina #musicsupervision throughout skate video history.
Pretty rare that you see a New York clip in 2015 almost entirely filmed in Manhattan. Nice to see a lot of seldom-skated U.W.S. and Morningside spots.
Anyone who started skating at least ~10 (or maybe less, who knows) years ago grew up with at least a couple Mike Blabac photos on their wall. This Chromeball interview with him is great, and gives the behind-the-scenes details on what we now consider some of the most iconic images of skateboarding. Also worth reading for any young skate photographers looking to be humbled by how good they have it in the digital era. That A.V.E. nollie crook revert sequence story is wild.
The video that brought the concept of “oft-delayed S.V.A. skate video” to absurdly new heights released a twenty-minute B-roll clip, twenty-something years after the announcement of said video’s production: Outdated B-sides, 2007-2012.
Some quick vids — “Subway Series” via the Mood NYC crew, and a Village Psychic bro cam clip edited to a relatable song about women repeatedly not understanding that you have a chauffeur. Live life.
QS Sports Desk: Anyone pretending like they know what’s going to happen in this series is lying. If it’s a one-point Game 7 decision, it won’t be surprising in the slightest. Also on the slim chance you missed it…J.R. Smith’s Game 4 entry.
Quote of the Week: “Young Thug is good at making sex sound unappealing.” — T
