Category: Skateboarding

I only just saw this film the other day which is some considerable time since its initial release. With such tardiness, some might think my opinion would be prejudiced due to everyone else’s personal views being aired. However, I watched The Lords of Dogtown with an unbiased eye because any mainstream media hype around skateboarding tends to make me run in the opposite direction faster than Kris Markovich from his next sponsor.

So, basically this is what you get when you want to make a film out of an amazing documentary that introduced to the pioneers of skateboarding as we know it today. Honestly, the people behind this have done a good job. The characters (Stacy Peralta, Jay Adams and Tony Alva) are all credible, and to think that the actors playing them had to learn how to skate 1970’s equipment in order to perform the stunts is pretty inspiring. The continuity of fashion, location and music from the era is also kept up to speed which is nice to see considering a few of the pools that got shredded by the Z-Boys don’t exist anymore.

The only things I had doubts about when I watched this film were the skater groupies. Whether it’s something in the water – even though the birth of modern skating arose from a Californian drought – or a simple spin from the Hollywood side of things for the viewer to stay focused, the chicks are hot! As a skater who spends a lot of the time in the streets, the next time I see a parade of tanned bodies in Indian attire and pristine smiles will probably be when they put speed bumps on mini ramps… Anyway, that aside because Hollywood had to create some emotional thread, the only other thing that made me cringe with The Lords of Dogtown were the real skaters acting. I spotted big Tony Hawk, Don Nguyen and Chad Fernandez (There might be others..?), but not one of them had more than two lines which in consequence were delivered with about as much integrity as Krusty the Clown. Stick to what you’re good at guys: Skating!

Anyway, overall this film is obviously aimed at the mainstream, but of all films that have tried to use Skateboarding as a theme, this one actually pulls it off and can be deemed viewable. I think this is partly thanks to Stacy Peralta’s initial Dogtown and the Z-Boys documentary, and more importantly the Z-Boys themselves. Without them, where would we be now???

For more info on this movie, visit www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/lordsofdogtown. This DVD is out now alongside the box set that includes the Z-Boys Documentary and bonus footage…

Ralph Lloyd-Davis
11/01/2006

“The people that matter don’t mind…The people that mind don’t matter….”

Death is upon us! Like Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore and his troops, Nic Zorlac and the boys swoop down on us to the sounds of the Valkyries. Armed to the teeth with obscure combos, wallies, technical wizardry and raw power- these men shall travel the land far and wide and take no prisoners. A manual pad before dawn? A concrete pool in Goa? Or, a crumbling brick bank in the wilderness..? In the words of their leader: Skate what you want. Skate how you want. Be who you want. Don’t let the bastards grind you down!

So, first up to bat is the pretty-boy-floyd of Bedfordshire, Ben Cundall. The only Death rider authorized to wear swishy pants because of his capacity to mix his switch tricks with his massive nollie pops. You might appreciate his crooked grind through a gap, but a man is best judged by the size of his frontside nosebone- and Cundall’s got a big one.

Since we last smelt Death on the horizon, they have travelled far and wide and incorporated new talent from overseas. Schooner is the first of a few Aussie skaters to ride under the skull and crossbones banner. It would seem he stems his courage from his buoyant wig. Some cultures believe that if you shave a man’s head, he will lose his strength. Ummm….?

Back from the infirmary, Ron Calow pushes his way to the front via a no-holds barred attack on everything in sight. A frantic flurry of fast ollies and rapid fire tricks will blow you away here. Lock away the women and hide the sheep because Ronnie’s back!

Another Aussie cadet steps up and proves his worth by taking a few nasty spills on his way to martyrdom. Rhys Grogan is a young upstart that looks like a neat investment for the future of Death Skateboards. Back on native soil though, cyberspace degenerate Moggins, the mispelt yoof of Horsey and Wag, and Welsh wonder Jimmy McNair take care of the rough terrain as they scout towards the future.

Darkman Nic Zorlac is a smart man that rallies other troops including Mark Munson and John Cattle aboard the urethane train to shred huge concrete bowls and peculiar asphalt oddities. Plus, a healthy handful of friends are present to support the Darkman’s conquest. Nic marches upon the hate mongerers with fervour as he plans to slashgrind and wallride the enemies’ tombstones.

Talking of tombstones, the vertical necrophile Lee Blackwell rides his transition night and day, summoning the demonic figures of his tattooed body to give him power to take flight. The scores of innocent gothic maidens await their sacrifice from the Caligula of coping.

Alas, the madness of it all is resumed by the presence of Dan Cates: A lunatic who pays homage to the late-great magic of previous interns like Simon Woodstock and Ken Dodd. Dan Cates is the man of the hour that will skate anything and everything so long as it’s fun. Like Hunter S. Thompson said, “Just another of God’s failed prototypes- too weird to live yet too rare to die…”

Behind all the fear and angst that Death can create, there is someone that holds down the reigns and smiles at the grannies whilst the rest of the team pillage the village for spots. Mark Nicholson is of no relation to Jack, but judging by the way he is at ease with all terrain and all disciplines of the four-wheeled steed, the is no doubt Mark is a wiley youth. Don’t let the smile and Fabio mop fool you.

Finally, Richie Jackson! Whatever drugs this Australian hippie is taking must be the good ones because his body can control a board like no other. The Wallie champ in his suede clarks has sparked a fire within the empty creative hole of everyday skateboarding that cannot and should not go out.

Has this been a long-winded diatribe? Could I have spared the adjectives and used bullet points? I don’t know… What I do know is that Death is a unique gang of friends that love skateboarding and step as far away as they can from the herd in the pursuit of kicks. You could turn the soundtrack of Idle Racer, Siouxsie Sioux, Depeche Mode and the Dead Kennedys right down, but the images would still blow you away. Skateboarding like this is a rare thing, so take note.

For the record, this DVD is just £5 from all good skate shops, go to www.deathskateboards.com for all team related info

Ralph Lloyd-Davis
12/01/2006