“What’s the story behind Harold’s ‘Cheer Up, Bagel’ remark?” We finally learn the origin of the greatest sound byte in skate video history (“sometimes I wanna live and sometimes I wanna die” is runner-up) via Chrome Ball’s new interview with Dan Wolfe.
“The production numbers were so large that when I was on a solo trip to Korea tasked with moving production from one factory to the next, during a business dinner at a 5 star restaurant with the factory owner, I was told through a translator that, ‘The factory owner would like to inform you, that he can kill a man in this country and their body will never be found so you might want to change your decisions too.’” — Anthony “The Writer” Pappalardo tracks down the history behind the Osiris D3 with its designer.
Though he let up on the gas a bit since he got robbed for S.O.T.Y. by the third #big #rail #skater to get it in the past three years, Village Psychic offers up a mid-year remix video of Tiago’s stray bits of coverage to emerge these past seven months.
“Think of this magazine as a platform for you — yes, you! — to showcase what it is you do for skateboarding. Wherever you are. Whoever you are. Because as you’ll see here, skateboarding can really be anything you want it to be. It’s just a fucking toy after all.” Vice has an interview with the creators of Skateism, a magazine focused on nontraditional and underrepresented corners of the skateboard universe.
In an age of tuning out pre-roll commercials before skate parts, this line and song are still burned in everyone’s brain — it’s The Chocolate Commercial™, after all. The word “timeless” gets thrown around a lot, but it is hard to imagine this ever looking dated.
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
Even in winter, the most productive skate crew in New York is still putting out three-minute montages. Fashion goes in cycles, so it makes sense that people are skating Verizon Banks again, albeit between hundreds of knobs.
It’s awesome that Chrome Ball never really shut down; it still has better interviews than everywhere else. The latest post-faux-mortem installment is with Reese Forbes, one of the most frequent recipients of “You had to see him skate in real life to really get it“-honors. Also, these ads were great.
The new all-night, short sleeve heavy montage from the Haha Funtime crew is going to make you really sad about the state of outdoor activity right now.
Still Scummin’ is a cool 40-minute bro cam video of Jersey dudes skating around known haunts of the New York region. Austin Kanfoush’s part did it justice, but it’s perfectly reasonable to use “Fuck That Shit” in every single skate video that gets put out for the remainder of skateboarding’s existence.
ICYMI: Just like Robocop (or something?), Traffic Skateboards got rebooted. They have a new montage out that features Luke Malaney footage :)
Quote of the Week: “I never thought switch skating was going to catch on. I’d tell people they’re better off investing their money in laser discs.” — Justin Barnes
Apparently, D. Wade is a D. Reider fan. He’s not the only one.
Chrome Ball’s 900th post is dedicated to the Brooklyn Banks — “A testament to the resourcefulness of skateboarders when they can just be left the fuck alone.” In case you weren’t going on the site several years ago, we posted a series of interviews about the Banks in 2010, after the spot got completely shut down for bridge repairs.
Nick vonWerssowetz’s new video, CCTV, is great. Mostly filmed in New York, save a part in San Francisco. Great spot selection, presentation, and a soundtrack for all those yet to embrace Future / the future. Features Shawn Powers, Adrian Vega, and others. The DVD is for sale online and at Labor Skateshop for $10.
ICYMI: The second chapter in a tumultuous month for sponsor resignations.
QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Tayshaun Prince dunks on three Thunder players at once. You know what’s weird? Prince has been in the conference finals seven times in his career; Kobe and Duncan have eight appearances.
Quote of the Week:
— Badgalriri responds to a devout J.R. Smith fan. Unfortunately, she was right.
