“Everyone deserves a chance to show their heart.” Aaron Wiggs was the most recent guest on Lee Smith’s Mission Statement podcast, discussing the BLM sidewalk sale at McGolrick Park, losing family to coronavirus, and more heavy topics (there’s laughs too though.) An inspirational listen, and an affirmation that we’re all capable of making a difference ♥
Steve Mastorelli has a sick new edit out featuring a bunch of New Jersey dudes, a stubborn hubba ledge, a 10/10 frontside 180 nosegrind the helicopter way, etc.
It’s one of those “more words than videos” weeks :)
“But skateboarding’s worldview can often become so totalizing that commitment to it far into adulthood, past the age when it’s socially acceptable to ride around in a school bus smoking weed and listening to Slayer, can look like protracted adolescence. This is why skateboarding, for a large chunk of the country, will never fully outgrow its degenerate associations. And that’s fine.” It is notoriously difficult to produce a genuinely great piece of writing about skateboarding, but Noah Gallagher Shannon’s profile of Grant Taylor ticks all the boxes. Send it to your mom.
QS Sports Desk: More excited for the off-season, than we were for like, the entire second half of the postseason. And if you think Lebron is coming to the Knicks you need to move to Mars.
Quote of the Week: “Hell no I don’t watch soccer. A bunch of buddies kicking balls? I’m good.” — Meatball
QS is perpetually giving 90% of skate video editors a hard time for their uninspired marriage to Big L + and this idea that basically all rap still needs to sound like nineties rap (how boring does that sound tbh?), but we’ll throw you guys a bone here because there’s a substantial chance you haven’t heard this one before, and it’s really fun:
“So, you’re smoking weed on the plane at…13-years-old.” This Steven Cales “Nine Club” interview is full of gems from late-80s and early-90s New York. If you want some footage accompaniments to the people/companies/places/era he talks about a lot, check these 88-92 Skate N.Y.C. videos that surfaced on YouTube back in 2011.
Theories of Atlantis is at the helm of a new wheel company called Dial Tone MFG. They have a new edit up featuring teamriders Jahmal Williams, Alexis Sablone, others.
With every New Yorker’s favorite L.A. spot reaching an unfortunate demise, Andrew Allen provides us with the story behind the day when he backside flipped into the main bank at L.A. High.
QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: By the looks of it, this might be the final installment of the Sports Desk until the fall, but gotta give it to J.R. Smith running to the liquor store in the final two seconds of an NBA Finals game.
Quote of the Week: “So, Die Antwoord is these white people who rap.” — E.J.
It may be back to 25 degrees on Thursday, but at least it gets dark at 7!
When was the last time there was something as unanimously loved by skateboarders from all walks of life as Bobby Worrest’s all-Pulaski part? Has there even been a part predominantly (only?) filmed at a single plaza spot since Stevie in The Reason? Also, here’s Boil the Ocean theorizing on the correlation between the economic downturn and the ability for these sorts of parts to exist. Or something?
Mudo Zine interviewed Neil Macdonald of Science Versus Life (which, for those who don’t know, could be considered the Chromeball of exclusively British skateboard magazines) about how skate coverage has changed, but also sorta stayed the same, i.e. energy drink ads have been around since before you started skating.
The perils of posting about Osiris D3s on your website: People Earth’s last remaining population of Gravers will hit you up offering $200 for a pair after a cursory Google search leads them your way.
Skateboarders are a confused bunch, so Kingpin took notice and compiled a #listicle of its most outrageous style switch-ups. Should we do a New York edition?
Really enjoyed this Lyon bro cam / party cam clip by French guys who love rap, ledges and beer. (J.B. Gillet cameos included.) Also really wish that Travis Scott beat got given to a better rapper.
QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Russell Westbrook had a triple double in twenty minutes of play last week, but then the Thunder lost to the Lakers on national television due to a career game from…Jodie Meeks.
Quote of the Week: Inquisitive Supreme Employee: “Matt, why aren’t you in school right now?” 19-Year-Old High School Sophomore: “It’s a half day.” Inquisitive Supreme Employee: “It’s 10:30.”
