Czech Republic | Quartersnacks

Reporting From the World’s Greatest Skate Spot — SID’s ‘STA’ Video

Video & Remixes September 6th, 2023 · 12:00 am

Five years ago, after returning from a trip to Prague, we reported that Stalin Plaza — by our estimations — is probably the greatest skate spot in the world. In the time since, we’re still confident in that superlative, and many friends who have gone on to make the pilgrimage themselves have echoed our review.

The SID crew out of Prague came onto our radar for the complete opposite reason. When we had been in the Czech capital, the locals that we crossed paths with tended to say “there’s spots …if you have a car” regarding places to skate beyond the plaza that looms over the city’s scene. SID’s August 2021 “Prager” edit was the first Prague video we recall that featured footage in the region from everywhere but Stalin Plaza (besides the ender.)

Skate Spot Porn: Prague’s Stalin Plaza

Features & Interviews September 5th, 2018 · 5:55 am · 8

Fall 2018 marks ten years since Billy Rohan rescued those slabs of marble from Albany’s defunct Shelter Skatepark, with which he would go on to create the best iteration of 12th & A that there ever was. Through the spring of 2013, 12th Street became a rare place to skate straight, stone ledges in lower Manhattan without having to worry about a kick-out. I remember Billy being in awe of how he and Curtis Rapp pulled off this marble heist and installation without a hitch: “This spot is perfect — it feels like Stalin Plaza, except instead of marble ground, I have to settle for a basketball court.”

I also remember that when we were doing the interview for this old segment about the Chapman Skateboards archive, Gregg mentioned how Billy equated their patented technology for a “performance tip” (a piece of special plastic at the nose and tail of a board that kept your pop crisper for longer) to be like skating on Stalin Plaza ground at all times.

Apart from Billy’s anecdotal obsession with Stalin Plaza, I have wanted to go there since Harsh Euro Barge came out. It looked the right amount of different from any other European holy grail spot; something stood out about those arbitrary pieces of marble stacked on flawless ground, with a precision applied to the spacing between each one. How were these piles of beautifully sliced rocks left alone in a buildingless abyss?

Tape a Cheetah to Her Back

Daily News March 4th, 2013 · 7:03 am · 8

Day after Christmas, 1975. Spotted via Skate and Annoy.

As we begin to search for the next generation of baggy-clothed, tech Euro skaters of the Javier/Lebron/Jesus/Flo/Enrique mold, the Czech Republic might be a good place to start. These dudes are not nearly as tech as the aforementioned five, but they’re maaaadddd hip-hop. There’s no doubt that a country containing possibly the best ledge spot on earth is bound to produce an eventual heir to Europe’s technical throne.

If there’s one company on the “I wish they put out more content”-list, it’s Hopps. Joel Meinholz skates through Grand Central in their new commercial.

Even if you’re going to condense the history of skateboarding into 120 seconds, your video should still include Mariano’s Mouse ender. It’s at least as important as the 900.

Music video portraits of urban teen angst are real hot right now. E.J. offers a Super-8 glimpse of dunion life in his visual for Slicky Boy’s latest rapz.

Your favorite rapper’s favorite stripper’s favorite shoe brand gets down with skateboarding for a weird result. #redbottoms

Old(er) skaters spend money to get away from the kids and scooters.

Some history on Southbank, the legendary London skate spot. The article includes the word “salubrious,” which seems like a great Jackie Chiles word.

A 16-minute raw footage B-roll from the recently released Schleyer Video (the video with the latest T.J. part.)

Wikipedia is not without its flaws, but it’s nice to know at least one of its editors considers QS an authoritative source on low impact street skating.

Spot Updates: 1) Chase is still closed off, but the steps have been resurfaced back to normal. 2) They’re putting even more ledges at Seaport, except this time, they’re pre-knobbed! 3) The five-second-bust ledge / manny pad over five on Sixth Avenue near the Holland Tunnel has been remodeled. It’s cool to look at…

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Some middle schooler from New Rochelle hit an insane buzzer beater this past weekend. It’s the middle school equivalent of Sheed’s deflection to mid-court desperation heave from 2004.

Quote of the Week: “What’s that girl with the cool tramp stamp’s name again?” — Anonymous. (Be on the lookout for our first feature film, The Girl With the Cool Tramp Stamp, starring Rooney Mara.)

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