The Events That Defined New York City Skateboarding in 2012: 20-16

stuytownrail

Big news of the day: Google Maps is back for iPhones. Did anyone ever try going on a road trip with that Apple Maps app? It was horrible. Anyway, here is the second installment of our “Year in Review” series. Previously: #s 25-21.

20. Stuy Town Rail Becomes a Normal Spot

New York’s main contribution to the “skateboarding is beginning to look like rollerblading” theory (see: recent advancements in ledge dancing, 16-flat-16 handrails) was this rail’s transition into something people actually skated the whole way down. Before, it was only utilized for quick grind-to-pop-in tricks on the handicap ramp (Alex Olson does a feeble pop over on it in the Pretty Sweet bonus section) and near-death experiences for those attempting to slide the entire thing (Kerel Roach in the 2004 ABC video / maybe Remedy.) In the past year plus, Kevin Tierney boardslid it, Jonathan Ettman 5050ed it and some Australian will lipslide it next summer. (Sorry for all the parenthetical asides…)

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Catching Up

East 2nd Street & Avenue A, across from the original Autumn location. Thanks to Kyle for the photo. The Astronaut Status birds are a nice touch.

Here are a few things that surfaced in the past two weeks. China didn’t have YouTube or Vimeo, and 90% of the skate-related portion of the internet involves those two sites. Sorry if you’re seeing week-old content, bro.

Sweet Paradise, a once crucial corner of the constantly-declining Barmuda Triangle, is slated to close for good in the near-future. Grab a drink in it’s current dilapidated state, and share stories with some friends. Thanks for the memories, and all the free drinks. Thanks for hosting Galen and Danny’s birthday three years in a row. Thanks for hosting the Danny Weiss Dis-Own-A-Thon. One less place for girls to get a skater boyfriend.

Darren Harper on being “The Obama of Skateboarding,” friends borrowing bullets, partying with Paris Hilton, and the Manny Mania incident.

A weekend in New York edit sent in by a reader. Includes a soundtrack by French Montana (who’s destined to get mauled by a bear for karma reasons), and Jeremy Lin inspired titles.

A 14-second Mighty Healthy commercial featuring Gino Iaanucci, and a 60-second Venture commercial featuring Danny Falla and Silvester Eduardo.

Turns out that the so-bad-it’s-good “masterpiece” ABC Skateshop video from 2000, Remedy, has been online for the past year. Though it’s awful in a variety of ways (what other video dedicates a part to harassing NYU students?), it is still a nice glimpse into what New York skating looked and felt like twelve years ago. Fun watch if you’re bored, feeling nostalgic, and at least six beers deep.

Everyone has seen these Bill Eppridge photos of New York skateboarding in the 1960s for Life magazine, but not enough attention has been given to this particular photo. Proof that time travel exists, or merely Shawn Powers’ extra futuristicly swagged out great uncle?

A story came out yesterday stating that Max B’s appeal was denied, meaning he would remain in jail until at least 2042. Mr. Montana placed a called to Mr. Wingate to confirm that this is all false, and insisted that a court date was imminent.

“Brief thoughts on the 2012 XXL Freshman list — Fuck that shit, doggie — we ova here takin’ screen grabs of that bird in the floral frock wot looked like a sarcastic Brandy from the ‘Feel So Good’ video tonight instead.”

Quote of the Week: “I just realized how sick it is that Brian Anderson skated to a Muska Beatz song in Modus.” — Alex Olson


Back in the U.S. China was tight. Updates resume as normal.