As I’m sure you already know by now, a brand new Daewon Song part was posted up recently on The Berrics and it made even the most hyperbole-conscious of us baffled as to how anyone can ever top Daewon’s skating. More evidence in his favour has just surfaced on the Almost Youtube with a minute of offcuts used to further promote the part. Not that that was necessary. It’s Daewon.
Regardless, another minute of Daewon is the best free gift anyone could ever give. Oh, and some of you might enjoy the fact that in this edit the footage has been de-interlaced. Serious business… enjoy below.
Forever on a ting, Unabomber’sWill Golding has been slaying it across the UK harder than ever lately and this rad new clip at The Boardroom from Get Lesta is more than evident of that fact.
Have a look below for the edit and remind yourself of his ridiculous best trick at the UKSA Skate Champs last year by clicking here.
In 2009, Habitat celebrated their ten years of making high quality skate products and pushing a brand image that highlighted some of skateboarding’s more pure ideologies by expanding into the tough market of skateboard footwear. What I’ve always loved about Habitat was how their products are designed to not jump out at you; in a way they try to avoid attention by just doing their thing and knowing, deep down that they’re doing it right. This dynamic has been breathed into their footwear and I know I wasn’t the only one to give this notion a warm welcome; there are enough tacky hi-tops and regurgitated half cabs on the shelves now and we were in need of something reserved, practical and made with skaters in mind.
The Quest is one of the six models that dropped last year and my first pair of Habitat creptillians that have seen first-hand the darkside of the griptape. On first glance, it’s the perfect low-profile shoe: thin tongue, seamless toecap, smart colourways and vulcanised sole. It skates like a dream without the need for the often-redundant technical tomfoolery that’s attached to many a shoe’s description. As a vulc, the incredible board feel goes without saying but what sold this shoe to me was the comfort; there is a subtle inner-padding that’s frequently absent on low-profilers that feels awesome when paired with PU footbed. This was not a rushed business venture by Habitat, this model is a tangible example of how effective being proud and meticulous about your brand can be.
This particular model is one of three collaborative shoes with mid-century artist Charley Harper. The detail on the outside is so intricate that I wore the shoes for three days without even noticing it. But when you do… oh boy is this stuff legit. The outlines of various animals are very lightly engraved into the synthetic/nubuck outer with such precision that it’s an appropriate companion to the shoe’s practical rigor. I look forward to trying out another pair and you should probably have a go too.
Whatever the reason, there are little things better than writing a news piece about John Rattray. The same goes with reading ’em, it means there’s something rad coming your way. This is no exception.
John Rattray has updated his Predatory Bird blog again in a slightly off-character non-esoteric fashion. The post contains a stream of photos taken while John was filming for that amazing Artist Reel for Elwood.
Click on the ridiculousness below and have a read.
The Crossfire Advocates are back again, this time trading private mini ramps in for a rare dry winter session at Mile End to celebrate the birthday of Tom Ball.
Shot and edited by the reliable hands that belong to Alan Christensen and features skating from the birthday boy Tom Ball, Brendan Ryall, Guy Burchard, Laurie Sherman and Terrence Anthony.
Some of you may be familiar with Tom through his good work at BaySixty6. If you haven’t signed the petition to save the park from closure then please get involved here. Out to Tom with this one. See below for London shredding and good birthday vibes.
Expedition One dropped a whole tonne of madness on our heads at the end of last year, featuring a monster part from the now-professional Kenny Hoyle. Of course, this is 2011, so a huge part doesn’t always cut it. Well, it did… and then some, but Expedition One don’t care, they made the most out of their new pro and have just released yet more madness in the form of this bonus part.
Ridiculous. Keep your eyes open for a review of the film coming online very soon and click the image below to see the free bonus part.
There’s nothing like having some fresh obstacles to shred in the new year. Revolution Skatepark are currently working on a rather large new build that should be finished by the end of the week.
Keep your fingers crossed then and get hyped by having a gander at the video below. The build looks positively massive and features two new hips, bowled corners and a wallride.
Dan Magee is yet another inspiring character from the Blueprint camp who has stayed true to his school and persisted through difficult times, becoming stronger and more refined at his craft. With Make Friends With The Colour Blue, Dan reminded everyone that it is still possible to resist the cheap and easy method and make a focussed, cohesive and visionary skate video. For all we know, it could be one of the last great skate DVDs of our time but then again, with Dan still lurking everywhere with a lens it’s probably just a matter of time until the next one comes along.
In 2010, Dan expanded his work outside of skateboarding while still knocking out some of the best trip and demo edits of the year. We switched the questions up a little, so have a read below for some filmer-centric words from the fried chicken and purple drink lover himself. Chop chop mate.
Photo: CN
What was a personal highlight from 2010?
This year I’ve been working a lot as a freelance cameraman / editor / director, so I’ve got to do some nice stuff within skateboarding but also outside of it too. Blueprint premiered MFWTCB and did a tour which was obviously a highlight, but in the same year I also got to interview Eric Clapton, go on tour with Lance Mountain and tour round the U.K in a mobile home with the U.K Nike team. All rewarding in different ways.
Of all time, maybe Kristin Hersh in that old Day In The City Edit. This year, I liked the one in the Nike SB Malmo edit, because it’s something that I normally would not edit to.
Best song you’ve heard in an edit made by someone else?
Really liked the Joy Division ‘Atmosphere’ string quartet cover in Pontus’ new video.
What trick was the most torturous to film?
Never really torturous. But Shier’s crook pop in ender in MFWTCB was really scary, because it’s:
a) Probably one of the gnarliest things I have ever seen on a skateboard in real life.
b) Shier took one of the most horrible slams I have ever seen in real life on it.
c) We drove across the island early the next day to get it again.
But once he got it, there was sheer elation all round.
Worst ‘shit, I wasn’t recording’ moment of the year?
Don’t really have those, thankfully. But on some of the first few demos of Bird Is the word… it’s pretty gnarly, because you have the four musketeers, Ishod, P-Rod, Nugget and Cory Kennedy skating the course like a video game… ridiculously consistently. Until you get into the rhythm of how they skate, they are really hard to film. Plus I was always used to filming street, I barely filmed at parks or demos.
What edit are you most stoked on from everything you’ve filmed this year?
Bird Is The Word is the most obvious one…but I like the éS Big push too.
Best thing about the internet and skate videos?
I like the fact that you can watch different genres of skateboarding edits on the internet, that might not necessarily have belonged on a longform project. That’s why I am quite into documentary style snippets or behind the scenes type edits a the moment. It’s good to something a little bit different.
For example, Slap’s new reality show OIAM format would never have made it as a physical disc, but it’s great as episodic internet fodder.
Worst thing about the internet and skate videos?
No more full length videos and overnight heroes. Everything is so transient.
I think filmers need to cut their teeth on proper projects, rather than thinking they have mastered filming skateboarding by putting out a series of short edits.
There’s a lot more skill and organisation in putting out a project that’s filmed over 2-4 years. Making sure everyone involved gets filmed and that their footage stays relevant and timeless etc. A full length 40 minute video is a whole different ball game. However, I think we may have seen the end of those.
Toss up between Colin and Shier’s extended part, because that’s two seasoned vets putting out full parts with some gnarly shit in it. The other would be Coakley’s, but Smithy already said that. Plus it’s a bit of an obvious choice, but I really like it because I spent a lot of time in the States to film that part and had some amazing times with old and new friends.
Skater of the year?
Forrest Edwards
Fresh Blood tip for 2011?
Forrest Edwards
What are you looking forward to most in 2011?
Heard there might be a couple of Blueprint trips that Shier has planned. Hopefully they will get off the ground, the locations sound dope. Also hoping to do some stuff with Sole Tech and the Nike Euro teams too.
Squeeze That Shit
This is my all time favorite. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched this and my mouth still waters as I watch it now. Make sure you watch part 2, it gets really good once she gets past the blockage.
Pontus Alv – In Search Of The Miraculous
This part is raw as fuck.
I love how Pontus has that DiY attitude to everything, building legit spots, filming. Learning to edit stuff. Obviously he can be a bit of nutter about stuff sometimes, but I think it’s true passion and that comes through in everything he does. All the little animations, photos and footage of his family.
So sick how he had the whole interview in Kingpin, where he looks like he’s Amish or something. I like stuff where the footage or the photo is already amazing through skating and the compostion, but he adds another element to make it even doper.
Everyone must have seen this one by now, as it spread pretty quickly virally. Not the best filmed or edited piece, but the Elmo shirt smashes it, then he goes on to kill it with an assortment of what normally should be stinking tricks. Looks like he’s having a lot of fun.
The Kalis Files
All about the tre flip at city hall down the 6 stair. This dude is pretty raw, never switched up his shit, always done his own thing…any upriver beefs aside.
Also loving the fact that you can watch a part where someone is wearing massive DC moonboots, swishy trackpants or Camo and it still looks like it was filmed yesterday. Timeless shit.
As we mentioned last year, the grand purveyors of quality shit over at The Harmony went on a trip to Berlin for January’s Sidewalk article. And yesterday, they posted the video. All ten minutes of the team and friends getting their deutsch on.
Have a look below for goods from Jamie Errington, Pablo Eresu, Jak Pietryga, Ali Drummond, Tony Da Silva, Jed Coldwell, Joe Gavin and Dom Henry.
This was always looking to be a fun day out since they announced the line up a few weeks back. Watch Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi and many more legends from the 80s vert scene skate at this year’s SurfExpo in the USA. The results were as follows:
1. Tony Hawk
2. Andy Macdonald
3. Mike Frazier
4. Christian Hosoi
5. Mike McGill
6. Henry Guiterez
7. Jeff Hedges
8. Kevin Staab
9. Todd Johnson
10. Mark Lake
11. Buck Smith
12. Bob Umble
13. Cara Beth Burnside
14. Steve Steadham
In 2009, 
The 
There’s nothing like having some fresh obstacles to shred in the new year. 
Dan Magee is yet another inspiring character from the 
As we mentioned 
This was always looking to be a fun day out since they announced the line up a few weeks back. Watch Tony Hawk,