RVCA’s Jimmy Arrighi has started a new clothing brand called Eswic. The initial team that has launched this week includes Donovon Piscopo, Dakota Servold, Stevie Perez, James Hardy, Cairo Foster, Ed Templeton, & Leo Romero. Watch this intro clip and look out for their plans in the coming months.
Welcome to 2012. The wind is up, the rain is pouring but the geezas are still having fun out there. Watch this London and European montage featuring all sorts of familar faces.
Photos thanks to Lex Kembery
Every year there are characters out there who give their all to our beloved skate scene. I’m talking about the characters that our scene cannot live without. The hardened, the driven few who have chosen their paths to document what goes down. The dedicated who barely get a chance to actually skate themselves all year round.
If there was one person this year who surpassed this level of commitment in skateboard filming, we would surely all be on the same page with the results. Henry Edwards-Wood has spent most of this year either searching for new spots, gazing through a viewfinder, pushing hard to keep up with the mandem rolling in front of him or sat in front of the computer, cutting up footage and meeting deadlines. His video edits this year have captured the true essence of skateboarding, fueled by a desire to document speed and free flowing skating that we all feel when we push down the street.
A combination of Henry’s imperturbable demeanor and a passion to make honest films has led to his work being recognised worldwide even more this year, so it’s a pleasure to award 2011’s contribution to filming single handedly to Hold Tight Henry who also managed to find time to make an exclusive ‘All Stars’ video edit for this feature.
It’s been a busy one but was there a personal highlight from 2011 that comes to mind overall?
I don’t think I can really narrow it down to one. The main highlight for me was going fully freelance, leaving Kingpin and getting to work with some amazing skateboarders from all different corners of the world who I’m totally stoked on. Creating videos was also the highlight.
Before we go any further we should drop this Best of 2011 edit that you have put together as I’m sure our readers are probably wondering who’s in it….
This edit features footage from some of my favourite projects I worked on over the last year and documents the people I think smashed it the most, or at least are my personal favourites to watch. One of the best things about my job is I get to work with my favourite skaters, whether it’s London locals like Lucien, Rory and Tanner or living legends like the Gonz and Lucas. These are my personal favourite clips of those guys based on their aesthetics or just undeniable dopeness!
Was there a specific skate trip that you were on board to film that stood out the most?
I would have to say the Converse x Grey European road trip. It’s the longest trip I have been on to date and was made by having such a great crew on board. I managed to see so much of Europe I would probably have never seen otherwise. Two weeks in a van could drive anyone against each other but we just had the best time and produced a phenomenal amount of high quality footage. Harry Lintell blew my mind on a daily basis. Ches bossed it the whole way. Rory smashed it as did Charlie and Phil, it was just the funnest time with the most rewarding end product.
What edit are you most stoked on from everything you’ve filmed this year?
I think that would be the ‘One Week in Paris’ edit with Tanner. It came out way better then we imagined when we got on the Eurostar to Paris. It was a combination of finding that perfect tune, having great footage and of course Tanner’s undeniable flare on a board. I think I like it the most because I got the balance between making an edit that features pure street skating and also appealed to a wider audience. A lot of people tell me their Mum’s love that edit, which is funny but amazing!
I’m pretty sure that quote will end up on a t-shirt mate! Haha! So what about tunes as they hard to clear, but obviously make video edits come to life. Has there been a specific song you felt that worked best from one of the edits that you have out together in 2011?
Yes, that would be this one. ‘I C Sky’ by The Shutes. I used it on the Uncommon Places video for Rory’s section. I shot a music video for them earlier in the year on the Isle of White where they record and they gave me their unreleased album and that track was on it. Their sound was fresh and powerful and I instantly wanted to make an epic section with it. 2 months later, the opportunity presented itself. The best part is that the band are stoked on skating, some of them used to skate themselves, they came to the premiere and were super stoked.
What about other people’s edits, any music you personally thought worked really well for their footage?
Lev always smashes it music wise. The Palace NY and Battle of Normandy edits had banging soundtracks but I couldn’t pin it down to one.
It must be frustration to get footage filmed for promos sometimes, what trick was the most torturous to film?
Tanner’s last 2 tricks in the Cliché Flow part we did at the beginning of the year were probably the most painful for me. It was the day before we needed to finish it. It was early January, so bloody cold and I was super ill. He was battling with this boat ledge that went into a wall and he got a switch 180 5.0 revert into it which took a while. I was delirious with the cold and could barely speak – just so ill. I thought we were done but he wanted to try a backside 180 nose grind revert, which I know is a trick he’d never even done on a ledge before. It was another hour of struggling in the cold with busy traffic but we got there in the end! That was an ordeal!
Did you have a specific ‘”shit, I wasn’t recording” moment that springs to mind?
Touch wood haven’t really had one yet. I try to never miss anything. Usually I get them when something funny happens and or someone does something really funny when they aren’t trying the trick so I’m not recording. I love all the funny stuff that happens when your out so I’m gutted when I miss random occurrences.
So on that note, what made you laugh your ass off the most whilst out filming?
So much stuff happens when your out on the streets. I guess making the Stella Supply Co. promo was the funniest project. The Karim security beef had me in tears but everything about that project was fun and there’s a lot of clips in there that make me laugh. It’s just always fun when your with a good crew.
Best thing about the internet and skate videos?
The internet gets it out there in everyone’s faces almost instantly. You can get great feedback by seeing the views and comments. There’s also minimal production costs and no waiting for a DVD to get duped, plus you can show people on the other side of the world what’s happening in your scene.
Worst thing?
Quality control seems to go out of the window. A lot of stuff gets put out that lacks any real substance. What’s hot one day is gone tomorrow, people seem more interested with the quantity of content they put out then how impacting it is. Also with the almost instant turn around, spots and tricks in long term projects can get blown out by some web edit, its getting harder to sit on footage for bigger projects
What’s the best scene video you’ve seen this year?
I’m ashamed to say I haven’t seen any this year. Not by choice but I have just been so busy working on my stuff that I haven’t got round to getting copies of them. As soon as I finish the Slam Video I’m gonna catch up. I especially wanna see Pusherman from Manchester plus a load of others out of Sheffield and London.
What about company videos?
I prefer to watch old videos, the classics. So maybe WTFTW, First Broadcast, Static 2 etc…
Out of all of the videos that have dropped online this year, what’s in your top 3?
1. Neil Smith’s pro part. I couldn’t wait for this to come out as I knew it was going to be ridiculous and I wasn’t disappointed. Smith is probably the gnarliest bastard in English skating but not in the most obvious way, the spots he skates in this part are rough as hell.
2. Brian Delatore – Welcome To Habitat part. I don’t really have to say much about this, it’s raw as fuck. He’s one of my favourite guys to watch from the other side of the pond. So raw, so fast and very well done.
3. Tom Knox – Blueprint/Emerica promo. Another great English part that probably opened a few eyes this year. Having seen Tom from being a little skate rat years ago to bossing it like a man, I wasn’t that surprised as I knew how good he’d got, but it was great to watch and obviously very well produced too.
Who is your UK Skater of the Year?
Harry Lintell. Everyone knows by now, dude is next level. I got to see a lot of it close up. Kids the future.
What are you looking forward to most in 2012?
I’m looking forward to finishing City of Rats, the Slam City Skates video. It’s been so intense filming lately that I’m looking forward to it all being out of the way and watch the end product at the premiere. It’s hopefully gonna do really well as it features the best skating I’ve ever shot in my opinion. So yeah, that’s basically all that I’m looking forward to, finishing it and being a free man so I can go skating myself a lot more!
Watch the trailer here and look out for premiere details in the New Year.
Over the Xmas period we are giving away some Plan B Skateboards goodies. Enter the competition below to win a Torey Pudwill Southpaw deck (7.5″) plus a Plan B skate tool and Ho Sweater to beat the winter chill.
All you have to do is like our Facebook page as we will contact you from there and answer the question below.
[competition_26]
The London premiere of the Kill City Skateboards Rookies DVD followed the Xmas Jam this year at Mau Mau’s. It’s a beastly collection of footage that comes in at 33 minutes and showcases the team better than anyone would have expected.
Half of the team had never seen the full length film before this night as they were skating in Barcelona so this premiere was particularly noisy!
There are no spoilers in here, just photos from the event, so you will have to go out and support British skateboarding this Xmas and pick up a copy as it’s released on December 15th in all decent skate shops. Do it.
Chris Oliver flies highest Ph: Jerome Loughran
Surrounded by blue skies and a winter chill, the Crossfire Xmas Jam warmed a few hundred people at Bay 66 Skatepark this December. The rain held, the skateboarding poured and only four people managed to spill blood on the day. Thankfully there were no broken bones to talk about.
Manny Lopez came off worse by running into Tim Prozorov and suffered a collision injury that forced the ambulance service to drive him to the nearest hospital for stitches. Adrenaline was needed to slow down the bleeding so it could be stitched up so he will be feeling sore this morning. Get well soon Manny, we all missed watching you skate.
Some big stuff went down in this afternoon session. Notable mentions to Chroliver, Nowik, Cullen, Raemers, Zwijsen, Collins and many more on the day. A rowdy crowd then filled the after party who roared along to the premiere of the Kill City Skateboards Rookies DVD. It was the first time some of the team riders had seen the film due to a trip to Barcelona last week and it did not disappoint.
We noticed this week that a skateboard chainstore decided to poach footage from our event and release it immediately to market themselves across the internet. This is seriously lame as another skate shop had sponsored this jam and the store in question had not asked permission to film at at our event. They did not mention the sponsors that made this event possible whatsoever and these are the core brands of our scene that allow us to run this annual get together. Support skater owned shops this Xmas people. Keep your local scene alive.
Enjoy the official video edit to get the full picture of what went down on the day courtesy of Andy Evans.
Big thanks to all who drove for miles to share these good times and make these events work plus all of the staff at Bay 66 Skatepark, and our associate sponsors Slam City Skates Plan B, Flip and Superdead Skateboards
More big shouts out to the companies that sponsored the jam including Heroin, Death, Drawing Boards, Science, Crayon, Kill City, Lovenskate and Blueprint Skateboards.
This jam was for Bingo on his Birthday. RIP.
UNSPONSORED STREET JAM RESULTS:
Flat Bar Comp: Lewis Bell – FS Feeble Shove-it (Drawing Boards deck/tee)
Hip Comp: Ben Rafferty – BS 360 Flip (turning with it) (£25 Slam City Skates voucher)
Mini Ramp Comp: Rob Safe – 540′ (!) (£50 Slam City Skates voucher)
Driveway Comp: Taylor Reid – FS bigspin to flat (£100 Slam City Skates voucher)
AM/PRO BEST TRICKS RESULTS:
Plan B Flat Bar Comp: Jake Collins – Front tailslide 270 out – £50
Superdead Long Arse Hubba Comp: Chris Oliver BS lipslide/FS bluntslide/5050 – £50
Plan B Hubba Jam: Ben Raemers – FS boardslide pisstaker / FS 5050 to fakie / BS tailslide fakie and more – £100
Superdead Wallride Comp: Chris Oliver: FS bluntslide across the quarter – £100
Superdead/Plan B Longest Driveway Ollie: Phil Zwijsen – £100
FLIP SKATEBOARDS MINI RAMP COMP RESULTS:
Overall Mini Ramp Steez Award: Split between Greg Nowik and Jed Cullen
Highest FS Air: Chris Oliver (Over 6ft?!)
Combo Grind/Slide: Jake Collins – BS smith/tail slide
Photos by Jerome Loughran
“Nowik makes love to the mini ramp like no other.”
Jake Collins had a full day of rampaging as usual.
Jed Cullen killed that mini ramp.
Photos by Sam May
Phil Zwijsen takes the longest ollie.
Alex Barton chases his tail.
Chroliver gets close.
Chroliver took the wallride comp with this fs blunt slide over the quarter.
Ben Raemers hucked a backside boneless off the wall…
…and then took the piss with this boardslide step off.
Daryl Dominguez took the hard route.
Chroliver took dough for this ridiculous back D slide.
Isaac Miller is one to watch for 2012.
Upcomer Taylor Reid impressed with this bigspin to flat.
Rob Safe hucked a 540 on the mini.
Lewis Bell took the flat bar comp.
Amir Williams laid down some Brighton stompers on the day.
Jake Collins to the bar please.
Porno Paul and Gok Wan are now going out for Xmas.
Oliver sheds the Queen.
Greg Nowik and Mark Brewster share the goodness.
Loads of freebies were claimed!
Here’s the beginning of the after party photos. Go to the gallery for more.
Portrait by Percy Dean
Every year we look back on the video edits that made the cut, the ones that surprised the most, the tricks that made our eyebrows raise and the overall contributions and dedications to skateboarding at ground level.
The UK has produced more skateboarders than ever who have proved they can cut it at the highest levels. We are currently seeing another shift where pro’s are getting a run for their money by the upcoming ams who are hitting the road, getting amongst it and most of all, getting down to business. London based skater Tom Knox has put in the hard work this year. His Blueprint/Emerica section hit our homepage on day of release and rightly spread worldwide to claim the recognition it deserved across the board. Raise a glass to Tom today as he is Crossfire’s Fresh Blood of 2011.
Enjoy his Reflections looking back on an incredible year in skateboarding and expect much more from him in the future.
What did you learn most from 2011?
Not much really, it went by so fast! Just how to be productive with my time, as I’m not in school anymore so I can do whatever I want for the first time in my life. It’s really fun, but can feel strange sometimes.
How are you getting by as an am rider living in London and what other interests outside of skateboarding are filling the hours?
Well, I still live at home so my rent is not as much as living on your own, plus I save money by eating here. I have a big family and we all live at home, so I spend as much time as I can with them because I know one day when I eventually move out I will not be able to. It’s really fun, I am definitely lucky to have the family I have around me. I play a lot of music in my spare time. Guitar and flute. I also swim all the time, play football, tennis, and watch loads of movies.
Best personal moment of 2011?
Probably getting my part finished and released. I worked quite hard on it so was good to see a final product.
How long did it take to put together and what did you feel was your biggest achievement from it?
It took about a year, but it went by quickly as we were filming through the winter, plus we had no camera and injuries to deal with. The biggest achievement is probably the spots that we found. At the time I didn’t really realise the missions we went on because either me, Jake or Smithy would mention a spot we found and we’d just all go skate it. Once it came out, quite a few people mentioned the previously unskated spots that we had we discovered and that felt like quite an achievement as London is quite a hard city to do that in.
What was the most ridiculous thing that happened whilst filming for it?
Probably the time when myself and Jake we’re going to film some stuff with quite a few people, but one by one they bailed out. So we decided to skate this spot near his place in Peckham. I tried a line for a little but wasn’t feeling it, so we decided to go back to his and except the failed mission. Then some dude asked us where a street was that we didn’t know, he hung about for a sec, then grabbed Jake’s camera bag. When Jake tried to pull it back he bottled him round the face and ran off. It was so horrible. He was bleeding everywhere and had the most swollen face. He took it like a man though until he realised it was a WKD bottle!
Watch Tom’s Emerica/Blueprint section filmed by Jake Harris and edited by Dan Magee.
What was your most memorable skate trip of the year?
I have just returned from a trip to Japan with the Blueprint boys and it was one of the best places I’ve ever visited. We had a really good crew, weather and skate spots. I’ve never been to Japan before so it was cool to see what everything is like out there. The locals showed us an amazing time too.
The Japanese skate scene seems quite unique, what’s it like in comparison to here?
It’s really good man. I look at the guys I’ve seen in videos and they have a very unique outlook on skating. But when you go there it’s just like any other scene. Their skating is up there. I saw a girl do a backside flip out of a foot of vert, was insane!
Did you hit up any of those Gou Miyagi rail spots?
Nah, not really. There are tiny rails everywhere though and so many spots. The Japanese respect authority over there, so unlike England, you don’t skate a lot of the spots you pass on the street and go to the ones you know aren’t a bust. I think if you lived there you could find some crazy obstacles for sure.
Who ate the strangest food on the menu from that trip?
Most the stuff you eat is strange. There is some stuff that the locals eat. I didn’t try it but Sylvain (Tognelli) did and said it was the strangest thing he’s ever eaten. It was so alien to his taste buds!
If you had to pick a tune of this year what would it be?
I only started listening to Bob Dylan’s Street Legal album this year, so good.
Most satisfying line made this year
There were a few but probably the line at Liverpool Street where I end with a fakie ollie down the stairs. It was the middle of winter, I hadn’t filmed anything in a while. I was trying it for about an hour and just couldn’t make it. Then my wheel fell off! I got a friend to give me one of his and he said that I would only have one more try and luckily I made it.
What was the newest trick added to the bag this year?
Switch back smiths.
Skate DVD you watched the most?
Dimestore The Duece.
Who would be your MVP of the year?
Neil Smith.
Who are your Fresh Blood tips for 2012?
Casper Brooker, Kyron Davis and Jacob Harris.
What are you looking forward to most in 2012?
Traveling a bit more and hopefully get myself to some places I haven’t been yet.
Backside Smith. Photo by Percy Dean
Let’s end this on some quality viewing. What are your top 5 video edits of the year?
1. This is a web part of Gilbert Crockett. I think the footage was just a compilation of a load of web stuff he’d already had out. I watched this a lot before I went skating this year as really gets me hyped.
2. Neil Smith’s well deserved pro part.
3. I really like watching raw footage, something about it makes me really want to go for a skate. This makes me want to go throw myself down some stairs as he makes it look so easy.
4. Brian Delatore has been around for a while but has blown up in the last year. This welcome to Habitat video shows what his skating is all about. Good spots, fast lines and sick tricks.
5. It was such a pleasure to go on trips with Sylvain this year. He’s always up for an adventure.
‘Wooden Nickels’ episode 8: Sylvain Tognelli from Mark Nickels on Vimeo.
Heroin and Landscape’s Fos has crept onto the DIY airwaves in Los Angeles since he moved to California this Autumn. He spends a lot of time shooting guns aside from skating and painting thesedays and also has found time to huck out a radio show on the Altamont website.
Fos FM launches today and kicks off with Slayer and red rum samples. Download the MP3 of the first show featuring guest Randy Randall from the band No Age here.
Our friends across the pond at 5BORO are ramping up for a full length release in 2012 titled Join Or Die. Have a taster of what’s coming from the streets of NYC right here.
There’s nothing like ending a year with a discussion with arguably skateboarding’s finest technically gifted, all rounder. Enjoy Daewon Song’s end of 2011 round up and expect more ground breaking magic from his big bag of tricks next year.
So, let’s reminisce as far back as January with your New Year’s Dae edit, how long did that part take to put together and what was your most enjoyable trick from it?
That part had footage from 2 years back. I never got to use it and as soon as the Berrics mentioned doing the New Years Dae part I started filming for another 3 months. The funnest trick in there was the 360 flip in that narrow full pipe! I got worked but it was so worth it and fun.
Other than that edit, what are the most satisfying personal moments of 2011?
Any day where all my friends are off of work and we go skatepark hopping! We don’t get to hang out all of the time and skate so these times are fun. Taking my son bowling for his Birthday and getting that hug too!
Over the years, what skate trip was most memorable looking back?
Australia was the worst and the best! First off, I was with a lot of friends filming for the DVS Skate More video. That trip was insane. Hot, annoying and crazy! We had a few of the worst people on that trip but traveling with Gabe (aka Beergut), Daniel Castillo and Colin Kennedy who now works for the Berrics and did the New Years Dae edit was fun. On that trip I also remember trying to fight Reda from meeting him for the first time. We became really close friends from then on. So much fun!
What music did you listen to mostly throughout 2011?
I’m backing the old Mobb Deep album or a lot of Radiohead songs! It’s real slow but I need that in my life. I also listened to the Alaska in Winter album a lot which was the song in my New Year’s Dae part.
If there’s one story to tell from this year that none of us would know, what is it?
The smoke alarm went off for all the hotel rooms and I unplugged the fire alarm in my room because it was loud! Ten minutes later, six fire trucks show up and two cops! I’m thinking what the f#@k is going on!! They want people to evacuate …….and then I’m thinking my alarm was going off because it’s serious! Well, they finally came to my room and look around and spot that I unplugged the alarm. They look at me in rage and explain that “as soon as you did that, it notified the Fire dept and the cops!” Wow, I used the wrong firewood and the smoke set it it off and I was charged an additional fee! Haha!
OK, let’s talk tricks. What was the most satisfying trick that you made this year?
I got one trick filmed at a manny drop/manny b4 in Torrance. They put a gate around it! Kind of sketchy but at least I got it and maybe try it again somewhere else. It’s a 180 fakie manny fakie bigspin heel to manny.
What are the newest tricks in the bag?
Backside 360 ollie nose wheelie and lasers a little more consistent on transition.
What’s the trick that got away?
Switch bs 360 ollies!
Best trick that you witnessed in 2011?
My homie Jon’s double laser heel at Paramount skatepark! He works at the airport, has 4 kids and still handles business.
If you had to pick one person, who would be your MVP of the year in skateboarding?
I wanna give it up to Torey Pudwill! He handled business and me and him have a lot of new plans with DVS!
What are you looking forward to most about 2012 personally?
Filming for my new Almost part and working on new projects for DVS and MATIX, just enjoying the simple things in life and loving my son!
What are your top 3 skate video edits of all time?
1. John Cardiel – Transworld part
2. Sean Sheffey Life video
3. PJ Ladd – Wonderful, Horrible Life
Do you watch many skate videos these days or are you glued to the web?
I just watch everything! YouTube kids that are having too much fun and freedom!
Let’s wrap this up with a message for kids wanting to get sponsored out there…
Focus on fun and then get up and try! Do what you feel, not what you see!
Shouts to:
DVS Shoes, Almost Skateboards, Gabe Clement, Luis Cruz, Matix Clothing, Spitfire crew, Swiss bearings and Tensor.
