Out of the Mountain of Despair, a Stone of Hope

kingobamamural

YO, massive shout out to the crew, politicians, shops and community in Providence, Rhode Island, on getting an approval to turn an underused corner of their downtown into a full-on block of a skate plaza. Let this be a precedent for cities across the U.S.

Also congrats to the boy Sean Pablo on going pro

“If they didn’t name me Genesis then my dad would have named me Jubilee, from X-Men, who was a girl. That would’ve been very funny. I’m glad they named me Genesis.” Sex mag (sure) has an interview with Genny re: growing up, DANY, etc.

Zered is on Alltimers, and has a new part out to reassure you of his decade-plus status as the east coast’s most productive pro, and the king of the worst spot in Queens ;)

“It’s still the same if I just don’t let myself become too jaded and reclusive. There are still endless possibilities.” Huck has a feature with Jerry Mraz, who they apparently dubbed “The Batman of Skateboarding.”

The ender of Pat Gallaher’s Insano part is insano. Great part :)

Josh Kalis and Mike Blabac talk about the state of the plaza in 2017 + other things, and The Muska reveals what was in his backpack all those years. Get well soon bud.

Antosh and the Canadians have a new one out on TWS.

“We decided to make the game more fun so that’s why it was never a realistic simulation of skateboarding. That was key to the success of the game.” Ironic that the reason maybe 50% of the people now in their late 20s started skateboarding was something intended to be an unrealistic simulation of skateboarding. Jenkem has the oral history of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.

Keeping a real skate shop open in 2017 is God’s work ♥ Thank you to all who do.

Rodrigo TX skates Three Four Up Three Four Down, T.J. does a bunch of crazy shit, and lol that there’s security standing at the bottom of the bank in every clip ever gotten at the Roosevelt Island Monument in this link to a clip with 54k YouTube views.

Boil the Ocean re: Lil Wayne’s proclamation that skateboarding is a better feeling than sex with an actress while her movie is playing on a screen in the background.

Canal uploaded a 30-min 2016 Year-In-Review compilation of Instagram videos.

A bit of street skating + a Maple tee in Quim and Freddy’s Portland, M.E. visit.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Isaiah is the second funnest player in the NBA.

Quote of the Week: “Only three things are keeping me sane in 2017: cocho, hucking, and the boys.” — John Choi

In the Back Playing the Guitar

tony montgomery

No idea who shot this photo (it comes from the creditless abyss known as Tumblr) the photo was taken by Andrej Tur, but it is amazing. Tony Montgomery, a long time ago. Also: watch this.

Nobody should have any issues with this year’s skater of the year selection — unless your issue is that Pat Pasquale got robbed, in which case, you have a valid point, and should go vote for his Theatrix part as the best part of the year over on the TWS site.

BTW, Wes Kremer met his connect in Costa Rica.

Jerry Mraz is a true American hero who has contributed to skateboarding in this city in many ways. Credit to Jenkem for shining a light on his untold story.

An interview with Antoine Asselin, Real teamrider and one of the main minds behind modern skateboarding’s greatest thinktank.

Found this really interesting: How the business of clearing music rights for skate videos works. (Though I personally would’ve asked how the hell Plan B cleared Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” for Torey Pudwill’s part, since she worked on the clearance for True. Clearing a Stones song for a skate video seems almost as impressive as a 20-foot-long back noseblunt pop-out.)

If riding a shaped board in 2014 is akin to using a flip phone in 2014, when is Rihanna for Welcome going to drop? Fwiw, Nokia bricks > flip phones.

Wow @ the 5050 transfer (3:10) at Love Park in this “Lawrence of Gnarabia” edit. Never really see anyone skate that ledge. Shout out Peter O’Toole.

The Broadway Bump was one of the funnest midtown spots ever (Keenan Choc Tour opener), though by today’s standards, it’d barely be considered a spot for most kids.

J.B. Gillet bought Makaveli on cassette the first day it came out.

Can’t wait for Beastern Exposure.

Lottery Boiz II, a new NY-based video from some guys who really like Chief Keef.

Sick line at Chase — not at the three-up-five-down — in this Coda crew clip.

So much for that remark about Houston Street construction yielding less popular spots as of late

Rich..Gang throwaway tracks omg.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Need to embed this.

The QS Sports Desk is an anti-Lakers establishment #2011mavs4ever, but wow Nick Young is perfect (even though he stole the opening bit to his interview from Kosmo Kramer.) Kobe will probably strangle him by the end of the season.

Quote of the Week:

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Thanks to anyone who purchased something from the webstore last week. We should be caught up with shipping out orders today, or Tuesday at the absolute latest.

Slap Magazine: Special Printed Edition Mraz Issue

Click to Enlarge

Nostalgic for Slap Magazine‘s defunct printed form, QS reader Clayton Jones threw together a would-be cover for a November 2011 issue, featuring the Slap-esque photography and words in the new Jerry Mraz interview. It’s inspired by the July 1997 black-and-white Fred Gall cover, and a loving ode to skateboarding’s second favorite magazine no longer with us. (Big Brother being in first place, Slap is very a close second.) Though physical magazines and videos are experiencing similar paths of deprecation at the hands of a younger generation these days, there’s no reason we shouldn’t continue to simulate their existence on the internet…the very same place responsible for their demise. Yes, it’s complicated. And ironic. Thanks to Clayton for sending this over.

Previously: 50 Cent x Twitter x Quartersnacks Decks

Click here for the full Slappy Hour video

Mind of Mraz

“Sure, there’s always plenty of awkward moments where you’re out there doing some weird shit in a place where you probably shouldn’t be at. I have to embrace the awkward moments in life. I kind of just like to see what kind of bizarre situation I can get myself into or out of as another hobby. One time I got rolled up on by the police in East New York at 2 in the morning by myself with about twelve buckets of wet concrete. I told them, ‘Look, I can explain!’ I’m pretty good at talking to people in those situations usually. Yes sirs, and no sirs go a lot further than you might think. Another time I was working on this ladies stoop in Staten Island, also late at night. She thought it was great that the city had finally come out to fix that one crack only by her stairs. She offered me weed and wine coolers. I took the wine cooler.”

Jerry Mraz has a new interview on Theories of Atlantis.

Coda Skateboards ‘Slappy Hour’ Promo

Coda has a short new video out. Ten minute video, seven minute bonus/credits section. A bit lighter on the memorable New York location scouting than their last video was, but it’s still going to send a handful of spot sharks onto message boards with screenshots and requests for directions. (Actually, does anyone even use message boards anymore?) Only full parts are from Conor Fay and Jerry Mraz, but there are plenty of features, including Pat Smith and Loose Trucks Max. At least 50% of Jerry Mraz’s part looks like it was filmed in the middle of the projects. If you know of a bank spot in the middle of some buildings, it’s probably in here. He also does a middle of the street 360 shove, 360 flip immediately after combo that Carroll did in another middle of the street masterwork. It’s one of the best two trick flatground sequences that exists for line choreographers today.

Added bonus: No annoying soundtrack. Chuck Berry, Lynyrd Skynyrd. There’s no Nelly, but not exactly anything you can complain about. Be sure to stop by Coda Skateboards.com to check out what they have going on. Have a good weekend.