First Post of 2014

tf west

Happy New Year to everyone. 50 degrees today, 11 degrees tomorrow. This place is hosting a Superbowl next month? That should be interesting. We missed quite a bit while taking the past week off, so here’s a bit of a catch-up…

If you’re in the Benelux zone, QS gear is now available at Frisco (Arhem), Ben-G (Amsterdam), Sevenply (Rotterdam), and Lockwood (Antwerp.) If you’re in Miami enjoying life, it’s also now available at MIA (the South Beach location.) Seasons and Exit have restocks, too. Complete list of retailers here. The web store is running low on quantities, so get on that if you want a tee or hat ;)

Absolutely shocked that this got snubbed on the “Drunkest Moments of 2013” list.

Chewy Cannon with the first great part of 2014. Adidas should seriously consider pairing him and Busenitz for some sort of odd couple part.

If you’ve been skating long enough, you may remember this Josh Kalis commercial running on MTV, Comedy Central, etc. Though not the highest distinction, it might be the best mass audience skateboarding commercial ever made, if only because of the two kickflips and 360 flip he does in it. Filmed around Water Street and midtown, with a rare trick on the haven’t-been-skateable-in-15-years handrails by Radio City (A.K.A. “Joey’s Sculpture” from THPS2.) There’s an alternate version a cop chasing him somewhere too, which they talk about in this old Transworld article.

Speaking of which, there’s a new Kalis interview on Jenkem.

The Brooklyn Banks circa 1995, in 16mm. Yo, De Blasio, if you really want to do something great, please restore the small banks. Nobody cares about the big banks except BMXers. It’s more important than universal Pre-K. Thanks.

The DVS team visits New York. Far from the “Daewon in New York” dream clip we’ve all been hoping for, but it’s alright. Luis is the best.

Ripped Laces counts down the best skate shoes of 2013: #s10-6 here and #s 5-1 here. Going to have to agree on the Gatos at #1. Beyond their functionality, that shoe is the most Gino-esque Nike shoe ever made. Yes, even moreso than the actual Gino tennis-inspired shoe they released in 2012. When you look down at your feet in them, it gets easy to trick yourself into thinking you look way cooler on a skateboard than you actually do, because those are the shoes Gino would skate in. There’s also a chill commercial with Connor Champion for the Lunar Gato out today.

Some dudes made the odd decision of going skating in midtown on New Years Eve.

“There is not a genius in skateboarding…in the manufacturing world.” Muckmouth interviews Steve Olson over lunch.

Been into plain old frontside 180 nosegrinds on regular height ledges lately, seen most notably in The National Skateboard Company’s trip to Warsaw clip.

The new Skate Jawn montage is cool.

Chris Nieratko talks to James Kelch about FTC in light of their new book.

Great news: Lil’ Boosie gets out of jail next month. “Imma be like George Clinton ’round this bitch singing at 45.”

Are you seven-feet-tall and interested in skateboarding? Nah, you should probably play basketball. Even if you lack the neccesary skills, there will always be a job in the NBA for you if only because of your height. See: Jared Jeffries.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Steph Curry everything ♥♥♥

Quote of the Week:

alex patagonia

How the hell did anyone listen to a new French Montana mixtape last week when Street Lottery 2 was so readily available?

#TRENDWATCH2012: Final Fall/Winter Report

The summer is over, there’s snow on the ground, Barack Obama has been re-elected, and with no “We Found Love” to guide us through the static this year, we are left with a mess of developments that are harder to pinpoint as genuine movements than #trends of earlier cycles. There has been no defining #trend this fall, just miscellany with varying levels of staying power. Seven key observations below.

Earth Tones

Greens and browns are known to have wardrobe visibility spikes in October, as fashionable skateboarders depart from greyscale to indulge the fall spectrum, but they have stuck around longer than usual for FW12. Please note that earth tones are not a #trend but a staple for two distinct demographics: 1) Skaters from Florida / skaters from New Jersey who are commonly mistaken as being from Florida, and 2) People whose favorite video part circa 2008-2010 was Pappalardo in Fully Flared.

Swishy Pants

Analysts expect that increased tolerance of earth tones is due to the re-canonization of camo. By that same token, the heavily #trending category of comfort-wear has provided widespread adoption of skating in sweatpants. And where is there to go once camo is the norm and everyone is at peace with sweats? Swishy pants, obviously.

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