It has been really rad seeing so many skaters from different crews and generations out at the protests, so Jenkem put together a helpful guide on how to safely attend one. And a lot of people have been asking about where to go for info on meeting points: follow @justiceforgeorgenyc on Instagram, as they have a round-up of all protests and related events available the night before. Special shout to all the skate family out there distributing supply packs, you know who you are ♥
The Black List is a continually updated list of active black-owned skateboard companies, and links on how to support each one, curated by Patrick Kigongo (ColonelKSpeaks for all the Twitter people.) The Mostly Skateboarding dudes got Kigongo on their podcast this week, and Anthony Pappalardo the Writer also got some words from him on the origins of the project.
Max Palmer, Andrew Wilson, Chris Millic and Nolan Benfield went to skate Cuba this past winter. Sean Dahlberg made the video, and Colin Sussingham took da photos.
Chocolate is better than Girl in yet another enjoyable Bobshirt interview, this time with Scott Johnston. Includes Ty Evans’ full raw footage from S.J. trying the 180 switch crook on the J. Kwon gap-to-ledge from Carroll’s Modus part, A.K.A. The Greatest Trick Ever Done™, in addition to the story behind the sequence and clip.
Max Hull has a sick, new [mostly skatepark] edit featuring heavy doses of Max, Conor and John Choi footage. Who else heard rumors about the top secret John Choi part?
Even watching footage from that Roosevelt Island ledge-to-bank is stressful.
New nine-minute edit from Blue Couch. The ride-on grind of death at Chase is pretty wild. Has anyone transferred between the pillars at Cooper Union like that before?
Still having a tough time coming to terms with YG’s Flameboy tattoo. Apparently he tried to skate at one point in time? Anyway, who else has been catching themselves mumbling “You know I buy you that Chanel, right?”
Pittsburgh’s Scumco and Sons has a new montage out. Philly Santosuosso has a good bit of New York footage in it. His tricks on the concrete nipple at the park across from Joe’s Pizza are tight. Also features Zach Funk and Lucas Erlebach.
Everyone please welcome Buzzfeed to the list of insitutions writing about New York skateboarding. (Do we make a truer-to-life, R-rated version of their #listicle?)
QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Yeah, Blazers-Warriors shouldn’t be nationally televised or anything…(*Fingers crossed for Clippers-Warriors first round series*)
Quote of the Week: “You just have to treat being friends with Pryce like dating a hot chick.” — Torey Goodall
Perhaps the only point in Alex Olson’s recent interview that did not polarize skateboarding’s sea of opinion, was his belief that nobody cares how hard tricks are anymore. We’ve all said “he’s good, but who cares” or written someone off as “a robot” before, so what do professional skateboarders have left to aspire to?
The line has long been the backbone of street skating. Skateboarder even published a print #listicle in the mid-2000s showcasing the best lines of all time. Appropriately enough, the latest entry belonged to P.J. Ladd, because his debut part was when progression really took off, and the “Everyone is Good” movement began to accelerate our numbness to incredible skateboarding.
“But what about style?” Sure, Ray Barbee looked amazing when only doing slappies and no complys, in a way that legions of art students have failed to replicate. Even Carroll’s library line — quite possibly the best thing ever done on a skateboard — wouldn’t be the same if it was performed by some midwesterner visiting San Francisco. Style plays a role, but remember when people would say things like “He’s so smooth?” None of that matters when everyone in a major skate video is “smooth.” Stylistic hallmarks have become less palpable because everyone skates and everyone is good. Everything was the same #drakevoice :(
A wise man once said “I don’t care how ‘good’ a video part is, all I care about is how cool it makes the skater look.” This list features the most timeless lines that were made so by the skater’s ability to make himself look cool, and not just “good.” They will stand out a decade down the line, even when each trick in a Micky Papa part is a go-to for fifty Stoner Park locals.
Raw & uncut. Beanie Sigel at the L.E.S. / Manhattan Bridge Skatepark. Photo by Black Dave.
FYI: Supreme has Snackman cruisers and Lamborghinis (designed by Pryce Holmes and Will Carpio) available for $50 + tax. Available online soon eventually.
Another FYI: Get your entries in for our stupid line contest by the end of the week (due by the end of the day, Friday), and win a Girl/Indy/Spitfire complete, Nikes, Oakleys and 4-Star gear. The stupider, the better.
The Chrome Ball Incident interviewed Jeff Pang about being a New York-based pro skater in the 80s and early-90s. “I think in Harold’s mind he thought that the letter was somehow delivered to it’s destination through a wormhole, not knowing that a postman comes by every day to pick up the mail and brings it to the post office.”
Lil’ Wayne says he doesn’t like New York (Whew. No TrukFit demos at the L.E.S. park!), and a New York senator demands that he apologize. This is what New York politicians worry about nowadays — apologies from Lil’ Wayne and banning big sodas.
