Spirit Quest | Quartersnacks

The Best Skateboard Videos of the 2010s — QS Reader Survey Results

Features & Interviews November 27th, 2019 · 12:00 pm · 15

Illustration by Cosme Studio

This was the decade that the full-length skate video was supposed to die. We began the 2010s with everyone insisting that Stay Gold would be the last full-length skate video. Then, Pretty Sweet was supposed to be the last full-length video. Some people thought that Static IV would be it — the end, no more full-lengths after that. But I feel like I heard someone say Josh was working on something new a couple months back? Idk.

The experience might’ve changed. We’re not huddling around a skate house’s TV covered in stickers to watch a DVD bought from a shop anymore (if this past weekend is any indication, it’s more like AirPlaying a leaked .mp4 file via a link obtained from a guy who knows a guy), but the experience of viewing a fully realized skate video with your friends for the first, second or twentieth time is still sacred.

Just as we asked for your votes for the five best video parts, we did the same for the five best full-lengths: if you could choose the five videos that defined the 2010s, what would they be? The results were a bit more surprising than the parts tally in some ways, given that it felt like independent, regional and newer, small brand videos dominated the decade, yet Big Shoe Brands™ and Girl + Chocolate still made their way into the list. The top-heaviness of some companies or collectives was less of a surprise, in that certain creators loomed large over the 2010s.

Like the installment before it, this list is sans comment for 20-11, and then via favors from writer friends for the top ten: here are the twenty best skate videos of the past ten years.

Getting Them Royalties Dodging Them Bumblebees

Daily News June 11th, 2018 · 7:26 am · 2

It’s heartwarming to see world renown design principles from 12th & A make their way to skateable spaces all the way across the Atlantic.

“Their video Grains, filmed across the soybean belt of Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio, veers far off interstate arteries and urban sprawls to extract tricks from crumbling loading docks in Joliet, dilapidated stadiums in Gary, polished-stone plaza ledges in downtown Peoria.” As most skate content has drifted towards Instagram and nothing has much staying power, the idea of a “video review” has sadly become a relic of skate publications past. That’s a bit sad, considering a resounding, well-written recommendation of a not-so-obvious video (or something you simply neglected to click on) still means a lot. I bought Grains after reading Boil the Ocean’s new review of it, and can’t say I would’ve been compelled to do the same if I saw a part of it on Thrasher or YouTube with a Big Cartel link under it ♥

“The most dominant example of genre loyalty is DGK’s whopping 92% use of hip hop.” Someone culled Skatevideosite’s entire database of soundtracks and put together an infographic-based portrait of #musicsupervision in skate videos over the past four decades — and somehow, despite the fact it has been a recurring joke on here for ~10 years — Big L isn’t the most oft-used rap artist.

Head over to ~~Live Mixtapes~~ R.B. Umali’s Vimeo page to hear the full version of Zoo York’s Mixtape soundtrack with ~~NoDJ tags~~ no skate noises over the music.

Skate Muzik also did podcast with R.B. about how the iconic soundtrack came to be.

The water sports section from Spirit Quest, where they put a condom on a VX, is now online ;) …as is Ben Gore’s hill-heavy Static IV part.

Theories has an abridged history of any and all spot selection trends to take course over the history of skateboarding, though they left out some dismal low-points of recent spots on this side of the planet.

This feels like a clip that would’ve been on 48 Blocks ten years ago. In a good way.

Real is working on a documentary on Chicago’s Uprise Skateshop, and presumably ignoring a mountain of pitch emails from Paulgar about doing one on Autumn.

Jenkem with a lesson on pant sags and nut grabs in skate videos.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: NBA Champion, Nick Young.

Quote of the Week: “It’s easier to catch an octopus here than it is to get laid.” — Francesco

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Chief Keef making Seaside Heights boardwalk music (and him sounding the most energized he’s sounded in years on it) is one 2018’s most unheralded developments.

It’s Like 2 Bros. But For Vegans

Daily News October 30th, 2017 · 5:00 am · 2

Photo by Andre Page

Happy Birthday Pad Dowd. He once filmed four lines in one day.

John Gardner, first ballot entry for the “Skateboarders Who Make The World Smile” Hall of Fame. He filmed a new, five-minute cruiser part for O.J. Wheels from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Thanks John ♥

LurkNYC has a new Carlos Mendoza part. Ender at Blubba is pretty nuts.

Can’t tell if it’s an oversight, but if Ride Channel is truly R.I.P., allow us to take a look back at some of the greatest headliners ever written for the skateboard internet.

The Bunt has a [text] interview with our friend Keith Henry, the photographer who is forever on the quest for the right-fitting pair of pants.

The 2000s nostalgia continues, with Dime guiding DC’s hand into the return of fatboy shoes via their re-issue of the DC Legacy. Ripped Laces has some words on both the slimmed down and husky versions of what is essentially the DC Air Max 95.

Thrasher put up a new, all-NY “Mind of Marius” with a bunch of chill Lenox footage.

The double-vision intro from Spirit Quest is now online.

You’ve probably seen it, this one. New 12-minute Frog edit.

The QS Film Desk isn’t the most enthusiastic group of Harmony Korine fans (haven’t watched the Epicly Later’d yet…), but gotta #respect anyone who made the leap from growing up on skate videos to making feature films. He talked about some of his favorite videos over on Vice.

There’s a new, longer version of the Nike SB vid of Lacey Baker skating around the city, which you’ve seen in commercial form of as pre-roll on Thrasher, etc.

“I cracked him over the head with the Yaje board. Avocado to the brain.”

Seems like there’s a sick spot under all those Halloween decorations.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Kyrie Irving on the C’s is 2011 D. Rose I guess?

Quote of the Week: “Strike one, that’s her man. Strike two, that’s her other man. Strike three, she’s a fed.” — Dallas Todd

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¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Pucci is Different From Gucci

Daily News February 20th, 2017 · 12:48 pm · 1

Late start to the day. Congrats to Yaje Popson, one of remarkably few T.F. native sons to have the distinction of his name on a pro board. Proud of you bud ♥

Happy Birthday Matthew Perez. Proud of you too ♥ …I think…

The largest tall tee Wade Desarmo ever wore was a 5XL. That and an examination of why so few objectively superior skateboarders make it out of Canada in his interview with a competing podcast. Even if you’re not a “Nine Club” guy, this one was great.

As far as our *favorite* skate podcast goes (and the one Wade is currently M.I.A. from because nobody is “in the streets” in Toronto…), The Bunt’s latest is with Stefan Janoski. Always felt in the minority of preferring his Inhabitants part over Mosaic, but good to to know it’s his fave too ;)

More podcasts?! You may remember a simpler time back in 2012 — before the world began to implode — when our biggest concern was a man named Louis Sarowsky forever ruining the act of skateboarding via a Mountain Dew-sponsored reality show…He has a new interview over on “Max White Presents.”

Vincent Touzery’s part from Spirit Quest / his 5Boro days is now online.

The angel who put together the Jesus remix from last weeks’ links rounded up all of Mike Carroll’s B-sides since Pretty Sweet and edited a four-minute part with some garnishes from the past. Rick Howard next or are those too few and far between?

Philly Santosuosso has a new part out for Humidity’s collaboration with Reebok. He also has a photo with Figgy Fresh. ♫ Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls… ♫

Akira Mowatt has a new half New York, half California part for Ultra Corp Skateboards.

Between the Kevin Taylor part from a month ago and Mike Maldonado dropping a new one at the age of 41, Frozen in Carbonite’s piece on the Philadelphia Sports Mythos rings truer by the day in skateboarding. Where’s Tony Montgomery at?

Enjoyed this piece on why the death of DVD will haunt consumers. Skateboarding has the benefit of skate shops preserving community — unlike film, which lost its cultural hubs with the death of video stores (R.I.P. Kim’s) — which is all the more of a reminder to give your shop some money today.

Ricard Napoli’s new video, Making It Happen, premieres tonight in Williamsburg at 8.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: Didn’t actually watch it, but this is the only All-Star game highlight we cared about.

Quote of the Week
Inquisitive Gentleman: “Where are you?”
Corey Rubin: “Bellport, Long Island. But if anyone asks, say Dubai.”

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Was gonna embed “My President is Black” or the Honey Drippers or some shit for a President’s Day themed soundtrack, but the song below has calmed my nerves more than anything else the past couple weeks, so give her a whirl.

An Interview With Daniel Kim, the 2016 Q.S.S.O.T.Y.

Features & Interviews January 4th, 2017 · 8:40 am · 8

Intro and Interview by Zach Baker. Photography by Will-Robson Scott.

Will R.S: “I’ve never even thought to, let alone wanted to do a switch Japan Air.”
Daniel Kim: “You need to empty your mind, Will.”

Let’s talk about influence. Here, in this beautifully flawed American society that we live in, we delight in the idea that we’re all unique. Supported by our convictions that never on Earth has there ever been anyone like ourselves, we (as skateboarders especially) are quick to call out the bandwagoning of others; the adherence to trends that we ourselves, whether we recognize it or not, are also influenced by.

Whether it be “Yo, I ride 8.5 because everyone rides 8.5” or “Yo, everyone rides 8.5, y’all biters. I ride 7.5, I’m different and lit” — we are all borrowing from the same pool of small board brands, nostalgic IG handles, and tricks done in Trilogy. It’s tough to stand out, and perhaps the less a person cares about doing so, the better they are at it.

Turn to Daniel Kim who, within the past year, has gotten what some might call “weird.” Prior to now, he had built a reputation for banging flip tricks, remarkable pop, and thoughtful Pulaski lines. He was on 10 Deep back when German Nieves was the team manager, got boards from DGK for a while, and later worked at Nike for a couple years. Then, his hat started falling off, he grew his hair out, started wearing fur vests, and introduced to us his mysterious new undertaking: Stingwater.

Sparking endless laughter from many and bewilderment from many more, Kim, throughout 2016, threw up all kinds of cryptic promotion for what is maybe a water company, maybe a skate company, maybe just a platform for trolling his favorite skaters. What can be certain, as reinforced by his part in Spirit Quest, Colin Read’s trippy opus, is that Daniel, both as skater and individual, is evolving — no, groeing. I’m entertained by whatever the hell Stingwater is, and I’m still not sure that I even totally get it. Maybe my mind’s not empty enough.

Regardless, in our eyes, Daniel had done some of the most unique and remarkable skateboarding in 2016, earning him the title of Quartersnacks Skater of the Year.

+++++++

Some of the readers may be wondering: did you lose your mind?

Nah man, I just found it.

You worked at Nike for some time, and then in the past year or so, would you agree that you’ve had much more right-brained approach to skateboarding, than say, a few years ago?

I think I just got more psyched on skating. I saw that once you have a regular job, you can’t skate as much. So I started to appreciate skateboarding more. Once the Nike thing was over, I started skating a lot more, and I started realizing that i could just have fun with it.