Intro & Interview by Adam Abada
Photos by Tom Botwid
What “is” skateboarding? A seven-ply piece of maple? Thirty-three inches of length and no more? “Not a crime?”
Just as skateboarding often eludes definition — existing in a purgatory between physical expression and existential thought — poetry uses language to access a similar type of feeling and add something new to our shared experience.
Of all the peculiar trends to afflict modern skate videos, not putting skaters’ names is one of the most annoying — especially for anyone who came of age in the latter days of the “video magazine.” (We’ll forget the name of the person who introduced themselves to us five seconds ago, but will remember the name of the dude who did a nollie tailside bigspin in a Logic video 16 years ago…)
Words by Adam Abada
Photography by Norma Ibarra & Michael Worful
“Huh.”
That’s what I heard each time I told anyone, skaters or otherwise, that I was traveling to Sweden for an academic skateboarding conference.
“I didn’t know that was even a thing.”
It’s the second one, actually. I skipped last year’s in London, not wanting to commit to a trans-Atlantic flight for something that definitely had the potential to fall flat. But, when media started trickling back from Bartlett School of Architecture, which hosted the inaugural Pushing Boarders, I knew I would not make the same mistake next time around. Once I heard Malmö, Sweden — arguably the world’s most progressive skate city — was chosen as Pushing Boarders’ next destination, I booked a ticket. Then I spent six months trying to convince someone to come with me.
Sign + share the petition to keep synthetic turf off the Tompkins flat.
Not a ton of New York news this past week…
“4 Cities, 100 Nuggets” is a mini video featuring some Canadian dudes (…I think?) doing a two-week road trip through North Carolina, Philly, New York, and Boston. That back noseblunt bigspin at Baldi really came out of left field + good to see people coming up victorious over the speed bumps at the recently-knobbed plaza on 110th and 8th (which is sure to be utilized by absolutely nobody now, considering it’s in the middle of the street, with no shade, and across from a 840-acre park full of trees…)
Thoroughly enjoyed this… a lot: Kris Brown in the Philadelphia-based, A Regular Ass Video by DJ Traceman.
“It’s not a boot-camp for the Olympics.” “No, it’s a boot-camp for life.” Given the stature of its alumni, you likely know of its existence, but you probably don’t know much about the skateboarding high school in Mälmo, Sweden. Skateism has a full interview about Bryggeriet, and how’s its not exactly what you would expect.
Brian Delaney and a few others skate some Boston classics in a collab clip between Grand and Orchard Skate Shop. (Is that the first time somebody has backside 360 kickflipped a trashcan on flat?)
Kareem & Clyde. Photo by Jody Morris.
Shout out to everyone out there who just goes for it, yaknow?
New Gino Iannucci footage. No, really. It’s not a link to Lemon Party.
“If 2016’s tale of political and social upset is one of old against young and the educated against the left-behind, actually sharing space and interacting with different kinds of people is more important than it’s ever been.” Caught in the Crossfire has an incredible piece on Malmö, Sweden’s status as the world’s most forward-thinking small city with regard to skateable public space.
You probably caught this already, but Bronze dropped a video right after #QSTOP10 had been submitted on Thursday, entitled 56,000. Best Jordan footy since the 5Boro video :) Josh Wilson looks really hot in it too ♥
Been a heavy week on the remix video circuit. After all, remixing pros’ loose footage is our version of fantasy sports, and it’s February, sooooo…
The Tennyson Corporation, skateboarding’s finest remix house, put together an incredible part of Drake Jones and Pepe Martinez, utilizing all the clips they’ve ever had in 411 videos. Does Drake Jones have the best non-Kalisian tre flip?
Can’t remember the last time the word “beautiful” came to mind watching a skate video, but this remix of all Jesus Fernandez’s footage since Pretty Sweet to “Hang On To Your Love” is perfect. Perhaps more than any other skater, Jesus has a remarkable ability to make tricks that have no business looking good look incredible.
Here’s an unofficial “pro mix” of Sean Pablo on the occasion of his first pro board.
Skateboarding x Black History Month via Mehrathon. Stay tuned for something special with the guy who opens up that montage later this week. (Not Paul Mooney.)
Someone remixed a bunch of arbitrary Johnny Wilson footage for a clip called “Fountain.” We’d like a give a special shout out to the one video blog clip a week era.
Handful of loosies from full videos also went online this past week: 1) Here’s Elijah Cole’s part from Lurkers 3, which you could buy a hard copy of over on Joe Cups’ website. 2) Zach Moore’s part from Insano, Pete Spooner’s half New York / half Minneapolis video. 3) Here’s Jersey Dave’s part (Quim cameo!) and Matt Genovese’s part from Steven Mastorelli’s Meadowlands video, a Jersey project very much in the tradition of Justin White, J.P. Blair, et al. 4) Shawn Butler’s lost part from Harry Bergenfield’s Drama video.
Genesis Evans made a nine-minute iPhone clip of skating around L.A.
Quick one of Lurker Lou and Phil Rodriguez at Brower Park.
Pretty sure we were in Spain when this happened (maybe its even older news than that), but official final R.I.P. to 12th & A. They repaved the entire court with shitty, soft blacktop. And there’s a “No Skateboarding” sign for the first time ever…at a school that once included skateboard classes in its phys ed curriculum. Cool.
QS Sports Desk: Never gave one of these to Lebron before, mainly just on some hater shit, but this is one of the most insane things I’ve ever witnessed in my basketball viewing life. Just *look* at the Wizards bench.
Quote of the Week: “Yo…actually, I like wearing wack gear.” — Ben Blundell
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the couples ♥…
…aaannnddd happy Valentine’s Day to all the singles ;) ♥
