I’ll bet my extensive sticker collection (including an OG Rob Roskopp Pirate graphic!) that 2007 will see Lem Villemin and Alex Mizurov blowing the F up.
It’s no wonder US companies are taking a shine to the lads. Silver Trucks have just signed the pair, and Alex’s attendance at the Crossfire Christmas Jam should throw proof in the pudding.
Check out the Silver Trucks comp by clicking here.
Just because they’re up North, doesn’t mean they don’t keep busy.
Check out the Transition Extreme website for good interviews with all the best Scottish skaters (John Rattray, Div Adams, Colin Kennedy…), park reviews (Livi, Denburn Banks, Bridge of Don skatepark…) and more.
[Photo care of Alex Irvine]
In case you haven’t guessed already, we at Crossfire are pretty stoked on a skate crew/company that goes by the name of Casual.
Well, along with having some good stock and sick tricks to boot, the Casual boys are also thumbs up on the media front re: photos. Check out homies Benjamin Hay and Mr. Melk ‘s [see photo] new photo sites for proof.
Have you been good boys and girls? Depending on your track record, Santa will either be dishing out best trick prizes or stale mince pies… Keeping it festive this year, get your best red hat and sweaty pads on for the Interact Christmas Party (all-nighter!) on 16th December 8pm to 8am at Interact Skatepark, Burnley.
Before Jim Greco, Lizard King or Ragdoll, the OG skateboard punk was Jay Adams.
One of the key members to the Dog Town crew who pioneered modern skateboarding, Jay has suffered the harder side of life more often than most. To get a good look into Jay’s earlier years, we suggest the new book of photos, Jay Boy, taken by Jay’s stepfather Kent Sherwood.
For a brief glimpse of the amazing shots click here and to order a copy, visit www.tailtap.com
Cheers to Bryce K. at Skate Daily for the heads up.
It’s nice to see some of the major American manufacturers supporting their European counterparts to the fullest extent.
Adio are proud to announce the new shoe they have designed in collaboration with one of their hottest French riders, Thibaud Fradin.
For me, Santa Cruz Skateboards have a pretty good track record: 30 years plus in the business, top grade wood and construction techniques, no flair.
Even when other companies were riding the wave of Chinese wood manufacturers, or dabbling with slim ply techniques, Santa Cruz went alone and produced one of the strongest boards to date – the Powerply. Needless to say, the innovation doesn’t stop there and it wasn’t long before the bulkier Powerply got replaced by the lighter and (believe it or not!) stronger Powerlyte boards. The secret to the strength is the layer of Teflon material applied to the top layer of the board – a technique that has since been copied by other companies.
I am always interested in trying a company’s product that tries something new with shape and build of a deck. It doesn’t always work, but judging by my past experience of riding SCS I couldn’t turn up a chance to ride a Powerlyte.
Off the bat, these boards have got pop and flex. They are also damn light so leaping over bins and things is no longer a problem. However, if you like lot of concave on your board, SCS might not be your best bet. Despite this Henning Braaten model having a B-52 of a nose, the tail is pretty shallow and short. This isn’t a worldly crisis or anything, but keep it in mind if you like a lot of space to move your feet about on the tailend of things.
Now, after an unfortunate failure at making a super dope ass trick (Hype!), my tail went skywards then downwards resulting in a heavy delam on the tail. Game over..? Nope. SCS boards have strong construction so a brisk knock back into place and that delam has yet to worry me again. Stoked.
Finally, the only weird thing with these Powerlyte boards is the Teflon material getting frayed at the edges when you scrape your board gripside. Just so you know, Teflon is a super tough and light material used in bullet proof jackets, frying pans etc so when your board has a little yellow fuzz around the rails, don’t fret.
Visit www.santacruzskateboards.com for a solution to the crap in your life.
8/10
In case you missed the audio-visual delicacy that had the entire skate industry pushing back release deadlines in a vain attempt to top the ridiculously high standard that was Gnargore the DVD, pin back those eyelids and take the phone off the hook because the Gnargore Experience is about to double up in a brand new DVD entitled Bare Merk!
This feature presentation will introduce, or re-introduce, us to the extraordinary talents of Tom Gillespie, Wig Smith, James Brewer, Dan Jordan, Tom Yaxley, Reuben Binns, Tom Hinton, Arran Burrows, Ross McAbe, Neil Roberts, Dave Bailey, Lloyd Johnson, Joel Taylor and friends.
The release of this banger is set for early 2007, with a premiere at Idela skateshop, Birmingham. For more info click here.
I hate to think what skateboarding might become without the creative input and dedication of certain individuals… Pontus Alv is right up there with the best of them, and his new project is yet another string to his bow. Le Boxx is an exhibition celebrating the art of skate creation via the medium of the ramps we ride.
A spined mini ramp with a symbolic cross shaped tombstone/wallride has been built inside the Stapelbaddsparken, in Malmo, Sweden, and shall stay there throughout the entire month of December. Visit the Bryggeriet website for the introduction, photos, blog and more.
A Big Thanks goes out to Bryce Kanights over at www.skatedaily.net for digging up this gem of a profile of one of skateboarding’s most influential media moguls – C.R. Stecyk III.
Just to put things in context- Stecyk was THE photographer who testified the scene that was DogTown and the Z-Boyz.
Get schooled.